May 10, 2019. In the holy month of Ramadhan, the values transformation training, a peace building mechanism employed by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), the development arm of the MILF in organizing and developing pool of catalysts to serve the Bangsamoro communities takes off for the employees of the Regional Planning and Development Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RPDO-BARMM).

Emran Mohammad and Swaib Mohammad, both professional trainers of the VTT facilitated the said activity.

VTT is a major program of the BDA integrated as major component of all its major programs, and serves as foundation of learning and training for all its officials, staff, volunteers, partners and stakeholders.

It is line with the guiding principle of the agency that “change must begin with one’s self” emphasizing the significance of values in developing an individual with enhanced knowledge, appreciation and practice of Universal Values that will help them in serving the most marginalized and indigent communities in Mindanao.

"We are grateful that the VTT is very align to what the BARMM-Interim Chief Minister is promoting on moral governance”, Engr. Windel Diangcalan, BDA executive director said.

Hashim Manticayan, BDA deputy executive director told that the piloting of the VTT in the BARMM was complementary to the values restoration program of the Civil Service Commission, which has the same goal of transformation through values.

BDA has been informed to facilitate the VTT for all BARMM employees, which the agency accepted as an opportunity to help in serving the Bangsamoro.

In a recent meeting between Engr. Windel Diangcalan, executive director of Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) and Steven Muncy, executive director of Community and Family Services International (CFSI) on July 31, 2019 in Cotabato City, the two organizations agreed "to the finish line, together" referring to the completion of the implementation of the Mindanao Trust Fund- Reconstruction and Development Project Phase II (MTFRDP/2). 

MTFRDP/2 is program partnership agreement signed between the BDA and CFSI, which aim is to to improve access of targeted communities in the conflict-affected areas in Mindanao to basic socio-economic infrastructure and alternative learning system. Moreover, this is in line with the Normalization Aspect of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro(CAB). 

Expected completion of the project will be on August 31, 2019 and so both BDA and CFSI agreed and committed to work together to deliver the community development assistance accordingly and achieve the project objectives for the welfare of the people in need. 

MTFRDP/2 is supported by the Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF) with various donors such as the European Union, the government of Sweden, Australia, Canada, United States, New Zealand and the World Bank, which also serves as Trust Fund Administrator and Secretariat.

The Spanish Cooperation Agency for International Development (AECID) is also supporting the project.

People in and outside Bangsamoro gathered for the (Eid’l Adha) feast of sacrifice in their respective communities and received free beef distributed during the Qurbani Program 2019.

The delivery of meat for the said program happened from April 11- 13, 2019 across the identified barangays in Cotabato City, Marawi City, Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat provinces.

This year, the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) facilitated the program with fund support from four organizations in Turkey namely Deniz Fenerei Dernegi (108 cows), Turkiye Dyanet Vakfi (240 cows), Turkish Red Crescent (100 cows), Weltweiter Einsatz Fur Arme (70 cows with zakat to selected families), Insani Yardim Vakfi (100), Sadaqatasi (43) and the Amal Foundation (5 cows) from Malaysia.

Eid’l Adha is one of the significant events for Muslims worldwide. It is observed as an act of worship to commemorate the strong faith of Prophet Ibrahim as Muslim, willing to sacrifice his son in belief to the commandment of Allah (swt).

From this story, Islam teaches sacrifice to Muslims as an act of worship.   

BDA as the implementing

Macmodin Ali, BDA overall focal person for Qurbani Program 2019 reported that there were five hundred nineteen (666) number of cows slaughtered and sacrificed this year.

BDA expressed thanks to volunteer and staff, the development catalysts, MILF political committee, social welfare committee and, Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) for the unity and cooperation that led to the success of the program.

Engr. Windel Diangcalan, BDA executive director also thanked the donor partners who sponsored this year Qurban Program.

BDA presented to them a token of appreciation in deep gratitude of their continuing sacrifice and love to the Bangsamoro people.

BDA has been implementing Qurban Program since 2014 with support from various donors outside the Philippines, especially the Turkey Government.

To be able to speak in front of many people is a fear of many, especially at the community level.

Through the Mindanao Trust Fund- Reconstruction and Development Project Phase II (MTFRDP/2), with a principle of community-driven development (CDD) where people’s participation in decision-making for project management is highly encouraged, these men and women spoke confidently (or even nervously) to tell their stories of success and hopes for Bangsamoro.

The project helped built their confidence to stand up and get involve in project planning, implementation and sustainability. Their stories tell about the common aspirations of the Bangsamoro (in the camp communities) towards a peaceful and productive community.

