UN agency embarks on pro-poor program in Cotabato province
COTABATO CITY (September 20, 2025) — An agency of the United Nations shall implement a community economic development and livelihood program in two barangays in Cotabato province, officials announced on Saturday, September 20.
Provincial officials and Winston Aylmer Camariñas, who is overseeing the activities in Central Mindanao of the United Nations Development Programme, met at the office of Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza in Kidapawan City on Friday, September 19, and discussed with them the details of UNDP’s community empowerment project in Barangays Pisan and Tuael in Kabacan and in President Roxas towns, respectively.
Camariñas explained then to Aurora Garcia, Cotabato’s provincial administrator, and Arsenio Ampalid, the Indigenous People’s Mandatory Representative in the province, the objectives of the UNDP’s Project Promoting Human Security through Community Economic Development and Livelihood Initiatives in Bangsamoro Region, or Project CEDAR, that they are to implement in Barangays Pisan and Tuael.
Cotabato province is under Administrative Region 12, but has predominantly-Moro areas whose residents the Bangsamoro regional government, which is based in Cotabato City, is providing with essential services and other community-based humanitarian interventions.
Garcia and Ampalid separately said on Saturday that the office of Taliño-Mendoza will support the implementation of the project in Barangays Pisan and Tuael.
Both barangays are homes to mixed ethnic Moro and non-Moro indigenous communities and Christian settlers.
During their meeting, Camariñas told Garcia and Ampalid, both representing Taliño-Mendoza then, that the Project CEDAR aims to boost the economy in the two barangays via UNDP’s socio-economic and livelihood thrusts.
Most residents of Barangays Pisan and Tuael rely mainly on propagation of short-term crops and livestock raising as sources of income.
Talino-Mendoza, who is chairperson of the multi-sector Regional Development Council 12 covering four provinces and four cities in Region 12, said she will assign officials of divisions under office to help the UNDP push the Project CEDAR forward.
Photo shows Camariñas in a huddle with officials while at the office of Taliño-Mendoza in the provincial capitol in Kidapawan City on Friday. (September 20, 2025, Kidapawan City, Region 12)