APRIL 26, 2023. In the low-land and marshy village of Barangay Balong, Northern Kabuntalan, Maguindanao located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), fifty households have just returned home from months of stay at the evacuation centers, and are currently struggling to recover and rebuild their lives from the effect of recent armed conflict due to rido (clan feud) in the place.   

Sittie Guiadel, 55, a mother of eight in the village, told us their story of rising up from the said calamity and how are they living right now. 

“Livelihood is affected because of what happened. Fishing and farming (a primary source of income to many) become difficult because many of our men are still not confident to go out because of safety and security”, Sittie stated.

She recalls the days at the evacuation center where they were not able to bring anything because of fear during the conflict.

“We have nothing. We can only rely from the assistance handed to us. We are thankful that there were people and organizations who immediately acted to our needs during that time”, she told.

Sittie’s family and many of their neighbors found refuge to nearby barangays where they stayed over three months while the armed conflict was happening.

When they return, a month ago, it was hard to recover and bring back to the natural state in the community.

“The experience was tough. It is still fresh for us, being in that situation. Livelihood were interrupted. Education of the children was affected. Some men who joined the battle were dead. Some properties were destroyed”, Sittie said.

Sittie and other neighbors have recently received food packs (25 kilo of rice, three kilos of sugar, oil, and coffee) as part of the program during the holy month of Ramadhan.

They expressed their gratitude for this blessing that bestowed upon them in this time of crisis in their lives.

“Shukran for this ridzki (blessing). We really need help because we are indeed in a difficult state, right now. We hope and pray for your help”, Sittie pleaded.

Meanwhile, in the nearby town in Brgy. Upper Taviran, Kabuntalan in the same province, Tarhata Midzakal, 26, lives by her family of four: two young kids and her husband.

Tarhata does laundry in the neighborhood where she earns money to help sustain the family. Her husband is a carpenter and a fisherman, both a low-income type of job.

"Life is very difficult. My husband is a fisherman and sometimes, there is no catch for him to bring something for the family back home”, she stated.

Her husband would do carpentry works if there is no chance for income from fishing.

For Tarhata, it would be a lucky day if someone from the neighbors ask her to do a laundry where she gets P150.00 pesos per basket.

Aside from the less chance to get a regular job, Tarhata cannot leave her children yet since they are still young, who needs immediate care from their mother.

She was very thankful for the food pack received and hopes that there will be more to come.

For her, it is a big blessing that will help her and the family during this Ramadhan.  

This food items, according to her, can last a month for her family.

Abdulraof Gumising, 37, also in the same village is thankful as beneficiary of the food pack.

He has four children. He is a fisherman from which he earns barely enough for his family.

Abdulraof’s wife is a full-time mother, taking care of the children. 

Sometimes, his wife would sell local goods, but most of the time would prioritize the little kids who are still young. 

Abdulraof shared how hard life is, especially when he has nothing to bring home for his family.

"Whatever I earn a day, I just make it work. What hurts most is whenever there is no catch to sell for income”, he stated.

He is deeply grateful for the food packs received during this holy month, that can sustain the needs of the family for a number of weeks.

This year, the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) has delivered 200 food packs for Ramadhan 2023, in selected communities of Cotabato City and Maguindanao province. It is sponsored by the Weltweiter Einsatz fur Arme (WEFA), a partner foundation in Turkey.  

Every year, BDA Inc. implements Ramadhan Program, through provision of food packs to poor families in the Bangsamoro Region. This program has become helpful for the family-beneficiaries to supplemental to their daily needs, which are usually barely enough or lesser due to poor life conditions.