MTFRDP/2 is program partnership agreement signed between the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) and the Community and Family Services International (CFSI).

It aimed to improve access of targeted communities in the conflict-affected areas in Mindanao to basic socio-economic infrastructure and alternative learning system. Moreover, it is in line with the Normalization Aspect of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

Under the project there were 28 socio-economic infrastructure projects implemented such as water system, road, post-harvest facilities, and among others.

It was implemented in the six major camps of the MILF namely: Camp Abubakar, Camp Badre, Camp Bilal, Camp Bushra, Camp Rajamuda and Camp Omar.

A Teduray community in Brgy. Saniag, Ampatuan in Maguindanao rejoice today June 21, 2019 as they formally received the project on Tribal Justice Hall from the Mindanao Trust Fund Reconstruction and Development Project Phase II (MTFRDP/2) - a project being implemented in support to the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

PO President expressed deep gratitude to the MTFRDP/2 and partners saying that “without you, we can never have this project for us indigenous people. We are enlivened as a tribe because of this.”  

“We are very happy because it is a dream come true for us, we can now have formal venue for various occasions like tribal meetings, weddings, and other gatherings”, he said.

The turn-over ceremony of the project was attended by various stakeholders and partners from the local government unit, the Task Force on Camp Transformation (TFCT), MILF Political Committee, Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) and Community and Family Services International (CFSI).

Minister Melanio Ulama of the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs (MIPA) of the BARMM also attended the event that made the occasion even significant.

Minister Ulama spoke of the decade-long struggle of the Bangsamoro which fruit includes this establishment of the tribal justice hall for the IP community in Saniag.

‘We agree that this is just a small project and just a beginning of more development for you”, he added.

He urged the community members to take care of the project in honor for the blood and life of those slayed by the war in Mindanao and for the next generation to benefit from it.

This tribal justice hall is a project in line with inclusive principle of the MTFRDP/2 that includes a component for IP support.

The project is expected to benefit not only the Teduray populace in the barangay but also other members of the community.

MTFRDP/2 is a program partnership signed between the BDA and the Community and Family Services International (CFSI) which aim is to improve access of targeted communities in the conflict-affected areas in Mindanao to basic socio-economic infrastructure and alternative learning system.

This intervention is comprised of engaging the communities through a community-driven development and alternative learning system with an end in view of making those productive, participative and peaceful communities. Moreover, this is in line with the Normalization Aspect of the CAB.

MTFRDP/2 is supported by the Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF) with various donors such as the European Union, the government of Sweden, Australia, Canada, United States, New Zealand and the World Bank, which also serves as Trust Fund Administrator and Secretariat.

The Spanish Cooperation Agency for International Development (AECID) is also supporting the project.

The chosen thirteen (13) to take responsibility for the management of the newly opened orphanage center in Cotabato City have already begun working on June 15, 2019 a day after the orientation to them about the BDA and orphanage, the Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH) as the donor partner and about their roles and responsibilities.

They are social workers, finance assistant, cook, laundry, cleaner, and tutor and security officer.

The said orphanage center is the second institution to operate in Cotabato City for the Moro orphans, with the support of the IHH and the BDA as local partner.

For the past years, nights were darker in the remote areas of Brgy. Datalpandan, Guindulungan, Maguindanao. Now that the community received solar panel project, better and safer nights are possible.

“We are thankful for this project given to us, the indigenous people (IP) community”, Sanny Sevio said, who is the president of the group.

Another IP member told “there have been laws for the IPs but we never felt the essence, only through this project on solar panel that we feel, we belong”.

The IP community formally received the said light-electricity project on February 11, 2019 where various stakeholders of the project attended the ceremonial turnover.

Said project is under the under the Mindanao Trust Fund-Reconstruction and Development Project Phase II (MTFRDP/2), a program partnership signed between the BDA and CFSI, which aim is to improve access of targeted communities in the conflict-affected areas in Mindanao to basic socio-economic infrastructure and alternative learning system.

Each of the thirty units of solar panel was distributed to each of the thirty IP households of the barangay.

The device will not only provide light to the beneficiaries but can also be a source of electricity that will also be useful for a remote community.

MTFRDP/2 covers selected communities in the six major camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) namely Camp Bushra, Camp Bilal, Camp Abubakar as-Siddique, Camp Rajamuda, Camp Badar and Camp Omar.

