The programs for the cooperative sector are laid down in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
One of which is the construction of a two-story Cooperative and Women Multi-purpose Building in Barangay Batulawan, Pikit, North Cotabato.
The project worth PHP4.6 million was included in the 2020 Transitional Development Impact Fund (TDIF) of the Office of Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Member of Parliament Diamila Disimban-Ramos.
The Bangsamoro Ministry of Public Works (MPW) Maguindanao I District Engineering Office is the implementing agency, under the leadership of Minister Eduard Guerra.
In a news release on Friday, Ramos said this institutional project will provide jobs for the Bangsamoro people.
“Sa pamamagitan nito at sa agapay ng ating lokal na pamahalaan at ng Bangsamoro Government, mayroon na kayong masasandalang institusyon na magpapalawak ng mga oportunidad para matulungan kayo sa inyong kabuhayan (Through this, and with the help of our local government, you now have an institution you can rely on and will open more opportunities for you and your livelihood),” Ramos said.
Ramos added that the Bangsamoro government led by Chief Minister Ahod ‘Al Hajj Murad’ Ebrahim is reaching out to the Bangsamoro people who will be benefiting from the services and programs.
Some of the areas the Bangsamoro government focuses on are those under the Special Geographic Area which includes 63 barangays in North Cotabato including Barangay Batulawan in Pikit.
Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) National Assistant Secretary Pendatun Disimban welcomed the project for the Bangsamoro cooperatives which has a great impact on community development.
“Kahit man tayo ay nagmula sa iba’t ibang lugar, pinili nating magsama-sama para sa iisang layunin. Ang proyektong ito ay may dalang napakalaking impact sa komunidad at ang lahat ay makasisigurado na ang building ay mapakikinabangan at maasahan ng taong bayan (We have came from different places but we chose to be united for a common goal. This project will have a great impact on the community and this building will be utilized for everyone’s benefit),” Disimban added.
Joining Disimban was with CDA Assistant Secretary Abdulsalam Guinomla and CDA Region 12 Director Amenodin Elias.
MPW Maguindanao District Engineer Avila Abobakar hopes that this building will bring development for the welfare of each resident of Pikit and the cooperative sector.
“Ang proyektong ito ay para sa ikakaganda ng kooperatiba at buhay ng mga tao sa Pikit. Insha Allah, ito ay sana magbunga ng magandang resulta para sa pag-unlad ng community dito (This project for the development of cooperatives and the people’s lives in Pikit. Insha Allah, may tis bring good results in terms of the development of the community here),” Abobakar said.
Batulawan Barangay Chair Bailana Matalam also thanked the Bangsamoro government and Ramos for the project.
“Halos lahat ng program sa Barangay Development Plan sa Batulawan ay nandito na, naibigay na rin samin. Kaya maraming salamat sa ating mga leaders sa BARMM pati kay Ma’am MP Jam [Diamila Ramos] sa lahat ng tulong para sa amin. Di namin ito sasayangin (Almost all programs under the Barangay Development Plan here in Batulawan are given to us. Thii is why we thank our leaders in the BARMM, especially Ma’am MP Jam for her help. We will make good use of these),” Matalam said.
Nasser Gayagay, representative of the LGU and the 63 barangays in Pikit, Cotabato, added that “this is now the time when all agencies converged to develop all areas in BARMM. This is the way for us to have equal opportunities so we can rise together.”
The groundbreaking ceremony of the project was held last June 18.
A ceremonial groundbreaking was also held for the Cooperative and Women Multipurpose Building at the town of Tamparan, Lanao Del Sur.
Meanwhile, another multi-purpose project is set to start in Datu Abdullah Sangki, Maguindanao.
Last May, Ramos also led the groundbreaking of the TDIF Solar Powered Water System Project at Grand Mosque, Masiu, Lanao Del Sur which is just one of the many projects of BARMM.
The recent activity in June gave at least seven cooperatives from Lanao Del Sur, Maguindanao, and Pikit mini rice mills with de-stoners and 10-KVA generator sets which was proposed by Ramos and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform led by Minister Mohammad Yacob.
Being a cooperative advocate Ramos filed Proposed Resolution 331 in the Bangsamoro Parliament calling for the implementation of Section 24, Article XIII of the Bangsamoro Organic Law on the enactment of a Bangsamoro Cooperative Code.
Source: Philippines News Agency
