About 71 Bangsamoro communities across the seven (7) regional clusters of Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) received free Qurbani meat from the recent program on Qurban Program with support of Turkey Diyanet Vakfi (TDV) and Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH), both humanitarian foundations based in Turkey.

Five hundred ninety (590) heads of cattle were slaughtered as offerings or sacrifice during the Eid’l Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) on October 3-6, 2014. Four hundred ninety (490) heads of which were donated by TDF while the other 100 were from IHH.

Donations from IHH were distributed to communities in Maguindanao and North Cotabato provinces.

Donations from TDV were distributed to 26 sites in Central Mindanao, 4 sites in Southern Mindanao, six (6) sites in Davao Region, 13 sites in Ranaw Region, four (4) sites in Zamboanga Peninsula, four (4) sites in Zamboanga-Basilan and nine (9) sites in Sulu-Tawi-Tawi Region.

Staff from BDA Central Management Office (CMO) and the Regional Management Offices (RMOs) were mobilized for the distribution of free Qurbani meats to Bangsamoro communities. The Political Committees of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was also coordinated during the selection of sites and distribution of the meat.

Eid al-Adha is the second of two religious holidays celebrated by Muslims worldwide each year. It honors the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his promised son, Ishmael (Ismail)^, as an act of submission to God‘s command, before God then intervened to provide Abraham with a lamb to sacrifice instead. The meat from the sacrificed animal is preferred to be divided into three parts. The family retains one third of the share; another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbors; and the remaining third is given to the poor and needy. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_al-Adha)

Turkey Diyanet Vakfi and BDA began partnership this year supporting the construction of BDA Office which is currently on-going and the Ramadhan Program for Bangsamoro 2014 last June-July this year.

Insani Yardim Vakfi also began partnership this year through the Qurban Program and the construction of 2-storey school building at Brgy. Datu Balabaran Tamontaka Mother, Cotabato City in which BDA facilitates the implementation.

In an exit meeting on October 8, 2014 at EM Manor Hotel in Cotabato City, Mohammad S. Yacob, BDA Executive Director conveyed message of gratitude to Turkey government.

“Handling successfully such a program which covers huge part of Bangsamoro Homeland in a very short period is indeed a breakthrough for BDA. Alhamdulillah, through which, the strength and resilience of BDA has truly been tested and proven especially in terms of upholding ‘Ibaadah as the Qurban slaughtering itself is very significant in Muslim’s life,” Director Yacob said.

Ensari Yenturk, Team Leader of TDV likewise thanked BDA.

“The recently concluded Qurbani Program is a living testimony of Islamic brotherhood which genuinely connects the Turkish People to the Bangsamoro People,”Ensari said.

He cited a verse which says “Indeed the Muslim believers are brothers” and as such, we should be helping one another.

Accordingly, their help to Bangsamoro does not end and is not limited with the recently concluded Qurbani Program. They are also very open to help in terms of education as means of uplifting Bangsamoro’s status.

He said that Turkey is actually hosting thousands of scholars from different Muslim countries and he wished for maximum participation of the Bangsamoro. He reiterated that their help to Bangsamoro through BDA shall continue to exist.

All these program and activities are part of the Assistance to Bangsamoro Selected Communities of the government of Turkey in their support to the peace process between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).