The Fisheries Sector of the Community Development in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao (CD-CAAM) steered-up its implementation plan of activities through implanting Islamic values to the selected beneficiaries for the promotion of tilapia culture, processing and marketing.

A total of 20 participants from Barangay Tambu, Sultan Mastura underwent a live-in training on Values Transformation by a poll of expert trainers from the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) at Estosan Garden Hotel, Cotabato City on September 24-26, 2013. Participants are beneficiaries of the fisheries sector of Community Development in CAAM (CD-CAAM), a 3-year pilot project implemented by the BDA in partnership with Japan International Cooperative Agency (JICA) thru the ICNet Limited, Inc.

The aim of the training is to capacitate the beneficiaries through enhanced knowledge, skills, and practice of Islamic values for them to be able to become responsible and be the Vicegerency of righteousness in implementing the said project. They were also made to express their commitment to practice Islamic values in development work and in dealing with the different stakeholders of the Bangsamoro community.

Beforehand, BDA and JICA Experts represented by its local Project Coordinators with the help of Local Government Unit (LGU) of Sultan Mastura conducted an orientation on the status of the project and explained why the Barangay Tambu chosen to be the absolute area for the fisheries flagship project entitled “Promotion of Tilapia Culture”. Later, profiling and final selection of beneficiaries were presented by BDA, experts from JICA and the LGU of Sultan Mastura through agreed process basing on their minimum experience, ability to be a trainer and have willingness to impart the knowledge to others upon completion of the program.

On the other hand, Agriculture Sector simultaneously undertook similar training headed by its Project Officer, Mr. Mohaliden T. Akmad as a kick-off to the full implementation of its “Promotion of High-Value Vegetables” at Barangay Macabiso in the same municipality.

Mr. Montasser Mamalangkap, one of the Trainers, discuss to the attentive participants of Values Transformation Training at Estosan Garden Hotel, Cotabato City