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BARMM News:
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(SDN) — Today, January 19, 2022, the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) launched the socio-economic and livelihood component of its Social Development Fund (SDF)-funded Bangsamoro Integrated Rehabilitation and Development (BIRD) Program.
Apparently, the BIRD Program is one of the dividends of peace arising from the signing of the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). It is the final major agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) led by Chairman now Chief Minister Ahod Balawag “Al-Hajj Murad” Ebrahim of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Other dividends or gains of the CAB is the MILG’s various infrastructure projects implemented since 2020, among them Municipal Halls, Integrated Public Terminals, Philippine National Police (PNP) Stations, Public Markets, and Barangay Halls. Many local government units (LGUs) have already received funding for their respective municipalities/barangays and the building construction already started, while a few have been completed and turned over to recipient LGUs.
There’s no stopping the MILF led by Minister Naguib G. Sinarimbo from these infrastructure and livelihood projects.
“We launch today (January 19) the Socio-economic and livelihood component of our SDF Funded Bangsamoro Integrated Rehabilitation and Development Program Phase 1 in the 12 Barangays from Pigkawayan Cluster of the 63 barangays from Cotabato province,” Sinarimbo revealed.
He cited the program’s objectives.
“The program intends to improve governance thru the exercise of (their) corporate powers that will sustain economic and livelihood projects in the 63 barangays.”
The MILG-launched projects are:
1. Improvement of electricity connection in the 12 barangays by upgrading the electric supply to three-phase from the current single phase.
2. Handover of the farm equipments, implements, motorized bancas and fishing gear to the alliance of barangays that we assisted in its formation. The alliance will cooperate, coordinate and pool its resources to provide common services to the constituents of the 12 barangays.
3. Signing of MOA with MAFAR and MTIT for our convergence effort so that MAFAR can provide agri and fisheries inputs and technical assistance for the farmers and fisherfolks while MTIT will render assistance in business registration, management, and marketing.
4. Distribution of cash and relief assistance to the widows of the Bangsamoro martyrs of the struggle.
“We thank our partners such as MAFAR, MTIT, PPALMA COTELCO, UNDP and the barangay chairs of the 12 barangays of Pigkawayan,” the MILG head said.
The Bangsamoro region is comprised of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces, the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi as well as 63 villages in North Cotabato designated as Special Geographic Area (SGA) in North Cotabato province. (EKU) — (✓)