(March 15, 2021).  In this era of development in the Bangsamoro, women rise and recall stories of sacrifices in times of war.

Ustadza Halima Hashim of Brgy. Inug- ug, Pikit, North Cotabato in a speech during a turnover ceremony of water system project, recalled that in times of battle “we could not meet and convene like this; we get water from marsh for daily use”.

She spoke about gratitude and dedication.

“We have to be grateful for all this development happening at present. We remember those who sacrificed, those who shed blood. They are not with us anymore, today”, the respected-woman told.

She added “now that we see this development, we have to work together and harder”.

Ustadza Halima is a sister of the late MILF founding chairman Salamat Hashim. She possesses a leadership charm, being the chair of MILF Social Welfare Committee (SWC) Liguasan Province.  As a woman-leader in the woman-wing of the MILF, she has the respect, trust and support of fellow women members, other stakeholders and of the whole community.

(BRGY. NABALAWAG, BARIRA, MAGUINDANAO-CAMP ABUBAKAR). Hasana Balitok of Brgy. Nabalawag, Barira, Maguindanao- Camp Abubakar can still remember the past where she witnessed and experienced life in war and evacuation.

“Young I was, I saw the struggle of our people, our community during the time of war”, she said.

In teary eyes, she cannot help but share joy seeing the development coming in to their village.

“I’m really happy that at present, community needs are being responded like this road project”, Hasana stated.

She shared that Brgy. Nabalawag, was really a remote area. People would struggle to get living, away from civilization. There were no roads and bridges so the community would really endure the long walks and hard ways in order to access basic needs from nearest market.

“It was really difficult e.g., for sick people, because it takes really hard times to get to the adjacent health facility, and there was no means of transportation, only horses or by people carrying the sick with a blanket. Once, an animal died by crossing the river to transport local crops”, Hasana told.

Hasana is the vice president of Nabalawag Peace and Development Organization, a people’s organization mobilized through the Mindanao Trust Fund- Reconstruction and Development Project (MTF-RDP Phase II and III)- implemented in support to the Normalization Annex of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

Brgy. Nabalawag received road project from MTF-RDP that helped improved the access of the community to basic services such as health, education and livelihood.

For Hasana, it significant to involve women in development activities.

“In our case with our organization, I as vice president support our leader, who have less educational background. We do not think that way, instead, we help him in order for our organization to grow- because in unity we will progress together as one community”, Hasana added.

She said that NPDO is looking forward to establish own office to be able to function better as organization, working for the development of the whole community, which past is defined by war and isolation but with future inspired by common aspiration to become progressive.

(BRGY. SANDAB BUTIG, LANAO DEL SUR- CAMP BUSHRA). Naira Bimbad, 54, from Brgy. Sandab Butig, Lanao del Sur (CAMP BUSHRA) lost their three children during the time of all-out-war in 2000. It was in heavy heart that they (with her husband) went home after the war, without their kids. Naira and husband moved on and now have five children. Naira sees better future for her family, with the recent peace and development in the region.

She was among the farmer- participants to the recent training on peanut processing, as one sub-component of the MTF-RDP/3.

Naira is thankful of the training and is now confident to improve their farming methods and become more productive for her family.

(BRGY. KINEBEKA, DATU ODIN SINSUAT, MAGUINDANAO- CAMP BADRE). Cely Abdul, 60 of Brgy. Kinebeka, DOS, Maguindanao never taught that development would come to them in the mountains.

“We live in this remote area, almost difficult to reach. It was difficult for us women to go to the market. Public transport only comes once a week, so there was really a struggle to get basic commodities for living”, she recalled.

Cely is thankful for the development coming to their community and is now leading the other women in the village to become participative in development activities.

“I told them (women) to go out, learn time management and become productive. Find other means to help earn income, to have improvement for their families”, she said.

Cely is a Teduray, married to Muslim and is looking forward to strengthen and sustain their organization in Brgy. Kinebeka, especially now that the construction of agri-facility building is soon to be completed where women sector will have

(BRGY. SANIAG, AMPATUAN, MAGUINDANAO- CAMP OMAR). Janet Saligan, 54, a Teduray in Brgy. Saniag, Ampatuan, Maguindanao recalls that during armed conflict in the past years, they would spend nights by the mountains to watch over the process of charcoal making, where they earn income for their family of eight.

