Local officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are now working with the Australian government and other local and international non-government organizations (NGOs) to improve peace and order and eventually transform the region into another tourism sites of the country.
The programs and projects in the BARMM was further discussed during a meeting with officials and representatives from the the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Galing Pook Foundation, Asia Foundation on June 20 in Pasig City.
Simon Christopher Hayter, First Secretary of the Australian Embassy in the Philippines, said Australia has been very supportive of all the efforts to ensure peace and security in the region.
“A peaceful Mindanao is of fundamental importance not just to the Philippines but in the entire region. Our annual program in the Philippines is worth P3 billion. More than half of that goes to Mindanao,” said Hayter.
“Most of that supporting the peace process and normalization, public reduction, health, social projection, and education,” he added.
For year, Mindanao, especially BARMM, has been perceived as a dangerous place due to the presence of various rebel and armed groups.
But mayors from Malusu Basilan, Butig Lanao Del Sur, Pagayawan, Lanao Del Sur, and Tipo-Tipo, Basilan have committed to change the stereotyping and even shared their innovative programs to help their localities by improving agricultural productivity, boosting agro-ecotourism.
Through the agro-ecotourism program, he governance of Butig yearns to improve the socio-economic status, and to finally reclaim their status as the “cradle of Maranao Civilization”
Another innovative program that was done in Pagayawan in Lanao Del Sur is the One Name, One Identity: Walang Maiwan Pagayawan, a municipal-wide digital ID system that aims to address the problem of peace and security, and to secure the demographic data of the residents.
Meanwhile in Lamitan City, Reaching Out Serving Everyone (ROSE) Caravan aims to provide essential services in health, agriculture, and social welfare.
On the other hand, Importance of Children is an innovative project in the municipality of Tipo-Tipo the goal is to achieve zero malnutrition, focusing on treating children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM).
Sam Chittick, country representative from The Asia Foundation noted that everyone from the local government has different solutions and vision for a more cohesive community.
With the innovative programs and maintaining the peace and order in BARMM, members of the Fellowship Program hope that with their effort, other parts of the region will be influenced by their innovative programs to help boost tourism not only to their respective areas but the whole BARMM. (Nicole Magmanlac)