JULY 10, 2024. We were informed of the cultural sensitivity of the community. We were warned of the difficulty of reaching the distance. We listened and understood.
Driven by the trust of partners and the pledge to help the underserved communities, we went on to the mission in the island province of Tawi- Tawi in Bangsamoro Region.
One in the list is the provision of support to Sama village in Brgy. Buan, Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi. This is through the project called "Building Resilient Livelihoods and Communities through Climate-Smart Aquaculture Value Chain in Tawi-Tawi and Sulu Archipelago” under the SPADe Project.
The project is co-funded by the European Union and the German Ferderal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) implemented by German International Cooperation (GIZ).
It aims to promote inclusive socio-economic development and contribute to peacebuilding, food security, and environmental conservation through climate-resilient and sustainable livelihood interventions in aquaculture value chain in the Tawi-Tawi and Sulu Archipelago
This intervention comes with the assistance for the seaweed farmers in the said village. Beneficiaries recently completed training on seaweed culture that taught them practical and modern methods of growing the sea produce while considering the environment and climate change.
Partners from the MAFAR Tawi- Tawi Provincial Office and MSU Tawi- Tawi presented and discussed the lectures to the participants.
Prior to this, seaweed inputs and seedlings together with boat engines were delivered to the beneficiary- cooperative that brought much joy and higher hopes to the community.
At present, the bidding process is on-going for the construction of seaweed solar dryer with warehouse at Brgy. Buan.
Meanwhile, also in Tawi-Tawi, is the assistance for the Sama- Badjao community in Bongao, the capital of the province.
Significant activities has been achieved for the Sama- Badjao beginning in January 2024. The recent of which was the re-activation of the people’s organization in the village and the identification of community-based livelihood support.
This specific development aid for the Sama-Badjao is being carried out through the project SUBATRA-ECSO: Enhancing CSOs Capacities for Inclusive Development Interventions in BARMM in Support to Bangsamoro Transition.
SUBATRA-ECSO is a project funded by the European Union European Union in the Philippines and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation AECID Philippines.
Indeed, distance may be one crucial factor that hinders the delivery of basic social services to people. This reality and the risks it bring to the project team serves as inspiration to go beyond the barriers and bring in the development and assistance needed.
Cultural hurdles is also true, especially for those isolated communities where information and education were less available.
However, these certainties must not prevent the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) to fulfill its mandate for relief, rehabilitation and development services within and outside BARMM.
Beyond limits, BDA is committed to reach more communities, near, far, and to touch lives of more people from various sectors.
