THE Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) has awarded and grant incentives to 118 local government units (LGUs) for excellent performance this year.
Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, Minister of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) in Barmm, said the awarding was done through the Local Government Functional Appraisal Award (LoGFA) and Lupon Tagapamayapa Incentive Award (LTIA) of the MILF.
Sinarimbo said 51 LGUs from the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi were awarded with the LoGFA, wherein each received P200,000.00 and plaques of recognition.
Sinarimbo said that LoGFA aims to define, operationalize, and assess the functionality of LGUs in Barmm.
Sinarimbo said eight villages bagged the LTIA wherein the champion received P125,000; first place with P100,000; and P75,000, second placer.
He said that for the fourth- to sixth-class category, the Kauran village in Ampatuan, Maguindanao was declared as champion.
First and second places were awarded, respectively, to Mao village in Datu Abdullah Sangki of the same province and to Pindolonan in Buadiposo Bunting, Lanao del Sur.
Sinarimbo said that for the first- to third-class category, the champion was Rempes village in Upi, Maguindanao; first and second placers were Cebuano Group village in Wao, Lanao del Sur and Tumahubong village in Sumisip, Basilan, respectively.
He said the village of Tumbras in Midsayap, North Cotabato received P125,000 under the special geographic area category, while Limo-ok village in Lamitan City, Basilan also received the similar prize under the city category.
Furthermore, P20,000 each was given to 10 villages from the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and the city of Lamitan for being regional finalists.
"This aims to recognize functional local governments and barangays whose 'Lupon Tagapamayapa' have excelled in settling disputes in their communities," Sinarimbo said.
He said Special Anti-Drug Abuse Council Awards were also given to LGUs who sustained drug-cleared status of their drug-affected villages and for maintaining a drug-free status of their unaffected barangays.
He said 49 Barmm municipalities received the said award -- 25 awardees for sustaining drug cleared status of their drug-affected barangays, and 24 for maintaining a drug free status for their unaffected villages.
Aside from LGUs, the MILG also gave recognition to Civil Society Organizations who have been implementing interventions to drug-affected communities and contribute to the pursuit of a drug-free region.
The awardees were Council of Sumisip Youth Leader, Kadtabangan Foundation for Peace and Development Advocates Inc. and Balay Mindanaw.
The awarding ceremony was held Friday, December 18, at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex in Cotabato City.
Meanwhile, Sinarimbo office has launched, also Friday, its Seal award (Salamat Excellence for Leadership Award), also known as "Salamat Award," designed to recognize performing Local Chief Executives (LCE) in Barmm.
Sinarimbo said the "Salamat Award" is the most prestigious award that the region would undertake to recognize LCEs who show excellent performance.
"The award is named after the founding chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) whose quality of leadership is astounding," Sinarimbo said.
Seal Program aims to contribute in the establishment of a Moral Governance in the Barmm by popularizing the principle of volunteerism and primary common good as demonstrated by Sheikh Salamat Hashim as key to regional peace and development.
Sinarimbo said the awarding ceremony for Seal will be held next year where each awardee will be given plaque of recognition, gold plated medallion worth P250,000 and P2.5 million worth of projects.