May 7, 2024. Specific intervention for the communities in the camps falls under Output 4.6 Strengthening CSO-initiated projects in support of Normalization of the SUBATRA-ECSO: Enhancing CSOs Capacities for Inclusive Development Interventions in BARMM in Support to Bangsamoro Transition.
Through this component, the project was able to contribute to the on-going transformation and development of camp communities, relevant to the Normalization in Bangsamoro as informed by the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) of 2014 that identifies the six previously acknowledged camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) namely: Camp Abubakar, Camp Badre, Camp Bilal, Camp Bushra, Camp Omar and Camp Rajamuda.
With the SUBATRA-ECSO Project, there were 342 who completed basic education in 2023 through Alternative Learning System (ALS). Completers were those whose education was interrupted by protracted conflict in the past years resulting to poverty and less access to basic social services. They are those who belong to marginalized sector such as the women, widows, person with disabilities (PWDs), elderlies, out-of-school youth, transitioning combatants and indigenous people.
The implementation of the ALS in the camps was closely coordinated with the Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS) of the MBHTE-BARMM and with Department of Education (Region XII and X) for areas outside Bangsamoro Region.
Collaboration with partner CSO, the Kapagawida Development Services Association, Inc. was also significant in implementing ALS in the camps.
The SUBATRA-ECSO organized the ALS completers into people’s organization (PO) and were provided with various skills trainings to assist them with livelihood activities they identified.
The training came with complete package of tools and equipment that served as starting capital for their chosen community-based enterprises.
These POs in the camps were already producing their own products that they sell to earn supplementary income for their families. The project continues to assist them for their registration at the MOLE-BARMM to have legitimate identity as organization and be qualified for further assistance from the government.
More on support to camps development is the on-going mapping and planning for assistance to transitioning combatants of the MILF.
According to Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.), the implementing partner of SUBATRA-ECSO, the project intends to reach out to those combatants who were excluded from the decommissioned combatants.
BDA has recently met with the Joint Task Force on Camps Transformation (JTFCT-MILF) for consultation and planning of appropriate support to the target groups as they transition their lives to peace and development.
In March this year, PO members together with JTFCT and other stakeholders in the camps learned relevant insights about entrepreneurship.
As of this writing, BDA has organized an educational tour for the POs in the camps and JTFCT members where they are visiting social enterprise groups in Mindanao to learn from the experience, struggles, stories and triumph of these establishments in operating their businesses while extending community services.
BDA as development arm of the MILF, that has emerged as duly registered non- government organization has been a relevant partner in bringing development projects to the camp communities since 2018, and to the conflict-affected areas in Mindanao since 2002 with support from the Philippine Government through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation an Unity (OPAPRU, then OPAPP) and from donor partners in peace and development.
It recognizes the need for continuing assistance to these underserved communities crucial to the Normalization in the Bangsamoro, and to the on-going transition in the Bangsamoro, towards peace and development.
