Asma Usman, also known as Babo Taya, 55 years old was one of the thousands of women affected by the Buliok Complex conflict, a war that happened in 2003 in barangay Buliok, Pagalungan, Maguindanao del Sur and its adjacent areas including Barangay Dungguan, Datu Montawal –where Babo Taya resides.

Babo Taya recalls the chaos of that tragic day when gunshots and aerial firing startled her, her family, and the whole village. The conflict forced them to leave their place and move to a neighboring area, ensuing traumatic experiences for the villagers.

At that time, Babo Taya together with her now colleagues in Dungguan Women and Youth Business Association (DWYBA) tried different ways to earn money, to help their husbands and families. The arrival of the Bangsamoro Camps Transformation Project (BCTP) in their community brings hope and transformation.

"Being part of the recipients of the Bangsamoro Camps Transformation Project (BCTP) has changed our lives," Babo Taya said.

"Before BCTP, we were fish vendors, farmers, even weavers of coconut-leaf roofs—anything to help our husbands support our families. The work was sometimes hard, and the income was insufficient." Babo Taya added. 

On November 23, 2024, DWYBA received a multi-purpose business center equipped with significant tools and equipment for bread and pastry production. In addition to the facility, the association successfully completed the skills training on bread and pastry from December 16 to 18 2024. This hands-on training taught them how to make various types of bread and pastries.

"Now, we have this beautiful business center, a place to sell our bread and pastries and to connect with other women and the youth. It's more than just a business; it's a community." She further stated. 

The association is optimistic that this project will provide them a steady source of income that will help to stabilize the financial status of its members and the community. Their business is currently earning with customers from their community and adjacent barangays. The group also dreams of opening additional bakery branches in other locations.

Furthermore, members of DWYBA were among the 680 households that participated in the homebased gardening (HBG) activities and received gardening tools and inputs. This initiative helped the members secure their own foods and also generates income.

Moreover, Brgy. Dungguan, situated within Camp Rajamuda, is one of the 12 barangay recipients of the BCTP.

Meanwhile, the barangay has also received a solar dryer and warehouse through the Kadingelan Agriculture Cooperative (KAC). The project equipped with farm machineries was turnover last November 23, 2024.

Alvin K. Montawal, 31 years old and president of the cooperative stated, “With these interventions, the members of the group and the community now have additional drying and storage facilities.”

“Previously, most farmers dried their agricultural products along the sides of the road, which may cause risk, including vehicle accidents”, said Montawal.

“The facilities have also started generating income,” he added.

Members of KAC participated in various trainings including the training on operation and maintenance for the warehouse and solar dryer held on November 13, 2024 followed by the training on machinery operation and maintenance conducted on January 7, 2025.

“We are grateful to BDA, CFSI, World Bank, and the Donor Countries for their support to our community”, Montawal added.

BCTP is implemented by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) in partnership with the Community and Family Services International (CFSI), implemented in the six major camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF): Abubakar as Siddique, Badre, Bilal, Busrah Somiorang, Omar ibin al-Khattab and Rajamuda.

It is one of the projects funded by the Bangsamoro Normalization Trust Fund (BNTF) with funding support from Australia, Canada, the European Union and the United Kingdom, administered by the World Bank.

The BCTP was also supported by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) as well as the Joint Task Forces on Camps Transformation (JTFCT) both from the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).