Community Development in the Camps (67)
TRANSFORMING THE CAMPS INTO PEACEFUL COMMUNITIES THRU EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Written by BDA Communications
AUGUST 8, 2023/ COTABATO CITY-BARMM. A famous quote says “education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world”.
With education in a form of community trainings, members of cooperatives and people’s organization (PO) who are composed of farmers, transitioning combatants, women, youth, indigenous people and others are learning together necessary knowledge and skills relevant for the organizing, operation and management of their groups.
Trainings conducted are in relevance to the project PROACTIVE: Programme on Assistance for Camp Transformation through Inclusion, Violent Prevention and Economic Empowerment.
These activities help in building the capacities of the project beneficiaries to become equipped to handle and manage their organizations and the sub-projects to be provided to them by the project.
- Sustainable agriculture
- Community-based Enterprise Planning Technique (CEPT)
- Basic marketing strategy
- Disaster risk and reduction management
- Operation and maintenance
- Organizational and Project Management
- Basic financial management
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Some similar trainings are also being conducted for the members of Local Social Formation (LSF) who are organized to respond into pressing concerns in the community related to peace and security.
“In participating training like this, we learn knowledge which cannot be taught or learned in school”, Lailanie M. Arsani of Panggao, Munai, Lanap del Norte- Camp Bilal, stated.
Abdulnasser G. Akmad of Camp Badre said that he joined the training for new learning or knowledge.
“I myself believe that there is no evil knowledge. It just depends how you will use that knowledge. If you use it for good or bad. In other way learning is also a way to be aware of such things”, he told.
Asraf Gunda Batuaan from Camp Bushra learned that “a secretary is different from an auditor”.
Simple knowledge like this is already relevant to awaken and enlighten the participants about project process for them to understand that development assistance comes with a shared responsibility towards sustainable benefits for all.
With the PROACTIVE, there are 24 cooperatives being provided with capacity development support and livelihood assistance based on the potential enterprise identified through CEPT.
Twenty-five People’s organizations are formed with various capacity building activities and to receive infrastructure sub-projects.
There are 24 LSFs who are organized and will be granted with an assistance to be used for a project that shall be responsive to an identified peace and security concerns in the community.
Organizing community organizations twinned with education and trainings have been very relevant for the groups to become independent and self-reliant knowing the process of organizational management, project implementation, operation and maintenance, which are all vital towards project sustainability.
The Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) as the implementing agency, has been facilitating the said trainings for the cooperatives, POs and LSFs across the 16 barangays in the six major camps of the MILF namely Camp Abubakar, Maguindanao- Camp Badre, Camp Bilal, Camp Bushra, Camp Omar and Camp Rajamuda.
With the project’s approach, beneficiaries and other partners and stakeholders are united, discuss and work together the needed actions towards progress and peace. They feel the attention through the development assistance long been inadequate for the conflict-affected areas, like the PROACTIVE brings to them.
PROACTIVE as a project that supports to camps transformation and development is a collaborative programme of the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP – Philippines) and the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) under the European Union Framework for Assistance to Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Mindanao Peace and Development Programme - Peace and Development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MINPAD-PD BARMM).
Improving socio-economic services in the camps through signed partnership agreement between BDA and partner
Written by BDA Communications
The signing is for the Bangsamoro Camps Transformation Project (BCTP) between the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) and the Community and Family Services International (CFSI) on July 28, 2023 in Cotabato City.
Relevant to camps transformation, the project aims to improve the access to socio-economic services and basic infrastructure of the communities within the Six (6) previously acknowledged Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) camps.
Present in the signing were Mangontawar Macacuna, chairman of the BDA Inc. Board of Directors, Steven Muncy, executive director of CFSI, Rhadzni Taalim, executive director of BDA Inc., Noraida Abdullah Karim, CFSI Director for Mindanao Programme and Ali O. Salik, coordinator of Joint Task Forces on Camps Transformation (JTFCT) MILF.
Chairman Mangontawar expressed his gratitude for the trust that was extended to BDA being the lead partner of the BCTP project.
He said that, “we are very committed, In shaa Allah, to strive hard as we are guided by one of our core values which is striving for excellence”.
BDA exec. dir. Taalim emphasized the importance of said agreement for the transformation of the target communities in the Bangsamoro.
“Let us remember that we are not just implementing a project, but we are contributing to the positive transformation of communities and lives of the Bangsamoro people”, Taalim said.
An inception workshop was facilitated and concluded on the same date wherein roles and responsibilities of each party were discussed and clarified.
BCTP helps in supporting the gains of the peace process and the legitimacy of the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB).
