27 farmers’ cooperatives receive agricultural inputs from Bangsamoro Government

DAVAO CITY –-A total of 27 farmers’ cooperatives here received various agricultural inputs from the Bangsamoro Government in a ceremony on March 5, in Salunayan, Midsayap Cluster.
 
The distribution is part of the livelihood support program known as Oplan Bangsamoro Rapid Assistance (OBRA), under the Tulong Alay sa Bangsamorong Nangangailangan (TABANG) Project—one of Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim’s flagship programs that provides immediate support to the Bangsamoro within and outside the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
 
The agricultural inputs, worth P11.9 million,  were intended primarily to improve rice and corn production in SGA.
 
These inputs comprised fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides, ‘palay’ certified seeds, hybrid corn seeds, and support for the livestock industry.
 
According to a post on the official social media account of the SGA Development Authority (SGADA), headed by Administrator Butch Malang, the ceremony symbolized cooperation aimed at uplifting living standards in remote areas, particularly in SGA.
 
SGA is a territory of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) scattered in different municipalities of Cotabato Province established through a lawful plebiscite in 2019, carving out 63 barangays from the municipalities of Carmen, Kabacan, Pikit, Midsayap, and Pigcawayan.
 
These barangays were later clustered into eight as part of their preparation to become local government units. On April 13, a plebiscite will be conducted to ratify laws passed in the regional parliament to create eight new towns in the area.
 
According to current laws, any creation, division, merger, abolition, or significant boundary alteration of local government units requires approval by a majority vote in a plebiscite conducted within the affected political unit or units.
 
SGADA Administrator Butch Malang personally graced the distribution along with TABANG Livelihood Unit Head Mohammad Asnur Pendatun, along with other officials from both offices. (Abdullah Matucan with reports from TABANG and SGADA)