In the province of Lanao del
Norte, the kauswagan municipality that has long suffered from death and
destruction due to the armed clashes between Blackshirts known as Maranao
rebels and Ilagas known as the Christian forces is transforming into a organic
farming community.
The “Arms to Farms” program that was implemented by the said municipality,
the former rebel fighters brought into fold to participate the socioeconomic
activities that is mainly organic farming, in the province of Kauswagan, wherein
the poverty incidence was pegged at a record high about 79 percent in 2009.
The nine commanders of MILF (Moro
Islamic Liberation Front) and 100 of their men laid down their arms and
embraced new roles as a farmer and entrepreneurs, enticed by its firm
commitment of local government to involve in the entire community in
identifying and implementing the projects relevant to the needs of communities of
the potential rebel returnees.
Within a span of two years from
the said change in local the leadership in 2010 and with thorough and constant
involvement of community in the program identification and implementation, former
rebels able to set aside their distrust and skepticism and instead became busy
with planting crops, raising their livestock and managing fishponds with the
help of the initial capital assistance provided by LGU under a cost-recovery
plan.
The said increase in number of
farmers in the province of Kauswagan helped reduce town’s poverty incidence
from 79 percent in 2009 to 47.5 percent in 2013.
Finally the peace returned to
Kauswagan, which is now visited often by the officials from other cities and
municipalities who want to know more about how to effectively bridge the gap
between Christians and Muslims and to promote peace and development.
No comments:
Post a Comment