BARMM News
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BANGSAMORO GOVERNMENT CENTER, Cotabato City, October 14, 2022 — Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod B. “Al-Hajj Murad” Ebrahim on Thursday renewed his call for fidelity to moral governance as he assured his support.
Ebrahim, chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), backed his words with Php108-million funds for infrastructure projects contained in a series of Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) signed with Bangsamoro local government units (LGUs).
“It has been our mission to serve the Bangsamoro people and sustain a leadership that is consistently anchored in delivering initiatives that will result in moral governance and socio-economic development. [T]he signing of the Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs)…is a manifestation of our commitment in our mission in providing our people better access to the services and facilities of the Bangsamoro Government,” Ebrahim emphasized.
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is comprised of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi, as well as 63 barangays or villages in North Cotabato but under the Bangsamoro government’s jurisdiction and are collectively known as the Special Geographic Area (SGA).
Residents of the 63 villages voted to be under the BARMM in a plebiscite in January and February 2019, part of efforts to widen the region’s territorial jurisdiction.
The BARMM Chief Minister delivered his message during the signing of the MOAs to implement 31 new two-storey Barangay Hall Buildings worth a total of Php108.5 million at Php3.5 million each. It was conducted at the Bajau Hall of the Office of the Chief Minister (OCM), here at the Bangsamoro Government Center (BGC) in the city, the BARMM capital and seat of the country’s first-ever parliamentary autonomous government.
The Chief Minister and BARMM Senior Minister Abdulraof Macacua witnessed the signing of the agreements. One of the primary ministries of the Bangsamoro government, the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) signed the MOAs.
Interior Minister Atty. Naguib G. Sinarimbo signed the agreements, respectively, with signatories Mayors Zulficar Ali H. Panda of Sultan Mastura, Hon. Abdul Rauf D. Tomawis of Barira, Hon. Datu Umbra B. Dilangalen of Northern Kabuntalan, Hon. Salik P. Mamasabulod of Pagalungan, Hon. Midpantao M. Midtimbang, Jr. of Guindulungan, and Hon. Mohammad Ali D. Matabalao of Cotabato City who was represented by City Administrator Atty. Aelan Arumpac.
“To the Mayors of these Municipalities, I hope that you will maximize all the possible benefits of this ceremonial MOA signing for the welfare of our people. We commit to reach the inaccessible areas of the region and serve the underserved. This will only be possible through your pledge of taking a parallel path identical with ours towards peaceful and progressive municipalities,” the Chief Minister added.
This is in addition to the earlier inked MOA between the MILG and Datu Blah Sinsuat (DBS) Municipal Mayor Datu Marshall I. Sinsuat where five barangay halls are earmarked to be implemented. This brings the grand total of Php126 million worth of barangay hall buildings support to local governance infrastructure projects signed between the MILG and the LGUs inside one month.
Another agreement for the construction of two barangay halls for the Municipality of North Upi is also earmarked to be inked within the year.
Meaningful infrastructures
Funded under the OCM Support to Local Moral Governance (SLMG), these infrastructure projects are being implemented by the MILG through its Project Management Development Division (PMDD). “Moral Governance” is among the advocacies of the Bangsamoro Government under the leadership of Ebrahim.
“To our Barangay Chairmen and their officials, you are all stewards of these facilities. Let these structures remind you of your responsibilities and call to serve in the name of peace and progress. Maximize your capacities to uphold good governance [at] the barangay level and make your facilities and service accessible to your people when they need it,” the Chief Minister said he urged the barangay local chief executives (LCEs).
Ebrahim also noted how the Bangsamoro Government through the MILG is implementing meaningful infrastructure and other projects for the benefit of the Bangsamoro people.
“To the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government, this is one [of] your numerous milestones that the entire Bangsamoro Region will enjoy and benefit. I commend and appreciate your initiatives in echoing the mission of the Bangsamoro Government through turning the message of hope, peace, and development into meaningful and useful structures,” said the Chief Minister.
Sinarimbo said the barangay hall buildings to be implemented with the signing of the MOAs will add up to the 220 barangay halls presently being constructed across the Bangsamoro region.
“Beginning Saturday, we will turnover six additional completed barangay halls [which are located] in some of the SGA’s 63 barangays and others in the Municipality of Buluan,” Sinarimbo revealed.
The signing of the MOAs is a “manifestation that [the Bangsamoro Government] is doing things to develop the Region from the barangays to the municipalities,” said the Macacua.
“I am thankful for the Chief Minister. We cannot achieve this without full cooperation and guidance of moral governance being implemented by the Chief Minister,” he added.
The Support to Local Moral Governance is consistent with the 12-point agenda of the Chief Minister anchored on governance reform vision, goals, and strategies. (/)