Ramadan trade fair dedicated to Marawi

The annual Ramadan Trade Fair in Cotabato City is the highlight of the month of fasting for Muslim Filipinos.

Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman initiated this month-long event to strengthen the sense of community.

Held at the ARMM Compound, the Ramadan Trade Fair taps entrepreneurs, artisans and government workers. Their skills and products can contribute to build the local economy.

Seventy-five booths offer local delicacies, brass work, textiles, woodwork, artefacts, chests and other items from ARMM.

This year however, the Ramadan Fair is dedicated in helping to rebuild Marawi. Twenty booths are manned by displaced victims of the Marawi War.

The Office of the Regional Governor gave P45,000 including living expenses, to set up their little businesses at the trade fair.

In his speech at the launch, Hataman said that the trade fair is organized around the highest ideals of Muslim faith. His vision is to make it a model of principled responsibility to the public and the source of dedication in creating a progressive ARMM in which all of its citizens can prosper.

This is the time to help their brothers and sisters from Marawi not just in prayer but in action. He urged everyone, “Make the time recognize our responsibility to each other as Muslims, and to remember what it means to work in solidarity toward a renewal of our commitment of our faith, toward rebuilding a city and its spirit, and responding to the continued call for peace in our communities.”

The fair also involves the participation of other government agencies. On display are products from the agrarian reform beneficiaries, sponsored by the Department of Agrarian Reform-ARRMM. These products were packaged with the help of the Department of Sci- ence and Technology-ARMM.

The Department of HealthARMM provides free medical services. The Department of Tourism-ARMM set up booths showing summer destinations such as beaches in Basilan, historical places such as the first mosque in Tawi-Tawi, tourist spots in Maguindanao.

The different government agencies also prepared 24 models for the Mosques of the World Exhibit, all of which are showcased outside the Office of the Regional Governor. Each agency created a replica of mini mosques from various parts of the world.

Lectures on Islamic culture are held every night.

The fair will run through Eid al Fitr on June 15.