Tawi-Tawi granted P10-M worth peace and development projects
Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, Apr. 29 – Tawi-Tawi, the farthest island province in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), was granted P 10-million worth of peace and development projects by the government through the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Peaceful and Resilient Communities) or PAMANA program.
Officials and staff of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) recently visited the province to brief Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali and other local chief executives on PAMANA’s objectives and implementation mechanisms. OPAPP Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo and Assistant Secretary Jehanne Mutin of OPAPP’s Peacebuilding and Development Office led the delegation.
Tawi-Tawi is one of the priority areas for PAMANA in 2011 until 2013.
An initial P 10-million funding has been earmarked for the municipalities of Panglima Sugala and Simunul, mainly in support of the province’s road network development. The intervention is part of PAMANA’s Pillar Three which is peacebuilding through addressing connectivity and accessibility issues of communities.
During the briefing, prospects for expansion to other needs of the province were discussed, such as infrastructure and support services for cassava and seaweed farmers; provision of hospital equipment, as well as additional doctors and nurses; and improvement of water supply system in the province by tapping the Malung river as a source.
Panglima Sugala and Simunul are both Peace and Development Communities identified in the 1996 Final Peace Agreement between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). The P10-million funding support is also part of GPH’s fulfillment of its commitment to the pact’s implementation.
In the capital Bongao, Mayor Jasper Que in one of the consultations expressed appreciation on the linking up of OPAPP to the local government unit (LGU). He emphasized that close coordination between national agencies and LGUs is crucial for any project to succeed.
When asked where PAMANA’s intervention can help, flagged the need for sanitation facilities in every primary and secondary classroom in town, explaining further that a boost in health and well-being of the students is also contributory to a peaceful and prosperous Bongao.
The OPAPP team also visited the municipality of Languyan and held a forum on PAMANA wherein electrification of the town was proposed by officials as an intervention.
“Gusto po ng PAMANA na talagang maramdaman ninyo na naririto ang gobyerno, at naiintindihan namin ang inyong mga pangangailangan. Pagsisikapin po ng PAMANA na matugunan ang mga ito. (PAMANA only has good intentions for the community – for you to feel that the government understands your needs. PAMANA shall put in the best efforts to sincerely address them),” Montalbo said in the forum.
Mutin, on the other hand, emphasized everyone’s longing for healing as she is a Muslim herself and has seen and felt the pains of war.
“Alam po naming marami ang naapektuhan ng hidwaan, alam po naming masakit, pero kami po ay humihiling. Hindi po sa lahat ng panahon ay kaaway ang gobyerno. Kung pwede po sana ay makita niyo rin na pwedeng ka-partner ninyo ang gobyerno. (We know how many lives have been affected by this war, and we know that it’s painful for most of us, but it’s time and we ask for your indulgence. The government is not always an enemy. We hope that you will find it in your hearts to see the government as a partner this time),” Mutin stated.
Languyan is one of the remotest municipalities of the province of Tawi-tawi, and is a PAMANA target area for 2012. It is two hours away by motor boat from Bongao, and up to this day remains unreached by electric power lines. #
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