MAGUINDANAO – The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) has paved the way for the sprouting of reinvigorated communities and helped spur the economic growth of this town and neighboring areas, outgoing 6th Infantry Division commander Major General Romeo Gapuz said.
“Kung kayo ay mag-obserba sa ating paligid, kusang umuusbong ang mga komunidad dito sa ating highway. Kusa ring umuusbong ang mga kalakalan magmula sa Awang hanggang Gensan (If you observed our surroundings, new communities have mushroomed along the highway. Also, trade between Awang [in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao] to General Santos City has become vibrant,” he stressed.
Gapuz also cited that traffic has become heavy from this town to Awang, the headquarters of the 6th ID, which can now be traveled by an hour from 35 minutes before due to people’s hectic activities along the stretch.
The military official, who is retiring on May 26, was one of the key guests during Guindulungan town’s 11th foundation anniversary.
Gapuz rallied the residents to continue supporting the CAB, the peace deal between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed last March 27.
The CAB envisions the creation of the Bangsamoro government. It will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao once Congress enacts the Bangsamoro Basic Law and ratified in a plebiscite.
“Doon sa pagkapirma ng Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, narito na sa ating harapan ang sinasabi nilang kapayapaan. Kapayapaan para sa ating bayan, kapayapaan para sa ating lahat (With the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, peace is now before us. Peace for our nation, peace for everyone),” Gapuz said.
He urged the residents to do their part in nurturing the peace and make it a way of life.
Mayor Datu Antao Midtimbang said the local government supports the CAB and that its people are ready to participate in the plebiscite.
“Sapagkat iyan ang hinahangad natin for 42 years, iyan ang hinahangad ng mga tao na magkaroon ng kapayapaan (Our people have been longing for peace for 42 years),” the official said.
Midtimbang also strongly believed that a just and lasting peace will empower the people and continue to bring development to the town.
“Noon ang ginagawa lang ng mga tao sa kalsada mag istorya-istorya, ngayon naisip nila na magtrabaho na, maghanap-buhay ng marangal na trabaho, makiisa sa central government at saka yung layunin ng MILF (Before people would just gossip along the roads but now they think of engaging in decent work, and be one with the objectives of the central government and the MILF).” Midtimbang said.
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