Photo by: MHSD
COTABATO CITY—The Bangsamoro Government, through the leadership of Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, continuously shows its commitment to uplift the living condition of its constituent in this post-conflict era.
On July 29, residents of Brgy. West Poblacion in Baloi, Lanao del Norte, who holds various memories and experiences of conflict exposure in the past, gathered before the officials of the Ministry of Human Settlement and Development (MHSD) to witness the turn-over of a two-storey multipurpose training center in their locality.
Financed through the Special Development Fund (SDF), the facility will be used and maintained mainly by its benefiting organization Ra-bitatul Khutaba Bil Filibbi-n-Baloi (Advocators League of the Philippines-Baloi).
The organization, which focuses on delivering Friday sermons, conducting seminars, and other events vital for fostering peace in the community, has 96 members and serves at least 50 masjid/mosque.
Aleem Anuar Shiekh, President of the organization was in awe as he thought that having such a facility is a next-to-impossible dream.
“In our 20 years of operations, we never had a permanent location for our activities or meetings. It [training center] is like a dream we thought was impossible, but it really happened because of the Bangsamoro,” he shared.
Barangay Chairperson Abdulmalik Ali said during the event that while the facility has been specifically turned-over to the organization, it can be utilized as well for other programs and activities of the local government units and other stakeholders.
Meanwhile, MHSD Minister Atty. Hamid Aminoddin Barra told the constituents that such a feat or the completion of the facility is a fruit of the long struggle in Lanao del Norte.
“Baloi had been affected by the war and that is why in return, rewards, opportunities, and other blessings are now being harvested by the families of our former combatants, families of shuhadas (martyrs) and the supporters of our jihad (struggle) in the municipality,” Barra said.
Under the enhanced 12-Point Priority Agenda of the BARMM 2023-2025, the regional government focuses on sustaining and improving peace, justice, and security across the Bangsamoro region through building stronger coordination and proactive collaboration with law enforcement agencies, development partners, and other relevant agencies and stakeholders.
Minister Barra was also delighted to share ongoing projects in the area which included the construction of at least five training centers and 50 housing units on the pipeline. (Abdullah Matucan/BIO with reports from MHSD)
