Hopes in seaweeds for Sama community in Tawi-Tawi, Bangsamoro Region
Written by BDA CommunicationsMarch 12, 2024. In the distant community of Barangay Buan, Panglima Sugala in Tawi-Tawi, Bangsamoro Region, are the Sama people who lives along the seashores in this island province.
At the young age, a Sama child is being trained and exposed to the sea for fishing and for farming activities, a primary source of living for the people in this coastal village.
Alrashel Julaid, 43, is born to a family and community of seaweeds farming. He was young when his father was bringing him to the sea.
Being by the or in the sea is popular identity to the Sama people. It is their home where they are born and raised.
Alrashel grows seaweeds to sustain his family of seven. Their two children are in college taking education course.
Similar to all other fathers, he wish for his kids to complete studies as their key to success in life.
His wife takes mostly of the reproductive role with the younger kids at home.
Basic social services in Brgy. Buan
Brgy. Buan is home to thousands of families who are Sama and lives by the faith based on Islam religion.
Despite the distance from the mainland and the center of development in the Tawi-Tawi province, the barangay has available services for its people such as basic and secondary schools, justice hall, water system project, and a health facility.
Families in the village are beneficiaries of the 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) through the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD-BARMM). Elderlies also received assistance from the senior citizens program of the government.
However, all these require for upgrading and further support towards improved services to the people.
For instance on education, youth who wishes to pursue college needs to move in Bongao (the center of Tawi-Tawi Province), since there is no higher education institution established in rural areas of Tawi-Tawi. And for most families, sending their kids from the island to mainland Bongao requires bigger financial responsibility for allowance, accommodation, transportation, meals, school fees, etc.
In this case that many of the aspiring youths could not make it to education, like Alshayma Juhang, 40, who only reached second year level in college and opted to went back home to Brgy. Buan where she married and build a family.
She helps her husband does seaweed farming for their family of five.
As their source of living, seaweed farming is like a whole day of going to a regular job. Everyday after breakfast, her husband leaves to go farming and to catch fish, too and other sea foods, which they sell for income.
At home, Alshayma would prepare some local dishes that she vends into the neighborhood for little sales, helpful for the family’s daily sustenance.
Seaweeds farming in the community
On January 31, 2024, a simple dialogue between farmers and fisherfolks of Brgy. Buan and the government institutions like the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR Tawi-Tawi Provincial Office) and Mindanao State University (MSU- Tawi-Tawi) happened particularly in Sitio Biha of the said village.
Both parties were able to expressed and report their concerns related to aquaculture practices in this island community.
Among the concerns raised was the use of fertilizer for seaweeds farming, which according to MAFAR and MSU Tawi-Tawi is not encouraged due to its potential harmful effects to human health and the environment.
The farmers conveyed that they are using fertilizers for rapid growth and harvest of seaweeds, and therefore a rapid income to provide for their families.
Both parties acknowledged each struggle and agreed to work on unified actions to resolve such realities on aquaculture in this island village, and help advance the economic conditions for the entire community.
Also reported by the farmers and fisherfolks was the prizing of seaweeds as dictated by traders e.g., from P140.00 to P45.00.
The group likewise appeals for the the high price of seaweed seedlings that they needed to begin their farming.
The Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) through the project: "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) has been conducting a baseline study related to aquaculture in the Bangsamoro Region.
It focuses on seaweeds farming in Brgy. Buan, Panglima Suga in Tawi-Tawi and on lobster fishing in Brgy. Sucuban, Omar, Sulu.
The project is co-funded by European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) implemented by German International Cooperation (GIZ).
Support from the project
The project has various plans to aid the beneficiaries advance their aquaculture practices like trainings to educate them the modern, environmental and practical manner of growing, harvesting and marketing their products.
This action also comes with an infrastructure development. On January 31, 2024, the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of seaweeds dryer with mini solar dryer has been successfully conducted in Brgy. Buan through the support of partners from MAFAR Tawi-Tawi and MSU Tawi-Tawi.
The construction of lobster aquaculture facility in Brgy. Sucuban has also been started, which groundbreaking ceremony was attended by partners from BARMM through its Sulu Provincial Offices like the MAFAR and Cooperative and Social Enterprise Authority (CSEA), MSU- Sulu and the Philippine Army.
At present, BDA Inc. is managing the procurement of required building materials for the said infra projects through its field staff in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
SELF-CHANGE TOWARDS COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION
Written by BDA Communications“Maganda itong Values Transformation Training (VTT) kasi ang tunay na pagbabago ay magsisimula sa sarili natin mismo”, said Nasip Mascara, 53 years old, member of the cooperative from Brgy. Mamaanun, Baloi, Lanao del Norte (Camp Bilal).
