Lands once trekked over as battlefields now have venues dedicated for the development of Bangsamoro communities as two training centers in Piagapo, Lanao del Sur, were turned over to the communities after the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development, the Housing Arm of the BARMM, cut ribbons on May 12, 2023.

The buildings are One-Storey Multi-Purpose Training Centers, one for Human Development in Brgy. Udalo, and the other for the youth in Brgy. Radapan, both funded under the Transitional Development Impact Fund (TDIF) 2021 of the deceased Member of the Parliament (MP) Mohammad Zainoden P. Bato.

Minister Atty. Hamid Aminoddin D. Barra led the ribbon cutting ceremony with MP Amroussi A. Macatanong, who took over the completion of MP Bato’s projects with his better half Umohanie M. Bato.

“We will do our best to accomplish and bring you the projects that you need, but let us be careful and we seek your help in ensuring that these projects will benefit the recipients and not cause any destruction at all,” Minister Barra said, reminding that all the developments the people are witnessing in the Bangsamoro today, are products of Mujahiddeen’s blood, sweat and tears.

He emphasized the need to keep in mind the meaning behind the word Bangsamoro, which encapsulates identity, territory, and government, which is why the MHSD delivers services both within and outside the BARMM in order to serve the Bangsamoro outside the region.

MP Macatanong shared that Brgy. Udalo, which they call “the MILF nation, the fort of conflict” will be a progressing community of the Bangsamoro, so he urged the residents, the end-users of the Training Center, to take care of the structures, the legacy entrusted to them by MP Bato.

The training center in Brgy. Radapan is entrusted to Mahad Radapan al Islami, which Aleem Mostafa Panganting, Local Government Unit member and volunteer teacher, assured will be open for all after proper policies are set up for its use to ensure the building’s proper utilization for the development of the youth.

Zainal Panganting, former MILF Commander and resident of Brgy. Udalo, shared his immense gratitude to the projects received in his hometown, recounting the series of conflict he’s experienced until the moment of peace he witnesses today.

The turnover ceremony was also graced and supported by the community people and leaders, and engineers and officials from the MHSD such as LDS Provincial Director Benjamin D. Alangca, Planning and Design Chief Engr. Zainodin A. Buisan, Housing and Human Settlement Chief Abdulhamid C. Alawi, Jr., ICS Head Salembai A. Abdullah, and Project Development Officer III Sheikh Ibrahim A. Bagumbun.