News and Stories (160)
Bangsamoro Camps Transformation Project (BCTP) supports peaceful, productive, and stable communities in the Bangsamoro
Written by BDA Communications
PRESS RELEASE - November 30, 2023
COTABATO CITY- The Bangsamoro Camps Transformation Project (BCTP) promotes peaceful, productive, and stable communities in 12 previously acknowledged barangays in the Bangsamoro Region through diverse and sustainable livelihood projects.
The BCTP was launched on 4 July 2023, implemented by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) in partnership with Community and Family Services International (CFSI), with funding from the Bangsamoro Normalization Trust Fund (BNTF) administered by the World Bank.
“By increasing access to socio-economic services and basic infrastructure in the communities in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) camps, the project also strengthens and cultivates the local capacities of beneficiaries and project participants such as farmers’ cooperatives, transitioning combatants, as well as women, youth, and indigenous peoples,” stated Noraida Abdullah Karim, CFSI Director for Mindanao Programme.
The project also involves capacity strengthening for staff and employees of BDA Inc., including the Joint Task Forces on Camps Transformation (JTFCT) MILF camp level coordinators through a series of trainings to be led by CFSI and the World Bank.
“The project is centered around community-driven development where the communities are the decision-makers around the types of sub-projects they choose,” said Kadafy Sinulinding, BCTP Project Coordinator from BDA Inc.
An orientation was conducted recently in Brgy. Minabay, Buldon, Maguindanao del Norte including Camp Abubakar. The group of farmers and transitioning combatants collectively chose and decided to build a warehouse with a solar dryer. They believe that this project will have a positive impact on their communities as their primary livelihood sources include coconut and corn production.
Women and children on the other hand, believe that various forms of breadmaking can become a stable source of income for them. This includes access to a multi-purpose development center with solar power.
Preliminary activities in the 12 communities are near concluded. This includes Landscape Planning, where community members understood different potential dangers and hazards, the different uses of their lands, the existing infrastructure within their communities that are not utilized property, and other initiatives that the community can benefit from with proper planning.
The project is also supported by the Bangsamoro Government through a Technical Working Group with representatives from the Cooperative and Social Enterprise Authority (CSEA), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism (MTIT), Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), Ministry of Health (MOH), Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC), Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC), Ministry of Public Works (MPW), Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs (MIPA), Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG), Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), Bangsamoro READi and Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE). The Technical Working Group had a successful first meeting on 12 October 2023 in Cotabato City.
The 1st Implementation Support Mission (ISM), led by the World Bank with BDA Inc. and CFSI, was conducted in Brgy. Mamaanun in Balo-I, Lanao del Norte and Brgy. Sapad in Matanog, Maguindanao del Norte. A technical validation on the chosen projects is expected to be conducted in the coming days.
The BCTP is led by a Project Board (PB) with Co-Chairs Brig. General De Mesa from the Philippine Government and Member of Parliament Hon. Ali O. Salik from the MILF. The PB also includes Member of Parliament Baintan A. Ampatuan, Mr. Mohaimen Usman, and representatives of the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.), and Community and Family Services International (CFSI). The first meeting of the PB was held on 11 October 2023, where 12 barangays in the 6 major MILF camps were successfully endorsed.
The BCTP is implemented to support the normalization efforts in the MILF camps. This is one of the projects funded by the Bangsamoro Normalization Trust Fund (BNTF), supported by Australia, Canada, European Union and United Kingdom, administered by the World Bank.
1ST BARMM Private Sector Organization (PSO) Summit
Written by BDA Communications
The 1ST BARMM Private Sector Organization (PSO) Summit with the theme “Unlocking Private Sector Opportunities in BARMM: Thriving Partnerships towards a Progressive Bangsamoro” is the first ever gathering of Bangsamoro CSOs and private sectors organized in the region as platform to strengthen partnership and collaboration between the Bangsamoro Government and the private sector.
In the morning of the event were a presentation of BARMM Milestones, messages of support from the private sector, keynote speech of Chief Minister Hon. Ahod B. Ebrahim.
There was an exhibit of products and services by partner CSOs at the lobby of the Ballroom of the Dusit Thani Hotel in Davao City.
- Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.)
- Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society
- Mindanao Women Advocacy for Good Governance
- Kabuntalan Landowners and Development Association
- Mindanao Center for Local Governance, Inc.
- The Moropreneur, Inc.
