Felipo David G. Malcampo
BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi – Organized
seaweed-producers in nine island- municipalities of Tawi-Tawi are recipients of
solar dryers on stilts from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-ARMM).
In a long distance interview, DTI OIC-Provincial
Director Nazrullah G. Masahud said that each of these 9 units of solar dryer,
which includes a stockroom and production materials, cost some P388.210.
The solar dryer measures 60 feet by 40 feet
while the stockroom is 18 feet by 18 feet.
Masahud also disclosed that the project is
part of the P 8.59 billion allotted by President Benigno Aquino III under the
Transition Support Plan (TISP) - a roadmap to ‘matuwid na daan’ of good governance and reforms in the provinces
and cities within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
In a separate interview, Senior Trade
Industry Specialist Gunna H. Mohammad explained that while there are many
seaweed growers in the province, only one established and organized group per
island-municipality was initially targeted. “The project is a grant and the
beneficiaries are bound by a memorandum of agreement (MOA)," she added.
The nine beneficiaries, Mohammad said, are
coming from the island-municipalities of Sitangkay, Sibutu, Bongao, Sapa-sapa,
Tandubas, Languyan, South Ubian, Simunul, and Panglima Sugala.
Tawi-Tawi province has 11 island-municipalities.
Meanwhile, Monitoring Officer Raja Lakandula
Aming stressed that “the TISP closely monitors the project implementation in all
phases in collaboration with other non-government and people’s organizations in
the area.”
The ceremonial turnover of the solar dryers last
June 15 in a loc al hotel here was led by DTI-ARMM Secretary Sangkula Tindick .
Gracing the occasion were Bongao Municipal
Mayor Japer Que and Executive Assistant Abraham Dalagan, who represented
Governor Sadikul Sahali.
Also in attendance were DTI-IX Assistant
Regional Director Sitti Amina Jain; DTI-XII Regional Director Ibrahim
Guiamadel; Provincial Director Anacleto Blanco, ARMM-TISP National Coordinator;
and DTI provincial directors from Tawi-tawi, Sulu, Basilan, Lanao and
Maguindanao.
The same affair was witnessed by personnel
from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and representatives from
various people’s organizations. (PIA9)