KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews / 1 Dec) – The Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA, or Peaceful and Resilient Communities) Program of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) has turned over P10-million worth of agricultural, water and infrastructure projects to two barangays in the municipality of Kabacan in North Cotabato.
The projects consist of a rice mill building (P2.250M), warehouse (P1.9M) and solar dryer (P688,750) in Barangay Pedtad and a peace center (P4.49M), solar dryer (P688,750) and water system rehabilitation (P71,250) in Barangay Nangaan.
The turnover ceremony in Pedtad, once a conflict-stricken village, was witnessed by Cotabato Gov. Emmylou “Lala” J. Taliño-Mendoza, Rep. Jose “Ping” Tejada (3rd Dist.) and Kabacan Mayor Herlo Guzman.
Pedtad Barangay Chairperson Romeo Mantawal, the barangay councilmen and residents received the projects.
The people of Pedtad, according to Mantawal, were happy to receive the projects, saying that PAMANA already put two projects in the village – a fishpond and rubber seedling dispersal program.
“We are indeed very fortunate to become again a recipient of these projects from PAMANA. We would like to thank Gov. Taliño-Mendoza for her efforts in identifying our village as recipient,” Mantawal said.
Nangaan Barangay Chairperson Matog Lumambas expressed his gratitude for the projects received by his village.
The peace center put up in the center of the village, he said, is a symbol of harmony and unity in the place despite the previous conflict situations encountered.
“This structure would somehow uphold the present peaceful situation here in the village of Nangaan. Along with other projects put up by PAMANA here, then we expect that peace would ultimately reign,” Lumambas said in his message.
He then lauded the governor for actively implementing livelihood projects not only in his place but also in other villages in Kabacan.
Many residents of Nangaan rely mainly on agriculture for their livelihood.
“Together with the provincial officials, I am doing my best to make sure that projects given by PAMANA will close the gaps in development and bring progress in war-affected villages like what we have in Kabacan as this is what OPAPP envisions to happen,” Taliño-Mendoza said.