It is funded under the Bangsamoro Normalization Trust Fund (BNTF) administered by the World Bank.
SUPPORT TO CAMPS TRANFORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT: Stories of hopes and progress in the camps
Written by BDA Communications
June 10, 2023. We present to you the compiled stories of decommissioned combatants we met in relevant to the implementation of the program in support to camps transformation and development. Here’s the link for the full narratives of our peace advocates highlighted below.
Babu Ina Ni Gunda: A mother from conflict, a grandmother with hope
Written by BDA Communications
(FEBRUARY 28, 2023/ PAGALUNGAN, MAGUINDANAO-BARMM). “While there was armed conflict, I as a mother was also in battle to secure my kids from famine and war”, Babu Ina ni Gunda said as she recalls life during war years ago.
Babu (Maguindanaon term for elderly woman) Ina (mother) ni (of) Gunda with the complete name Mondingan Kagui Kabasalan is a 71-year-old widow from Brgy. Kilangan, Pagalungan, Maguindanao- a community within Camp Rajamuda (one of the MILF’s six major camps as identified in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro- CAB).
During the war in the past years, before this present peace in the land, Babu Ina ni Gunda has had three children. Her husband is among the ‘mujahiddeen/ warriors’ who were fighting those days. Hence, she had to take the lead for the survival of the children.
She recalls that “instead of taking care of the laundry, education and leisure time of my children, I was in a battle to secure my kids’ from famine and war.”
She said that in order to get food from their cornfield, they sneaked at night time travelling kilometers after kilometers of cold, dark and fearful land. They have to cross bodies of water to secretly harvest corns from the field and carried them back at the evacuation center where her children are waiting for her to bring foods.
“It was really hard for us mothers being an evacuee especially when you have children”, Babu Ina ni Gunda stated.
She said that they have been into the same situation due to protracted conflict in the past, since 1972, until peace and development has started reigning in the Bangsamoro.
Now, Babu Ina ni Gunda is 71 years old, with ten (10) children and twenty (20) grandchildren.
She is happily taking care of her backyard garden in their village in Camp Rajamuda.
“I really love gardening, that is why if you don’t mine, I will show to you my small garden so that maybe you give some vegetable seed” she uttered with a genuine smile on her face.
Babu Ina ni Gunda’s grandson is among the members of the Sustainable Farmers Agriculture Association in their village. She is always eager to listen and attend to community meetings and especially this day when she learned that the topic during that day was about livelihood.
“So then, I joined the association”, she happily said.
The association was selected as one of the recipients of the PROACTIVE: Programme on Assistance for Camp Transformation through Inclusion, Violence Prevention and Economic Empowerment.
PROACTIVE is a collaborative programme of the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP – Philippines) and the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) under the European Union Framework for Assistance to Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Mindanao Peace and Development Programme - Peace and Development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MINPAD-PD BARMM).
Through the program, the association of Babu Ina ni Gunda along with other organizations across the six major camps of the MILF will get assistance to prosper, which will be relevant to help them become productive.
Sustainable livelihood towards camps transformation kicks-off with CEPT under BDA, UNDP, EU’s PROACTIVE
Written by BDA Communications
(February 27, 2023/ COTABATO CITY-BARMM). Members of cooperatives in the camp communities of the MILF planned together recently to determine potential livelihood that may be responsive to the priorities and needs in their villages.
This was through the Community-based Enterprise Planning Technique (CEPT) facilitated by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) in relevance to the implementation of the PROACTIVE: Programme on Assistance for Camp Transformation through Inclusion, Violence Prevention and Economic Empowerment.
In Brgy. Kilangan, Pagalungan, Maguindanao- Camp Rajamuda, the organized group is the Sustainable Agriculture Farmers Association.
“I joined this kind of activity because I like to learn more knowledge especially about socio-economic” Mondingan Kabasalan, a participant from the Camp, stated.
In Brgy. Kakal, Ampatuan, Maguindanao, Yasir Managu of Ampatuan Kalilintad Agriculture Cooperative said that he joined the association hoping that if those farming machineries or tools will be given to them it will be a big help to them as farmers.
For Abubakar Akmad of Sitio Malabaw Agriculture Cooperative in Brgy. Sifaran, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, the establishment of the cooperative is inspired by their aspiration that this will give them more opportunities for assistance from both the government and non-government organizations.
There were twenty-four (24) participants per camp for the CEPT.
During the activity, members and officials of the said cooperatives or associations raised their concerns and recommended solutions through by identifying the appropriate enterprise for the group. This shall be based on the available raw materials in the community from which the product to be marketed for income shall be made from.