Members of cooperatives and people’s organizations in the camp communities underwent Values Transformation Training (VTT).
The VTT was simultaneously organized from March 6, 2024 in the 12 communities within the six (6) previously acknowledged camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
This training aims to revitalize the values of the beneficiaries and develop internal obligation within themselves to become more responsible as the projects will be entrusted to their organizations.
VTT is part of the capacity building for the beneficiaries under the Bangsamoro Camps Transformation Project (BCTP).
BCTP is supporting the Normalization efforts in the camps that aims to improve access to socio-economic services and basic infrastructure in the six (6) previously acknowledged MILF camps.
It is implemented by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) in partnership with Community and Family Services International (CFSI).
BCTP is one of the projects funded by the Bangsamoro Normalization Trust Fund (BNTF) administered by the World Bank.
Women leaders in the camps: Racma, a combatant’s wife and Osoleya, a warrior’s daughter
Written by BDA CommunicationsMARCH 2024. Osoleya Mimbantas, 35, joined a cooperative formed in their remote village in Sandab, Butig, Lanao Del Sur- Camp Bushra “to help her community, who are the members of the cooperative”.
She is thankful for the support provided to their cooperative and believes that the trainings conducted to them are useful not only for their organization, but also to their personal life.
Osoleya is a daughter of the late leader of the MILF in Lanao province. Her active role in the community roots from her experience in life being a daughter to a warrior.
She is the President of the Bangsamoro Unified Into Growth (BUTIG) Cooperative in their barangay. Osoleya finished college and currently works as government employee where she earns income to help provide for her own family of three children.
Their cooperative is currently managing and operating a tractor, a farm facility provided by the program relevant to the camps transformation and development.
The facility helps ease the process of farming. The cooperative offers rental service for the tractor for farmers from neighboring villages.
The group has also initiated for an initial capital from their own pockets that they use to buy and sell sacks of rice, payable for its members for five months.
Another woman from the uphill village of Tamparan in Munai, Lanao del Norte is named Racma Baluwa, 30 years of age.
She is a mother to five (5) little children. According to her, the husband’s income from farming is enough to sustain the needs of the family.
Racma is an active woman in their community. She is a member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Women Arm Forces (BIWAF) - the women-wing of the armed forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). She is the Secretary of the Al-hajj Abdullah Bravo Mabapaar Cooperative- a group formed for the camps project in Camp Bilal.
Her participation to peacebuilding activities in the village is stirred by the experience of war and struggle in the past.
“I was a kid then, our family was among the evacuees. We heard the bombings, the gunshots”, Racma told.
Now, Racma hopes that their cooperative will bring gains for her family and the community, in general.
For her, the task may be exhausting but she finds joy working with people.
“I am very grateful to the donors and partners supporting. I do hope that this continues so as the peace to help the impoverished communities become progressive”, Racma said.
The cooperatives of Osoleya and Racma are among the beneficiaries of the PROACTIVE: Programme on Assistance for Camp Transformation through Inclusion, Violence Prevention and Economic Empowerment- a program that supports the current transformation and development in the camps.
It is a project co-funded by European Union (EU) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) implemented in collaboration with the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.). (From original post at https://bda.org.ph/index.php/research-publication/meet-the-people-in-the-camp-communities)
(March 7, 2024.) In the last quarter of 2022, BDA Inc. together with partner service providers trained women groups across BARMM on various skills trainings based on the livelihood activity identified per community-recipient of the project SUBATRA-ECSO.
This livelihood support came with a full package of complete materials and facility relevant to the chosen enterprise of each group.
In Tawi-Tawi, two women groups from Brgy. Pasiagan in Bongao and Brgy. Malacca in Panglima Sugala learned about processing of native delicacies.
“We want to introduce these native delicacies, especially now that the province of Tawi-Tawi is receiving more tourists where we can sell and generate income helpful for our families”, the women told.
According to them, the process is known to some senior members of the community but they wanted to learn more especially for the young generation to promote and preserve these traditional dishes such as lara-lara (sili-sili), batang buruk, jintan, panyam, panganan, bawlo, hantak/kukus, doughnut-doughnut, jah, tapa-tapa and tok-ki.
Women group in Brgy. Kailih, Al-Barka, Basilan has chosen the training on cassava processing. For them, cassava has been part of their history and life as people in this part of Bangsamoro Region.
For them, it was amazing to know that aside from puto, there are wide variety of products they can make from cassava.
They learned to make cakes, cassava chips, balls, others.
Aside from the skills to produce various products from cassava, they also learned to start their business, where they get additional income that is helpful to support their families.
