DAVAO CITY – Lanao del Norte Gov. Imelda Dimaporo supports the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pagasa (BPBPP) Program and has even offered more resettlement areas for her province’s returning informal urban settlers, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said Wednesday.
In a Facebook post, Piñol said the BPBPP team has already met with Dimaporo and several town mayors in the province where the governor assured they are ready for the roll-out of the pilot project in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte.
Earlier, Kauswagan Mayor Rommel Arnado offered to host the first BPBPP resettlement area for 200 families whose members would engage in organic broiler chicken and vegetable production.
Dimaporo said the additional BPBPP sites in the province should explore other models in terms of livelihood and economic activities.
Meanwhile, Piñol said that Mayor Barry Baguio of Kapatagan vowed to host a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) facility that could employ returning residents.
Other mayors are willing to host BPBPP resettlements with different setups, the MinDA chief said.
“The MinDA team which left Kidapawan City early today for a six-hour land trip will return to Tubod next week for another round of consultations with LGUs. From Tubod, the MinDA Team will proceed to Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte, for site validation and consultation for the BPBPP implementation,” Piñol said.
The BPBPP, initiated by Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, aims to balance urban and rural development by refocusing government resources in the countryside.
The program's first phase seeks to decongest urban centers, especially Metro Manila, of informal settlers and relocating them in rural areas with support from the different government agencies.
President Rodrigo Duterte has issued an Executive Order implementing the program through a council initially composed of 22 agencies. (PNA)