It is in accordance with the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB) of March 2014 intends to identify priority actions that will intensify socio-economic development in conflict-affected areas, including transforming the six major MILF camps into peaceful and productive communities.

BDA is managing the project implementation in partnership with the Community and Family Services International (CFSI).

The Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF) supports this program with various donors such as the European Union, the government of Sweden, Australia, Canada, United States, New Zealand and the World Bank, which also serves as Trust Fund Administrator and Secretariat.

The Spanish Development Cooperation in the Philippines (AECID) is also a donor-partner of the program.

Easy road to education, to market and towards a better life- are the primary benefits that the road project in Brgy. Tabuan in Kapatagan, Lanao del Sur can give to its people. This one lane concrete road, a project supported by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) is now officially turned over to the community today, August 13, 2019.

Stakeholders and representatives from various sectors in the community attended the ceremony such as barangay local government unit, contractor, Task Force on Camp Transformation (TFCT), Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), Community and Family Services International (CFSI), community members, women, elderly and children.

During the event, the People’s Organization formally received certificate of turnover that stated of the official acceptance of the responsibility over the project such as operation, management and sustainability.

PO President expressed thanks to the project given to them and shared commitment together with his fellows of taking care of the road to benefit the next generation.

TFCT of Camp Abubakar namely Alex Sulay, Shuaib Adam and Mamariong Hadjinasser spoke of the unity, cooperation and support of everyone in the community that made the project successful.

“This project is not of the MILF nor the government but this is for the community. We must remember that this a fruit of our struggle, of us who all experience war and displacement”, TFCT member said.

Contractor Engr. Mahid Palawan lauded the BDA and CFSI management of the project in the aspect of working with third-party service provider and the TFCT and the community as a whole for the support on safety and security that made them feel comfortable and confident in completing the road project.

BDA also highlighted the project as a product of the GPH-MILF peace process and shared hope with the community to more development aid coming.

CFSI mentioned about the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) as basis of the project specifically on its Normalization Aspect.

The project is under the MTFRDP/2-AECID which overall goal is to transform communities from conflict into peaceful and productive communities. 

Community members of two villages in Maguindanao particularly Brgy. Saniag in Ampatuan and Brgy. Tuayan in Datu Hoffer rejoiced as they formally received development projects that will help improve their access to basic services towards a better life.

In Brgy. Saniag, the project installed was water system that is expected to provide clean water for the beneficiaries. The project will also help reduce time of getting water from the distance, since tap stands were built nearby the households. It also gives clean and safe water that will be good for the health of the recipients.

In Brgy. Tuayan, the road project is beneficial towards the community development of the village.

Community beneficiaries will have better road for easy transportation whether of local products, of pregnant women, schoolchildren and among others.

Project stakeholders attended the turnover ceremonies of the said projects on February 16, 2019 and shared the joy with the community members of both Brgy. Saniag and Brgy. Tuayan.

They are officials and representatives from the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), Community and Family Services International (CFSI), Joint Task Forces on Camp Transformation (JTFCT), local government units (LGUs), people’s organizations (PO), private contractors and others.

The water system project in Saniag is funded through the Mindanao Trust Fund administered by the World Bank while the road project is supported by the Spanish Cooperation for International Development (AECID).

Every year, thousand families in the poorest of the poor communities in the Bangsamoro receive free beef through the Qurbani Program where hundreds of cattle are sacrificed in observance of the Eid’l Adha (feast of sacrifice), an annual event of the Muslim Ummah worldwide.

Since 2014, the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) through the support of humanitarian foundations from Turkey facilitate Qurban Program to share blessings to the poor, an act encouraged among Muslim as part of worship.

“We facilitate the implementation of the Qurban Program in gratitude and assistance of our Turkey brothers who donated these cows for distribution to the poor families”, BDA executive director Mohammad S. Yacob stated.

In the welcome meeting for the Turkey visitors, BDA disclosed that programs such the Qurban is very useful for the communities and it helps in making them feel the essence of the peace process.

Rhadzni Taalim, head of BDA program operations division mentioned about the recently signed Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to the visitors and discussed briefly how development programs helps keep the faith of the communities over the peace process.

Over the years, the BDA as development arm of the MILF implement similar projects that helps address huge development gaps in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao where thousands of families and individuals are benefiting.

This year, the Qurbani Program with over 200 hundreds of cows is made possible with the support of Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH), Turkiye Dyanet Vakfi (TDV), Deniz Fereri and Sadaqatasi, all humanitarian organizations from Turkey.

The program is being implemented from August 21-23, 2018 in selected communities in the provinces of Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte.