I will provide the assistance. First of all, I will purchase your product at a price that is competitive where you will not lose your capital, I will control the price.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers a speech during the distribution of the Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) to qualified agrarian reform beneficiaries from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) at Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex, Bangsamoro Government Center in Cotabato City on December 23, 2019. ACE MORANDANTE/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

The government will initiate measures to provide land reform beneficiaries with the assistance they require to attain a sustainable farming industry such as the provision of inputs, financial aid price for them to sell their produce.

President Rodrigo Duterte during the recent distribution of Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOA) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) encouraged recipients of properties they will till to value their land and to work on it.

“I will provide the assistance. First of all, I will purchase your product at a price that is competitive where you will not lose your capital, I will control the price,” he indicated.

He also vowed to “give land recipients an income, and you can improve. Your children will be able to go to school,” the President gave them assurance.

“You know, hopefully you will listen, give your children the chance to be educated. The only way that families will ever escape poverty and the problems of the world is for them to get diplomas. So you can see the Moros who have studied hard are now professionals, like nurses, their income in the government may not be that high but I have raised their income,” he stressed.

“They already have good salaries including teachers. Like in the military, double, police, double. You know why? To stop the police from conducting checkpoints,” President Duterte noted.

“Stop abuse. Those checkpoints, halt them except maybe it is the military. Halt those checkpoints. Those fish delivery vans when it arrives in Davao the fish in them from GenSan have ran out,” the President noted.

“For every checkpoint, two kilos are lost so when these arrives in Davao, the prices have shot up tremendously,” Mr. Duterte noted.

“The trader when asked would say, ‘Sir, we need to cover our losses. When we pass the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources checkpoint, we give money, then comes the police checkpoint, more bribes,” the President noted.

At the event, President Duterte also encouraged other areas to join the new administrative region for faster regional development.

“I am honored to join you today as we hold the first ceremonial distribution of Certificates of Land Ownership Awards here in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao since its creation in March this year,” the President said in a speech.

“Today, 912 agrarian reform beneficiaries will receive 815 CLOA covering more than 2,000 hectares of land in Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi,” he explained.

“I encourage areas in Mindanao to join BARMM. Trust the autonomous region’s leaders,” he said. “I encourage more to join since we will push the growth of BARMM so that there would be more businesses. Infuse more money before I step down,” the President indicated.

“So it is important to create a thriving community. BARMM must succeed because it is a deliverance, political, social, all of that,” he noted.

And to ensure regional security, President Duterte said he is open to allowing BARMM establish its own armed forces to fight terrorism.

Also, in the President’s Christmas message, he encouraged Filipinos to be an inspiration to others through kindness especially to the needy and disadvantaged members of the society.

President Duterte made the call in time for the observance of the “joyous occasion” of Christmas.

The Chief Executive said Jesus’ birth should serve as a reminder of the “true meaning of love, grace, and selflessness to the world.”

“As we remember the true meaning of this solemn festivity, may we emulate Christ’s empathy and kindness by opening our heart and extending our hands to everyone, especially to those who are less fortunate, and sharing with them the bounty and blessings we have received in the past year,” Duterte said in his message. “This season is a perfect time, not only to partake in our traditions, but also to reflect on the importance of family as the center of our celebration,” he added.