As part of its support to the current implementation of the Mindanao Trust Fund Reconstruction and Development Program (MTF-RDP) currently implemented by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), local government unit of Maasim in Sarangani province provided financial counterpart amounting to Php 989,325.00 to the project on March 20, 2015 held at the Legislative Hall of Maasim.

Said assistance was received by people’s organizations (POs) of barangays Lumasal, Amsipit and Daliao where sub-projects under MTFRDP are being implemented.

Maasim Vice-Mayor Uttoh Salem Cutan said the financial assistance is the fulfillment of LGU’s commitment to share their resources for the successful implementation of development projects benefitting their target communities.

The PO officers expressed gratitude to the municipal government of Maasim for the financial asssitance.

BDA-SouthMin Regional Manager Mohalikin D. Piang hailed Maasim and described the town as “exemplary development partner” to BDA program implementation.

“This municipality has been showing strong partnership with BDA since we engaged in project implementation several years ago,” Piang remarked.

Cutan said BDA’s interventions to target communities promote development and unity among the Muslims, indigenous people (IP) and Christian constituents of Maasim.

He expressed gratitude to BDA and the international donors for reaching out Maasim with their development program.

Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Alberto Arquillano thanked BDA and looked forward seeing Maasim a well-developed municipality in the near future because of development assistance BDA and other partners bring.

“BDA is always in our mind and we see to it that we allocate budget as our financial counterpart to the program” he related.

For the cycle 2 sub-projects, barangay Lumasal is currently constructing one unit 15m x 20m Solar Drier with one unit travelling corn sheller, and water system supply level 2. Barangay Daliao has Trading Center being built while three units solar drier with warehouse are being erected in Amsipit.

The MLGU counterpart is 12% of the total sub-project cost. The Barangay Local Government Unit shares 5% while the PO gives 3%.

A total of nine barangays of Sarangani Province are recipients of MTF-RDP. The program started last April 26, 2012 and will end by April 25, 2015.