According to BDA Inc., the concept of CEPT is to assist the locals in each village by producing goods out of the raw materials available in the community, which can result to potential source of income helpful for their families, and eventually to the entire community.
The tool has been used during the previous projects of BDA that helped communities become more productive up to present days. It was also adopted for the on-going initiatives related to the Bangsamoro Transition; wherein significant results are achieved.
CEPT is also being prepared for community recipients in the other camps like Camp Abubakar, Bilal and Bushra to be conducted in the following days.
PROACTIVE is a collaborative programme of United Nation Development Programme (UNDP – Philippines) and the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) under the European Union Framework for Assistance to Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Mindanao Peace and Development Programme - Peace and Development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MINPAD-PD BARMM).
This joint programme aims to contribute in enhancing local capacities to facilitate transition and transformation of the six (6) acknowledged camps of the MILF into peaceful and productive communities.
Bapa Thoks: A witness of war, a keeper of peace.
Written by BDA Communications
(Camp Badre/ 20 February 2023). Datukan K. Ebrahim, 58, is among the decommissioned combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chosen to undergo various support activities towards transformation and progress.
He is a father of nine (9) children, some of which are married already from whom he has grandchildren.
His source of income is through farming of corn and native bananas. This farming may not give luxurious life for his family but it’s his way to survive their day-to-day needs.
Commonly known as Bapa Thoks in their community at Brgy. Datalpandan, Guindulungan, Maguindanao, he recalls the past where the battle to peace was elusive and life was indeed hard.
“At the young age, I was already among the evacuees due to violence and protracted conflict”, Bapa Thoks said.
There is no further elaboration of his difficulties in life during those days but his appearance and sense of understanding to his responsibility as a ‘mujahideen’ manifest his life experience of courage and dedication to the Bangsamoro cause.
Bapa Thoks is the caretaker of the farm machinery provided by the current project on camps transformation, the PROACTIVE: Programme on Assistance for Camp Transformation through Inclusion, Violent Prevention and Economic Empowerment.
“Like the previous projects given to us, these are really beneficial to the community specially the road project, warehouse, and solar drier. These have huge impact in our community”, he stated.
Growing old to this journey in the Bangsamoro, Bapa Thoks is a witness of how peace is gradually taking place in this land through various support from partners.
“This peacefulness in the community is priceless that even if they give me a million in exchange of peace, I would not accept the money. Because peace gives more significance to the community greater than the money”, he said.
Bapa Thoks is happy that more than five years since the previous projects were implemented, it is still operational and serving the needs of the community.
“In managing these projects, we are not paid and sometimes we used our own pocket. But that is because we wanted to ensure that what were given to us will prosper and be sustainable” he stated.
According to Bapa Thoks, the organization has a maintenance fund being used for any problem encountered e.g., farm machinery. The fund comes from the income of the operation of the farming machine collected whenever a member utilizes the unit.
The group of Bapa Thoks, named as Kalilintad People’s Organization is selected as one of the recipients of the PROACTIVE, a collaborative programme of the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP – Philippines) and the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) under the European Union Framework for Assistance to Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Mindanao Peace and Development Programme - Peace and Development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MINPAD-PD BARMM).
Under the programme, the organization of Bapa Thoks is expected to undergo various assistance intended towards the goal on camps transformation and development such as support for agriculture-based enterprises and alternative/ vocational livelihood programs; market linkage support; livelihood capacity building support for groups and individuals and; micro-grants for scaling up or diversification of livelihoods.
With this PROACTIVE, Bapa Thoks is hopeful for better life ahead. Witness of war in the past, he is committed with his current task as caretaker of the project that will help keep peace in the community. (S.Zacaria/BDA Inc.)
WORLD BANK VISIT: Express continuing support to BARMM and to camps development
Written by BDA Communications
(BARANGAY KINEBEKA, Datu Odin Sinsuat Maguindanao Del Norte/ February 15, 2023). Officials from the World Bank took a mission to a camp community of the MILF particularly in this village under Camp Badre on February 15, 2023.
Ndiame Diop, Country Director for Philippines of World Bank said, “At the World Bank we truly value this partnership with the BARMM….and we have been supporting communities like yours for many years and we have been very committed to continue this collaboration”.
He also said that the visit was a part of a two day visit to discuss with different stakeholders for this partnership. Diop elaborated the purpose of the visit which is to have insights on the needs of the community and what are the ways forward.
He even recalled the Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF Phase 1-3) and how it developed many projects for the community and now they came with a new program through the Bangsamoro Normalization Trust Fund (BNTF) that will soon to start.
