BASILAN– The Bangsamoro Project Advisory Board (BPAB) has approved the first-ever sub-project under Component 3: Ancestral Domain Agri-Fisheries Production and Enterprise Development of the Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
During the BPAB meeting held on May 2, 2025, the board approved the P3-million proposal of the Pilas Women Association (PWA) for the Consolidation and Marketing of Marine Products, including big-eyed scad, crabs, red snapper, and grouper. The project will be implemented in Pilas Island, located in the municipality of Hadji Muhtammad.
The meeting was presided over by Deputy Project Director Dr. Tong D. Pinguiaman, who served as chairman on behalf of Project Director Abunawas L. Maslamama. Also present were key representatives from several BARMM ministries: Muhammad Saleh B. Ali representing MPW, Abdulrahman A. Kar for MILG, Snooky S. Gani for MTIT, Datu Moh’d Silongan for MENRE, and Dr. Salik B. Panalunsong, the Chairperson of the Bangsamoro Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (BRAFC).
Under MIADP’s Component 3, which focuses on enterprise development in ancestral domain areas, the Pilas Women Association will receive support through fixed assets and working capital. This intervention aims to establish a functional and sustainable enterprise to consolidate and market marine products from Pilas Island to broader markets beyond the locality.
“This project will not only improve the livelihoods of the women involved but will also create sustainable income-generating opportunities for the broader community,” said Dr. Pinguiaman.
The initiative is seen as a milestone for the agri-fishery sector in Hadji Muhtammad. By enabling local producers to access better markets and fair pricing, the project is expected to empower grassroots communities and strengthen the island’s local economy.
