A delegation from the European Union (EU) visited project site of Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) under the Mindanao Trust Fund for Reconstruction and Development Program (MTF-RDP) on April 26, 2014 at Barangay Kurintem, in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

The EU delegation were composed of H.E. Ambassador Guy Ledoux of EU, H.E. Ambassador Constantina Koliou, Embassy of Greece, H.E. Ambassador Josef Muellner, Embassy of Austria, H.E. Ambassador Roland Van Remoortele, Embassy of Belgium, Mr. Trevor Lewis, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Embassy of the United Kingdom, Mr Mihai Sion, Chargé d’Affaires a.i - Embassy of Romania, Mr. Thomas Ossowski, Designate-Ambassador , Embassy of Germany, Mr. Jan Vytopil, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of the Czech Republic, Mr. Hugues-Antoine Suin Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of France, Mr. Edoardo Manfredini, EU Programme Manager and Mrs. Thelma Gecolea, EU Press Officer.

During the visit, the delegation received warm welcome from the locals of the Brgy. Kurintem. There was a cultural presentation accompanied by sounds of kulintang ensemble performed by women elders in the community. Native delicacies were also served to the visitors.

In sharing the impact of the project in their community, the President of the People’s Organization (PO) of the barangay created under the program described that the assistance provided by the program has greatly helped their community.

“The installation of the community learning center (CLC) and hand pumps in our barangay brought great changes in our community. Through the CLC, local activities were formalized. We have a permanent place to conduct our activities, for gathering and others. It also served as classroom for our children who are pre-schoolers. The hand pumps on the other hand gave us better access of clean and safe water, “ the PO President said.

He added that before the coming of BDA, they already have an organized group that they themselves created. Accordingly, they long been waiting and searching for an organization that could help them strengthen their organization thru acquiring of skills and knowledge necessary for improving their lives.

When BDA came to our barangay, it led the way in achieving our dream before,” the PO President added. We have long been searching for an organization that could help us strengthen our organization, “he further said.

The PO President likewise expressed his deep thanks to the delegation for coming into their community. They were very pleased that they feel very important being visited by the EU.

“We thought that we are only a beneficiary, a small community, a small people. But in your coming here, many of you coming from different and far places abroad, we feel honoured and very important, thus we really thank you. Shukran shukran (thank you, thank you!),”the PO President stressed.

In response, Guy Leadoux, Head of Delegation thanks back also the community for the warm welcome in their coming.

He happily informed the locals of the continuing support and commitment of the Union in the social recovery of conflict affected areas in Mindanao thru the MTF.

EU is the largest contributor of the MTF-RDP, a multi-donor fund facility administered by the World Bank and implemented by BDA. The program is currently on its 4^th Program Partnership Agreement (PPA4) serving 65 barangays across the six regions of BDA. Brgy. Kurintem is a beneficiary of the program during the 3^rd PPA.