- Cotabato Brassware Association
- Maranao People Development Center
In the afternoon, there was a breakout session for specific thematic areas such as community engagement and development programs, research and education, and investment, enterprise development and employment generation.
GALLERY: 1ST BARMM Private Sector Organization (PSO) Summit
Establishing connections, building capacities for the support to aquaculture project in the islands of Bangsamoro
Written by BDA Communications
OCTOBER 17, 2023. Project staff of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) has been reaching out to various partners in the past weeks to establish connections for the implementation of the project that supports the aquaculture in the island of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
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In linking with these partners, BDA Inc. is able to build connections relevant to strengthen approaches for the implementation of the project.
Aside from this, the BDA Inc. has also participated to the Climate Smart Aquaculture (CSA) Workshop on September 26-28, 2023 in Davao City organized and facilitated by the German Cooperation (GIZ).
This activity allowed BDA Inc. to learn and develop its knowledge on CSA significant to understand better the assistance needed to deliver for this project.
This project that supports to aquaculture is dubbed as Building Resilient Livelihoods and Communities through Climate-Smart Aquaculture Value Chain in Tawi-Tawi and Sulu Archipelago under the program Strengthening the implementation of regional and local peace and development agendas in Mindanao (SPADe).
It is funded by the GIZ and the European Union (EU) and implemented in partnership with Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).
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.
The project has started in July 2023. BDA Inc. has already coordinated with the local government units of Sitio Kalang, Brgy. Sucuban, Omar, Sulu and Brgy. Buan, Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi.
Community members were also informed of the project through the community- wide orientation conducted in August 2023.
Support to cooperatives in the camps, vulnerable communities towards peace and development in the Bangsamoro
Written by BDA Communications
October 10, 2023. For the program that supports the current initiative on camps transformation and development, there are 24 cooperatives established. 11 have received livelihood assistance, while the remaining 13 is yet to obtain the aid in the following months.
For the project that contributes to the Bangsamoro Transition, there are 18 people’s organizations (POs) formed and have been making success with their respective local enterprises.
Two fisher folk’s cooperatives in the islands of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi will also be tapped to get support on aquaculture for increased productivity.
The recent project relevant to Normalization in the Bangsamoro will also benefit cooperatives through income stabilization sub-project.
For the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) that implements these programs/ projects stated above, the crucial role of cooperatives and community organizing is indeed relevant to help address pressing issues and concerns on the overall welfare of the society like economic, health, peace and order, among others.
In the Bangsamoro Region, for instance, development and humanitarian efforts have always been carried with community organizing that includes PO formation and activation of cooperatives/ association backed up with various capacity building activities to strengthen these groups.
Women groups in Tawi-Tawi state that when they were organized as PO, their bond as women becomes more meaningful and productive. They learned to produce and sell native delicacies that gives them additional income for their families.
In Maguindanao, a group of women has also become united and even happier that by producing various products from coconut, they are able to help preserve this traditional method that only the elderlies know.
For the indigenous people groups, organizing and including them in the program/ project is a chance to be part of the development.
“We walked and descend from mountain for hours, just to attend activities like this, today. I am hoping for something good in joining this organization. It is a chance for us (the IPs) to be included in development”, an IP member told.
In Lanao province, women groups are happy having learned the processing of different flavors for palapa (a spicy side-dish known from M’ranao in this province). They earn income from selling this product that they spend for their kids at school.
From a village in the Special Geographical Areas (SGA) of BARMM, the women group producing various banana products shares that they are able to help other sectors in the community like the youth to earn additional income helpful for their schooling. Also, that they reported of being able to promote their products during local gatherings, which make them happy and proud having made these with their own skills and resources.
With these progress and milestones, BDA Inc. continues to work and reach out with other partners like the Bangsamoro Government to strengthen the support to these community groups.
The agency has recently had a writeshop on manual development for social enterprise in the Bangsamoro communities together with the Cooperative and Social Enterprise Development Authority (CSEA-BARMM), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR-BARMM) and Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST-BARMM).
Partners from the civil society organizations (CSOs) were also part of the activity conducted on October 2-4, 2023 in General Santos City.
Prior to this, BDA Inc. has been coordinating with CSEA for the on-going support to the cooperatives and POs formed through its various programs/ projects. There was an orientation on the processes and policies of CSEA regarding the registration and accreditation requirements last September 19, 2023 in Cotabato City.
