JONG CADION
Chief correspondent
COTABATO CITY--The groundbreaking ceremony of the first agriculture and fisherfolks Training Center in ARMM was held, Jan. 29, at the ARMMIARC Center Experimental Station, Simuay, Sultan Kudarat.
The event was attended by officials of the ARMM agriculture and fisheries department led by Sec. Keise Usman, field operations director, Dr. Salik Panalunsong for research and development, Jalika Mangacop and ARMMIARC center manager Siya Belongan.
Present during the occasion were Nasser Sinarimbo, consultant and procurement specialist of Japan International Cooperating Agency (JICA) and ARMM Social Fund Project (ASFP) project manager Mustapha Sambolawan, assistant project management officer Guimpan Paidomama and team leader Norodin Lumambas
They were joined in by Exec. Sec. Datu Quirino Udasan representing Sultan Kudarat Mayor Bai Shajida Mastura Bandila and FFJJ Construction Engr. Chona Sebelleta.
The said project, according to the said officials, will mark the beginning of more programs that will enhance agriculture through extensive trainings for agricultural extension workers and farmers.
This training center will be the venue for various agricultural and fishery trainings where all the needed equipments will be provided for by DAF-ARMM.
Usman disclosed that the facility alone worth more than P500,000.00, their counterparted to JICA’s funding.
Mangacop, for her part, said the contract signing by and among DAF-ARMM, JICA, ASFP and FFJJ Construction was made last Nov. 24, 2008 at the ASFP Office in Cotabato City.
She added said that the representatives of the government and the concerned agencies underwent a pre-construction meeting for the proper implementation of the program.
Sinarimbo and Lumambas both explained that the training center is one of the 33 projects that will be constructed in the region.
Panalunsong thanked JICA for the support in various ARMM agri-fishery programs. With reports from the DAF PIO