ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 10, 2012) – Zamboanga Sibugay province in the southern Philippines has become the latest recipient of government’s PAMANA stimulus fund that will benefits tens of thousands of families in different towns.
PAMANA is the acronym for “Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Peaceful and Resilient Communities) program of President Benigno Aquino III.
Through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) headed by Secretary Teresita Deles, the government handed additional P30 million PAMANA funds for the municipalities of Olutanga, Talusan, Titay and Tungawan. The funds will cover various projects such as road rehabilitation, water supply system and seaweed production among others.
The province recently celebrated its 11th Araw ng Sibugay which was attended by OPAPP Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo, Congressman Romeo Jalosjos Jr., Tungawan Mayor Randy Climaco, Payao Mayor Joeper Mendoza and Titay Mayor Maria Esperanza Corazon Rillera. And also PAMANA-Mindanao area manager Vic Borgonia and other local government officials led by Zamboanga Sibugay Governor Rommel Jalosjos who led the festivities.
“Ang Zamboanga Sibugay ay patuloy na makakatangap ng tulong sa PAMANA. Inaasahan naming magiging modelo ito for peace and development. Nagpapasalamat kami dahil ang maliit na pondo para sa mga maraming proyekto ay napupunan at nadadagdagan ng inyong local government. (Zamboanga Sibugay will continue to receive assistance from PAMANA. We expect it to be a model community for peace and development. We are thankful that the local government provides counterpart funds which further add to the limited funds for various projects.),” Montalbo said.
He praised the strong commitment to peace and development by the provincial and municipal governments.
Apart from the P30 million provided by the national government, the Zamboanga Sibugay provincial government committed to give an additional P7 million to demonstrate its support for the projects and enhance the peace condition in the area.
Last year, Zamboanga Sibugay received financial aid for road rehabilitation projects in three of its municipalities, namely Tungawan, Payao and Mabuhay. It was the first financial intervention from the current national administration to the province.
“Through PAMANA, we were able to implement road rehabilitation in 12 barangays. We aim to continue building a concrete pathway to peace and development,” Jalosjos said, adding “peace is a legacy which both PAMANA and my administration wish to give to Zamboanga Sibugay. Dili tayo pinabayaan ng national government, lahat nakaka-benefit sa mga proyekto ng PAMANA. The key to progress and development is peace and order (The national government didn’t forget us. We all benefit from the projects they deliver).”
PAMANA is the national government’s program and framework for peace and development for conflict-affected areas such as Zamboanga Sibugay. It aims to reduce poverty, improve governance and empower communities through projects that boost peace and development. (With a report from Ely Dumaboc)
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