Displaying items by tag: Bangsamoro communities
Bangsamoro Camps Transformation Project (BCTP) supports peaceful, productive, and stable communities in the Bangsamoro
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.
Bapa Thoks: A witness of war, a keeper of peace.
(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
(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
Bangsamoro communities outside BARMM call for information and guidance from B’moro leaders
(COTABATO CITY/ March 5, 2021). The establishment of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is a product of the decades- long Bangsamoro struggle. Bangsamoro as identity of people are not only those who are in communities within the BARMM. There are millions of Bangsamoro who are residing outside the BARMM areas, and these people remain committed to the Bangsamoro cause for peace and development, and they wanted information and guidance from Bangsamoro leaders.
On February 27, 2021, over a hundred of Bangsamoro communities in Malapatan, Sarangani convened with the common interest to hear updates from Bangsamoro leaders and with the intent to understand how can they ask for assistance as people with challenges on access basic social services.
Chairman of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Political Committee of Sugoda Buayan, one of the provinces in Southern Mindanao, stated in a message that the Bangsamoro communities in their areas, remain committed to peace and development, that they want to hear guidance from Bangsamoro leaders about their roles and functions as community members and local counterpart of the MILF.
The Sugoda Buayan community is also calling for support from Bangsamoro leaders e.g., scholarship programs, health assistance, others. Sugoda Buayan covers the municipalities of Malapatan, Glan, Gumasa, Malungon, Maasim, Alabel in Sarangani province and the City of General Santos.
In a statement, representative from Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) explained the processes how Bangsamoro communities outside BARMM can avail services from the government with proper coordination and communication.
“You can direct your concern about agriculture related assistance to MAFAR-BARMM, but you have to understand that we should coordinate with Region XII, since your municipality is within this region”, MAFAR-BARMM told.
Sheikh Khalifa Nando, Wali of the Bangsamoro, told that the leaders of the Bangsamoro have equal responsibility for both communities within and outside BARMM. He stressed that “only there are differences since the priority at present is on governance”.
BARMM was established in 2018 with the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). It is now running for a transition period until 2021 with a majority of officials appointed from the MILF.
‘We are speaking with Bangsamoro communities outside BARMM because we wanted to make you feel that we do not forget about you. We cannot forget about your situation and your voices remain with us as we work for the Bangsamoro Government”, Sheilk Nando told.
He urged the non-BARMM Moro communities to support the call for moral governance because “this is the government that will benefit all of us, because it is a product of the peace process that we all struggled for, in the past two decades”.
Another speaker from the activity further advised the attendees that “establishing BARMM does not mean employment for every Bangsamoro, it means remaining committed to continue the Bangsamoro struggle”.
Representative from the Office of the Secretariat of the MILF Central Committee spoke of the current situation of the MILF, leading the Bangsamoro Government, doing the governance role compare to its functions as revolutionary organization.
Participants to this gathering were coming from various line committees of the MILF such as political committee, da’wah, social welfare, shari’ah, Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), Bangsamoro Women’s Auxiliary Brigade (BWAB), and people’s organizations like Taluya United Community Association, Sapu masla Association for Peace & Unity and Tuyan Muslim Christian Blaan Organization. Barangay Local Government Unit of Sapu Masla, Malapatan, Sarangani welcomed all the attendess, guests and visitors to the event.
Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) provided assistance in organizing and facilitating this significant gathering intended to contribute in sustaining the trust, confidence and commitment of Bangsamoro people, within and outside BARMM, over the peace process.
Created in 2002, BDA Inc. has been managing various programs and projects in the conflict-affected areas in Mindanao, which are covered within the agency’s six regional offices namely Central Mindanao, Southern Mindanao, Davao, Ranaw, Zamboanga- Peninsula and Zamboanga-Basilan and with the provinces of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
For this event, BDA Inc. mobilize its regional office in Southern Mindanao where different development projects were implemented in the past years and still operating and have been expanding through the sustained commitment and unity of the people’s organizations in these areas.
Now operating as non-government organization, BDA Inc. upholds a mandate for relief, rehabilitation and development services within and beyond BARMM, and is looking forward to strengthen further development initiatives for the Bangsamoro communities outside BARMM.