The visit encompassed a short community program that allowed the community members shared their needs, concerns and stories relevant to understand their life conditions in the camp.
“We are thankful, we are consulted as well as we participate in this and we are happy for it” Indigenous People (IP) Representative Agustin Apit said.
The open forum addressed issues on road accessibility issues which centered on ease access of the community to a farm to market road for their crops and other products. Alternative Learning System (ALS) in support to access to basic education for the community, packaged implementation instead of piece meal approach was pointed out as a more effective tool, lack of connectivity or signal which foster difficulty in communication and in schooling. Also, the pressing issue of climate change like deforestation, wherein this community was affected by the Typhoon Paeng last October 2022.
During the community visit, Sokeyna Kane, Fragility, Conflict and Violence Director of World Bank said “We will try to fix the problem as much as we can…”.
She did mention the community driven development (CDD) and a long-term project implementation for the community as support and to promote the welfare of the community.
The said activity concluded with a fruitful community driven discussion. The visitors took home insights which will be paramount to the implementation of the upcoming program for the above-mentioned community related to Normalization in the Bangsamoro
Support to Normalization in Bangsamoro: Sustaining Support to Camp Communities thru PROACTIVE with UNDP, EU
Written by BDA Communications
February 15, 2023. The project team is recently working for the strengthening/organizing and validation of cooperatives and its members who are among the major beneficiaries of the project.
As the implementing agency, the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) has already mobilized its hired staff in meeting and courtesy with local government units and other stakeholders. Communities involved were also informed of the project during wide- orientations.
BDA Inc. likewise gained the continuing support and guidance of the Joint Task Force on Camps Transformation (JTFCT) through a meeting in January this year.
The agency has also witnessed handover and groundbreaking of some assistance.
As signed in the responsibility party agreement for the PROACTIVE between BDA Inc. and the UNDP Philippines, the program aims to contribute in enhancing local capacities to facilitate transition and transformation of the six (6) acknowledged camps of the MILF into peaceful and productive communities.
It is named as PROACTIVE: Programme on Assistance for Camp Transformation through Inclusion, Violence Prevention and Economic Empowerment.
PROACTIVE is a collaborative programme of United Nation Development Programme (UNDP – Philippines) and the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) under the European Union Framework for Assistance to Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Mindanao Peace and Development Programme - Peace and Development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MINPAD-PD BARMM).
The project will work on three components such as inclusive and sustainable livelihoods, initial peace dividends and strengthening social cohesion and community resilience.
It covers sixteen (16) villages across the six identified major camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) based on the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) namely Camp Abubakar As- Siddique, Camp Badre, Camp Bilal Bin Rabbah Darul Shuhadah, Camp Bushra Somiorang, Camp Omar Ibn Al-Khattab and Camp Rajamuda.
Learning and celebrating together the continuing milestones in transforming the camp communities
Written by BDA Communications
March 20, 2022. Improved road access, the chance to meet together despite the distance and pandemic and more of these stories manifest the significant progress and transformation happening in the camp communities once marginalized from development.
During the recent gathering of community volunteers and the transitioning combatants from the different villages covered under the six major camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation (MILF) on March 14-15, 2022 at Cotabato City, shared their narratives and experiences in relation to the on-going transformation in the camps.
“Before, the road going to Brgy. Tamparan in Munai, Lanao del Norte (Camp Bilal) was difficult and risky. Now, we are happy that there is a better road to reach the village, far from its condition, years ago”, Joint Task Force on Camps Transformation (JTFCT) Camp Bilal said.
Co-chairman of the JTFCT Camp Badre expressed that “Simple meeting like this activity is already significant for us. We are all comrades in this struggle, all worked as combatants but it was very rare that we meet because we are coming from different camps. But this project gathered us”.
This said gathering happened during the Project End Review and Reflection Session conducted in line with completion of the Camps of Learning Project (CLP)- a project that aims to promote inclusive peace through literacy in the Bangsamoro.
In the event, BDA together with partner and the participants reviewed the project implementation and drew lessons learned that shall be relevant to consider in the future. This was guided by the project development objectives, project steps, and was through a reflection session wherein the body identified what went well, and the areas that need be improved.
Took off in April 2021, CLP has touched the lives of many in the camps. The building of community learning centers equipped with complete facilities provided a permanent and convenient learning place for the learners who, before the project, have to run into any available facility in their village just to join the classes on Alternative Learning System (ALS).
Attending and completing the ALS sessions helped promote peace with the beneficiaries feeling the empowerment and self- growth as they learn basic literacy such as writing their names by their own, counting numbers, reading and writing few basic words.
