The community stores, to be known as Padian na Bangsamoro, will be operated and managed by the wives, widows and orphans of former Bangsamoro combatants. The establishment of the Padian was one of the projects identified as “immediately deliverable” during a consultation on the crafting of a 10-year agriculture masterplan for the Bangsamoro Region. Mohammad Yacob, BARMM agriculture and fishery chief, was tasked to identify and organize the wives, children and widows of former combatants. “All the 50 initial stores will be linked by a computer network, which will monitor the daily sales and activities of the Padian outlets,” Piñol said. “Once successful, the Padian outlets will be expanded to cover all other areas in the Bangsamoro Region, especially the remote island communities,” he added.

Source: Philippine Star July 14, 2019 16:00 UTC