The fledgling Bangsamoro government in the south is pushing the autonomous region through a two-pronged approach to progress for an
“irreversible long-term” development rollout.
Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) said a stronger security had to be in place ahead of every big leap towards development, in order to keep
criminality and brigandage at bay.
Ebrahim led the ceremonies Tuesday in handing over keys of brand new police cars to different municipal police stations.
Also together with Interior and interior and local government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo, Senior Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua laid the cornerstone for a new legislative building in Mother Kabuntalan Municipality in Maguindanao del Norte, on Tuesday.
Sinarimbo said development of the BARMM would have to evolve twice as fast in order for the region to rise above the ruins of armed conflict, through enhanced local governance, and economic enterprise.
“Having been through the ruins of war, we have been left behind by our neighbors… So we have to move on the fast lane through development: first via far-enhanced local governance, and second, through stronger economic enterprise activities, utilizing the corporate powers of the local government,” Sinarimbo said.
Dr. Taugan Kikay, director-general of BARMM’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fishery and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), said the agency helps farmers recover from recent farm devastation brought about by tropical typhoon “Paeng.”
“It is with sincere gratitude that I handover to you these police cars as a symbol of our genuine support in intensifying all the possible measures to serve and protect our Bangsamoro communities,” Ebrahim told regional executive and legislative officials, as well as police officers led by BARMM PRO Director, Brig. Gen John Guyguyon.
Sinarimbo said the BARMM government is investing on both for the improvement of local governance, and on economic enterprise in which the local government units (LGUs) ought to activate their inherent corporate powers under the law.
Ebrahim said the BARMM procured the vehicles with funds provided by
members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament from their
individual transitional development impact fund (TDIF) for 2021.
Sinarimbo said the second venue of investment for the Bangsamoro government is designed to get the local economy rolling by providing LGUs with modern marketplace buildings—to the farthest municipality.
Last July, Sinarimbo said, BARMM officials broke the ground for the construction of municipal hall building for Sibutu, and a market building on stilt in Sitangkai in far Tawi-Tawi.
“Your BARMM government helps you take the risk by investing on economic infrastructure facilities that no private corporate entity would be much willing to provide. That is why you have to utilize the corporate power of your LGU,” Sinarimbo told local officials in Upi, Maguindanao Norte, led by Mayor Ma. Rona Cristina Piang-Flores.