On the Cycle 2 Implementation of the Mindanao Trust Fund for Reconstruction and Development Program (MTF-RDP) of Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), indigenous people in Central Mindanao Region chose infrastructure support for their agricultural production. This is based on the approved Sub-project Proposal by the municipal counterpart of the program in South Upi, Maguindanao. This was made during the Sub-project Proposal (SPP) Appraisal by the Multi- sectoral Committee (MSC) on January 28, 2014 at Municipal Hall of the said municipality.

Barangay Pilar, Pandan and Romonggaob in South Upi Maguindanao are composed mainly of people indigenous people. Their barangays are beneficiaries of the MTF Program.

The 3 barangays are proposing for a solar dryer with a warehouse for Brgy. Romonggaob.The proposal is based on the result of the Base Map (BM) and Thematic Map (TM) Training-Review that was conducted simultaneously on December 25- 28, 2013 in the said barangays. BM/TM Training is an activity that allows community members to identify the needs of their barangay.

Accordingly, these three barangays need this kind of support for their agricultural production. “Naniniwalapo kami ang project naito ay malakiangmaitulongsaamin para po mas mapadaliangpagbibilad ng mgaani naming pananim. (We believe that this project will help us really, to make easy the drying of our crops.), Tessie Piang said. She is the President of the People’s Organization of Brgy. Pandan.

The PO accounted that they chose this project so that they will have their own solar dryer that they can use for free. “Sa ngayonpokasi ay nakikigamitlang kami ng solar dryer at may bayadpoiyon, nakakadagdag pa poi yon sakapitalnamin. (At present, we only use solar dryers owned by other and we pay for rent, which adds more to our capital.”), the PO related.

Main source of living in the said barangay is farming. During the Cycle 1 implementation of the program, the assistance provided to them was farm machineries that were intended also for the better farming production of the community.

Under the program, communities are provided with opportunities to work together in identifying the priority needs of their communities and in making decisions. Through this, they become united and cooperation is built among them. They were able to recognize the need of everyone, of every sector and the skills and capacities of everyone in the group.

They were gathered to participate in different activities conducted for the program such as Barangay-wide Orientation, trainings on Values Transformation, BM/TM, Basic Leadership, Sub-project Proposal Preparation, Basic Financial Management and Procurement, and others.

Conduct of these activities is facilitated by BDA Central Mindanao staff designated in the said municipality.

Now implemented under the Cycle 2 of the Program, those communities who were members of the organized Barangay Community Volunteers (BCVs) during the Cycle 1 are now formed into People’s Organization (PO). Being PO will enable the members to strengthen their organization and eventually will bring them to more opportunities for their development as one community.

The POs expressed their gratitude to the program in granting their needs in their barangay. “Hindi lang kami nabigyan ng proyekto, higit pa dun ay nagkaisa kami sapamamagitan ng programangito. (We are not only provided with what we need but moreover, we were united through this program.),Brgy. Pilar PO President VicienteDiwatinsaid.

According to the PO, the project opened the door of freedom for them. Before, they have to pay for farm equipment owned by private individuals for them to be able to make farming easier. Now, they are freed from those burdens and they now have the freedom to have better farming, using equipment for free.

“Iyonpotalagaangisasamgapinakapangrapnaminnamagingmalayasaamingpagsasaka. (That really is one of our dreams, to have freedom in our farming), the community said.

This is stated in the vision-mission formulated by the POs in their organizational document.

Mindanao Trust Fund for Reconstruction and Development Program is a multi-donor fund facility administered by the World Bank supported by different development partnerssuch as European Union (EU), Australian Embassy (then AusAID), Canadian International Development Agency, New Zealand Aid for International Development, Sweden International Development Agency, and United States Aid for International Development (USAID). The program is aimed on providing assistance to the socio-economic recovery of the conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.