“We are thankful for the assistance you provided to us. We are grateful for the attention and concern for us, women in this remote area”, the Kailih women said.
In Lanao province, the mothers who are usually full-time housewives are happy that they were able to earn money from producing and selling palapa (a spicy condiment/side-dish common to M’ranao in Lanao province)
“We are earning now, even though in little amount, it is already a big thing for us especially for our kids at school, and for few expenses at home. We learned to produce palapa in various flavors”, they stated.
Meanwhile, in the Special Geographical Areas (SGA) of BARMM, the women recipients of the project speaks that their time together, as women becomes more significant as they gather in producing various products from banana through the skills they learned from the livelihood training provided to them.
Women organization in the indigenous people (IP) community in Maguindanao was emotional and motivated to sustain the learning related to vegetable production.
“Thank you, BDA, for the unending support and encouragement, for us to learn vegetable production. Even beyond this project, the knowledge you taught us will remain useful for us, thank you very much”, IP women expressed.
From Sulu province, the women group is glad for the support from the Bangsamoro Government through local networks.
The Timbangan PO in Indanan has been among the local organizations tapped as exhibitors during the NiyoGosyo Fair in Decemer 2023 by the MTIT-BARMM, together with other women groups supported by SUBATRA-ECSO, specifically those that produce from coconut and banana.
Under the project, 63% of the 4, 860 overall total of beneficiaries are women.
SUBATRA-ECSO is implemented by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) with partner CSOs in the region.
It is funded by the European Union and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation. (from BDA Annual Report 2023)
Values training for local governance in the Bangsamoro
Written by BDA CommunicationsMarch 4, 2024. The influence of the Values Transformation Training (VTT) has come for the barangay chairmen of various villages in the province of Maguindanao del Norte in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
This year, this significant action was undertaken when the Provincial Government of MDN partnered with the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) for the implementation of the VTT for the local officials of the province at barangay/ community level.
There were three batches of participants from 221 barangays in the 12 municipalities namely Parang, Sultan Mastura, Matanog, Barira, Buldon, Sultan Kudarat, Kabuntalan, Northern Kabuntalan, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Talitay and North Upi.
They were organized for the VTT in the province on February 23-27, 2024 at Al-nor Convention, Cotabato City.
“Moral governance may seem to be easy but it is not because it is in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Qur’an”, Chairman Tatua Sangki of Brgy. Pagalungan, Kabuntalan, told.
VTT teaches the participants the significance of faith-based values towards self-change and personality development that will help an individual to become more responsible with his actions (in whatever role/ position) in the society, and therefore be an agent of change and development in building a society of peace.
The VTT for the barangay chairmen was implemented through the Ministry of Interior and Local Government Unit (MILG) of the Province of Maguindanao del Norte.
BDA Inc. was the official training facilitator with the Development Academy of the Bangsamoro (DAB) as the official secretariat.
VTT has been reaching more individuals and communities within and beyond BARMM, as one strategy to support and advocate the moral governance.
In 2023, BDA Inc. reported 12, 193 individuals trained on VTT in various set-up, from regional offices of the BARMM, the beneficiaries of scholarship programs, cooperatives, the decommissioned combatants, others.
Various infra projects to help provide basic social services in camp communities
Written by BDA CommunicationsMarch 6, 2024. With the sustained commitment to support the development and transformation in the camp communities, various infrastructure projects are currently being implemented to help provide social services for the people in those marginalized areas.
The construction of library in and solar dryer with warehouse in Camp Abubakar is completed and will soon be turned over to the community.
For the agri-facility project, the farmer- beneficiaries said that is a huge help for them to have a permanent and better shelter/ storage for their crops.
“Our community is flood prone so this project will really help us produce quality farm products”, the farmers told.
Formed as one organization, the farmers can also operate the facility for income generation to help sustain the operation of the project.
Also in this camp are projects such as madrasah, water system and hygiene facility.
In Camp Omar, the Tribal Hall project in Brgy.Kabengi, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao is accomplished that demonstrates inclusivity, with the indigenous people (IP) in the village as the main beneficiaries.
“We are joyous for this project which will bring numerous benefits to us. It will serve as a venue for weddings, engagements, community meetings (pulong-pulong), and other cultural activities cherished by the Teduray people”, the IP group stated.
In the same camp, the building of madrasah (Islamic school) was formally started on February 8, 2024 through a groundbreaking ceremony and a pre-implementation meeting at Brgy. Saniag, Ampatuan, Maguindanao.
In Camp Rajamuda, the construction of library and a madrasah has also been officially started.
