DATU ODIN SINSUAT, MAGUINDANAO (16 November 2020) — The lives of more than a thousand families in three municipalities in this province are expected to improve with the help of projects build under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) Program.

This developed as two Level-2 water systems worth Php5 million each were officially turned over to the municipal government of Datu Odin Sinsuat and Datu Anggal Midtimbang. The PAMANA-funded projects will provide safe, clean, and accessible water to residents here.

The PAMANA Program, which is under the oversight of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), aims to deliver peace-promoting, socio-economic projects to remote, conflict-ridden areas in the country.

A better life for residents

“Ngayon, hindi na po mag-aalala ang naninirahan sa mahigit na 600 na tahanan dito sa Datu Odin Sinsuat kung saan kukuha ng sapat at malinis na tubig, gayundin ang mahigit na 350 na magsasaka sa Datu Anggal Midtimbang,” PAMANA National Project Management Division Director Cesar De Mesa told local leaders and residents here during the formal turn over of the projects to the community.

“Hindi na rin kinakailangan ng mga mamamayan na maglakad ng malayo at mag-igib ng ilang oras. Magagamit na nila ang panahong ito para sa ibang mahahalagang gawain,” De Mesa added.

Datu Ondin Sinsuat Municipal Mayor Hon. Cheryl Mary Rose Ann Lu-Sinsuat thanked OPAPP for the water system projects, as she committed to ensure their sustainability in the years to come.

“The municipal administration of Datu Odin Sinsuat is dedicated to peace and development in this town. Under the six-point peace agenda, we prioritize the promotion of the culture of unity, peace, and security for the people. This in return, has made Datu Odin Sinsuat one of the most peaceful municipalities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM),” she said.

“In today’s turnover ceremony of the OPAPP-PAMANA project, our municipal government is in full support of its sustainability. Ang water system project ay malaking tulong na po sa ating mga kababayan dito sa aming pamayanan. We will make sure that this project will be sustained in years and years to come,” she added.

Datu Anggal Midtimbang mayor Maryjoy Estephanie Uy-Midtimbang said the water system will provide a major boost to the municipality as it undergoes a major “development process.”

“Ang lokal na pamahalaan po ng Datu Anggal Midtimbang ay nasa gitna ng isang development process, kaya naman po kami ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa mga ahensyang nariyan at handang tumulong sa pag-unlad ng aming bayan. Isa na po dito ang ibinahagi ng OPAPP na nakaagapay sa PAMANA sa proyektong water system,” Uy-Midtimbang said.

“Napakalaking tulong po nito sa mga mamamayan ng Datu Anggal Midtimbang. Sana po ay ito pa lamang ang simula at tuloy-tuloy po ang mga proyektong ibinahagi niyo sa amin, upang sa ganun ay patuloy at mas lalong mapabilis ang pagtaas ng antas ng [pamumuhay] sa Datu Anggal Midtimbang,” she added.

Boosting agricultural productivity

Meanwhile, De Mesa also led the turn-over of three farm tractors worth PHP10-million to boost the agricultural productivity of local farmers in Guindulungan, as well as a Php15 million drainage canal to address the frequent flooding in the area

“We want to make the lives of our fellow Filipinos to be more progressive, and we can only do that if we address the root cause of conflict and violence, which is poverty. This is why we at the OPAPP-PAMANA take on this task to create programs and projects that will bridge the gaps in communities vulnerable to armed conflict,” De Mesa said.

Guindulungan Mayor Datu Midpantao Midtimbang Jr. noted that the PAMANA projects will help usher peace and progress in the area.

“As our society becomes progressive, developments are visible and the poverty reduces. We are now transforming our community into progressive and peaceful community through a series of funding assistance from the national government. We can now easily convince our people to participate in government affairs,” he said.

Instruments of peace and dev’t

The completion of PAMANA projects in the province of Maguindanao is proof of how far the government has come to achieve just and lasting peace across the country, Col. Ferdinand Lacadin, officer-in-charge of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade, pointed out.

“Sa matagal na panahon ng pagsisikap ng ating gobyerno, ngayon ay nakikita na natin kung gaano kalayo ang ating narating sa aspetong pangkapayapaan. Bilang inyo pong mga sundalo na nagsusulong ng kapayapaan dito sa Central Mindanao, masaya kami na nagkaroon ng mga ganitong programa sapagkat alam namin na nakakatulong ito ng lubos sa mga mamamayan,” Lacadin said.

Lacadin hopes that these projects will serve as an inspiration to the communities, and will accelerate the economic development of Central Mindanao.

“Sana ang PAMANA projects na naibigay ngayong araw na ito ay magsilbing inspirasyon sa mga mamamayan at maging simula ng isang progresibong Central Mindanao. Naniniwala kami na ang mga ganitong oportunidad para sa ating mga mamamayan ay magsisilbing inspirasyon sa kanila upang magsumikap pa lalo,” he said.

Communities must take ownership

De Mesa emphasized that community leaders and residents should play a more active role in the sustainable management of the PAMANA projects in their area so that they will benefit the generations to come.

“Maaari tayong gumawa ng napakaraming proyekto na tulad nito sa inyong lugar. Ngunit kung tayo ay hindi magtutulungan upang gamitin ito ng maayos at pangalagaan, ay mawawala po ang kahalagahan nito. Ang mga proyektong ito ang magsisilbing instrumento ng pagkakaisa at pagtutulungan sa pamayanan na ito,” he said.

“Atin pong pangalagaan ang mga proyektong ito, sapagkat ito rin po ang ating magiging pamana sa mga susunod pang henerasyon,” De Mesa concluded. ###