MAASIM, Sarangani (March 17, 2023) – Governor Rogelio D. Pacquiao has held conversations and consultations with the barangay councils of Lumasal, Lumatil, and Daliao in Maasim on March 16, to allow the councils to personally air their concerns and recommendations regarding the needs of their communities.

Dubbed as Kapehan sa Barangay, this initiative of the governor aims to seek the suggestions of the councils on how the provincial government can provide assistance to barangay development and delivery of services to their constituents.

These consultations were part of the series of consultations to be conducted in all the 142 barangays of Sarangani.

The governor committed to the barangay councils the fast-tracking of the province’s purchase of heavy equipment in support to barangay road opening and rehabilitation projects, and the increase of the augmentation fund in the conduct of barangay anniversaries from P30,000 to P40,000.

Ronda Probinsya Program Director Paul Allen Villamora said the kapehan is a “micro-program of the governor under the Sarangani Barangay Affairs Unit (SBAU) of the Ronda Probinsya flagship program,” which aims to bring government services even closer to the Sarangans.

In the same event, the governor also distributed free maintenance medicines and vitamins to senior citizens and food packs to identified indigent families of the barangays as among his commitment to improve the health system in the province.

The governor also attended the commencement ceremony of a Madrassah in Barangay Lumatil and gave his message to the graduates of Maahad Lumatil Al Arabie Al Islamie.

The governor recognized how important it is in the Muslim community “na maipalaganap at maipaunawa pa sa lahat ang tunay na mensahe at katuruan ng Islam, ‘yun ay ang pagmamahalan, pagkakaisa, at kapayapaan.”

He commended the efforts of the Madaris facilitators in educating the youth of the true teachings of Islam to prevent communist and extremist ideologies to foster.

Also part of his agenda in Maasim was to release the honoraria of the tribal chieftains of the municipalities of Maasim, Kiamba, and Maitum (MaKiMa) held at the IP Center, Municipal Compound.

During his dialogue or Kasfala with the tribal councils of MaKiMa, the governor sought the needs of the chieftains for their communities that the provincial government could address.

He also recognized the significant contributions of the chieftains in maintaining peace and order in Sarangani and in making the province insurgency-free. (Jori Mae R. Samillano/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

Photos by Jake Narte