JULY 23, 2024. In Mindanao, Philippines, particularly in Bangsamoro Region, community organizations take crucial role in advancing peace in the land. Their participation is fundamental in building and sustaining peace more inclusively and just.
Paksa Mukatil, 56, from the island province of Tawi- Tawi, chiefs the women organization in Brgy. Pasiagan in the town of Bongao. They produce native delicacies that not only generate income for the group, but as well, helps promote the unique identity and culture of Tawi-Tawi.
Through the project that supports the transition in the Bangsamoro, Paksa reported that women have become more united in learning and working together.
For the project that supports the camps transformation and development, various groups are also being formed, as partners for implementation.
Bapa Thoks, 58, who was witness of war in the past is now a peace keeper in their village at Brgy. Datalpandan, Guindulungan, Maguindanao del Sur. He helps promotes peace with his role as caretaker of the farm machinery provided to them by the programs that supports the camps.
Also in the camps, women like Osoleyah (Camp Bushra), and Racma (Camp Bilal) advance in community roles by performing significant tasks in their respective organizations.
Osoleyah, 35, leads the women cooperative in Lanao del Sur, who is earning income from operating a farm tractor. Racma, 30, is passionate about working in their organization in Lanao del Norte.
At present, the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.), a non- government organization working to support the peace process in Mindanao, partners with 51 people’s organizations (POs), 48 cooperatives, 24 local social formation (LSF) groups, and 12 local community groups in communities situated within and outside the Bangsamoro Region.
All these are organized through the various projects being implemented by the BDA since 2021, with the trust and confidence of donor partners.
These community-based organizations underwent various trainings that helped build and develop their capacities in order to be skillful in managing their groups and the projects entrusted to them like livelihood, small-scale infrastructure projects, tools and equipment, farm facilities, others.
According BDA, organizing and mobilizing people at the community level is a crucial step in peacebuilding as it helps build the trust and confidence.
“This is important for the acceptance and ownership of the community that leads towards their support and participation to related undertakings on community development”, BDA stated.
In forming the POs, BDA is guided by the community – driven development (CDD) approach long been adopted as significant strategy in project implementation.
With the CDD, community members from various sectors like, women, religious leaders, traditional leaders, indigenous people, person with disabilities, youth, elderlies, transitioning combatants, and others are organized into one group with a structure and functions well- explained to them.
BDA educate them of their roles and responsibilities to achieve the success of the project.
The role of the POs starts by joining into different trainings. They are responsible for taking charge of the sub-project handed over to them for instance, for livelihood activities, the PO initiate how the group can regularly and continuously produce their products for selling and income generation.
Also for infrastructure projects, POs take the role of managing the operation of a solar dryer facility for such to be beneficial to the farmers in the village. POs have sets of rules and policies for the proper utilization of the facility in a fair and efficient manner.
POs are key partners in organizing, strengthening and sustaining community groups to help them be empowered and be active in initiating community works towards their progress.
They learn about communication and coordination with stakeholders like the local government units (LGUs) to access information and basic services, links and networks to outside groups by which they are able to expand and advance.
By mobilizing the community as partners in peacebuilding, they become agents of change and development who learn that governance is a process and that acquisition of government services requires corresponding obligations of the people.
With this, there is a bridging of gaps to break the barriers towards harmony, understanding and unified actions, that eventually leads to peace.
“The people in those underserved communities are the mostly affected by any distraction of peace. They have been isolated, with less access to information and basic services, therefore they must be educated and reached out. They are our partners to peace and development”, BDA stated.
BDA supports the peace in Mindanao through delivery of relief, rehabilitation and development assistance in the conflict- affected areas within and outside the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