“It was difficult. I told my husband to better stay at night to ensure that we can produce charcoal because, sometimes, if something went wrong during the process then our hard work will be wasted. Charcoal making is our alternative source of income when farming failed due to pests attack”, Janet told.

She added that “it was really hard during those times, we have to climb the mountains, there was no good road like now, then peace and order was not stable. There was fear in us but we have to live so we went on”.

Janet joins the group of elderly sectors in learning to produce native products made of local fern abundant in their mountainous village. She intends to share the skills acquired from the training to help her community become productive.

(BRGY. TAMPARAN, MUNAI, LANAO DEL NORTE- CAMP BILAL). Parents in the barangay especially the mothers are happy about the farmers’ training center constructed in December 2020.

“We wanted to join community activities. But we cannot leave our children at home unsupervised by adults. This center is helpful because we have this formal venue for community gatherings where we can get involved while there is a space for our children within the building, so it is convenient for us”, mothers told.

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The role of women in peace and development is irrefutable. The stories of Halima, Hasana, Naira, Cely and Janet speak of the vital part of the women in advancing the welfare of their communities. The Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) recognizes this reality in relevance to inclusiveness as one value the agency upholds. In 2020, thirty percent of BDA’s staff were women. Same percentage is also true for one project in Upi, Maguindanao, where women were employed for the implementation of water system project responding to the needs of the community. Fifty percent of the total beneficiaries for the camps project are women.

In the Philippines, March 8, is declared as National Women’s Month (RA6949). Various laws related to women rights and protection includes Anti- Sexual Harassment Act of 1995, Anti-Rape Law of 1997, Anti-Trafficking in Person of 2003, Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC) in 2004, among others.

(February 10, 2021) In the remote area of Brgy. Palao sa Buto in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao (CAMP RAJAMUDA) people have to buy safe water from the town center (8 kilometers).

Zarima Ulangkaya, a mother of nine shared their struggle in the community for clean water for their families.

The family of Zarima rely on farming as source of income like many of other families in the village.

“We have deep well as source of water for our daily life. But it is not safe for drinking. We have to buy from the town center”, Zarima said.

She added that the water from the deep well can only be used for washing dishes and clothes, and for bathing.

“Sometimes, some water source cannot provide usable liquid because of the high salt content, that does not work for soap or detergents” Zarima told.

For the community, fetching water from the deep well is difficult, but what is harder is the access to safe water.

“One-gallon of clean water costs P15.00, that is good for three days for drinking only. For our family, we can buy three gallons but for others who can only buy one gallon, it is difficult because the transportation cost (P100.00) is more expensive than the water fee”, Zarima explained.

On February 9, 2021, Zarina and the whole community of Brgy. Palao sa Buto may start telling better stories of their access to safe water. The barangay has officially received a solar-powered water system project through the Mindanao Trust Fund- Reconstruction and Development Project Phase II (MTF-RDP/2).

The turnover ceremony was held on the said day that marked the official acceptance of the People’ Organization in the barangay on the responsibility over the management and operation of the project.

Women involvement in camps development project is highly regarded as the MTF-RDP/2 employs community-driven development (CDD), where participation of all sectors in the community is encouraged for consultative and inclusive project approach that is helpful in promoting ownership, transparency, accountability and sustainability.

In 2019, 52% of the over 50, 000 total number of beneficiaries across the six major camps are women.

The Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) as project implementing unit of the MTF-RDP/2 reported that quality, safety and compliance of the project implementation of water system are considered taking into account the agreed standards and policies of the World Bank- the fund administrator of the Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF).  

Selection of the project was decided based on the series of consultations and meetings with the various stakeholders and the Task Forces on Camps Transformation (TFCT- MILF), who are combatants selected to undergo capacity building to transition their mindset from conflict to development.

MTF-RDP/2 was agreed in 2018, with the common aspiration to sustain the momentum of the peace process between the GPH-MILF, this time focus on the six previously acknowledged major camps of the MILF as informed by the Normalization Annex of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

The project was building on the 10 years of experience of community- driven development (CDD), the Phase I of the MTFRDP (2006-2017).  

