Photo by Comenei Ali
COTABATO CITY—To assist local farmers in increasing productivity and farming efficiency, the Bangsamoro Government provided Php84,240,000.00 worth of agricultural and fishing machinery and equipment to Special Geographic Area’s (SGA) Midsayap Clusters 1 and 2 in North Cotabato on Monday, April 24.
Thirteen (13) villages in the said area benefited from the government’s aid. The Midsayap Cluster-1 received equipment for the barangays of Central Labas, Kapinpilan, Malingao, Mudseng, Sambulawan, Tugal, and Tumbras, while Cluster 2 received equipment for Damatulan, Kadigasan, Kadingilan, Kudarangan, Nabawalag, and Olandang.
BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim said the turnover ceremony marks the successful completion of the Bangsamoro Integrated Rehabilitation and Development (BIRD) program, which is a special project of the Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MOLG) funded under the Special Development Fund (SDF).
“The Government of the Day acknowledges the need to develop, support and innovate our agricultural sector. That is why we reiterate its call towards developing agriculture, fisheries’ productivity and food security in the region as stipulated in the 12-point priority agenda,” Ebrahim said.
“The Bangsamoro Government ensures that all Bangsamoro farmers are well-supported in all parts of the homeland, specifically in the SGA,” he added.
During the ceremony, the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) distributed Php45,840,000.00 worth of agricultural equipment, including 5 tractors with implements for rice production, 5 mechanical rice transplanters, 5 rice harvesters, 5 tractors with implements for corn production, 5 corn harvesters with corn kit, and 8 trailers for combine harvesters. These equipment will support and enhance rice and corn farming in the region.
In addition, the Ministry also provided 300 motorized fishing boats with nets worth Php38,400,000.00. These boats will help boost the livelihoods of local fishermen and support their communities.
MILG Minister Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo hoped that both the physical and socio-economic conditions of SGA constituents will improve in the next three years.
Sinarimbo said the Ministry is focused on providing interventions to the SGA through three pillars of implementation such as governance, community infrastructure, and livelihood.
“We are very grateful since no less than the Chief Minister who personally handed over the facilities to the beneficiary barangays,” he said.
Midsayap Cluster-1 President Fatima Mokamad said, “kami po ay lubos nagpapasalamat sa BARMM dahil sa mga farm machineries na lubos nyo pinagkatiwala sa amin upang matugunan po natin ang mga pangangailangan ng bawat miyembro ng ating komunidad na ang kabuhayan po ay pagsasaka.”
She also gave her commitment to take care of the equipment, saying: “To BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, gagawin po naming ang lahat para po mapanatili ang tiwala at suporta nyo sa amin. Asahan po ninyo gagamitin naming ang makinarya na yan sa pagtugon sa bawat pangangailangan ng ating mga farmers.”
Ministers and officials present during the ceremony were BARMM Senior Minister Abunawas Maslamama, Deputy Senior Minister Abdullah Cusain, Ministry of Human Settlements and Development (MHSD) Director-Generel Esmael Ebrahim, and SGA Coordinator Butch Malang, among others. (Majid Nur/BIO)
