MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, June 6 (PIA) --- The Enhancing Governance, Accountability and Engagement (ENGAGE) project which started here in the city has now extended to two other municipalities in the province.
“We launched the ENGAGE project in Taraka town on May 27 and in Balindong on May 28,” said Nadia Mocsana, Municipal and Community Engage Officer (MCEO) during PIA’s Ozor ka, Ranao! radio program.
She said the primary purpose of ENGAGE project is to improve peace and stability in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao by improving service delivery of local governments and strengthening their capacity, transparency and accountability.
Supported by the Unites States Agency for International Development (USAID), she said ENGAGE project also seeks to increase the involvement of citizens in governance through civic education, civil society strengthening, and promotion of participatory mechanisms.
Mocsana said one of the service gaps that they have identified for Taraka is youth development. “We will soon conduct youth assembly and consultation to come up with a youth development agenda which we will lobby to the town mayor for inclusion in their local development plans,” she further said.
On the other hand, service delivery identified for Balindong included capability programs on livelihood and peace and order.
“We will also assist them in developing a peace mechanism or an integrated community public safety plan that will serve as their guide in times of disasters like earthquake or family feuds, among others,” Mocsana added.
ENGAGE project is currently providing technical assistance to the Marawi City government for its ecological solid waste management (ESWM) program.
The ESWM program was launched by the city government on April 15, this year.
Mocsana said ENGAGE project is helping the Marawi City ESWM Board and TWG in creating special task forces (TF) to attain a maximum participation for the implementation of the city’s integrated ESWM program.
To date, three “basura busters” TF has been organized through the assistance of ENGAGE project. These are the Padian (market) TF, Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative (LASURECO) TF and the Mindanao State University (MSU) TF.
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