It now covers selected villages in the six major camps of the MILF (Abubakar, Badre, Bilal, Bushra, Omar and Rajamuda).

In its development plan launched recently, BARMM reported that in 2018, 55% of households in ARMM have access to safe drinking water.

(February 3, 2021). People in three of four barangays in camp communities has to endure long travel time before reaching the nearest health facility. This was based on the initial findings from recent community visits in the camps, in relevance to the health sub-component of the community development assistance under the Mindanao Trust Fund- Reconstruction and Development Project Phase III (MTF-RDP/3).

The assistance on health for MTF-RDP/3 is intended to expand the services for camp communities, considering the poor health condition in remote areas, further the current threat of the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Part of this support is the series of orientation on COVID-19 that helped in raising the awareness and understanding of camps people on this infectious disease. Topics were defining COVID-19, signs and symptoms, preventive measures, among others.

In one meeting with BARMM agencies, Ministry of Health (MOH) expressed support to the program sharing the belief that indeed, people in distant areas have poor access to correct information, which is quite disturbing for their health, safety and overall being.

“You would see that people in the camps are in good condition. Many still believe in traditional healing methods. But as health professionals, it is our responsibility to help these people understand better the importance of health e.g. maternal care, vaccination, etc.”, Carolyn B. Piang, BDA Inc. public health officer stated.

BDA Inc. is looking forward to conduct survey on the health status in camp communities to determine needs in these remote areas and possibly come up with specific intervention, in the near future.

Also included in health services is the education on reproductive health, child care, blood donation, others.

Visit to rural health units in the project sites was also relevant part in supporting camps communities in terms of medical services.

Recently, health workers selected to assist health programs in camp communities underwent training on first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The activity was facilitated by Philippines National Red Cross (PNRC)- Cotabato City Chapter.

Participants also had the chance to visit community birthing clinic in Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao- where they learned how this simple birthing facility was able to grow and develop, with the spirit of committed service for communities in need.

Health workers from Amanah Birthing Clinic and PNRC both told participants to be guided by commitment over employment in practicing health profession.

“By simply responding to a question on what to do for headache, is already a service that you render.”

Participants expressed thanks for the training, with many of them having the said training for the first time. Through this activity, they understand further their roles and responsibilities in providing health services in camp communities.

This training is part of the MTF-RDP/3- a project supporting the implementation of the Normalization Annex of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). 

Health facilities are also underway through MTF-RDP/3. There will be one unit of health facility for each of the six major camps covered by the project. The construction started in January 2021.

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY A “BETTER LIFE” THAT WE ALL WORKING AND WANTED FOR?

December 2020. For a community in Brgy. Tabuan, Kapatagan, Lanao del Sur (CAMP ABUBABAKAR), better life means better access to basic services- a change of living condition to better.

“The lifestyle of the people here has changed. Many were able to buy single motorcycles and other vehicle types because it is now accessible. Before the road project, we can only go to the nearest market once a day due to the difficulty in road access. Now, we can come and go more frequently to avail our needs for our families”, Analyn Talib stated. She is a member of the people’s organization in the barangay mobilized during the project implementation.

Banoy Ali, a farmer in the barangay recalls (before the road project) that sometimes some farmers have to manually carry their crops going to the market due to incapacity to pay for transportation cost (through horse). Now transport is easy since the barangay becomes accessible for other types of transport- lesser time and expenses because of the good road condition. 

In 2018, Brgy. Tabuan received a road project through the Mindanao Trust Fund- Reconstruction and Development Project Phase II (MTF-RDP/2). The road was completed and turned over to the community in August 2019.

More than a year after project turnover to the community, the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) went back to the barangay and asked how did the Iranun community in Brgy. Tabuan manage the operation, maintenance and sustainability of the one-lane concrete road.

The road is still in good condition and essential benefits are countless for the whole community. Farmers have better transport of crops, women have improved access for their needs, the children and the other sectors.  

Now, Brgy. Tabuan is once again selected to receive agri- training and production facility through the MTF-RDP on its Phase III. The barangay is within the Camp Abubakar of the six previously acknowledged camps of the MILF- where the MTF-RDP/3 is being implemented in support to the Normalization Annex of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). (Re-Ann Adam/BDA Comm)