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December 2, 2024. The transition period in the Bangsamoro Region, an autonomous region in Southern Philippines has begun in January 2019. This period is the time allotted to this newly established region to establish its local governance system that is responsive to the distinct culture, way of life and belief of its people.

Five years since then, significant progress has been achieved. In communities ravaged by the conflict in the past, access to basic services has improved with the assistance of various partners. This is specifically by experience through the project SUBATRA-ECSO: Enhancing CSOs Capacities for Inclusive Development Interventions in BARMM in Support to Bangsamoro Transition funded by the European Union and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.

“SUBATRA-ECSO is among the development initiatives that contributes to the smooth and peaceful transition in Bangsamoro”, the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) reports.

BDA Inc. is local non- government organization operating in Bangsamoro Region and is reaching communities within and beyond the region.

Through the SUBATRA-ECSO, BDA Inc. is engaging thirty communities across BARMM who have felt the transition and development in their lives and communities.

In Basilan, change has become more visible when BARMM was established.

“Our village has slowly began to transform”, Nasira Lijal told. She is from Brgy. Tuburan, Hadji Muhamad Ajul, Basilan.

“Schools were established, giving children access to quality education, and health facilities were finally developed, providing essential services that had long been missing”, she added.

The development brought by BARMM did not just improve infrastructure; it also brought a renewed sense of hope to the people of Brgy. Tuburan.

In the island province of Tawi- Tawi, the people in Pasiagan, Bongao testified that it was their first time to receive food packs and education kits for the vulnerable groups in their village through the SUBATRA-ECSO Project.

A Badjao village in the island are organized to undergo livelihood training with provision of tools and equipment as start-up capital along with other capacity building support for operation, management and sustainability.

In Sulu, the people’s organizations are beyond grateful that the support for them remains even after the exclusion of the province from BARMM, pursuant to the rulings issued by the Philippine Supreme Court September 2024.

Community groups in Maguindanao have heighten trust to the possibility of development in their lives.

The indigenous people in the region feel the inclusion and compassion from the government through the CSOs and donors bringing to them development assistance.

From the Special Geographical Area (SGA-BARMM), production of banana chips in various flavors has become part of the lives of women group where they generate income for their families.

Assistance for people’s organizations in the MILF camp communities is also true with the SUBATRA-ECSO project.  There are twelve POs provided with livelihood support such as skills training with complete set of tools and equipment.

Operating since 2021, the project SUBATRA-ECSO has already served 12, 107 individuals across the thirty villages that are within and outside the Bangsamoro territory.

For the BDA Inc. as local implementing partner of the project, support to communities is crucial in this period of transition in the Bangsamoro.

“The process of transition is a process of building the governance of Bangsamoro, and it is significant that people at the grassroots level are involved. This is through this development project like the SUBATRA-ECSO that organizes and mobilizes the community groups, help them plan, manage, operate and sustain their chosen local projects”, BDA Inc. stated.

Various training conducted were related to social protection like basic human rights, integrated risk and resilience management. Provision of basic services have benefited the vulnerable groups through series of community assemblies with the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) and BARMM Ministries, Offices and Agencies. This, as well, was a form of information dissemination about BARMM’s programs and services, more so with the radio program and the social media usage. Livelihood support to POs and collaboration with CSOs are integral components of the project. (BDA Communication, 2024)

OCTOBER 13, 2024. By reaching out to one of the vulnerable yet potential sectors in the community, any organization both government and non- government would realize better the realities of people in remote areas, particularly during the transition period in the Bangsamoro Region, and their aspirations for the coming years.

In Basilan, Nasira M. Lijal, 50, leads their group, Sengag Women’s Organization, in Brgy. Tuburan, Mohamad Ajul, Basilan in visualizing their vision as they continue to operate their livelihood activity.

The organization is producing various products from banana, which is abundant in their locality.

Formed in 2021, the organization of Nasira has become functional that develop the capacity of women in their village into livelihood activities while generating income for their families.

While operating, this women group gradually learns more as days and months pass by. They are able to strengthen their bond and unity in the organization.

Now, they look forward to linking with the agriculture ministry of the Bangsamoro Government in the province of Basilan to get support on the occurring banana disease that challenged their productivity.

“We hope to report to them this incident and get technical assistance on how to resolve this problem because we cannot have the raw ingredients to be able to produce for our livelihood activity”, Nasira stated.