More infra projects are expected to rise soon indicating progress in the camp communities. Selection of these projects is informed by the Camps Transformation Plan (CTP) of the Bangsamoro Region crafted together with various partners for the implementation of the Normalization in the Bangsamoro of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) of GPH-MILF in 2014.
Specifically for the implementation of the above-mentioned projects in the camps, the initiative is taking place through the PROACTIVE: Programme on Assistance for Camp Transformation through Inclusion, Violence Prevention and Economic Empowerment.
PROACTIVE is being funded by the European Union (EU) and the UNDP, and is managed through the collaboration of Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) and UNDP-Philippines.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, ISINAGAWA NG BDA BILANG PAGHAHANDA SA IMPLEMENTASYON NG MGA PROYEKTO SA MILF CAMPS
Written by BDA CommunicationsFebruary 8, 2024- Experiential learning isinagawa ng Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) bilang paghahanda sa implementasyon ng mga proyekto sa loob ng malalaking kampo ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) noong February 6-7, 2024 sa iba’t ibang mga lugar sa Davao region.
Kabilang sa layunin ng nasabing pag-aaral ang pagkatuto sa paggamit at pamamahala ng makabagong teknolohiya tulad ng polyethylene o ultra violet (UV) plastic sa pagpapatuyo ng mga agricultural products.
“Isa sa mga proyekto na napili ng mga komunidad sa mga kampo particularly sa Camp Abubakar ay Construction of Warehouse with Solar Dryer and Polyethylene”, ayon kay Kadafy Sinulinding, Project Coordinator ng BCTP mula sa BDA Inc.
Dagdag pa ni Sinulinding, “ang paggamit ng polyethylene ay bago pa sa atin kaya, isa sa mga layunin ng aktibidad ay makita natin ito in actual, anu-ano ang mga gamit nito at paano ito mina-manage”.
Kabilang sa aktibidad ang pagbisita sa iba’t ibang institution na may UV plastic facilities tulad ng Unicarbai Multi-Purpose Cooperative sa barangay Basiawan, Sta. Maria, Davao Occidental; Malalag Cacao Growers Association sa barangay Poblacion, Malalag, Davao Del Sur; Migcawayan Tribal Agriculture Cooperative (MTAC) sa Brgy. Migcawayan, Damulog, Bukidnon; at Integrated Rural Development Foundation Inc. (IRDF) sa Brgy. Tamlangon, Matanao, Davao del sur.
Nagkaroon ng orientation sa loob ng mga nasabing institutions at ibinahagi ang operational at maintenance activities na kanilang ginagawa sa tamang pamamahala ng UV plastics at iba pa.
Kasama din sa nasabing aktibidad ang mga staff mula sa Community and Family Services International (CFSI).
Ang experiential learning ay kaugnay pa rin sa implementasyon ng Bangsamoro Camps Transformation Project (BCTP). Ang BCTP ay iniimplementa ng BDA Inc. katuwang ang CFSI.
Ito ay isa sa mga proyektong pinopondohan ng Bangsamoro Normalization Trust Fund (BNTF) na pinangangasiwaan ng World Bank.
TRANSITIONING COMBATANTS FORM COOPERATIVES, GENERATE INCOME TOWARDS PRODUCTIVE, PROGRESSIVE AND PEACEFUL COMMUNITY
Written by BDA CommunicationsJanuary 20, 2024. This inspiring story happens across the camp communities where armed conflict happened in the past years. With the current development in the Bangsamoro peace process, support to camps transformation and development yields positive results like the successful operation of farmer cooperatives with the agri-facility provided by development partners.
It was in the first quarter of year 2022 when these farm facilities were turned over to various cooperatives across the six major camps of the MILF identified in the Normalization Annex of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).
The provision of support to farmer cooperatives is in relevance to the implementation of PROACTIVE: Programme on Assistance for Camp Transformation through Inclusion, Violence Prevention and Economic Empowerment.
It is a program implemented by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), who is also a fund partner together with the European Union (EU).
Know more about the success stories of the transitioning combatants and the updates on camps transformation and development at www.bda.org.ph.
#SupportCampsDevelopment #SupportBangsamoro #SupportPeaceDevt #Bangsamoro #BDA
IMPLEMENTING INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN CAMP COMMUNITIES
Written by BDA CommunicationsDecember 15, 2023. While transition in the Bangsamoro Government happens, the implementation of development projects in the camps towards transformation and development is also taking place.
At the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.), we take the honor and the mission to deliver development assistance to the six major camps of the MILF, identified in the Normalization Annex of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).
We have been documenting our experience, which we will be sharing soon.
Thanks to our partners for the support to transform camps from conflict to peaceful and progressive communities.
