Key Philippine Military and Insurgency-Related Events: MILF: ‘We hope Quick Impact Project will usher community socio-economic dev’t”: JICA

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

MILF: ‘We hope Quick Impact Project will usher community socio-economic dev’t”: JICA

Posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Website (May 26): ‘We hope Quick Impact Project will usher community socio-economic dev’t”: JICA

An official of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) expressed optimism that the Quick Impact Project (QIP) will usher socio-economic development of the community during the turn-over of a multi-purpose hall in a remote village of Sarangani Province last Wednesday (May 18).

”We hope that through this facility, opportunities will come your way to contribute to the development of this community,” said Naoyuki Ochiai, Head and Chief Leader of JICA Cotabato Project Office, in his message addressed to the People’s Organization (PO), constituents and local officials of Barangay Burias, Glan, Sarangani Province.

Burias is one of the 20 conflict affected communities in Mindanao which received the QIP, a development initiative implemented by JICA and Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) in cooperation with the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA).

Ochiai urged the QIP beneficiaries to support the Bangsamoro peace process and assured them that JICA and the Japanese Government remain steadfast in its commitment to support the peaceful resolve to the Bangsamoro problem.

Engr. Mohajirin T. Ali, Project Director of Comprehensive Capacity Development Project for the Bangsamoro (CCDP-B) of the BTC also urged the beneficiaries to give extra care to the project to assure its sustainability.

He said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has its own development arm, the BDA, which manifests the Front’s consideration to the situation of the Bangsamoro people.

“With the project that will benefit the community,” Ali explained that the people will now feel the dividends of peace even the Bangsamoro government is not yet established.

Ali related that it was MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim and JICA President Akihiro Tanaka who agreed on the quick impact projects in their meeting following the signing of the GPH - MILF Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) last March 27, 2014 in Malacanang Palace.

Commissioner Ibrahim Ali of the BTC said the fruit of the peace agreement is not only for the communities inside the Bangsamoro territory but also for those from outside.

The Commissioner reiterated to the PO to take care of the project citing that management is their responsibility.

Yuko Tanaka, Senior Representative of JICA, said in order to ensure that the facility is well-maintained, the PO has vital role to play. She added the project also brought capacity-building training to the organization.

BDA Regional Manager for Southern Mindanao Alimuddin Hadjinor thanked JICA for the facility and also asked the PO to do their best to sustain the project where the people can hold affairs and trainings.

Osmeña Salisipan, Provincial Vice-Chair of MILF Political Committee in Sarangani, also thanked JICA, BTC and BDA and assured the stakeholders of the local MILF’s commitment of support to development interventions in Southern Mindanao.

Burias Barangay Chairman Victor Siao Sr. was also thankful for the project and hoped the multi-purpose hall will strengthen unity of its constituents. Burias is comprised of Moro, Christians and Indigenous People.

There are 18 Multi-Purpose Halls, one school building and warehouse with solar drier all over Mindanao and island provinces under the QIP.