October 5, 2023. From the uphill of Brgy. Datalpandan, Guindulungan, Maguindanao del Norte in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), descends Omar S. Bandara, 24, representing the community of indigenous people (IP) in this village.
“We walked and descend from mountain for hours, just to attend activities like this, today. I am hoping for something good in joining this organization. It is a chance for us (the IPs) to be included in development.
Omar was one of the participants to the PO Formation, conducted in relevance to the implementation of the program that supports the camps transformation and development dubbed as PROACTIVE: Programme on Assistance for Camp Transformation through Inclusion, Violence Prevention and Economic Empowerment.
He is a member of the Datalpandan Mamalu-Tabunaway People's Organization, a group organized to manage the sub-project to be provided by the programme.
He is determined to continue joining this program and said “I won't stop, regardless of the distance. I will represent our people to help our community”.
Meanwhile, we met mothers who are IPs in Brgy. Tuayan, Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao del Sur- BARMM, who called for support with their poor living conditions at the temporary shelters in their village.
According to them, it’s been months that they have been evacuees due to the unstable peace and order in their community at the uphill of the barangay.
"We often have two instead of three meals in a day because of little income. We do farming to sustain our daily needs. Right now, we are still at the temporary shelters provided by the BLGU because there is still a threat of armed conflict in our homes. We hope to have permanent homes because the condition is difficult."
Their families were among those who received food assistance in July 2023 during the provision of services, coincidentally Nutrition Month. It was through the project SUBATRA-ECSO: Enhancing CSOs Capacities for Inclusive Development Interventions in BARMM in Support to Bangsamoro Transition.
They were thankful for the aid received, which accordingly is already helpful to provide for their meals for enough number of days.
SUBATRA-ECSO and PROACTIVE are both program/project being managed by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.). The agency through these program/ project carries inclusive implementation by considering the involvement and advantage of the IP communities.
For the SUBATRA-ECSO, there are 790 IP beneficiaries. From this number, 176 (86 M, 90 F) were selected and have underwent training on human rights, and 510 (46 M, 464 F) on various skills training. There were 408 IP families who have received food packs during the provision of services in July 2023. Aside from this, there are 109 total number of completers (who are IP) to the Alternative Learning System (ALS) implemented in the camps.
For PROACTIVE, there are 18 IP members of a cooperative; 80 IP members of People’s Organizations and; 33 IP members of the local social formation created. Two tribal halls intended for IP beneficiaries will also be constructed through this program.
SUBATRA-ECSO is funded by the European Union (EU) and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
PROACTIVE gets funds from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union (EU).
For the BDA Inc., inclusive program/project implementation does not only include the IP communities, it also works for other vulnerable groups such as women, widows, solo parents, youth, internally displaced persons (IDPs), elderlies, person with disabilities (PWDs), transitioning combatants, others.
Operating since 2002, BDA Inc., now working as non-government organization starting 2019 sustain its value for an inclusive development services, within and beyond the Bangsamoro Region.
Education for all thru ALS, in support to Bangsamoro Transition and to camps transformation and development
Written by BDA Communications
September 2023- COTABATO CITY-BARMM. One significant component of the on-going implementation of the project SUBATRA-ECSO: Enhancing CSOs Capacities for Inclusive Development Interventions in BARMM in Support to Bangsamoro Transition is the alternative learning system (ALS) in camp communities.
Under this mission, 360 learners (60 from each of the six major camps of the MILF) are mapped and identified to avail the basic education program through the ALS.
- Tabuan, Kapatagan, LDS- Camp Abubakar
- Datalpandan, Guindulungan, Maguindanao- Camp Badre
- Tamparan, Munai, LDN- Camp Bilal
- Sandab, Butig, LDS- Camp Bushra
- Saniag, Ampatuan, Maguindanao- Camp Omar
- Inug-ug, Pikit, SGA-BARMM- Camp Rajamuda
The implementation of ALS in the camps is well-coordinated with the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE-BARMM) through its Bureau of ALS Office.
In August 2023, of the 360, there were 342 who completed the ALS sessions receiving a certificate testifying their survival and completion of basic education that shall qualify them to proceed to secondary education.