Learner from Camp Abubakar is confident that by the coming national and local election in the country, people can read their names from the voters’ list as they can now write to cast their votes.
From Camp Badre, the learner is grateful that even without a degree, the project brought them education and made them experienced studying and learning at school through the ALS.
As the project also carried skills training for the beneficiaries, people in Camp Bilal are thankful that aside from basic literacy, they also learned additional knowledge and skills that is helpful to augment their daily income.
For the people in Camp Rajamuda, the learning they acquired from the project will never be forgotten.
Camp Omar is likewise in gratitude for the project that served as bridge for the people to learn.
Learner in Camp Bushra is happy that the literacy sessions are completed.
CLP is formally closing this March 2022 leaving fully equipped learning centers across the six major camps of the MILF. The project hopes that the facility shall be used in the future in bringing literacy, empowerment and development in the lives of the people in the camps, long been deprived of such services due to the war in the past.
There were 480 learners who successfully completed the ALS and are now confident having the ability to read, write and count.
The implementation of ALS in camp communities was guided by the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed with the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE- BARMM) for areas under the Bangsamoro Region. Communities outside the region like Brgy. Inug-ug in Pikit is coordinated with the Department of Education- North Cotabato Division (Region XII) and Lanao del Norte Division (Region IX) for Brgy. Tamparan in Munai.
Further, the project was in support to the Normalization Annex of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).
CLP is funded by Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
Literacy for vulnerable sectors in camps communities
Written by BDA Communications
February 2, 2022. In the remote communities in Mindanao, particularly Bangsamoro Region, access to basic services like education and health remains deprived, although with significant improvement considering the continuing development assistance from various donor organizations. This has become more apparent now with the Bangsamoro Government now established anticipated to be responsive to the needs of the people in the region, long been wedged by decades of armed conflict.
On education, (as per the results of its Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in 2019), that by region, Metro Manila posted the highest functional literacy rate of 96.5%, while the lowest was recorded in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with 71.6%.
Of this number Sally Bandara, 30, a Teduray from Brgy. Datalpandan, Guindulungan in Maguindanao (within MILF Camp Badre) can be counted among the illiterate groups.
Teduray is among the tribes identified as indigenous people.
Sally says that because of distance and access, being in the mountains, they did not get education.
“Our ancestors were illiterate, because of that, our parents did not allow us to study”, Sally stated.
With the construction of community learning center in their village in Brgy. Datalpandan, Guindulungan in Maguindanao (within MILF Camp Badre), and the implementation of Alternative Learning System (ALS), Sally feels positive about getting education.
“Back then, we used to run from the school because of ignorance, but now, it is the school that comes to us. You have given us this CLC with teachers who are walking on different roads just to reach us for education”, she expressed.
Sally is very happy that she is now learning to write her own name, that she will no longer rely on thumbmark to affix her signature.
Education was also impossible for a combatant like Taha Gawang, 51, Maguindanaon, who is residing from the same village of Sally.
He said “it is due to poverty and war in the past that I did not get education”.
Now, through the ALS, Taha can write his own name and is happy that recently, he was able to write his name when he registered to receive money from a relative abroad, unlike before where he can only do thumbmark.
“Staff from the remittance center was also surprised when they saw me writing my name”, Taha happily shared.
Adullah H.Esmail, the instructional manager, said that Taha is among the transitioning combatants of the MILF, and does farming to sustain his family of eight.
This particular implementation of ALS in camp communities is under the Camps of Learning Project (CLP) that aims to promote peace and inclusion through basic literacy in the Bangsamoro. The project is funded by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (#AECID).
Baidido Malignan, 45, a Maguindanaon is also an ALS learner registered under the project. She is enrolled at the CLC in Camp Omar, specifically in Brgy. Saniag, Ampatuan, Maguindanao.
Baidido narrated that she was not able to get education because she has to help her father in the farm, where they get a living for their family of five.
“I joined ALS to learn writing and reading”, she said.
According to Datufaizal Macacana, the instructional manager of Baidido, she can now write her name along with other few words. Also, albeit slowly, Baidido can now read.
Baidido is a widow and is selling a pastil (a rice with shredded chicken wrapped in banana leaf) to provide for her children.
ALS in camp communities is also giving hope to the youth. In Brgy. Tamparan, Munai, Lanao del Norte (belong to MILF Camp Bilal), Abdani Deki and Diya U. Mamaki are both timid during ALS sessions but are appreciative when Aisah Acob, the IM teaches them one-on-one.
Now, they can write their own names and other few words. Aisah reported that the two have significant improvement on penmanship, even better than hers, but remains slow in reading activities. She hopes that by the end of the project, the learners will be able to read sentences.