In Sulu, one women group is producing various items from coconut, one of the major crops in the community.

“Our vision is to be one main supplier of coconut products not only in the province but also in other places” Jemma Taji of Barangay Timbangan, Indanan, Sulu.

People’s organizations in Lanao del Sur believes that towards sustainability, they must employ innovative strategies like initiating linkages to other organizations, making online presence and finding ways to improve the packaging of their products.

Majority of the groups in this province are producing palapa (a spicy side-dish) made of locally- grown spice known as sakurab.

Community organizations in a camp community particularly Datalpandan, Guindulungan, Maguindanao- Camp Badre is convinced that they should work better to improve the process to produce quality vegetables.

In the Special Geographical Areas of BARMM, women groups aspire to make other products and to explore other marketing strategies to increase their sales.

In Tawi- Tawi, one group in Panglima Sugala have re-organized as one resolution to strengthen their operation and be able to resume with their production of native delicacies, after some challenges.

By outlining their vision and goals for the upcoming years, these people’s organizations are further guided to work hand in hand for the sustainability of their groups and the livelihood activities they are operating.

Assisted through the project SUBATRA-ECSO: Enhancing CSOs Capacities for Inclusive Development Interventions in BARMM in Support to Bangsamoro Transition, these POs were organized as one important approach to sustain peacebuilding efforts in the region.

Allowing them to plan ahead is useful to condition their minds and actions of the near completion of the project and motivate them to remain working and operating even beyond the SUBATRA-ECSO and also the transition in the Bangsamoro.

These POs have also underwent related trainings on self-help for self- reliance and social enterprise development that encouraged them to expand their services in their respective communities.

Through the assistance they received, these groups were organized and capacitated on organizational and livelihood skills as one mechanism towards community empowerment and peacebuilding.

With the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.), the SUBATRA-ECSO has been significant for the POs and the communities served by the project.

SUBATRA-ECSO is funded by the European Union (EU) and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).

 

 

SEPTEMBER 11, 2024. From mainland to island provinces of the Bangsamoro Region, series of community assemblies were organized that helped connect the Bangsamoro Government to the people in various communities across the BARMM.

The recent of which was on August 25, 2024 at Brgy. Mataya, Buldon, Maguindanao del Norte that convened the members of the community and the officials and representatives from the BTA and BARMM ministries, offices and agencies.

In Mataya, food packs were provided to 240 families who belong to most vulnerable sectors in the community, while the 260 school supplies kit were presented to the children in the barangay.

Abdullah Gayak of the BTA complemented those assistance given during the event. Other members of the parliament who supported the activity were Swaib Oranun and Ubaida Pacasem.

An elderly beneficiary was joyful of the gifts received from the activity saying that “Napakasaya ko sa regalong handog nyo ngayong araw” (I am very happy for this gift).

During the activity, the MSSD was able to distribute the assistance intended to selected PWD members in the barangay.

A volunteer teacher stated that people were glad to be able to talk to the Bangsamoro Government about their needs in the village. She said that it is very hard to many to go and talk to the government because of the distance and transportation cost.

Educators and school officials grabbed the chance to dialogue with the official from the MBHTE regarding their concerns.

Maguindanao Provincial Offices of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) and Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) likewise participated the assembly for information and education of their programs and services intended for the people.

Orphans in Sulu were thankful of the aid provided to them during the community assembly on May 20, 2024 at Brgy. Timbangan, Indanan, Sulu.

“Through this project and the BARMM, we now experience being a beneficiary of this educational support”, they stated.

Matarul Estino of the BTA complemented the food packs distributed during the activity.

From the BARMM through its provincial offices in Sulu were the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism (MTIT), Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission (BHRC), MOST, MSSD, MOLE, MAFAR and BYC.

The convergence of the activity in Basilan with the Office Hatimil Hassan, member of the parliament of the BTA benefited hundreds of individuals in Brgy. Tuburan Proper, Muhamad Ajul municipality on May February 18, 2024.

Various medical groups and institutions joined hands in serving the immediate health needs of people in the village.

The people’s organization in the barangay who is a recipient of livelihood program received financial aid from MP Hatimil intended to support community groups who are organized and operating successfully by producing and selling local products for economic development.

Basilan Provincial Offices of MOST, MOLE, MBHTE, BHRC, and BYC.

