MARAWI CITY (PIA)—To ensure the safety of children from car-hit accidents while playing along the circumferential road of Lake Lanao, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) has allocated P4.6 million for the construction of a children’s outdoor playground, a public toilet, and the installation of solar street lights at Tuca Maul village in the municipality of Marantao.

With the initiative of Member of Parliament (MP) Diamila Disimban-Ramos, the groundbreaking ceremony was held on March 17. The project is funded under the 2021 Transitional Development Impact Fund (TDIF).

The facility is an outdoor playground, where children gather and enjoy the outdoors, allowing them to cultivate social connection, nurture physical development, and experience comprehensive growth, including their self-confidence, independence, and self-esteem.

Ramos said that through this project, the people, especially the children, in the said barangay will feel more secure as they walk toward their destination because of the solar street lights. She said it is also good for the environment because of the use of renewable energy.

"In response to your request, I am grateful for the opportunity to identify this municipality as a recipient of these projects so that our community members have access to essential facilities such as our identified public toilet, solar street lights, and a children’s outdoor playground," Ramos said.

Ramos said having a better public toilet can satisfy their need for personal hygiene and cleanliness, while the solar lights will provide a brighter and safer way for everyone to avoid accidents and other bad events.

Barangay Chairman Mohammad Jamal Tanggote said, "Makakatulong po talaga sa komunidad namin, lalo na po ang children’s playground and 25 solar street lights, dahil iyong mga bata ay madalas na naglalaro sa may daanan, lagi po sila na aksidente. Pangalawa, ang solar lights, Alhamdulillah, kailangan talaga sa barangay namin dahil medyo madilim lalo na malapit sa mosque. Sa proyekto na 'to, maliwanag na tuwing magsisimba."

(It will really help our community, especially the children's playground and the 25 solar street lights, because those children often play on the road, and they always have accidents. Second, the solar lights, Alhamdulillah, are really needed in our barangay because it is quite dark, especially near the mosque. In this project, it is clear that every time we go to church)

As such, Tanggote expressed his gratitude to the BARMM government and the office of MP Diamila Disimban-Ramos.

The implementation of the program is in partnership with the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) and is expected to be turned over in July this year. (BIO/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)