Under the CLP, there are four hundred eight (480) number of ALS learners across the six major camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) where the project is being implemented.
They are vulnerable sectors in the community like women, out-of-school youth, elderlies, indigenous people and others who were not able to get formal education due to poverty, difficult access and armed conflict in the past years.
It is noted that the implementation of ALS in camp communities is well- coordinated with the BARMM’s Education Ministry for the areas under the Bangsamoro Region. Communities outside the region like Brgy. Inug-ug in Pikit is coordinated with the Department of Education- North Cotabato Division (Region XII) and Lanao del Norte Division (Region IX) for Brgy. Tamparan in Munai.
With the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) as the Project Implementing Unit (PIU), the project is funded by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
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Bringing literacy in MILF camps - stories of teachers for the conflict-affected communities
Written by BDA Communications
November 5, 2021. Datufaizal Macacana 36, (2nd photo below), travels from Poblacion, Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao to Brgy. Saniag, Ampatuan in the same province from Monday to Thursday to fulfill his responsibility as Instructional Manager (IM) to the learners of the Alternative Learning System (ALS)- a component of the Camps of Learning Project that promotes literacy in communities within the six major camps of the MILF acknowledged in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).
He started working as an IM for ALS in camp communities, particularly in Camp Omar in year 2019. Faizal understands the complexity of working in remote areas, especially in a camp, known to be a battlefield during the armed- conflicts in the past years. For him, he chose this job in belief that he can help serve those people who did not have education due to war in the past.
Faizal was a 4th year in secondary education when he learned about the conflict in Mindanao, particularly in Bangsamoro where he was born. “My father was often on duty in Camp Abubakar those times, for many months, so I knew and understand the struggle of the Bangsamoro”, he stated.
With his job as IM at present, Faizal feels good for the experience of being able to work with the local government unit (LGU) and the people in community.
He wishes enlightenment for his learners about the importance of education.
“I hope that I can help them be motivated towards education, that poverty is not a hindrance to learn, because at present, there are many opportunities in the Bangsamoro, that can assist people to improve their lives”, Faizal told.
Colleagues of Datufaizal for literacy sessions in Camps Omar are Aisa Mantikayan, Noraina Sambad and Nor-ain Kaliman.
Meanwhile, a colleague of Faizal from Lanao del Norte, named Aisah Acob, 29 also shares story of her work as IM in the remote village within the Camp Bilal, particularly in Brgy. Tamparan, Munai, Lanao del Norte.
For Aisah, what she loves most about her role as IM is being able to be an instrument in providing learning for those people who did not have the chance because of the war, poverty and low access to basic services.
She hopes that by teaching, her learners would learn things that are useful for daily lives.
“I want them not just a reader but a leader in the future. I use the quote “Be a READER today, tomorrow a LEADER”, for them because I have this learner who is a barangay councilor. She cannot read even simple words and sentences, only understands simple Filipino words. And for that she cannot fully participate in the development of the community because she is not confident and capable enough due to poor literacy”, Aisah stated.
In Camp Bilal, Aisah is joined by Norayah Mananggolo, Ibrahim Dangcogan and Aslimah Maminta.
Amerah Anta, 40, is also an IM working for the ALS learners in Brgy. Inug-ug, Pikit, North Cotabato, a village within the MILF’s Camp Rajamuda.
She shared that facilitating the learning session for the learners in a camp community is not easy. But her years of experience in the job, since 2016, equipped her with more knowledge and determination- moreover, knowing and understanding that this is part of her contribution to the Bangsamoro struggle.
“I wish that they will all complete this program, and whatever they learn from ALS will be significant in their lives”, Amerah expressed.
In Camp Rajamuda, Amera is working with Shaffreah Kuta, Sulaipa Unggui and Layra Mahmod.
Bedorie Panaudan, 34, has been working as an IM in Camp Bushra since 2016. Being an IM, she is very happy for the ability to share knowledge.
“I am happier when I see their eagerness to learn. Through this ALS, I can help in giving hope to the people in camp communities”, she stated.
Bedorie is working with Yasmin Abdulmanan, Mojahid Magazoga and Saniah Oga are facilitating the ALS classes in Camp Bushra.
Another IM, Sabrina Masacal, 25, is facilitating ALS sessions in Camp Abubakar, particularly Brgy. Tabuan, Kapatagan, Lanao del Sur.
She said that she loves doing community services. Sabrina is a social worker and applied for this job knowing that she can help those people who are in remote areas by sharing knowledge.
“I wish that my learners will acquire knowledge that they can use for their selves and have the courage to do what they wanted in life”, Sabrina told.
