Former Moro Guerillas Get Government Livelihood Support

COTABATO CITY [July 22, 2023] – Former Moro guerillas in Midsayap, Cotabato, received a government livelihood equipment grant aimed at enhancing their productivity and facilitating their integration into mainstream society.

Aliman Mantato, a 43-year-old Maguindanaon farmer, expressed his satisfaction with the P83 million worth of farming and fishing equipment provided by the Bangsamoro local government ministry last week.

Socio-Economic Objectives

He said that this grant signifies the government’s dedication to advancing the socio-economic objectives of the Mindanao peace process.

Mantato, who had been part of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) since 1983, is among the thousands of residents in several BARMM barangays in Midsayap, Cotabato province, within Administrative Region 12.

In Filipino, Mantato remarked, “Without livelihood support, our reintegration into the community shall surely be hard, tedious, and possibly even impossible.”

Such assistance for their successful reintegration after pledging allegiance to the government is important, he said.

The farming equipment for the clustered BARMM barangays in Midsayap was handed over to local leaders by regional officials. Minister Naguib Sinarimbo of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government-BARMM led the turnover.

Representatives from the MILF and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) also joined in the turnover.

The comprehensive farming and fishing equipment package consists of 10 farm tractors equipped with mechanical rice and corn planters and disc plows, 10 units of rice and corn harvesters, five rice planters, eight combine harvesters, and 300 fishing boats with engines and gears.

Big Help

Army Brig. Gen. Donald Gumiran of the Army’s 602nd Brigade expressed his belief that this program is a big help.

It can accelerate the government’s and BARMM’s efforts in enabling former Moro combatants and their families to become productive members of mainstream society after reintegrating.

He acknowledged that a “fragile peace” currently exists in the 63 Bangsamoro barangays scattered across different towns in Cotabato.

This peace is the result of joint community peacebuilding projects involving MILG-BARMM, local executives, the Philippine National Police, and units from the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.

Badria Manalasal, a 61-year-old widow of an MILF member, shared her optimism about the increased catch of fresh water fishes by her two adult sons from the nearby Liguasan Delta. She is a recipient of a motorized boat from the MILG-BARMM.

Midsayap Mayor Rolly Sacdalan expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., and the BARMM government for their focus on addressing the needs of the residents of Bangsamoro barangays in the municipality.

He emphasized that although these barangays are no longer under their jurisdiction following the residents’ decision to join the core territory of BARMM in a 2019 plebiscite, their welfare remains a significant concern for them.

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