BULUAN, Maguindanao, Philippines – The provincial government of Maguindanao received some P12 million worth of livelihood assistance under the PAMANA or Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Peaceful and Resilient Communities) program to finance livelihood projects in the province.

Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu formally received the check worth P12 million from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) at a simple turnover ceremony held at the Maguindanao Fresh Water Fish Hatchery in Barangay Poplin, this town.

OPAPP was represented by PAMANA Area Manager for Central Mindanao Johnnel V. Raneses and was joined by Maguindanao town Mayors Ibrahim G. Mangudadatu, Freddie G. Mangudadatu, and Marshall Sinsuat, and Col. Dece Yabo.

The fund will finance projects, such as freshwater fish hatchery, water hyacinth handicraft production, halal cattle fattening, Ligwasan organic fertilizer production, halal techno-demo on dairy goat production, and vegetable production.

The project aim to improve socio-economic conditions by providing income-generating activities in various conflict-affected communities in the municipalities of Buluan, Pandag, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Sultan Kudarat, and Datu Abdullah Sangkim, Mother Kabuntalan, among others, with the end goal of linking these municipalities to the economic centers of the province and the region.

The water hyacinth handicraft project, for example, aims to assist the Women’s Rural Improvement Club Consumer’s Cooperative in expanding their handicraft-making business by using water hyacinths or water lilies growing at the Liguasan Marsh.

PAMANA is a national government program and framework for peace and development aimed to seek and to reduce poverty, improve governance, and empower communities, particularly in conflict-affected areas.

Mangudadatu thanked the national government for its efforts in improving the lives of Maguindanao residents, particularly the internally-displaced persons (IDPs), through the PAMANA program.

“PAMANA is a program by the government. (In Mindanao, the projects will be) for the IDPs and the needy,” he said. “We will be focusing on PAMANA projects to ensure that these will be properly implemented and will reach those who are truly in need.”

PAMANA will also support the establishment of the Maguindanao Halal Institute (MHI), in coordination with the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos.

The MHI aims to consolidate efforts in all aspects of halal initiatives, thereby propelling the economy in the south.

Dr. Norodin Kuit, regional halal program officer of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said it is a “marching order from the provincial governor to make Maguindanao province as the Halal Production and Processing Hub or Center of the Philippines.”