By Edwin O.Fernandez
TALAYAN, Maguindanao, Oct 3 (PNA) — Local officials and residents here laud the government for building infrastructure projects here through the “Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) Roads to Peace Project.
Talayan is one of the 36 municipalities of Maguindanao where PAMANA Projects have been implemented to help bring about peace in the local communities.
PAMANA projects aim to help communities devastated by armed conflict to recover and move forward, according to PAMANA project coordinator for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Anayatin said the project included a seven kilometer road concreting project from Barangay Poblacion to Barangay Marader. The road was both muddy and rocky making it difficult for farmers to bring agricultural products to the town market.
With the completion of the project and its turnover to the local government done, villagers from Talayan and adjacent town of Midtimbang are now enjoying smooth and faster transportation of goods.
“Noong panahon na wala pa tayong proyekto na dumarating, kahit bisikleta hindi makadaan (Before this project was realized, even a bicycle could hardly trek this route),” Mayor Datu Nathaniel Midtimbang of Midtimbang, Maguindanao, said.
“Farmers from Talayan and nearby towns now use this concrete road in bringing their goods and agricultural products to the town center,” he added.
Chairman Tong Ismael of Barangay Tamar, Talayan, said the project had increased economic activities in at least five adjoining barangays. “We expect more projects like this in our communities,” he added.
Anayapin said the road network was part of the 2014 Roads to Peace Projects in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Since 2014, about 34 projects have been implemented through PAMANA road to peace projects in the ARMM. The region is composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. (PNA)