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Lanao Norte offers more resettlement areas for returning urban settlers via ‘Balik Probinsya’By Manila Bulletin

By Armando Fenequito Jr.

DAVAO CITY – The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) said on Thursday that Lanao del Norte has offered more resettlement areas for returning informal urban settlers of the “Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pagasa Program” Program (BPBPP).

MinDA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said this is the commitment of Governor Imelda Q. Dimaporo as her way of supporting the program.

Piñol said the “Balik Probinsya” team meets with the governor and several town mayors of the said province and told him that the province is ready for the roll-out of the pilot BPBPP Project in Kauswagan.

He said Kauswagan Mayor Rommel Arnado had earlier offered to host the first BPBPP program resettlement area for 200 families to be involved in organic broiler chicken and vegetable production.

Piñol said Dimaporo added that the succeeding sites in the province should explore other models in livelihood and economic activities.”

He said Mayor Barry Baguio of Kapatagan vowed to host a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) facility that can employ returning residents.

Other mayors said they are willing to host BPBPP resettlement with a different set up.

“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 the LGUs. From Tubod, the MinDA Team will proceed to Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte for a site validation and consultation for the BPBPP implementation,” he said.

Piñol said the BPBPP, initiated by Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, aims to balance urban and rural development by refocusing government resources on the countryside.

He said decongesting urban centers, especially Metro Manila, of informal settlers and relocating them in the rural areas with support from the different government agencies is the first step in the program.

Piñol said President Rodrigo Duterte has issued an Executive Order implementing the program through a Council initially composed of 22 agencies.