October 14, 2024. Driven by the will to affect change and progress in the communities long been underserved due to conflict in the past years, transitioning combatants in various villages across the camp communities have united to battle pressing social issues in their localities.
These combatants organized through local social formation approach have been completing several community trainings that developed their awareness, sense of responsibility and accountability and their capacities to work hand-in-hand for community services and development. They have identified priority needs in their village, planned together and have performed appropriate activities in acting upon those gaps.
In Camp Bushra, the clean- up drive helped address the environmental, sanitation and health problem in an isolated Brgy. Nusa in Balindong, Lanao del Sur, which motivated the local government unit to adopt the similar action for the welfare of the entire community.
In Camp Bilal, the transitioning combatants decided to do vegetable production as alternative agricultural crops potential for livelihood source and even for daily consumption.
An all-men group in Camp Rajamuda, opted to develop their capacities on rice delicacies making, in which the product be sold for income generation of the group.
In Camp Omar, the farmers were united for a flood-control project by planting bamboos and constructing community dikes that would help mitigate the overflowing water affecting their farm.
The group of combatants in Camp Badre, agreed to plant trees that symbolized the community resilience and social cohesion.
Meanwhile, for other relevant social issues, the initiative was employed through engaging with the Bangsamoro Government, by facilitating dialogue between the community members and the officials and representatives from the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA): MP Abdullah E. Gayak, MP Ali O. Salik, MP Akmad I. Abas, MP Mohammad Kelie U. Antao, MP Tawakal B. Midtimbang, MP Suharto S. Esmael, MP Froilyn T. Mendoza, MP Basit Abbas and MP Marjanie Macasalong.
Also from various ministries and offices in the BARMM such as the Tulong Alay sa Bangsamorong Nangangailangan (TABANG) of the Office of the Chief Minister, Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST).
In Camp Bilal, which communities are outside the territory of the Bangsamoro, other partners were from the Office for Other Bangsamoro Communities (OOBC) and the Municipal Social Welfare and Development of Munai, Lanao del Norte.
There were provisions of food packs, health kits and education supplies to during those community gatherings.
In the delivery of these services to the camp communities, the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) partnered with the Joint Taks Force for Camps Transformation (JTFCT), Task Force on Decommissioned Combatants and Their Communities (TFDCC), the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and the local government units where the activities were conducted
BDA reported that the employment of those undertakings in the camps is specifically relevant to the local social formation component of PROACTIVE: Programme on Assistance for Camp Transformation through Inclusion, Violence Prevention and Economic (PROACTIVE), funded by European Union (EU) together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
PROACTIVE supports the camps transformation and development across the six major camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) identified in the Normalization Annex of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) namely Camp Abubakar, Camp Badre, Camp Bilal, Camp Bushra, Camp Rajamauda and Camp Omar.
