ARMM holds info caravan on social fund projects

The second of a series of information caravan has been successfully initiated by the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) component of the ARMM Social Fund from February 26 to March 1, 2006 in selected and identified barangays in the province of Lanao del Sur.

The information caravan intends to strengthen the advocacy campaign of the ARMM Social Fund Projects in order to inform and reach out all stakeholders especially the local communities in the remotest barangays of the region of the programs and projects of the autonomous regional government under the leadership of Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan.

ARMM Social Fund Project has been implementing projects in identified barangays in the five component priovinces and one city of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) since 2003.

In Lanao del Sur, projects being undertaken include 400 meters Tire Path and Water System at Brgy. Sarang and a Vegetable Gardening as part of the Learning, Livelihood and Food Sufficiency (LLFS) program under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-ARMM) in Brgy. Madaya all in the municipality of Malabang.

Pilot projects such as Solar Dyer, Water System and Warehouse are already completed in Brgy. Kadapaan, Balindong. While at Barangay Buadababai in Ditsaan Ramain, Multi- Purpose Center was already completed and construction of Solar Drier and Warehouse and Communal Toilet are still on going.

Four Barangays in Wao are now benefiting and enjoying the projects of ARMM Social Fund. Three of which are already completed namely; 2 classroom Primary School Building at Brgy. Christian Village, Solar Drier and Warehouse at Brgy. Gata and a Day Care Learning Center at Brgy. Cebuano Group while on going is the construction of Health Center at Brgy. East Kilikili.

Both mayors Benjie Bagul and Elvino Balicao of Balindong and Wao respectively, expressed gratitude and thanked the leadership of the ARMM for the continuing support in providing these projects and selecting their municipalities as recipients of the ARMM Social Fund Projects.

Present during the 3-day information caravan were officials of the DSWD-ARMM headed by its two assistant secretaries, Ms. Pombaen Kader for Administration and Ms. Soraida Biruar Ampatuan for Operations, officials and staff of ASFP, Ms. Irene Gonzales, head of the Institutional Strengthening and Governance (ISG) of the IEC component, Mr. Norodin Lumambas, Monitoring and Evaluation head and Ms. Haja Mariam Abdulkasan, Community and Development Assistance (CDA) head and members of the press composed of Print, Television and Broadcast media from Coatabto City.

The first information caravan was undertaken in the municipalities of Shariff Aguak and Paglat in the province of Maguindanao in December of last year. (BPI-ARMM)