With the ALS, vulnerable groups (women, solo parents, elderlies, out-of-school youth, PWDs, indigenous people, others) in the camp communities were given the chance to feel and avail education that has been elusive for them, due to the war in the past years. Classes were managed and facilitated by contracted instructional managers, two for each camp.
ALS implementation does not end with the completion of classes in August 2023, the support continues with skills training that is about helping the groups identify and establish local enterprise based on the needs and potential of their communities.
The community-based enterprise planning technique (CEPT) workshop has already been conducted and finalization of the list of trainings is being worked out to proceed with this intervention.
ALS in camp communities is managed by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) in collaboration with partner CSO, the Kapagawida Development Services Association, Inc. (KDSAI) and with the support and guidance of the Joint Task Force on Camps Transformation (JTFCT).
Through the ALS and the anticipated skills trainings, people feel the attention and development assistance they need to help uplift their living conditions, which is one intention in implementing projects like the SUBATRA-ECSO.
SUBATRA-ECSO is funded by the European Union and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.
PHOTO GALLERY
Completion Ceremonies
Post-Assessment with MBHTE-BALS
PEACEFUL, PRODUCTIVE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES IN THE CAMPS KICK-OFF THROUGH PROJECT ORIENTATION
Written by BDA Communications
SUPPORT TO AQUACULTURE IN THE ISLANDS OF SULU AND TAWI-TAWI IN BANGSAMORO REGION
Written by BDA Communications
August 31, 2023/ COTABATO CITY-BARMM. The island provinces of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is known for its rich and potentials of seafood products, beautiful beaches, and generous people, among others.
With the support of development partners, the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) expands its wings for a new project that works to support aquaculture in the said islands of the Bangsamoro.
The project is dubbed as Building Resilient Livelihoods and Communities through Climate-Smart Aquaculture Value Chain in Tawi-Tawi and Sulu Archipelago under the program Strengthening the implementation of regional and local peace and development agendas in Mindanao (SPADe). It is funded by the German Cooperation (GIZ) and the European Union (EU) and implemented in partnership with Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).
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.
Fresh from those islands are the project team of BDA Inc. who went to pay courtesy meeting with local government units (LGUs) of Buan in Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi and Socuban in Omar, Sulu.
BDA Inc. introduced the agency and the project to partners and stakeholders through the said meetings and community-wide orientations at the barangay level.
The team also took the chance to visit the target aqua farms of seaweeds and lobster and was able to talk to farmers and community members regarding the status, challenges and needs of their livelihood related to seaweed and lobster farming.
Through this mission, BDA Inc. has established coordination and linkage to the key partners from LGUs, community leaders, members and other stakeholders at the local level, which is relevant for inclusivity, transparency and ownership of the project.
The project has four components; (1) organization/ strengthening of cooperatives/ fisherfolks associations; (2) value chain development and livelihood resilience building; (3) upgrading value chain post-harvest facilities; and (4) monitoring & evaluation and knowledge management.
HELPING SAVE LIVES THROUGH VOLUNTARY BLOOD DONATION
Written by BDA Communications
AUGUST 25, 2023/ COTABATO CITY-BARMM. A pregnant mother in Cotabato City was diagnosed with a dengue fever. Due to low blood platelet count, six bags of blood were needed to help her fight the effect of the dengue virus in her body.
A 40 year-old mother in Maguindanao, has to undergo operation due to cyst in her reproductive organ and she needed bags of blood for this medical procedure.
A young mother delivered twins in her first pregnancy. She was transfused with six bags of blood during the process.
These cases of patients were some of the stories that actually happened. The necessity of blood is a daily reality. In 2019, the recorded demand for blood related to health procedures is 1,500/1,750 bags per month over 750-900 supply of blood bags.
With this reality that the Muslim Blood Donation (MBD) was born in 2008 driven by the spirit of volunteerism and the will to serve and help.
MBD is a regular program of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) that aims to help contribute to the continuing necessity of blood in Central Mindanao and its neighboring places.
Every year, BDA Inc. holds MBD on a quarterly basis in partnership with the Cotabato City Regional and Medical Center (CRMC) and the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Cotabato City Chapter. Donors are coming from partner organizations of BDA Inc., private individuals, volunteers and development catalysts from the agency.
With volunteerism as it foundation and life as a program, MBD has been recognized and been awarded by national blood donation programs at the regional level.
MBD program team has recently received individual awards during the Regional Sandugo Awarding on August 24, 2023 in General Santos City by the National Voluntary Blood Services Program (NVBSP) of the Department of Health (DOH).
