Deputy Governor Misuari D. Macapeges of the Provincial Government of Maguindanao del Norte, Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya, Parang Municipal Mayor Cahar Ibay, UNDP Philippines Resident Representative Dr. Selva Ramachandran
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Philippines and the Embassy of Japan spearheaded the handover of a solar-powered ice block-making facility to the municipal government of Parang, Maguindanao del Norte, under the Enhancing Food Security and Livelihood in Bangsamoro (JSB-FSL) project.
UNDP Philippines commissioned the installation of the solar-powered ice block-making facility, which the Government of Japan funded.
Parang Municipal Mayor Cahar Ibay highlighted the strategic importance of their location. He said, "Parang is the center of trade among the five municipalities of the Iranun Corridor. Hence, the facility will not only benefit our community in Parang but the neighboring municipalities as well. Unity and cooperation of the five municipalities are vital for the development of the region."
His Excellency Ambassador Endo Kazuya of the Embassy of Japan and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Philippines Resident Representative Dr. Selva Ramachandran of UNDP Philippines attended the handover ceremony.
The facility is near the province's fishing centers and public market. The municipal government contributed significantly to the land preparation and construction of roofing and protective structures around the facility.
Parang is a coastal town in the Province of Maguindanao del Norte, located along the eastern coast of the Iranun Bay. The area has rich fresh and marine waters, with coastal and marine fishing areas like bays and straits and inland waters like marshlands and rivers. Fishing is among the province's significant sources of livelihood and food security.
The handover activity was held during the week-long Iranun Peace Festival, which celebrates the culture and unwavering commitment to peace and unity among the Iranun Community. In a show of support, the municipal mayors of the adjoining towns in the Iranun Corridor—Mayor Tomawis of Barira, Mayor Manalao-Masurong of Buldon, Mayor Bansil-Guro of Matanog, and Mayor Panda of Sultan Mastura—joined the ceremony.
The installation of the ice-making facility seeks to address one of the most common difficulties of fisherfolk in Mindanao—preserving the freshness of their catch due to a lack of ice and cold storage facilities. The area's weak and unreliable power supply has made it impossible to set up and sustain industrial-level ice storage facilities.
Kazuya noted in his speech, "As a coastal town, Parang's waters remain a valuable source of sustenance and livelihood for many of its people. I hope introducing a solar-powered ice-making facility and its technology can help ensure such resources are harnessed efficiently. In helping attain socio-economic development with aspiration for self-sufficiency and community empowerment, we hope to foster a more resilient and cohesive community that contributes to the overall stability and peace in the region."
By providing a solar-powered ice block-making facility, fishermen in Parang can overcome challenges in transport and power supply. This technology can help enhance the profitability of fishing communities by eliminating their dependency on distant ice suppliers, reducing operational costs, and increasing their bargaining power in pricing their fish. Solar power technology also offers a more reliable and environmentally friendly energy source for the ice-making process.
These handovers are part of UNDP Philippines' broader strategy and long-term commitment to bringing more sustainable solutions directly to communities. The projects' interventions are expected to contribute to the region's development, particularly in normalization and community transformation.
"The handover of the solar-powered ice block-making facility symbolizes UNDP's commitment to economic development in the Bangsamoro. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to integrate sustainable energy solutions in local industries. By harnessing solar power, we reduce our carbon footprint and provide a reliable and cost-effective energy source, resilient to the region's infrastructure challenges," said Ramachandran.
The facility in Parang is the third ice block-making machine handed over by UNDP Philippines to fishing communities in Mindanao. The first two were in Datu Mantil and Datu Binasing in Pigcawayan, a Special Geographic Area of BARMM.
The Enhancing Food Security and Livelihood in Bangsamoro (FSL) project, funded through the Japan Supplemental Budget (JSB), aims to support and sustain peacebuilding and recovery in the Bangsamoro by contributing to the delivery of peace dividends to long-suffering, marginalized, and underserved communities. More specifically, the project seeks to improve access to food and livelihood to support the recovery and transformation of communities affected by conflict.
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