MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) is optimistic that the Marawi City Agriculture Food Terminal would be a significant aid in the initiatives of the Bangsamoro government aiming to heighten food security in the region.

MAFAR Minister Dr. Mohammad Yacob stressed that this infrastructure, which was inaugurated Monday, May 8, is a product of the manifestation of the food security program of the Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

He revealed that the Bangsamoro Economic Development Council (BEDC) has approved the food security and nutrition plan, which will serve as a guide in the implementation of relevant undertakings.

Yacob stated that through this, his office anticipates more enforced projects anchored in the same mission.

"Ang MAFAR ay isa sa ministries na beneficiary ng food security plan. Mas nakikita natin na mayroon tayong more significant achievements in the next coming years kasi mayroon na tayong food security and nutrition roadmap," he said. 

(MAFAR is one of the ministries that is a beneficiary of the food security plan. We can see that there will be more significant achievements in the next few years because we have a food security and nutrition roadmap)

Yacob said they have been partnering closely with the city government, especially since it has been a priority of the Bangsamoro government in consideration of the tragic warfare it went through in 2017.

Apart from the Marawi City Agriculture Food Terminal, he shared that they are also constructing a similar building located in a different area and a cold storage facility, which would be beneficial for the farmers who cannot directly display their products in markets.

With the noted efforts, Yacob nonetheless expressed his desire to go beyond and do more with the city government to provide sufficient resources to the agricultural and fishing sectors and sustain their livelihoods.

"We hope that the MAFAR with the local government unit of Marawi will continue to have this partnership until we can satisfy the community of Marawi. MAFAR will continuously support, kung ano ang pwede pa namin maitulong para lalong mag-succeed ang kanilang paglagay ng kanilang mga produkto (whatever we can help for them to succeed in storing their products). We are committed to supporting the beneficiaries," he said. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)