Local communities in three (3) barangays in Basilan province rejoice as they formally received sets of sub-projects from Mindanao Trust Fund-Reconstruction and Development Program (MTF-RDP) implemented by Bangsamoro Development Agency.

In Barangay Materling, Ungkaya-Pukan Basilan, road opening project was turned over on August 26, 2014. The activity was witnessed by people in the barangay, barangay officials, and representative from municipal local government unit of Ungkaya-Pukan.

The 1.5 kilometer road was the first road constructed in the area connecting the barangay to adjacent barangay that provides easy access and transport of local goods from the community to the nearest market.

The whole community expressed thanks to the program.

“We are really happy and thankful to BDA and MTF-RDP for this kind of support. This is indeed a big help to every one of us in this barangay,” the PO President said.

On August 27, 2014, a project on water system was handed over to the community of Brgy. Limbu-Upas in Tipo-Tipo of the same province.

This is also the first time that the community is having a water system that will provide better access of water to one thousand seven hundred forty nine (1,749) total number of population in the barangay.

In Brgy. Bucalao in Al-Barka Basilan, a 55 kilometer pedestrian footbridge was turned over to the community on August 28, 2014.

Same with the other two barangays, the turn-over ceremony was witnessed by people in the barangay, member of the People’s Organization, local officials and representative from the political committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, among the program partners of BDA in the implementation of MTF-RDP.

The community was very thankful of the type of project implemented in their barangay. Accordingly, the kind of support is remarkable indeed. “With only small amount, it is commendable that the program is able to build this kind of project which has a very good structure and most importantly, the benefit that it will give to the whole people of this barangay, “the 105^th Based Command of Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) said.

MTFRDP is employing an approach called CDD or community-driven development where participation of communities and other key stakeholders are highly significant in decision-making of the program.

Sub-projects are identified by communities through community participative action and planning where members of the community will determine and prioritize the needs of the barangay. The community also plays major role in the implementation of the sub-projects through the Barangay Community Volunteers (BCVs) who are selected and organized for the said task.

In this type of program, cooperation and unity among the community is relevant towards the success of the project chosen, including the support of other key stakeholders from all sectors like the local government.

MTFRDP is supported by various donors such as the European Union (EU), DFAT Australia (then AusAID), Canadian International Development Agency, New Zealand Aid for International Development, Sweden International Development Agency, United States Aid for International Development and the World Bank.