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(SDN) — Dole outs are good, but tend to make recipients too dependent.
It’s an unwritten code that it’s better to give someone a fishing gear than giving a dole out of fish. In that way, the fishing gear recipient would learn how to fish and fend for his family.
It seems that’s, at least, partly the philosophy behind one of the initiatives of the Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG) of the Bangsamoro government in Southern Philippines.
It’s dubbed the Bangsamoro Integrated Rehabilitation and Development, or BIRD, Program. BIRD, as MILG Minister Naguib G. Sinarimbo describes, is a comprehensive and integrated approach to rehabilitation and development of the Bangsamoro’s communities torn by decades of war.
The MILG’s Special Development Fund (SDF) is financing the program, he said.
“The program consists of several components such as improving governance, improving livelihoood, rural infrastructure, etc.,” said Interior Minister Sinarimbo.
At the launch of the program, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Senior Minister Abdulraof Macacua led the following activities surrounding the BIRD Program.
They are:
- 1. Distribution of relief and cash assistance to 150 widows of war.
- 2. Distribution of motorized banca to fisherfolks in the barangays adjoining the marsh.
- 3. Symbolic lighting of solar street lights which will complement the MPW (Ministry of Public Works) street lighting project.
MPW Minister Edward Guerra also led the soft opening of one of the first completed road concreting projects of the BARMM in Barangay Datu Binasing, Pigkawayan Cluster of the 63 barangays from North Cotabato.
Sinarimbo added: This project is symbolic of the physical connection that has been achieved by the BARMM with the 63 barangays (designated as Special Geographic Area or SAR) that joined the autonomy in 2019. The road connects Barangay Panatan, the last barangay in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, to the first barangay, Datu Binasing, in the 63 villages from North Cotabato.
He said other officials who joined the important event in included North Cotabato Gov. Nancy Alaan Catamco, Mayor Roquero, UNDP Peace building Advisor Chetan Kumar, the 12 Barangay chairs from Pigkawayan, beneficiaries of the program, and colleagues from the different ministries, and members of the media.
Sinarimbo expressed his thanks to the BIRD Team and the MILG, the barangay officials, and all those who rendered their assistance for the successful launch of the program.
BARMM is made of up the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi and the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi as well as the SGA villages. — EKU (✓)
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Featured image shows Bangsamoro Senior Minister Abdulraof Macacua as he turns over fishing gear to a beneficiary, effectively indicating they have to learn to fish and not depend on dole-outs.