Photo by Faisal Camsa Jr.
SPECIAL GEOGRAPHIC AREA—The Bangsamoro Government, through the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG), continues to pour livelihood support for the region’s Special Geographic Area (SGA).
A total of P83 million worth of farm machineries and equipment, including motor bancas with complete fishing gears, were turned over today, July 13, to farmers and fisherfolks in Barangay Tumbras, Midsayap Cluster of SGA.
The machineries included farm tractors, harvesters, and fishing equipment, among others, which were sourced out from the Special Development Fund (SDF) of the regional government and intended for the residents of Midsayap Clusters 1 and 2.
MILG Minister Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo said that these are part of the overall support of the leadership of Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim to communities in SGA.
Sinarimbo added that SGA constituents are “trailblazers” in terms of governance due to their unique experience of being governed by the accustomed Philippine governance and the autonomous government under Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“Hindi lang kayo sumama sa BARMM kundi meron kayong potential na mas pagandahin yung uri ng paggo-gobyerno dahil sa inyong experience dati,” Sinarimbo said.
SGA is composed of 63 former areas or barangays carved out of Cotabato Province and became part of the official territories of the BARMM after a successful plebiscite on February 6, 2019 as provided in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
Sinarimbo acknowledged that there were gaps when these 63 barangays became official territories of the BARMM but he assured the community of the commitment of the regional government to fill the gap, hence government interventions keep on pouring.
“Kaya po meron tayong SGA Development Authority (SGADA) na attached office sa MILG para matiyak na natutugunan po ang inyong pangaingailangan,” he further said.
Former Board Member of Cotabato Province and now Member of the Parliament Mohammad Kelly Antao, who also attended the turn-over activity, reckoned the plight of Barangay Tumbras prior to the ratification of the BOL.
He said that Tumbras is one of the areas that signified their inclusion to BARMM on the last minute of the deadline set by the Commission on Elections.
“Tingnan niyo, dahil nakahabol kayo, nakakatanggap tayo ng ganitong tulong,” Antao said. (Abdullah Matucan/BIO)
