IT'S A GO. Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Emmanuel Piñol (right) poses with Senator Christopher Lawrence Go after a meeting in Malacañang on Monday (June 1, 2020) for the “Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa” (BP2) program." The meeting resulted to the approval and acceptance of MinDA’s proposal to roll out the BP2 program with an initial three pilot projects. (Photo lifted from MinDA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol's FB Page)
DAVAO CITY – The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) started this week the groundwork in the three resettlement villages under the "Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2)” program in Zamboanga del Norte and Lanao del Norte with the establishment of Project Management Offices in each of the three projects, an official said Tuesday.
In a Facebook post, MinDA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol bared that the meeting presided by BP2 Council Chairman and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea in Malacañang, the Council Secretariat headed by National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr. approved and accepted MinDA’s proposal to roll out the BP2 program with an initial three pilot projects.
Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, the main proponent of the BP2 program, also attended the meeting along with Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Aimee Neri.
“MinDA's proposals were the results of a series of consultations conducted with the local governments of both provinces over a period of three weeks,” he said.
The pilot areas for the BP2 Model Resettlements with 200 families each are: Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte which is proposing a village where the main activity would be organic broiler chicken and vegetable production; Sergio Osmeña, Zamboanga del Norte for high-value vegetables and free-range chicken production; and Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte for tree farming with cacao and coffee intercrop and free-range chicken production.
“Each of the model 'Balik' pilot villages will have housing facilities which the beneficiary-families will pay back in the long term. The families will be provided with livelihood support funds and subsistence allowance by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) while other member agencies of the BP2 Council will provide added support programs,” Piñol said.
Apart from that, he said MinDA will also propose to the Department of Tourism (DOT) that the BP2 model villages be included in its agri-tourism program.
He added that the BP2 meeting held in Manila on Monday has also come up with the following timetable of activities: June 2-3 is the submission of Lanao Del Norte and Zamboanga del Norte the list of applicant-families for vetting and validation.
On June 4-5, the vetting and validation of applicants by local government units after which the list of selected families who have indicated their preference for agriculture activities will be returned to the BP2 Secretariat.
On June 8-26, the location of families and start of health quarantine protocols and social preparation by the Department of Health (DOH) and DSWD.
June 27-30 will be scheduled for the actual transfer of the families from Metro Manila to their selected provincial destinations where they will be housed in temporary shelters.
July 1-15 is the start of skills training for both men and women members of the families conducted by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and continued health monitoring.
“The construction of houses and livelihood facilities up to completion will be on July 16. The first model resettlement villages along with the livelihood facilities are expected to be completed by October 2020. The three model villages will serve as the template in the implementation of other 'Balik' projects in other parts of the country,” Piñol said.
The BP2 program implemented through an Executive Order issued by President Rodrigo Duterte aims to decongest the urban centers by creating jobs and income opportunities in the provinces. (PNA)
