British
envoy and USAID official hand Php1.5M worth of seaweed post-harvest
facilities to MNLF ex-rebels in Basilan
BASILAN,
MINDANAO --- British Ambassador to the Philippines Paul Dimond
and US Agency for International Development (USAID)
Economic Growth Advisor Robert Barnes handed over this week (December
16) Php1.5 million worth of seaweed post-harvest facilities and
a wooden port to former combatants of the Moro National Liberation
Front (MNLF), an ex-rebel group that signed a Peace Agreement with
the Philippine Government in 1996.
The ceremonial
turn-over was conducted in Tumakid, a coastal Barangay in the Muncipality
of Lamitan, here in Basilan, where 75 members of the Al-Fathati
Islamic Producers Multi-Purpose Cooperative are farming seaweed
in a 33-hectare production site.
"This milestone
event highlights a strong commitment for peace and development in
Mindanao, and is a leap towards achieving your long-yearned desire
to change the landscape of the region into a productive and peaceful
home for your people, and children," said Dimond.
He explained
that although the road to a sustained peace and prosperity in Mindanao
might face some obstacles, but as long the commitment for peace
is alive among the people, there is no reason why this goal can't
be achieved.
Meanwhile, Barnes
added that the facilities will directly benefit the MNLF combatants
and their families and will undoubtedly benefit other members of
the community.
"These projects
are just examples of the 800 small-scale infrastructure and post-harvest
facility projects that USAID, in partnership with the Philippine
Government are planning to build through August 2007," he said.
The facilities
which included a seaweed warehouse and solar dryer package and a
50-meter wooden port were constructed with British Government Assistance
through the Livelihood Enhancement and Peace (LEAP) Program, a USAID-supported
program that aims to provide former MNLF combatants a peaceful means
of livelihood through rice and corn production, or seaweed farming.
"If we take
a moment to really think about what we see, this small-scale infrastructure
projects are not really so small after all. They are a reflection
of something really big and powerful which is the power that comes
with partnerships, and a commitment to peace and prosperity," concluded
Barnes.
The British
Government provided the funds for the establishment of the Php1
million seaweed warehouse and solar dryer package, while the US
Government, through the USAID handled the Php500,000 wooden port.
Dimond added
that the US, British and the Philippine Governments together with
the MNLF will continue to work for lasting peace in the island-region
of Mindanao by implementing projects that truly demonstrate our
commitment for peace and prosperity.
"The collaboration
of these three governments together with the MNLF exhibits more
than an inspiration for achieving economic development in Mindanao,
but is also a concrete expression of the benefits of peace," he
explained.
Dimond and Barnes
were accompanied by MNLF Chairman Hatimil Hassan, Basilan Governor
Wahab Akbar, Congressman Jerry Salappudin, Bangasamoro Women Foundation
for Peace and Development Executive Director Nawira Rasdi, Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Secretary of Labor Emmanuel Alano
and ARMM Agriculture and Fisheries Secretary Nasar Salmani who represented
in behalf of ARMM Gov. Parouk Hussin.
Lamitan Municipal
Mayor Innocente Ramos, GEM
Program Manager Charles Feibel, LEAP Program Manager Noel Ruiz and
British Embassy Development Officer Sherah Chua also attended the
event.
"The 64-square
meter warehouse was designed to provide storage space for about
750 sacks of dried seaweed, and to ensure the farmers that their
product's quality will not be affected by rain and other contaminants,"
explained Noel Ruiz, LEAP Program Manager.
He said that
the use of bamboo solar dryers will also protect the harvested seaweed
from mixing with sand, grit, dirt and other materials that could
affect the quality and selling price of the produce.
"The wooden
port on the other hand will increase the efficiency in the handling
of either harvested seaweed, or seedlings to be planted in the nearby
production sites which are located along the barangay's coastal
line," stressed Ruiz, while adding that the facility would also
prevent damage of the existing coral reef in the area."
Since 1997,
the LEAP Program, with the support of other partner-agencies, has
assisted over 21,000 former combatants, and has provided post-harvest
facilities and community development assistance to some 570 communities
where former MNLF combatants and their families reside. It is being
implemented in collaboration with the Mindanao Economic Development
Council (MEDCo).
The British
Government is among LEAP Program's pioneering partners, extending
various forms of support to livelihood activities of former MNLF
combatants. Among these include Php2 million worth of production
inputs for more than 300 former MNLF combatants and their families
in Maguindanao province.
Over Php500
thousand worth of post-harvest equipment for corn production were
also provided by the British Government to MNLF communities in the
provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur.
In addition,
a women's cooperative in Lake Buluan in Maguindanao received over
Php300 worth of motor boats and fish boxes to help them engage in
direct marketing of fish such as Tilapia. An institutional development
and management training was also conducted for the cooperative.
Another cooperative
also in the same province was provided with a banana processing
shed complete with tools and other materials to initiate manufacture
of banana chips that are currently sold within and outside of the
Municipality of Buluan. The Php300 thousand worth of livelihood
assistance included a start-up capital, water system, and packaging
materials. (Louie Rodaje, LEAP Program
| December 2003)