Sabrina is working with Noraina Mamantek, Analiza Pagayawan and Samera Bagnas. In Camp Abubakar.
ALS facilitators in Camp Badre namely Abdullah H.Esmail, Kalindato Bato, Zainudin Kusain and Muslimin Abdul have to cross a river to reach their learners in the remote village of Brgy. Datalpandan, Guindulungan, Maguindanao, including the indigenous people community- who are thankful for reaching out to them despite the distance to bring them literacy.
At present, there are four hundred eight (480) number of ALS learners across the six major camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) where the CLP is being implemented.
They are vulnerable sectors in the community like women, out-of-school youth, elderlies, indigenous people and others who were not able to get formal education due to poverty, difficult access and armed conflict in the past years.
It is noted that the implementation of ALS in camp communities is well- coordinated with the BARMM’s Education Ministry for the areas under the Bangsamoro Region. Communities outside the region like Brgy. Inug-ug in Pikit is with the Department of Education- North Cotabato Division (Region XII) and Lanao del Norte Division (Region IX) for Brgy. Tamparan in Munai.
CLP is a project "Promoting Peace and Inclusion Through Basic Literacy in the Bangsamoro" with the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) as project implementing unit (PIU).
The project is funded by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
People in isolated camp community shares priority needs to BARMM, World Bank
Written by BDA Communications
(COTABATO CITY). For families living in the uphill of Brgy. Datalpandan, Guidulungan, Maguindanao, life would be better if development assistance reaches them.
In a community dialogue on October 19, 2021, during the World Bank visit in the village, one member of indigenous people particularly told their will to get vaccinated of the COVID-19 but expressed hope for the health ministry of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to come in their barangay so that the people will no longer need to travel from a far to get a vaccine.
As response, the Rural Health Unit (RHU) in the barangay explained that the road is difficult to reach the village uphill and the vaccine requires a specific storage, which is not ideal for long rough travel.
Dr. Bashary Latiph, Minister of the Ministry of Health (MOH) said that the BARMM together with development partners have been working hard making sure that every Bangsamoro will be able to have easy and accessible facility that will cater for their health needs.
“We want to widen our reach, to render a more intensive service. We want to make sure that no one is left behind. In sha Allah, with our development partners, we are here for all of you, to provide for your needs. I would like to thank the World Bank for the never ending support to the Bangsamoro and to the indigenous people. Thank you to everyone who have been working non-stop, realizing the dreams of everyone: a peaceful and prosperous Bangsamoro” Dr. Latiph stated.
Felino V. Samar, representative from the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs (MIPA) thanks the BARMM Government and development partners for including the IP communities towards development.
“Like the case of Datalpandan, 95% are Moro and 5% are IP. But in giving the project, the IP group is counted. So, we are really thankful”, MIPA official told.
Meanwhile, women group is hoping for a livelihood assistance e.g. dressmaking, to supplement their daily income in sustaining their families.
Farmer group is wishing for a road project, especially a bridge that shall ease the burden of crossing the river in their village.
Hon. Ali O. Salik, member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) expressed thanks for the WB visit that he described as an indicator of progress and development in the camp.
Salik is also the camp coordinator of the six major camps of the MILF and hopes that this visit will bring fruitful conversation with the beneficiaries in Camp Bad’r.
“We are confident that World Bank will continue to provide support through future project here in BARMM, in general. We really appreciate your commitment and dedication for development initiative. I hope that economic analysis before and after the project will push significant posture and positive changes to the people of camp Bad’r”, MP Salik stated.
Datalpandan is a home to mixed population of Muslim and indigenous people. Major source of living is farming.
The community has been a recipient of road project, post-harvest facility, water system, solar panel and a community learning center for the delivery of Alternative Learning System (ALS).
This has been through the Mindanao Trust Fund- Reconstruction and Development Project Phase II and III and the recent Camps of Learning Project (CLP)- wherein the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) functioned as project implementing agency.
In a message from the World Bank during the recent visit on October 19, Ndiame Diop country director to Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand, East Asia and Pacific stated the World Bank as an active supporter of Mindanao’s peace and development agenda, more importantly with the MILF and GPH peace process.
“As a testament to this, for more than a decade now, through the Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF) and the MTF Reconstruction and Development Projects Phases 1, 2 and 3, together with our donors, we have supported projects geared toward socio-economic development”, Diop said.
The country director re-affirmed the Bank’s commitment to helping in achieving the peace and development aspirations of the Bangsamoro.
“Through this visit, we hope to listen to the stories of your MTF RDP journey, learn from your experience and take on your recommendations on how to best support your communities and BARMM going forward”, he stated.