There were twenty-nine awardees from the pool of blood donors through the MBD: 4 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze.
One awardee expressed in his social media post, that he prays for good health and more strengthen to continuously perform this noble act to save more lives.
Among the gold awardees is the minister of the BARMM’s health ministry Dr. Rizaldy Piang, whose honor was handed by Dr. Teodoro J. Herbosa, secretary of the DOH with Undersecretary Dr. Abdullah B. Dumama, Jr.
In July this year, the NBVS of DOH awarded the BDA Inc. as Top 1 NGO partner for 2022 with 300 blood units collected.
With this recognition and awards, MBD program hopes to invite more volunteers and blood donors to join this noble cause to help save lives.
It announces its 58th MBD on September 10, 2023 at Brgy. Rosary Heights Covered Court in Cotabato City- BARMM.
Be a healthy Muslim, share your life, donate blood.
(Below is the awardees during the National Sandugo Awarding August 2023)
PRODUCT EXPO IN SUPPORT TO BANGSAMORO TRANSITION
Written by BDA Communications
COTABATO CITY-BARMM/ August 14, 2023. People’s Organizations from the eighteen barangays across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) came together for a common goal to celebrate their progress and hopes as a people. This was through a Product Expo on August 10, 2023 2023 at Robinsons Mall of Al-Nor, Cotabato City.
In the event, the POs displayed and marketed their own-made products that represents their identity, culture, needs and life as a people.
They were able to sell their products to development partners from international organizations and to the different ministries and offices of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) reported that with this activity, development partners and the Bangsamoro Government see and learn about the existence of these POs determined to improve their organizations and their locally established businesses.
Participating POs from the said event went home with high hopes, smiles on their faces and the unforgettable memories they experienced from this one-day celebration of common hopes to peace and development.
This Product Expo is in relevance to 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.
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DONORS’ FORUM ON CAMPS TRANSFORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN SUPPORT TO BANGSAMORO TRANSITION
Written by BDA Communications
COTABATO CITY-BARMM/ August 14, 2023. According to the data presented, 68% of the total priority projects in camp communities remains overlooked. The data is based on the Camps Transformation Plan (CTP) of 2021.
The Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) reported this fact to the audience of international organizations and to the different ministries and offices of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) during the Donors’ Forum conducted on August 10, 2023 at Robinsons Mall of Al-Nor, Cotabato City.
In the said event, development partners expressed continuing commitment to peace and development in the Bangsamoro Region. Officials and representatives from the Bangsamoro Government and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) likewise articulated their disposition to support initiatives in the camps and for the communities in need of assistance.
This Donors’ Forum on Camps Transformation and Development in Support to Bangsamoro Transition is in relevance to 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.
CSOs MAINSTREAMING IN SUPPORT TO BANGSAMORO TRANSITION
Written by BDA Communications
COTABATO CITY-BARMM/ August 14, 2023. Information about access to and how to were some of the key points elucidated to and between the members of the people’s organizations (PO), the civil society organizations (CSO) and the ministries and offices of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) during the CSOs Mainstreaming in Support to Bangsamoro Transition on August 10, 2023 2023 at Robinsons Mall of Al-Nor, Cotabato City.
With the facilitation of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.), PO members and the CSOs were able to communicate directly their concerns and queries to the officials and representatives of the BARMM and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) regarding the services they needed at the community level to help improve their living conditions.
BARMM and BTA openly responded to their concerns, which was significant to bridge the gaps and helped in managing the expectations from the grassroots level.
This CSOs Mainstreaming is in relevance to 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.
Healthy diet for all, in Support to Bangsamoro Transition
Written by BDA Communications
July 29, 2023/MAGUINDANAO-BARMM. In the Philippines, July is a Nutrition Month with this year's theme "healthy diet, gawing affordable for all". Relevance to this theme is the inclusive provision of social services to indigenous people (IP) communities and other vulnerable groups in the six barangays in four municipalities of Maguindanao, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
This is through distribution of nutritious food packs to 480 beneficiaries coming from various sectors such as indigenous people, women and widows, solo parents, person with disabilities, orphans and elderlies.
For some we have talked to, the food pack received is beneficial to their daily meals, especially that they remain displaced due to unstable peace and order in their remote village in the uphill of the barangay.
