COTABATO CITY – The Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in Upi, Maguindanao recently received P5 million worth of livelihood projects from the Department of Agrarian Reform in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DAR-ARMM).
Amihilda Sangcopan, DAR-ARMM Secretary, said the livelihood projects are part of the Bottom-up Budgeting Program of the department. “The budget preparation for the program is guided by needs identified at the grassroots level and is aimed at substantial poverty reduction,” said Sec. Sangcopan.
The budget program also empowers the grassroots at the community level and strengthens the relationship and partnership between the government and civic society organizations. The bottom-up approach is done by increasing citizens’ access to local service delivery via a demand-driven budget planning process.
“The projects could provide opportunities for households to employ themselves and others through entrepreneurship,” DAR Maguindanao provincial agrarian reform officer Hadja Bai Cabayan Bacar said.
For Upi’s part, Mayor Ramon Piang, Sr. said the municipal government has allocated P2 million in counterpart fund for the realization of the projects that include tricycle transport service, inland fishery, piggery, cut-flowers production, organic feeds production, organic chicken production, charcoal briquetting and motor repair shop.
“Admittedly, most of the people here in Upi, lack the technical knowledge to start and successfully run a business,” said Mayor Piang. “But through these livelihood projects and programs, the people of Upi will have the opportunity to employ themselves. We are very grateful to DAR-ARMM for awarding the project to us,” he added.
He also reiterated that the program will provide the beneficiaries working, or start-up, capital in establishing their business, or enterprise, as well as training on how to start and develop their livelihood. (Bureau of Public Information)
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