COTABATO CITY— The Marcos administration is determined to help unleash the full economic potential of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), describing the area as a success story in the making.
This was the assurance given by the Special Assistant to the President, Sec. Antonio Ernesto F. Lagdameo Jr., during his visit to this city on Thursday to attend several meetings here.
Lagdameo was joined by Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Sec. Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr.
“As much as possible, if may problema, please let us know. I just want everyone to know we are here in full support ang gobyerno. Kung ano kailangan niyo, gagawin natin,” Lagdameo said during a meeting with officials of the newly-created Maguindanao del Norte province.
The two cabinet officials met with Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua, governor of Maguindanao del Norte, Vice Governor Bai Fatima Ainee Sinsuat, and other officials of the province.
“We want to show also that BARMM will be a success, and the provinces will also be developed,” he added.
Lagdameo recognized the major gains achieved through the Normalization Program under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), particularly the vast improvement in the peace, security and socioeconomic conditions in the region.
Sustaining the gains of peace
During their visit, Lagdameo and Galvez also met separately with BARMM Interim Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Embrahim, Minister of Basic, Higher and Technical Education Mohagher Iqbal, and other BARMM officials.
The meeting’s discussions focused on possible areas of cooperation between the national and Bangsmoro governments, particularly on initiatives that aim to boost the region’s standing as a commercial and trading center in Mindanao, and sustain the gains of peace in the area.
Lagdameo is currently the co-chairperson of the Inter-Cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization (ICCMN), the body that is mandated to coordinate and mobilize national government agencies in the implementation of the Normalization Program for Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants, their families and communities..
ICCMN is composed of four clusters based on the major components of the normalization track, which include security, socio-economic development, confidence-building, and transitional justice and reconciliation (TJR).
Lagdameo and Galvez were also briefed by Major General Alex Santos Rillera, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, and Police Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza, BARMM police director, on the peace and security situation in the region.
Galvez re-appointed as peace czar
On Monday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reappointed Galvez as the presidential peace adviser after his stint as senior undersecretary of the Department of National Defense.
According to him, he was told by President Marcos Jr., that he was reappointed to help in pushing forward the Bangsamoro peace process because “this is where his heart is.”
Galvez took note of the remarkable economic progress that is taking place in the BARMM, as he recommended the revival of what he described as “sealane of commerce” in the south.
He was referring to the coastal area which stretches from Malabang to the Polloc Port, and further down south to the island-provinces of Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi.
“In fact ang BARMM, ito ang May pinakamalaking contribution sa fish industry ng Pilipinas.Number two and three ang Region 9 at Region 12. Like the BARMM, ang Maguindanao del Norte, napakalaki ang potential. Unang-una ang Maguindanao del Norte is very strategic sa peace process,” where the majority of MNLF and MILF communities are located.” Galvez said.
He said that economic activities between Maguindanao del Norte and Island Provinces are expected to increase after the BARMM’s Ministry of Transportation approved Roll On/Roll Off (RoRo) operations in the area in April this year.
“Nakikita ko na may malaking potential ang Maguindanao del Norte. We are so happy that we are really united at andito tayong lahat ngayon kasama ang ating Sanguniang Panlalawigan,” Galvez said.
Maguindanao poised to become a “premiere province” in the Bangsamoro
Macacua said his province aims to become one of the premier provinces in the BARMM with the strong support coming from no less than President Marcos Jr. himself.
“Indeed, it [is] manifest that his Excellency Ferdinand Marcos Jr is very firm in extending his unwavering support of his administration,” Macacua said.
According to him, the BARMM is on the right track “with the vibrant economy, peaceful and resilient, safe environment of the people, and access to opportunities by transformational leaders with moral governance.”
Macacua expressed his desire to develop Maguindanao del Norte as a “top performing province in the Bangsamoro”.
“This [Marcos] administration[’s] [five-]point agenda emphasizes the promotion of peace, unity, reconciliation, and security because I believe that development is impossible if there is no peace, unity, reconciliation, and unity,” he highlighted.
Since he assumed office, President Marcos, Jr. has given the national government’s full and unwavering support to the Bangsamoro peace process.
In his remarks during the United Nations General Assembly in New York last year, he emphasized that the Bangsamoro peace process is the centerpiece of his administration’s peace agenda.
For her part, Vice Governor Sinsuat, said Maguindanao del Norte is in transition and is at the crux of positive change, and unity.
“Our province is still in transition thus I believe that working hand in hand to realize our shared objectives and vision is essential in turning Maguindanao del Norte into what our dear Governor Bapa Sammy Gambar aims to model and premiere the province in BARRM,” she said.
“I am very hopeful that the strong resilience and the respect and unity that President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has always promoted and instilled in his administration will guide the officials of the Province.”
“I also think that such unity contributes to stabilizing the province and both the transition of our unification. More importantly, it is our duty and responsibility to give the people of Maguindanao del Norte their well deserved rights as we aimed to provide them in the development of our community despite our ideological diversity, in essence. They have put their trust in us and we shall honor that with good public service,” she said.
“I am most delighted to inform everyone that the first Sangguniang Panlalawigan is working well with that aspect as we strengthened the agenda of progress and development of our dear Governor Sammy Gambar. We hope to have a governance that is honest and fair. We will practice leadership that will honor the essence of democracy,” She added.
At present the Sangguniang Panlungsod has passed 11 codes and eight mandatory plans for the new provinces.
The meeting was attended by the 11 town mayors. The board members were also complete. At least two town mayors from Maguindanao del Sur also attended the meeting. ###