Full story uploading soon @ www.bda.org.ph
PROCUREMENT MANAGEMENT IN IMPLEMENTING RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE BANGSAMORO REGION
Written by BDA CommunicationsJanuary 16, 2024. Procurement works have been part of the journey in implementing various projects for the development and rehabilitation of conflict-affected communities within and outside the Bangsamoro Region.
In bringing development to those communities, the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) has been working with different donor partners requiring standard policies on administrative and financial management including processes on procurement in acquiring goods and services to support the overall implementation of the program/project.
For the past two decades, we have been documenting our experience on procurement management in the context of Bangsamoro, while complying to the international standards set by donor partners.
Allow us to share our best practice as an agency in overcoming the challenges in order to deliver the services needed by the people.
Our story is inspired by the needs and aspirations of our people at the community level, and guided by the values such as transparency, inclusiveness, trustworthiness, accountability and justice.
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BDA conducts Orientation on SPP Development and Preparation for the implementation of the Bangsamoro Camps Transformation Project
Written by BDA CommunicationsJanuary 5, 2024- The Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) in partnership with the Community and Family Services International (CFSI) conducted an orientation on Sup-Project Proposal Development and Preparation last January 3, 2024, at the BDA Training Center in Cotabato City.
The said orientation primarily aimed to have a clear understanding of attachments and processes of making the sub-project proposals for the Bangsamoro Camps Transformation Project (BCTP).
BCTP Project Coordinator Kadafy Sinulinding emphasized in his message that the activity was part of the preparation of sub-project proposals that are under step 3 of the project implementation stages.
“After this orientation, we are going to have a community writeshop on SPP with the members of farmers’ cooperatives, women and youth groups, and IP groups together with the Joint Task Forces on Camps Transformation (JTFCT)”, Sinulinding said.
Sinulinding added, “It is important to note that the writing of proposals will be done by the beneficiaries with the help of JTFCT members and with BDA technical guidance”.
He also urged everyone to participate actively and listen attentively to be able to be equipped with the necessary knowledge needed in SPP preparation.
Meanwhile, the construction of socio-economic infrastructures (SEIs) and community facilities (CFs) in the camps will commence after the SPP approval.
Furthermore, BDA is optimistic about endorsing the packaged and refined sub-project proposals to CFSI within the required timeline.
BCTP is implemented by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) in partnership with the Community and Family Services International (CFSI). It is funded through the Bangsamoro Normalization Trust Fund (BNTF) administered by the World Bank.
Values transformation training aids in meaningful reintegration of youth combatants thru 3 Peace Project of BYC-BARMM
Written by BDA CommunicationsDecember 21, 2023. The Positive Peace Project (3 Peace) is a youth reintegration program of the Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) being implemented under the Special Development Fund of the Office of the Chief Minister (OCM) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
In this project, 200 youth combatants are selected to undergo various skills trainings through the Technical Education and Skills Development of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE-BARMM) as facilitated by the accredited partner Technical Vocational Institute (TVI).
The Values Transformation Training (VTT) comes in before the skills training based on the guidelines being implemented by the TESD of MBHTE-BARMM.
All 200 combatants have already completed the VTT likewise the skills trainings through a mass graduation happened on December 19, 2023 at Shariff Kabunsuan Complex inside Bangsamoro Government Complex in Cotabato City.
Youth combatants as defined in the 3 Peace Project are the sons and daughters of Mujahideens across the 10 camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF): Camp Bushra, Camp Badre, Camp Omar, Camp Bilal, Camp Darapanan, Camp Rajamuda and of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF): Camp Ebrahim, Camp Husni, Camp Jannatul Ma’wah and Camp Sofia.
Integration of VTT to the project for the youth combatants is significant in developing the sense of self-change and personality development by teaching faith-based values to help them become responsible and productive member of the society.
One participant expressed thanks for implanting the relevant knowledge on faith-based values through VTT.
Another trainee believes that the VTT has given them knowledge about faith, and being responsible.
“I am thankful that even in a short period, I was able to internalize these teachings on values”, he stated.
As the implementing agency of the VTT, the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) is glad to expand its wings to spread the message and significance of faith-based values in building people as agents of change and development.
BDA Inc. has been recognized as the official facilitator and implementer of VTT in BARMM as one relevant approach to achieve the call for moral governance in the Bangsamoro.
BDA Inc. is the development arm of the MILF established in 2002 and has emerged as duly registered non-government organization in 2019 with the official name, BDA Inc.
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.
PARA SA'YO BANGSAMORO- HELPING BRING THE BANGSAMORO GOVERNMENT CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE
Written by BDA CommunicationsDecember 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.