In Tawi- Tawi, people in Brgy. Pasiagan, Bongao were delightful that for the first time, they received such kind of assistance from BARMM.

Over a hundred households received 50 kilos of rice each with other food items that helped secure their meals for number of days. This was through the responsive support of MP Eddie Alih through the TABANG Office in Tawi- Tawi.

Youth and students enjoyed the school supplies provided to them that they can use at school.

For this province, BARMM offices who supported were MBHTE (Tawi- Tawi Division), MOLE, MAFAR, BHRC, and BYC.

Fisher folks and farmer groups in Lanao del Sur flocked to the desk of MAFAR during the community assembly on December 25, 2024 at Brgy. Lilod, Balindong town. 

BTA Members from Lanao province supported the activity such as Said Sheikh and Basit Abbas.

Lanao Sur Provincial Offices for MOST and MAFAR participated during the information session.

This series of community assembly with provision of services in Support to Bangsamoro Transition kicked off on December 1, 2023 at Brgy. Balakayon, SGA- BARMM.

BTA Members Ali Salik, Said Salendab and Kadil Sinulinding supported the activity that benefited 134 number of individuals.

Of this number, 96 underwent medical eye check-up through Dr. Sinulinding who is an ophthalmologist with a medical team managing the health assessment that day.

MBHTE and the Office of the Cabinet Secretariat of the OCM-BARMM supported this community gathering.

The series of community assembly with provision of services in support to Bangsamoro Transition is relevant to the project SUBATRA-ECSO: Enhancing CSOs Capacities for Inclusive Development Interventions in BARMM in Support to Bangsamoro Transition.

It specifically work for the Outputs 4.5: Increasing the awareness about BARMM’s programs and services including the rights and obligation of its people.

The Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) manages the implementation of the project in collaboration with partner CSOs in the BARMM.

SUBATRA-ECSO is funded by the European Union and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.

August 27, 2024/ SULU-BARMM. In the distant sea village in the island province of Sulu in the Bangsamoro Region lives a community of Badjao who are known for their stilt houses or those built in the sea.

The people in the village is blessed by the abundance of resources from the sea such as seaweeds, a variety of fish, marine breeze, and among others.

Particular to the Sitio Kud Kalang in Brgy. Socuban, Omar, Sulu in the BARMM, is the development assistance that came to this community.

On August 7, 2024, the village received a lobster aquaculture facility through the project dubbed as "Building Resilient Livelihoods and Communities through Climate-Smart Aquaculture Value Chain in Tawi-Tawi and Sulu Archipelago”

Hundred young lobsters were also provided to the cooperative organized for this project who will manage the growing/ farming of those sea species.

With the technical guidance and support of MAFAR Sulu Provincial Office, the farming of these lobster is expected to be successful and be beneficial for the community as it will generate income for the families.

The cooperative also received four (4) units of fishing boat that are as well used for transportation from-to and to-from the village and the community port to reach the town center.  

People in Sitio Kud Kalang are mostly fisher folks growing seaweeds for selling and fishing from the wealth of the sea.

Life in this village is simple and cultural. Access to education is poor due to distance. Health remains with traditional healing, however, the barangay local government unit provides support for pregnant women who are assisted to the nearest health facility during natal delivery. There is available energy service in the village. Potable water is accessed and affordable in a nearby facility.

 

During the turnover ceremony of the said facility, partners expressed support to the community such as Mayor Abdulbaki J. Ajibon of Omar, Sulu; Brgy. Chairman Romeo S. Asul; LTC Gerald John A. Saldoart (GSC) PA Commanding Officer 15CMOBn; Fardia J. Abduhasad, OIC Chief, Fisheries Division of MAFAR- Sulu; and the Vice- Chancellor of Mindanao State University (MSU Sulu).

This support on lobster aquaculture in Sulu is implemented under the program “Strengthening the implementation of regional and local peace and development agendas in Mindanao (SPADe).

The project is co-funded by the European Union and the German Ferderal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) implemented by German International Cooperation (GIZ).

With the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) as the local implementing partner, this project aims to promote inclusive socio-economic development and contribute to peacebuilding, food security, and environmental conservation through climate-resilient and sustainable livelihood interventions in aquaculture value chain in the Tawi-Tawi and Sulu Archipelago.(BDA Communications, 2024)

August 12, 2024. Palapa is a local kind of side- dish known to the M’ranao (people of the lake in Lanao provinces, South of the Philippines).