"We often have two instead of three meals in a day because of little income. We do farming to sustain our daily needs. Right now, we are still at the temporary shelters provided by the BLGU because there is still a threat of armed conflict in our homes. We hope to have permanent homes because the condition is difficult."
The provision of food packs to vulnerable groups is in relevance to the SUBATRA-ECSO: Enhancing CSOs Capacities for Inclusive Development Interventions in BARMM in Support to Bangsamoro Transition, specifically for Output 4.4 "access to basic social services and social protection projects of vulnerable/marginalized groups is improved".
The Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) facilitated the distribution on July 29, 2023 for the first two barangays in Datu Hoffer. This was in partnership with the Raja Mamalo Descendants of Southern Philippines, Inc., Barangay Local Government Units (BLGUS) of Tuayan and Talibadok all in Datu Hoffer Maguindanao and in coordination with the Joint Task Force on Camps Transformation (JTFCT).
Partners from the BARMM and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), the Municipal LGU of Datu Hoffer and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) joined the distribution.
The Ministry of Indigenous People's Affair (MIPA-BARMM) representatives from Offices of MP Froilyn Mendoza and MP Ramon Piang of BTA provided short information about the programs and services of their offices that the people may access and avail.
SUBATRA-ECSO as a project is funded by the European Union (EU) and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
Values training, significant in building the working force and human capital of the Bangsamoro
Written by BDA Communications
JULY 2023/ COTABATO CITY-BARMM. For the employees in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the Values Transformation Training (VTT) strengthens their faith, developed their attitude, character and behavior as public servant.
Some remarked that the facilitation of the VTT is fair and inclusive, where there is more understanding, no judgements and there is respect regardless of religious affiliation of the participants.
VTT is a three-day activity that teaches the importance of self-reflection for self-change and personality development.
It helps the individual assess one’s self based on the teachings of Universal values. VTT motivates the participant understand how faith becomes the foundation of good values for a person to grow and develop and become an effective and productive member of the society.
Further, it supports the principle that change must begin with one’s self.
Since 2019, numerous employees in the BARMM were illuminated by the influence of the VTT and this has helped them be reminded of the relevance of faith-based values guiding them to become a better public servant.
Data shows that in 2022, there were 660 employees in the BARMM who underwent VTT. They are coming from various ministries/ offices such as the Office of the Chief Minister, Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Finance and Budget Management (MFBM), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), and from the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).
290 personnel from the Bangsamoro Government completed VTT in year 2021.
In 2019, employees from MAFAR, Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG) and the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA, then RPDO) learned about the iconic VTT.
For some of the participants, the training promotes inclusivity in diversity. “Indeed, religion is not hindrance in public service”, one participant told.
Other participant was amazed by the visual presentation of the training materials. “It is my first time to see visuals about Islami Values. I am happy that there is now a promotion of moral governance”, he stated.
The implementation of the VTT in BARMM is being worked out by the BDA Inc. as official facilitator in coordination with the Development Academy of the Bangsamoro (DAB-BARMM).
Aside from the workforce of the BARMM, VTT has also become enlightening for other sectors in the Bangsamoro Region.
In 2019, the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) through its Technical Education and Skills Development (TESD) Office in agreement to integrate the Values Transformation Training (VTT) in the Bangsamoro Scholarship Program that provides short courses to identified trainees in the Bangsamoro Region.
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7, 700 trainees underwent VTT in 2020. Two thousand eight hundred sixty in 2021 and 3, 394 in 2022.
One hundred five health professionals learned about VTT in year 2020. For them, the training reminded them of the importance of value-based healthcare service.
VTT was also integrated to the program for the decommissioned combatants (DCs) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). There were 357 DCs who completed values training in 2020.
Members of cooperatives supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) are also being required of VTT. In 2021, there were 605 members completing the values training and in 2022, 640 cooperative members were able to finish the values transformation course.
“VTT is significant for the social and spiritual development of our clients at MOST who are members of the cooperatives we are supporting”, MOST stated.
In 2022, there were 390 beneficiaries of the project SUBATRA-ECSO: Enhancing CSOs Capacities for Inclusive Development Intervention in BARMM in Support to Bangsamoro Transition who completed the VTT.
VTT has been a strong foundation of the BDA Inc. since inception. It has become its essential tool to organize, mobilize, and sustain its volunteers within and outside BARMM.
