BULUAN, Maguindanao -- Members of 15 Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) cooperatives look forward to raising their productivity and increasing their incomes through fifteen (15) tractors equipped with implements (rotavator, disc harrow and disc plow), One (1) harvester, corn hybrid seeds and fertilizers provided under the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) Program.

The first batch of equipment was turned over to 10 MNLF cooperatives on December 11, 2020, while the same farming equipment and implements were handed over to five MNLF cooperatives on Wednesday, August 11, 2021.

The MNLF farmer-beneficiaries come from the municipalities of Buldon, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Paglas, Datu Piang, Mangudadatu, Montawal, Pagalungan, Shariff Saydona, Sultan Sa Barongis, Sultan Mastura and Upi in Maguindanao.

The turnover was led by Cesar De Mesa, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) director and PAMANA National Program Management Office head, and Maguindanao Provincial Governor Bai Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu.

De Mesa explained that PAMANA is among the initiatives being implemented by the national government to uplift the socioeconomic conditions and empower people situated in conflict-affected and conflict-vulnerable communities across the country.

“Pag upo ng ating Presidente, meron siyang 6-Point Peace and Development Agenda. At ito ay isa sa mga ‘yun. Ang OPAPP, sa pamumuno ni Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr ay ang nakatutok sa 6-Point Development Agenda ng Presidente Duterte. So meron tayong peace effort with the MNLF and other groups at ongoing po ‘yan,” De Mesa said.

He emphasized that economic empowerment can only be achieved if all stakeholders will work hand-in-hand, as he encouraged project beneficiaries and residents to cooperate and contribute to the government’s peacebuilding and development efforts.

“Kalimutan na natin itong mga paghawak ng mga baril. Ang hawakan na natin itong mga farm equipment nang sa ganun ay papasok ang development sa inyo at sa inyong communities,” De Mesa said.

OPAPP, which oversees the implementation of the PAMANA Program, released the funds directly to the provincial government of Maguindanao for the implementation of the PhP 43 million project under the PAMANA-Department of Agriculture productivity support initiative.

“Sa tulong na rin ng OPAPP PAMANA, tayo ay nagbigay ng mga farm machineries. Pinipilit po nating gawin na maramdaman, mailapit at mapakinggan ninyo ang mga programa ng gobyerno,” said Governor Sangki-Mangudadatu.

The PAMANA-DA project aims to improve socio-economic conditions in conflict-affected and conflict vulnerable areas, as well as in areas covered by Peace Agreements through focused delivery of service; enhance the capacities of national government agencies and local government for pursuing conflict-sensitive, peace-promoting, and gender-sensitive approach to development; empower communities and strengthen their capacities to address issues of conflict and peace through activities that promote social cohesion; increase the rice and corn production of farmers, as well as and improve and mechanize their rice and corn production. (OPAPP)