MANILA – The Japanese government turned over farm equipment to a peace and development community (PDC) in Barangay Diocolano Tamontaka V in Cotabato City to help jumpstart its agri-aqua livelihood venture.
The farm equipment was received by community leaders, members of Barangay Diocolano and representatives from the Margues Agriculture Cooperative, who are planning to excavate a fishpond and plant coconut and fruit trees within the area, as well as an expansion of a bigger poultry farm.
The equipment was made possible under the Enhancing Food Security and Livelihood in Bangsamoro project which is implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)-Philippines and funded by the Japanese government.
According to the UNDP, “through the generous support of the Government of Japan, it is able to support and sustain peacebuilding and recovery in the Bangsamoro region and nearby provinces by delivering peace dividends to marginalized and underserved communities.”
The scope of the project is to reach a diverse set of communities of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), outside the core Bangsamoro territory, communities of the Moro National Liberation Front (MILF), indigenous people’s communities, settler communities, and other vulnerable populations in the region, it added.
A poultry farm in Barangay Diocolano made possible through the initiatives of the UNDP with funding from the Japanese Government. (Photo courtesy of Karen A. Ow-Yong / DZRH)
During the turnover ceremony held at Diocolano Elementary School, First Secretary Asuka Ishizaka of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines said that she is hopeful that the backhoe to be handed over to the community will be a “seed” for the peace and development that the community aims to achieve.
“We are pleased to handover the backhoe over (there) today to this community for the purpose of constructing community assets and infrastructure such as a farm(s), coconut farms, fruit farms and poultry farms,” Ishizaka said in her keynote message during the ceremony.
“So compared to the long-term struggles and hardships you experience(s), maybe this intervention is very small, but I hope this intervention will be a seed for the peace dividends so that the community people, including the children of this community can harvest more fruits of peace in the future,” she added.
Economic Section of the Embassy of Japan First Secretary Tachikawa Jumpei and Political/ Economic Section First Secretary Ishizaka Asuka receives tokens of appreciation from community leaders of Barangay Diocolano Tamontaka V in Cotabato City. (Photo courtesy of Karen A. Ow-Yong / DZRH)
Barangay Diocolano was a former major camp of the MNLF, also known as Camp Sarapudin, with majority of its community members holding ranks in the organization, including the current barangay captain, Maj. Gen. Datun “Doc” Diocolano, who served as Chief of Staff of the Bangsamoro Armed Forces.
