November 30, 2023. The Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) facilitated the visit of partners from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to selected villages in camp communities from November 21-23, 2023.

• Kabengi, Datu Saudi Amptauan and Brgy. Tuayan Mother, Datu Hoffer, Mag del Sur in Camp Omar
• Togaig, Barira, Mag del Norte in Camp Abubakar
• Sandab, Butig, Lanao del Sur in Camp Bushra
• Tamparan at Panggao, Munai Lanao del Norte in Camp Bilal

Visitors and partners from UNDP met and talked with the beneficiaries (women, IP, elderlies, transitioning combatants, religious sector, others), the barangay local government unit, Joint Task Force on Camps Transformation (JTFCT) about their experience of the program and the progress of its implementation.

This field mission is part of the Results-oriented Monitoring of the European Union as donor partner to the program being implemented in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) camps.

It was intended to get updates on the progress and challenges of the program implementation directly from the community and other stakeholders on the ground.

This mission was in relevance to the on-going 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.

It is funded by European Union and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and is implemented by Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) in collaboration with UNDP Philippines.

December 4, 2023. Para Sa’Yo Bangsamoro is a communication plan developed to help raise the awareness about the programs and services of BARMM including the rights and obligations of its people.

This campaign was successfully launched through a Community Assembly with Provision of Services in Support to Bangsamoro Transition on December 1, 2023 at Brgy. Balakayon, Pigcawayan, Special Geographical Areas- BARMM, with the support of honorable officials from the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

From the BTA were Hon. Ali Salik, Hon. Said Salendab and Hon. Kadil Sinolinding, Jr.

The Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE-BARMM) through its Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS) and the Office of the Cabinet Secretariat- OCM-BARMM were those coming from the Bangsamoro Government.

During the event, people of Balakayon listened to inspiring and educational messages from the officials of the Bangsamoro Government that were significant to be well-informed and updated about the current transition in the Bangsamoro and the continuing struggle towards peace and development.

Vulnerable groups in the village received basic social services during this activity such as free medical eye check-up, food packs, and education kit for the children.

Each office of BTA and BARMM who joined the assembly had a desk designated where they welcomed group of people and talked about their programs and services. Beneficiaries took this chance and raised their concerns and needs in their community.

In his message, MP Salik, recalled the times of war and struggle and told that the current progress in the Bangsamoro is among the fruits of those sacrifices.

MP Salendab told the people that his office and the office of the Bangsamoro Government is open for service. He reminded that all services available at present are part of the continuing struggle of the Bangsamoro.

“Let us have unity, love and help to one another”, he stated.

For MP Sinolinding, this activity was a great chance for them at the BTA to serve and help the public.

“We, who in the position, are not above you.  We are here to serve you, to find ways to respond to your needs”, the official stated.

He is glad to see that people received not only free health service but also food packs and education kits.
This event is in relevance to the project SUBATRA-ECSO: Enhancing CSOs Capacities for Inclusive Development Intervention in BARMM in Support to Bangsamoro Transition.

The project is implemented by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) together with partner CSOs.

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

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 1^st 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.

 The 1^ST 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: 1^ST BARMM Private Sector Organization (PSO) Summit

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).

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.

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.

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

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.