THE Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has unveiled last week a P25-million two-storey public market in Lantawan, Basilan province providing a boost to the local economy in the area.

Minister Naguib Sinarimbo of the Ministry of the Local Interior and Local Government in BARMM (MILF-BARMM) said the public market building will offer local business and employment opportunities not only to the constituents of Lantawan but to the local government as well.

“We thought of two things: first, help our constituents to have the opportunity to earn and the practical way is to do business, if there is a market. Second, we also want the local government units (LGUs) to learn to earn not only because of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) but the government can earn through economic enterprise such as this market,” Sinarimbo said.

Sinarimbo said that in accordance with BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim’s Enhanced 12-Point Priority Agenda, the MILG intends to help the various LGUs to improve their operation to give Bangsamoro constituents easier access to the regional government’s services.

“Over the years, we have seen that [change] because we are going to transition from conflict to peace, and hopefully to development. We cannot maintain peace without practical changes that our constituents feel,” he said.

He also explained that the public market has a modern design deeply rooted in the Bangsamoro heritage and tradition.

“It consists of a ground floor and a mezzanine where entrepreneurs can set up their businesses from coffee shops to dry goods,” he added.

Lantawan Municipal Administrator Tahira Ismail said the public market will help local consumers, including access to quality food, marketing opportunities, and, increase social cohesion.

Meanwhile, Sinarimbo led the groundbreaking of five units of two-storey town halls for five villages in Lantawan. (SunStar Zamboanga)

Source: SunStar (https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1969422/zamboanga/local-news/barmm-unveils-p25-m-market-building-in-basilan-town)