MAFAR-LEGAL INITIATES DIALOGUE WITH NORTH COTABATO TEAM FOR MAXIMUM SERVICE DELIVERY
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) successfully concluded the Dialogue Cum Inventory of Cases with the concerned Region XII Officials and Field Personnel in the Sixty-Three (63) Barangays of North Cotabato, on November 18-19, 2020 held at the MAFAR Conference Room.
The activity aimed at strengthening the ministry’s commitment to one of the Regional Government’s primary objectives of ensuring inclusive economic development for the Bangsamoro, including the 63 barangays of North Cotabato, under the municipalities of Carmen, Kabacan, Pikit, Aleosan, Midsayap and Pigcawayan, that are now officially part of the region.
Initiated by the MAFAR Legal Division, headed by Atty Nerissa O. Dalig, the dialogue kicked-off with a preliminary meeting among the lawyers, legal officers, paralegals, division and sectoral officials, to brainstorm on the agenda for the conference with focal representatives from the new member-barangays that ensued on the second day of the activity.
Atty. Dalig said the MAFAR management understood the need to conduct several coordinative meetings within its sectors for future consultation dialogues, collaborative works, and formulation of action plans with counterparts from North Cotabato in Region XII, to pave the way for better service delivery to clienteles in the areas, and ensure smooth implementation of agri-fishery and agrarian reform programs.
Meanwhile, Dr Macmod Mamalangcap, Focal Person for the 63 barangays, revealed that as of yet, there is no official provincial inclusion of these barangays. But despite this, he reported various services extended by the ministry. He further committed to submit their complete profile data that will serve as guide on what future interventions to provide, respective of it’s geographical identification and territorial boundaries.
Jarratul S. Radjid, Chief Agrarian Reform Officer (CARPO), stressed the importance of having an official turn-over of documents and databases to facilitate provisions of support services to the rightful beneficiaries, and harmonize with the existing programs.
CARPO Radjid added that land ownership issues had posed challenges in program implementation and she believed that a cleansed record would help lessen prevalent conflicts hindering sustainable socio-economic advancement.
Atty Dalig expressed strong intentions of formulating ways forward in bettering the delivery or services inclusive of the new member-barangays. “Nais nating iparamdam sa kanila ang kagandahan ng pagiging parte ng Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao”, she concluded.