Brgy. Datalpandan is a community within BARMM and is also part of the territory of Camp Badre- one major camp of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as named in the Normalization Annex of the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB) signed between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the MILF in 2014.
Assistance to camp communities has been one of priorities in support to the implementation of the CAB. It aims to help in the socio-economic development of conflict-affected communities and eventually transition from war to productive and peaceful village.
A brighter Ramadhan for M’ranao village in a camp community outside BARMM
Written by BDA Communications
(March 30, 2021). M’ranao families in Sitio Kura-Kura, Brgy. Tamparan, Lanao del Norte- Camp Bilal is hopeful and happy to welcome the month of Ramadhan (a month of fasting in Islam) now that their village will be brighter as the solar street lights are installed and officially turned over on March 24, 2021 along the newly constructed access road in the community. Ramadhan this year is expected to start on 2nd week of April.
The project is funded through the Mindanao Trust Fund- Reconstruction and Development Project Phase III (MTF-RDP/3), in support to the Confidence Building Initiatives for the Camps Transformation stated in Normalization Annex of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).
“There were few people residing here, before because of the isolation and difficult access. Now we see development and people are coming to build their homes in Sitio Kura-Kura”, Ibrahim
Camp Project Support Team (CPST) of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) reported that the place is identified by Task Force on Camps Transformation (TFCT) as center of development of Camp Bilal, one of the six major camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) acknowledged in the CAB of 2014 for transformation from conflict to productive communities.
The community has been receiving development projects such as agri-facility building, farmer’s training center, road projects, health facility along with various interventions that promotes community empowerment and enlightenment. (R.Adam)
BARMM Ministries train camp communities on various productivity skills towards progress and peace
Written by BDA Communications
March 30, 2021. According to Normina Atoy, a farmer in Brgy. Kinebeka, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao (CAMP BADRE), the training is a great help for them farmers to improve their agriculture practices.
“Farming is our source of income; we have been doing it all our life, and only now that we learned that useful information to make our farming more convenient and competitive” Normina said.
She added that farming has been expensive for them since they have to buy pesticides and fertilizers. Through the training, they knew local alternatives that can be produced to supplement the nutrition of farm crops and can help prevent pests from destroying their plants.
“If only we knew this in the past, life would be easier. Now we are motivated and determined to apply all that we learned”, Normina told.
She said that farming gives fair income to the family. Capital usually reaches to Php 20, 000.00 for one hectare of land and the gains after the harvest is more or less Php 40, 000.00
With rich agricultural land, farming is one primary source of income in the province of Maguindanao.
The Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) provided the training inputs and lectures to hundreds of farmers and other sectors during the series of productivity trainings conducted like rice and corn production, vegetable farming, peanut processing, native chicken, others.
The Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) through accredited partners organizations facilitated training on banana processing, food processing, others.
Meanwhile, trainings on coconut oil and virgin coconut oil processing was facilitated by Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), while indigenous people group from Koronadal City taught elderly sectors on crafting and weaving of native products.
Productivity training is one sub-component of the Mindanao Trust Fund- Reconstruction and Development Project Phase III (MTF-RDP/3), implemented in support to the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). It covers the six previously acknowledged camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) namely Camp Abubakar as Siddique in Maguindanao, Camp Badre in Maguindanao, Camp Bilal in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur, Camp Bushra Somiorang in Lanao del Sur, Camp Omar Ibn al-Khattab in Maguindanao and Camp Rajamuda in North Cotabato and Maguindanao.
Partnership with BARMM ministries and offices is also one component of MTF-RDP/3 through mainstreaming activities that aims to promote collaborative approach for better services to Bangsamoro communities. BARMM ministries engaged in the mainstreaming are Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform, Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education, Ministry of Interior and Local Government, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Ministry of Public Order and Safety, Ministry of Social Services and Development, Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy and Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority.
Recently, the project organized a joint field mission with BARMM ministries to camp communities where community interaction and project site visit were undertaken.
Under the MTF-RDP/3, various socio-economic infrastructure (SEI) projects are underway both community sub-projects and health sub-projects, designed to help improve the access of community beneficiaries to basic socio-economic services.
The Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) is taking the role as project implementing unit (PIU) for MTF-RDP/3. BDA was established in 2002 out of the GPH-MILF Tripoli Agreement of 2001; and was officially registered as non-government organization in 2019 after the Bangsamoro Government was established. MILF Chairman Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim and Interim Chief Minister Ahod Balawag in a virtual meeting in July 2020 with the World Bank underscored that the MILF remains committed to support development projects through the BDA Inc.
