MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE – In a collaborative effort to extend services closer to its communities, the Bangsamoro Government initiated a convergence activity on January 24 in Sultan Mastura municipal covered court.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) took the lead in conducting the activity, which is also part of this year’s Bangsamoro Foundation Day celebration.
In an exclusive interview, Pendatun Patarasa, Bangsamoro Director General for Fisheries Sector of MAFAR, emphasized the government’s dedication to fostering inclusivity, stating, “We are not into selective government. Gusto natin na maramdaman ng Bangsamoro ang serbisyo natin [We want the Bangsamoro (people) to feel our services].”
Thousands of residents, including persons with disabilities, senior citizens, elementary pupils, indigents, and cooperative members, flocked to access the essential services they needed.
Mariam Sali, a 44-year-old resident of Tapayan, Sultan Mastura, shared that she promptly attended the event upon learning about free medical consultation, saying, “Minggagan aku man sumya ka nakapira ragun na da ku den makapa-check up ka da man kurta ku.”
[ I hurriedly came here because, for many years, I was not able to visit a doctor due to financial incapability.]
Meanwhile, Sulaiman Baliwan, Magapas Farmers Association President, highlighted the importance of the assistance they received.
“Nawna den a natabangan na BARMM i association nami antu. Mangagan kami den peg-harvest sa fish pond nami. Makangguna a benal i lima timan a timbangan a ibanggi salekami saguna,” he said.
[Prior to this, our association had already received assistance from BARMM. Harvesting from our fish pond is upcoming, so the 5 units of weighing scale will be very useful.]
Various BARMM ministries and agencies provided a range of services, including free registration of fisherfolk IDs and distribution of agri-fishery inputs from MAFAR; medical outreach program, including eye screening, bloodletting, operation ‘tuli’, flu and pneumococcal vaccination, and free medical consultation and medicine from the Ministry of Health; and turnover of 1000 seedlings to LGU from the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy.
Also included are the social pension payout for 681 senior citizens and handover of 8 wheelchairs and a quad cane of the Ministry of Social Services and Development; distribution of sacks of rice and health kits of Project TABANG; vehicle renewal amnesty and 75% off registration of authorized boats from Ministry of Transportation and Communications; and handing out learner kits to 472 pupils of Tapayan Central Elementary School by the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education.
The BARMM-READi also distributed 1000 sacks of rice with grocery items, the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development handed over shelter tool kits, and the Bangsamoro Women Commission gave out hygiene kits and hijab and offered Gender and Development-related services.
This year’s foundation day celebration carried the theme, “A journey towards mutual understanding, peaceful co-existence, and a shared future in the Bangsamoro.”
The convergence activity reflected the Bangsamoro Government’s commitment to inclusivity and people-centered services, ensuring that no Bangsamoro is left behind in the journey toward a brighter future.
Sultan Mastura Municipal Mayor Zulficar Alih Panda, Maguindanao del Norte Provincial Administrator Dr. Tomanda Antok, and several key personnel of BARMM ministries and agencies were also in attendance during the activity. (Bai Omairah Yusop/BIO)
