LANAO DEL SUR – The township of Malabang in Lanao del Sur province in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) celebrated its “People Day” with various activities by different stakeholders.
ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman led the event held on March 1. “Andito po kami ngayon upang ilapit ang serbisyo ng gobyerno sa taumbayan…Tayo ay hinalal hindi upang maging hari. Tayo ay hinalal upang magserbisyo,” he told a huge crowd during a speech.
The ARMM Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team, in coordination with the region’s government agencies, provided free services to more than 800 beneficiaries from Malabang and nearby municipalities.
The menu of services showcased during the day includes the following surgical and dental service, blood screening for hypertension and diabetes, eye examination, circumcision, reading glasses distribution, distribution of hygiene kits for kids and orientation on proper hand washing, rido counselling, cultural mapping, business name registration and business counselling, demo on technology transfer such as food safety, Halal awareness, packaging and labelling; scholarship programs, demo on spicy anchovy-making, fish cake, among others.
The event also rendered free legal counselling, social pension pay-out for senior citizens, supplemental feeding and distribution of gill nets, plastic sealers, noodle machines, and fruit tree seedlings.
Domie Sembrano, 64, from Ansao village who was one of the beneficiaries of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, received gill nets for fishing and said the programs and projects of the government are a big help to them, especially for the local farmers.
“Nakatulong itong mga proyekto at programa ng gobyerno sa amin. Malaking tulong sa paghahanap-buhay namin. Kahit kaunti ay nakakatulong pa rin. Mabuti ang gobyerno,” he said.
The event coincided with the celebration of the 45th founding anniversary of the 6th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division. A ground-breaking ceremony of the ARMM HELPS (Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Governance and Synergy program) Multi-Purpose Building was also held. Governor Hataman together with 6th Infantry Division commander Major General Arnel dela Vega and Lieutenant Colonel Ruben Aquino led the ceremony that marked the start of the construction of the building.
Governor Hataman briefly discussed the importance of the presence of the military in maintaining peace and security as well as the significance of working together with local governments and the community to sustain long lasting peace in the region.
For his part, General Dela Vega also reiterated the importance of abiding the rule of law. Also present during the event were the mayors and village officials from the towns of Picong and Sultan Gumander, Balabagan, Kapatagan, Malabang and Marogong. (Bureau of Public Information)
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