New BARMM-funded public market to spur economic opportunities in Luuk, Sulu

COTABATO CITY A

P25-million public market being built by the Bangsamoro Government in Luuk, Sulu is expected to spur economic opportunities for thelocals.

The market is funded under the Office of the Chief Ministers Support to Local Moral Governance Program and is implemented by the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG).

MILG Minister Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo said the market will include modern amenities and spaces to accommodate newand existingvendors.

“This will open up new opportunities for locals, particularly in the business sector, and will generate more revenue for the local government in the long run,” hesaid.

Sinarimbo, MILG Sulu Provincial Directtor Emini Kadiri, Sulu 2nd District Congressman Abdulmuni Arbison, and Luuk Mayor Maryam Arbison led on March 19 the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) and groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the public market.

"We've been waiting for this project for a long time, and it's finally coming to fruition. This project will greatly benefit the people of Luuk by opening up new economic opportunities for us," said Congressman Arbison, noting that a new public market is much needed with the town’s growingpopulation.

In addition to thepublic market, also included in the MOA was the construction of two units of two-storey barangay halls in Luuk town each worth P5-million.

The barangay halls and the public market are funded through the Bangsamoro Appropriations Acts of 2022 and 2023, respectively. (with reports from MILG) MYRNA TEPADAN/BIO

‘Bola hindi Bala’: BARMM holds sports tourney to promote peace

COTABATO CITY The Bangsamoro Sports Commission (BSC) successfully held on March 11-18 the first Bangsamoro Sports for Peace which aimed to promote camaraderie, friendship, and sportsmanship among BARMM constituents andstakeholders.

Held in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur, BSC said the sports event also sought to serve as a tool for peace and an instrument to fight drug addiction and violent extremism, among others.

Competing for a bas- ketball and volleyball game, the event brought together players from the military, police, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and from the nine (9) municipalities comprising the SPMS Box, the military term for the neighboring towns of Shariff Aguak, Pagatin (Datu Saudi Ampatuan), Mamasapano, and Shariff Saydona.

BSC Commissioner for Maguindanao, Nu-Man Caludtiag, expressed his gratitude to their partners who helped and supported in therealization of the 1st Bangsamoro Sports for Peace, especially the host municipality Shariff Aguak.

Through these sports events, we could set aside our differences and barriers to each other as one Bangsamoro,” Caluntiag said.

“Let us consider the value of life above all. In these sports, we are also caring about our own health and our strength,” he added. (With reports from BSC)