The European Union (EU)-funded Support to Bangsamoro Transition (SUBATRA) Program turned over on Wednesday PHP27 million worth of information and communications technology (ICT) equipment to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s (BARMM) Office of Chief Minister (OCM) Ahod Ebrahim and the regional parliament.

The SUBATRA-donated equipment included laptops, desktop computers, projectors, printers, communications equipment, office furniture, and conference tables.

Engr. Mohajirin T. Ali, Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) director-general, said that through the donated equipment, they hope employees of the concerned agencies would be able to provide good services and improve and streamline their respective operations.

“We’re hoping that these pieces of equipment will help the BARMM employees enhance their capacity and skills in delivering good services,” Ali said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Datu Aldren Utto, an administrative assistant from the OCM-Administration Management System Human Resources Management, expressed his gratitude to SUBATRA.

“I am one of those who will benefit from the donated equipment. These will help us perform our duties better because it will speed up our work,” Utto said.

Aside from providing ICT equipment, SUBATRA is also committed to providing various training and workshops to BARMM employees to further enhance the capacity of each agency.

Also present at the turnover ceremony were Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament Deputy Speaker Omar Yasser Sema; BTA Majority Floor Leader Lanang Ali Jr., heads and representatives from offices under OCM and BTA; SUBATRA team leader Bernard Jolly; and United Nations Office for Project Services Project Manager for SUBATRA Cristina Elisse Capistrano.

SUBATRA is an EU-supported program that promotes good governance environment for the efficient implementation of policies set up by the transition plan with a focus on capacities that are critical for the sound functioning of interim institutions. (PNA)