Works for fire station building in Maguindanao Norte town launched

By ALI G. MACABALANG & ANISA B. MACABALANG-DILANGALEN

KIDAPAWAN CITY – Officials led by Maguindanao del Norte OIC-Governor Abdulraof Macacua broke the ground on Thursday, April 13 for the construction of a fire station building in Datu Blah

As this developed, the provincial leadership of North Cotabato expressed elation over the development initiative, with a hope that similar edifices will be built by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governance in the clusters of 63 of their barangays that now belong to the BARMM territory.

“LGUs (local government units) in BARMM are more blessed nowadays. The bright prospects are also true to the 63 of our barangays that have voted for inclusion in the regional autonomous territory,” the office of North Cotabato Gov. Lala Taliño-Mendoza was quoted as saying on Thursday afternoon.

Since the start of full operations by the BARMM governance four years ago, regional ministries have already built concrete roads and barangay halls in many of the 63 villages, according to published reports.

Launched on Thursday were works for the construction of a fire station in Dau Blah Sinsuat town worth P7-million out of the BARMM government budget, according Regional Interior and Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo.

Sinarimbo and former

NCMF hosts Iftar dinner at its main office in Quezon City

By ABDUL HANNAN M. TAGO

Sinsuat town in what they described as a bold step in the vow of the appointed governor to make his new turf a top province in the Bangsamoro autonomous region.

April 5, during which President Ferdinand Bongbbong” Marcos Jr. swore him in formally in Malacañang.

The President also named Mariam SangkiMangudadatu as OICGovernor in Maguindanao del Sur. But the lady official on April 9 staged an online broadcast, denouncing such a designation. She asked for reconsideration of the appointments, claiming the President lacked authority to make the appointments under existing laws.

The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) on Thursday, April 13, hosted an iftar event at its headquarters in Quezon City, inviting various dignitaries to break their fast and enjoy a meal together. This annual event is a traditional gathering for Muslimsduring the holy month of Ramadan, where they break their fast at sunset with family and friends.

The NCMF, a government agency tasked with promoting and protecting the rights of Muslim Filipinos, organized the iftar as a way to strengthen solidarity and promote understanding between the Muslim community and non-Muslims. The event was attended by government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and other prominent figures in Philippine society.

Maguindanao 1st District Congresswoman Sandra Sema alongside local officials accompanied OICGovernor Macacua in the groundbreaking ceremony.

Macacua and Sinarimbo told reporters that once the fire station is erected for operation, the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government would provide a brand new fire truck for Datu Blah Sinsuat town.

The Bureau of Fire Protection will eventually provide personnel to man the outfit once operational when operational, it was learned.

Before the creation of BARMM, 95 percent of 117 towns in the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim

Mindanao were bereft of fire stations and fire trucks, according to BFP statistics.

In their messages before host residents led by Mayor Marshall Sinsuat, Macacua, who is concurrent BARMM senior minister, and Sinarimbo assured that more assistance from the regional government will continue to flow in all LGUs within the area of autonomy including Datu Blah Sinsuat(DBS) town.

Last year, DBS got a modern municipal hall as well as other unprecedented infrastructures funded under BARMM allocations.

Macacua was appointed OIC-Governor for Maguindanao del Norte on

On April 11, Macacua held a press conference in Cotabato City and echoed his message and those of some key national cabinet members for the people of the two new Maguindanao provinces to respect the Presidential decision.

Macacua pointed out that his designation is not covered under the government’s peace deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that prompted the establishment of BARMM.

He believed his appointment was imbued with the trust of the ChiefExecutive, even as he pledged to exert his best efforts to preserve the trust by way of making Maguindanao del Norte the best BARMM province. (AGM/ABMD)