COTABATO CITY, Philippines – The workforces of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of the Interior and Local Government serving the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have acquired modern equipment and facilities enhancing their implementation of foreign-funded interventions under the ARMM Social Fund Project (ASFP).

Engr. Nasser Sinarimbo, ASFP project manager, turned over on Sept. 29 to the DSWD-ARMM a brand new Nissan Navarra pick-up, laptop computers, digital cameras and a global positioning system (GPS) gadget that would boost the agency’s support services to projects funded by the World Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

DSWD-ARMM Acting Secretary Pombaen Karon Kader received the equipment at the monthly “ASFP Kapihan” here in time with Engr. Sinarimbo’s disclosure of their accomplishments under the 20-month regime of Acting Regional Governor Ansaruddin Adiong that lapsed on Sept. 30.

At the turnover rites, the ASFP also handed over some laptop computers to the DILG regional office in ARMM.

The regional DSWD and DILG offices are partner agencies of the ASFP in implementing projects funded by the World Bank and the JICA.

The DSWD undertakes the Community Development Assistance (CDA) components of the ASFP such as community-based infrastructures (CBI) and the learning livelihood and food sufficiency (LLFS), while the DILG carries out ASFP’s partner in the Institutional Strengthening and Governance (ISG) components of the social fund projects.

“Our partner agencies have proven exemplary supports over the years despite deficiencies in their operational resources,” Sinarimbo said.

He said the “DSWD-ARMM is an agency always on the go so we had to improve their mobility as well as provide them with an enabling environment for better performance.”

JICA Senior Representative Senichi Masuda told the ASFP media forum that Japan takes pride in its contribution to the peace and development efforts in Southern Philippines.

“Our interests are the development of the Filipino people as well as deepen the relationship between Philippines and Japan,” Masuda said.

ARMM Executive Secretary Naguib Sinarimbo, speaking on behalf of Adiong, said the regional leadership will continue its development initiatives with more vigor despite uncertainties in the Supreme Court deliberation on pending petitions questioning the constitutionality of RA 10153.