TFBM completes restoration of two more mosques in Marawi’s MAA

White Mosque in Brgy. Lumbaca Madaya, Marawi City

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)–In response to the directive of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to prioritize the restoration of the damaged mosques in the City, Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) inaugurated two additional mosques that were repaired inside the most affected area (MAA) of the Islamic City.

TFBM Chairperson Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario led the inauguration rites for Masjid Marinaut in Brgy. East Marinaut and White Mosque in Brgy. Lumbaca Madaya on Thursday, September 16, signaling the completion of the rehabilitation of the two religious sites which were damaged during the five-month siege in 2017.

Del Rosario was joined by City Mayor Majul Gandamra, TFBM Field Office Manager Asec. Felix Castro Jr., and the respective administrators of the two mosques.

Del Rosario said the President has instructed that the first structures that should be completed in the war-torn city should be the mosques taking note of the importance of these religious structures to Muslims.

According to the TFBM chief, a total of 11 mosques are in the pipeline for repair and reconstruction this year. These mosques, he said, will be completed by TFBM.

“Labing-isa ang nasa pipeline; of that 11 ang natapos ay apat na, lima ang ongoing construction, at dalawa ay ipapagawa ng Indonesia government, magprovide sila ng grant for the construction of two mosques. Then within the month, we are requesting the mayor to identify five more mosques para isama natin, so a total of 16 masjids to be reconstructed,” he said.

(Eleven are in the pipeline; of that 11, four have been completed, five are under ongoing construction, and two will be constructed by the Indonesian government, they will provide a grant for the construction of two mosques. Then within the month, we are requesting the mayor to identify five more mosques for us to include, so a total of 16 masjids are to be reconstructed.)

TFBM has already inaugurated Disomangcop Mosque and Masjid Darussalam earlier this year.

The reconstruction of the Dansalan Bato Mosque, one of the oldest and well-known places of Islamic worship not only in Mindanao but in the entire country, is ongoing while the repair of the Grand Mosque is nearing completion.

Del Rosario said they expect the completion of the Grand Mosque in October which will coincide with the fourth anniversary of Marawi liberation.

The rehabilitation of all these mosques was funded through donations from private developers involved in the housing sector nationwide.

Meanwhile, Mayor Gandamra expressed anew his gratitude to TFBM for its efforts in restoring the places of Islamic worship in the city as this ensures the holistic development of Marawi. (APB/PIA Lanao del Sur)

0

ARMM embarks on BRIDGe Project to boost business, investments

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is embarking on a project to empower both the communities and businesses to engage in sustainable business enterprises.

Dubbed “Brokering Business Investments in the Bangsamoro to achieve Inclusive Development and Growth” (BRIDGe), the project aims to facilitate the development of Bangsamoro-specific business investment standards and protocols.

It will be implemented by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and the Hineleban Foundation in collaboration with the Regional Board of Investments (RBOI)-ARMM.

BRIDGe is funded by the Australian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The formal partnership among the players was sealed on January 23, 2017, at the ARMM Manila Liaison Office in Makati City through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the PBSP and ARMM Regional Government through RBOI.

The memorandum cites the roles and areas of cooperation of each participant agency for the successful implementation of the project.

PBSP recently conducted a Development Partners’ Meeting with the Program Advisory Committee to generate inputs on the formulation and finalization of the Business Sustainability Framework in Bangsamoro and how to improve the project’s implementation.

Such framework seeks to define the role and behavior of corporations and partner communities that would make agribusiness investments in the Bangsamoro sustainable and responsible.

Lawyer Ishak V. Mastura, chairman and managing head of RBOI, said part of the project outcome will strengthen the capacity of RBOI to facilitate investments in the ARMM, help capacitate local communities to engage in business development, and promote businesses in the region among local and international investors.

“The project is very relevant and timely because this will prepare us, especially on the business aspect, in the possible transition from the present form of government to federalism, which is what the Duterte administration is now pushing in congress,” Mastura said.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman expressed his optimism about the project. “In line with the initiative of President Duterte to promote and encourage business investments from big businesses and tycoons to the ARMM, this project will enhance the capacity of our communities to receive those investments,” Gov. Hataman said. (BPI/PIA-10)

0