Gov’t, MILF to jumpstart socio-economic development as part of transition today

From the MILF Website (Feb 12): Gov’t, MILF to jumpstart socio-economic development as part of transition today



No less than Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and MILF Chairman Al haj Murad Ebrahim will lead officials of both Parties in the launching of socio-economic development today for civilian communities in Mindanao especially highly depressed ones including those of indigenous communities and migrants.

The venue for this launching, code named Sajahatra Bangsamoro, will be at the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI) Training Center in Crossing Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

Sajahatra, which means peace or blissful, is a word common to most Moro ethnic tribes with some minor variations in pronouncement. The word has Malayo-Polynesian root. In Malaysia, it is pronounced as sejehatraan.

These socio-economic program for Bangsamoro communities in Mindanao is one of the functions of the Transition Commission (TC), whose membership is expected to be named very soon.

According to a well-placed source, who requested anonymity for lack of authority to speak on the issue, disclosed that President Aquino has already signed the appointment papers for the 15-man TC and will be announced soon.

The source further said that three members of the TC come from Sulu, two men and one woman, one from Basilan, a Christian woman with Moro blood, two from Maguindanao, one of whom is a member of the T’duray tribe, and one from Lanao. Both TC members from Maguindanao are reportedly women.

According to Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and Esmail Pasigan, a member of the MILF Peace Panel Secretariat and coordinator of the project on the part of the MILF, the program signifies the partnership of the government (GPH) and the MILF in working towards peace and development of Bangsamoro communities.

To join Aquino and Murad are Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles, the GPH peace panel led by Chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, the MILF Peace Panel led by its Chair Mohagher Iqbal, and other members of the central leadership of the MILF as well as representatives of involved government agencies, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Agriculture (DA) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Other officers of the MILF are likewise expected to attend. Also invited is Malaysian facilitator Tengku Dato Ab' Ghafar Tengku bin Mohammed and Malaysian head of secretariat Che Khasna, but only the latter has arrived so far.

Sajahatra Bangsamoro will focus on health, education, and livelihood services.

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