(March 28, 2022). With the on-going transition in the Bangsamoro, how is change happening and being felt at the ground? How are the information and public service reaching the communities?
In the implementation of the SUBATRA-ECSO Project (Enhancing CSOs Capacities for Inclusive Development Interventions in BARMM in Support to Bangsamoro Transition), the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) is working on the gathering of data regarding the needs and real-life situations of vulnerable sectors in the Bangsamoro communities like women, widows, orphans, transitioning combatants, elderlies, PWDs and indigenous people. This effort also targets issues on human rights at the grassroots level.
BDA is working with the Ittihadun Nisa Foundation, Inc. (INFO) and the Social Welfare Committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for this objective.
Initial data and information are already available from the recent data consolidation workshop conducted on March 19-20, 2022 in Cotabato City. The data were gathered from the focus- group discussion (FGD) organized in various communities of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur provinces including two barangays in Special Geographical Areas of BARMM from February 24 to March 17, 2022.
Members of SWC who facilitated the FGDs underwent data gathering training on February 24- 25, 2022 before they went to those communities. The training also covered education on basic human rights discussed by the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission (BHRC).
Partners from the Raja Mamalo Descendants of Southern Philippines, Inc. led the FGD with the indigenous people groups in Maguindanao.
Meanwhile, FGDs for the island of Tawi- Tawi and Sulu were already completed and for Basilan will be happening this week. Data consolidation will be conducted through an online activity.
BDA as implementing agency of the SUBATRA-ECSO will be validating the data gathered after the consolidation. This will be the basis to determine the assistance appropriate for the target groups of the project. The data will also be presented to BARMM ministries for possible complementation of aid to the communities in need in the region.
SUBATRA-ECSO works for the Component 4 of the SUBATRA Programme that helps BARMM lay the foundation for lasting peace and development in the region by strengthening the capacities of its institutions to establish an enabling democratic governance environment during the transition period.
The Project generally aims to contribute to a peaceful, cohesive, secure and inclusively developed Bangsamoro. It specifically intends to enhance the capacity of the civil society to contribute to a peaceful transition to BARMM.
It is funded by the European Union (#EU), and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (#AECID).