This dish is made of herbs (named sakurab) found in the communities of M’ranao, produced into a delightful, spicy and tasty manner with that of organic aroma, which adds to its distinct features.

For the women group in Malimono- a remote and isolated village in Marawi City, there is hope in palapa.

According to the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), the women group in Malimono is organized in 2022 as part of the project that works to help improve basic- social services for the vulnerable groups in the Bangsamoro communities.

“Through the project SUBATRA-ECSO: Enhancing CSOs Capacities for Inclusive Development Interventions in BARMM in Support to Bangsamoro Transition, funded by the European Union and the Spanish Cooperacion Agency, we assisted them to become a people’s organization (PO) and since then, they underwent various trainings that gradually develop their capacities about organizational management”, BDA reported.

Together with other eighteen POs in the other villages of BARMM, these groups have completed different skills training based on the identified local enterprise for their group, e.g., palapa processing, coconut processing, vegetable production, banana processing, rice processing, others.

In August 2023, these groups showcased their finished products during the Product Expo organized by the project attended by donor partners, officials and representatives from the Bangsamoro Government.

After the Product Expo, significant results were achieved with some of those community groups being able to link with local government offices whose works support local enterprise development.

“The story of Brave Women People’s Organization of Malimono in Marawi City, their progress and gradual success happened later than those other groups who immediately got support after the Product Expo in August 2023”, BDA told.

Jalanesa Amerol, president of the PO shared that it was just early this year when they met with the Word Vision, whose one staff is a friend to a PO member.

World Vision (WV) is an international humanitarian aid and development organization who has project works in Marawi City, at present.

“We knew one of their staff who tried our product. So since then, the WV orders from them 7- 20 bottles of palapa every month”, Jalanesa said.

She added that the WV helps them promote their products, taking photos and videos of their produced palapa.

They also have a social media account for online selling of their palapa products, where they get orders from few customers like those from the city hall of Marawi City.

“The income is gradual and still little and from our sales, we buy other additional materials for our processing activities”, Jalanesa told.

The group has recently completed training on organizational management and policy formulation. This training will help strengthen their group by agreeing on policies for their operation and production activities.

“We remain supportive of them and keep pushing them to go on with this livelihood opportunity, explore other marketing options, and continue working together as an organization”, BDA stated.

“Our role is to assist them, not to be spoon- fed but be self- reliant. That is why we train them about self- help, social enterprise, organizational policies, management, marketing, book keeping, and others for the sustainability of their organization”, BDA added.

Further, BDA reported that more trainings are scheduled for these POs like product development in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism (MTIT- BARMM).

Livelihood support as one approach to community development and empowerment has been significant in developing the awareness, engagement, capacity and potentials of people at the grassroots level towards inclusive progress and peacebuilding.

While most of the products developed have its raw materials available in the locality, it is not only for economic recovery, but also helps in culture promotion and preservation like the palapa of the M’ranao in the famous Lake Lanao in Bangsamoro Region, South of the Philippines. (BDA Communications, 2024)

August 8, 2024/COTABATO CITY BARMM. In 2020, the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) and the Technical Education and Skills Development of Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the integration of Values Transformation Training (VTT) to the Bangsamoro Scholarship Program (BSP) of the ministry.

This initiative is guided by the intention to assimilate values in the learning journey of the program beneficiaries and eventually apply those principles to their personal and career development.

BSP is a program that supports the goal of TESD- MBHTE on producing high- quality middle- level workforce in the Bangsamoro Region. Through BSP, various skills trainings are made available to Bangsamoro constituents as one relevant alternative to acquire education and pursue job/s.

These short- courses that come with a national certificate are cookery, carpentry, driving, automotive, computer system servicing, electrical installation and maintenance, others.

With the integration of VTT to the program, recipients learned about the significance of values for personality development and self- change that helps them become more responsible citizens, whether in their chosen field of specialization or as a regular member of the society.

VTT is a 3-day activity filled with fundamental lectures with workshops on faith-based values that guide the participants to understand and internalize their personal traits and weaknesses and be able to reflect for self- improvements. It reminds the participants that every act of a man is part of worship and therefore he/ she is expected to perform it on an excellent manner.

