MP Shiek conducts community dialogues in Pantar, Balo-i towns

 Photo shows MP Said M. Shiek (seated second left) together with the community leaders, MILF officials, and members of Pantar and Baloi during the Kakhahaipa – a community dialogue with the vulnerable individuals in aid of legislation held Monday, February 1, 2021, at Brgy. Pantao Ranao, Pantar town. (Mohammad S. Pandapatan, OMPSS)  

Conducted Monday, February 1, the activity "Kakhakaipa: A Community Dialogue in Aid of Legislation" in Pantar and Balo-i towns.

'Kakhakaipa' is a Meranaw term which means “kumustahan” in Tagalog.

Some community leaders and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) officers and members attended the dialogue in a Madrasah in Brgy. Pantao Ranao, Pantar town.

In his message, MP Said Shiek explained the purpose of conducting a community dialogue.

"Ang dialogue na ito ay isang paraan ng pagbibigay ng mahahalagang impormasyon at balita patungkol sa Bangsamoro Parliament at sa BARMM. Isa rin sa aming pakay sa pagbisita sa inyo ay ang kumustahin ang inyong kalagayan lalo na sa panahon ngayon na may pandemya. Nais rin po naming marinig muli ang boses ng Pantar," MP Shiek said.

Meanwhile, Balo-i's selected community leaders and MILF members from barangays of Pacalundo, Basagad, and Lumbac participated in the community dialogue held Monday afternoon at the Momungan Livelihood Learning Center in Brgy. Pacalundo, Balo-i, Lanao del Norte.

Lope, one of the participants, queried MP Shiek of the Bangsamoro Government's effort for the Bangsamoro Communities Outside BARMM (BCOBAR), specifically in the towns of Balo-i, Pantar, Tagoloan, Munai, Tangcal, and Nunungan who strongly expressed their intent to be included in the BARMM through a plebiscite in February 2019.

"Dahil hindi nanalo ang anim na bayan ng Lanao del Norte para mapabilang sa BARMM noong 2019, ano ang pwedeng itulong ng BARMM na matagal nang gustong mapabilang sa Bangsamoro?" Lope asked.

MP Shiek responded, "Mayroong bill na nasa Parliament na patungkol sa Bangsamoro Communities Outside BARMM o BCOBAR. Naglalayon ang bill na ito na maitatag ang isang opisina para sa BCOBAR. Sa ngayon ay inuuna muna ng Parliament ang priority codes na kabilang sa kanilang mandato.

He also reiterated the proposed programs under the Transitional Development Impact Fund (TDIF) of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament which are intended for the orphans, college students, women, and families who are seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in BCOBAR.

"Hinihintay natin ang resulta sa ngayon para sa 2020. Susubukan muli nating mag-propose sa taong ito para tayo ay makatulong sa ganoong paraan. Mahaba-habang trabaho ito," Shiek stressed.

Kakhakaipa is a series of community dialogues which officially kicked off on January 26 in Tagoloan, Lanao del Norte. It is part of the OMPSS week-long celebration in commemoration of the second year of the "Yes Win" in the 9 towns of Lanao del Norte during the 2019 Bangsamoro plebiscite. (Mohammad S. Pandapatan, OMPSS)