Completers of VTT demonstrate well of their appreciation of the training by having able to reflect on their acts, and were convinced for the need to improve themselves.

“There are so much learning from this training. We learned more about our values, our acts, and our faith, which will all make us be a better version of ourselves”, one participant remarked.

“The teachings on values reminded us of patience and faith. That everything, which happens in our lives is a test and we shall put our trust unto Allah and do our part”, another participant told.

Relationship to others is one important thing that the other VTT completer has gained from the training. According to him, the values taught in VTT enlightened them of ways to deal with other persons, even from other culture or faith, in a civil and compassionate manner.

As of July 2024, there are almost 5, 000 of BSP recipients who completed the VTT, based on the record of the BDA. In 2023, there were 11, 153 BSP completers who underwent VTT. While in 2022, there were 3, 394 and in year 2021, there 2, 860 who learned the VTT.

As official facilitator of the VTT, BDA has been persistently improving its strategies in managing the values training given the huge number of BSP beneficiaries who are participants to the VTT. These approaches are parallel to the institutional policies and considerations of the BDA as an organization. The agency has strengthen its pool of trainers and facilitators long been organized to perform such tasks on a wide- scale manner. Review and revision of modules were consistent to consider the context for the beneficiaries of the Bangsamoro Scholarship Program. (BDA Communication 2024)

JULY 30, 2024. Piloted on July 17, 2024, this online digital platform aims to contribute to the objective of enhancing the engagement of Private Sector Organizations (PSO) to the economic and development initiatives in the Bangsamoro.

This technology provides an accessible registration system and for the mapping of projects of various CSOs in the Bangsamoro, showcasing their active participation in Bangsamoro Economic and Development Committee (BEDC) activities, thus promoting inclusivity and ownership on its milestones as one committee.

As it serves as communication platform between BARMM and PSO towards a stronger collaboration and unified actions, the Civil Society Organizations (CSO) groups are delighted of having an online system that will ease processes on renewal and updating of projects implemented.

“It will help give opportunities for other CSOs to join the BEDC, even from the distance, like our case in Sulu”, Tulung Lupa Sug (TLS) stated. TLS is a CSO coming from the island province of Sulu.

Still being continuously developed, with the help of third- party service provider, this BARMM- PSO Online Registration Platform, is expected to be officially turned over in September this year.

According to the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.), the creation of this online portal is in relevance to the project: Enhancing CSOs Capacities towards Inclusive Development Intervention in BARMM in Support to Bangsamoro Transition (SUBATRA-ECSO), specifically for Output 5.4 CSO competence in evidence-based project development and implementation in conflict-affected areas, including capacity to scale up projects, is strengthened.

“It is developed as one initiative that supports the BEDC (Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council), a body created in BARMM through the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Agency (BPDA), that aims to promote sustainable business growth and economic development in BARMM”, BDA informed.

BEDC is joined by various partners from the Private Sector Organizations (PSOs) in the Bangsamoro such as the academe, CSOs, business sector, others.

Through the online platform, there will be a boost the collaboration between BARMM and the PSO while helps promote paperless transaction and processes required in the registration and accreditation to the BEDC.

At present, there are 37 PSOs accredited in the system who will have multiple benefits such as increased voice and participation to economic and development opportunities in Bangsamoro, collaboration with BARMM Government, be a priority for potential donors’ support, and a gateway for capacity building or enhancement.

This milestone on strengthening CSO initiated actions is supported by the project SUBATRA-ECSO being funded by the European Union (EU) and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).

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).

July 19, 2024/ COTABATO CITY. While the project encourages self- reliance to people’s organizations (PO) who are formed at the community level, it is also important that there is continuous guidance and supervision. This act is undertaken through constant monitoring, both actual and distant utilizing relevant tools and multi-media platforms.

Further, the project team likewise initiated supplemental training to strengthen the capacity of the PO- a community-based organization created to help manage the project at the grassroots level.

Twenty- four POs were recently undergoing training on organizational management, and policy formulation. This activity has started on July 15, 2024 and is expected to be completed by September this year. Participants are clustered based on their location to manage the learning process and for practical consideration of time.

In the said training, participants are learning relevant skills to strengthen their organizations through constant communication and by crafting and implementation of organizational policies.

According to them, the activity guided them of practical, strategic and contextualized ways to pursue with their organizations and get the most of the investments provided to them such as numerous trainings along with the complete set of tools and equipment for their livelihood activities.

These inputs were found significant based on the findings from the recent monitoring that many of the POs failed to see and practice the importance of conducting organizational meetings where they get talks and updates in planning together the management, operation and sustainability of their groups and their respective enterprises.

Related inputs on production, packaging, marketing and profit- sharing were also taught to the participants. Resource persons likewise refreshed the knowledge of the participants with topics on the roles and responsibilities, membership and organizational structure.

Under the project, these POs were organized and provided with specific skills trainings tailored to their chosen enterprises based on the available raw materials in their localities.

By learning the skills, these POs were able to yield various products that they sell, from which they generate income helpful for their families, like banana chips, native delicacies, coconut oil, palapa (local spicy side dish), bread, rice products, others.

Operating their respective local business, these POs who are mainly composed of women discovered their potentials to become more productive for their families and communities.

However, they need further support and so the said training on strengthening their capacities were carried out.

This initiative to extend further support to the POs is relevant to the on-going implementation of the project SUBATRA-ECSO: Enhancing CSOs Capacities for Inclusive Development Interventions in BARMM in Support to Bangsamoro Transition.

Approaching its final year as a project, SUBABATRA-ECSO works for the Component 4 of the entire SUBATRA Programme, which is the is the Justice and Society Project- The capacity of civil society to contribute to a peaceful transition to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is enhanced.

In 2023, the project has benefited 4, 860 individuals across the 24 communities within and outside the Bangsamoro Region, with various development assistance on basic social services and protection, livelihood, capacity buildings, among others.

Launched in 2021, the SUBATRA-ECSO  is a project funded by the European Union European Union in the Philippines and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation AECID Philippines.

The Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) is managing the implementation of the project together with partner civil society organizations (CSOs) in the BARMM. (BDA Communications 2024)

JULY 10, 2024. We were informed of the cultural sensitivity of the community. We were warned of the difficulty of reaching the distance. We listened and understood.

Driven by the trust of partners and the pledge to help the underserved communities, we went on to the mission in the island province of Tawi- Tawi in Bangsamoro Region.

One in the list is the provision of support to Sama village in Brgy. Buan, Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi. This is through the project called "Building Resilient Livelihoods and Communities through Climate-Smart Aquaculture Value Chain in Tawi-Tawi and Sulu Archipelago” under the SPADe Project.

The project is co-funded by the European Union and the German Ferderal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) implemented by German International Cooperation (GIZ).

It aims to promote inclusive socio-economic development and contribute to peacebuilding, food security, and environmental conservation through climate-resilient and sustainable livelihood interventions in aquaculture value chain in the Tawi-Tawi and Sulu Archipelago

This intervention comes with the assistance for the seaweed farmers in the said village. Beneficiaries recently completed training on seaweed culture that taught them practical and modern methods of growing the sea produce while considering the environment and climate change.

Partners from the MAFAR Tawi- Tawi Provincial Office and MSU Tawi- Tawi presented and discussed the lectures to the participants.

Prior to this, seaweed inputs and seedlings together with boat engines were delivered to the beneficiary- cooperative that brought much joy and higher hopes to the community.

At present, the bidding process is on-going for the construction of seaweed solar dryer with warehouse at Brgy. Buan.

Meanwhile, also in Tawi-Tawi, is the assistance for the Sama- Badjao community in Bongao, the capital of the province.

Significant activities has been achieved for the Sama- Badjao beginning in January 2024. The recent of which was the re-activation of the people’s organization in the village and the identification of community-based livelihood support.

This specific development aid for the Sama-Badjao is being carried out through the project SUBATRA-ECSO: Enhancing CSOs Capacities for Inclusive Development Interventions in BARMM in Support to Bangsamoro Transition.

SUBATRA-ECSO is a project funded by the European Union European Union in the Philippines and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation AECID Philippines.

Indeed, distance may be one crucial factor that hinders the delivery of basic social services to people. This reality and the risks it bring to the project team serves as inspiration to go beyond the barriers and bring in the development and assistance needed.

Cultural hurdles is also true, especially for those isolated communities where information and education were less available.

However, these certainties must not prevent the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) to fulfill its mandate for relief, rehabilitation and development services within and outside BARMM.

Beyond limits, BDA is committed to reach more communities, near, far, and to touch lives of more people from various sectors.

 

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