Twenty units of corn sheller and a water system (Level II) were turned over on June 28, 2015 for two indigenous people (IP) communities in South Upi, Maguindanao under the Mindanao Trust Fund-Reconstruction and Development Program (MTFRDP) implemented by Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA).

Water system (Level II) was formally received by Pandan Tri People Organization of Barangay Pandan in the said municipality.

Corn shellers were received by ROMONGAOB TRI-PEOPLE of Brgy. Romonggaob of the same town.

The turn-over ceremony served as the formal acceptance of community of the sub-projects implemented under the program.

During the ceremony, various sectors in the community were present such as the local government unit (LGU), women, tribal leaders, members of people’s organizations (PO) and community members.

Kutawato provincial chairman of BDA development catalyst, Abubakar S. Abas said that the project brought together everyone from different tribes and religion, which accordingly should be grateful about because it united the community towards peace and development.

In Brgy. Romongaob, Ben Aguil, executive assistant to the Mayor and Guimal Abdulrahman, municipal councilor represented the LGU of South Upi.

Among their inputs is for the PO to take care of the sub-project, to work together for the maintenance and sustainability of the project and allow everyone to benefit from the project.

Councilor Abdulrahman together with municipal chairman Halil Omar of Political Committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) described the project as dividends or product of peace negotiation between the government of the Philippines (GPH) and the MILF.

Esmail Dalgan of the MILF Tarbiyyah committee and Ustadza Maimona Dalgan of the MILF Social Welfare Committee (SWC) also attended the ceremony and expressed support to the project.

Engr. Jandatu Salik, representing BDA Central Management Office (CMO) expressed hope for the community to sustain and multiply the learning, trainings, and projects given to them for everyone to benefit from it.

Noraida Abdullah-Karim, deputy director for Mindanao operations of the Community and Family Services International (CFSI), a trust fund recipient of MTFRDP challenged the community and the LGU of South Upi to sustain the good reputation of their town.

“Media visit was held here because BDA and we trust your community, your good reputation, and your good record of handling projects. And we hope that you keep up the good work,” Abdullah-Karim added.

Accordingly, South Upi tops among the 36 municipalities in Maguindanao in terms of trust and confidence by other development organizations providing assistance and implementing projects to conflict affected areas.

“We believe that the cooperation and participation of all stakeholders made this project successful. We hope that after one year from now, when we returned, we will still see these projects in good condition, or you can even multiply these units, because it’s a good implication of success, “she further said.

PO president Jade Omar in expressed that it is as if “heaven is within reach” because of the happiness they feel as the received the project.

He expressed gratitude and stressed unity and taking seriously of the advices from earlier speakers.

Brgy. Romonggaob is previously received 6-unit corn sheller for cycle 1, and solar dryer with warehouse for cycle 2 implementation of the program.

Brgy. Pandan, on the other hand, received nine units of corn sheller for the cycle 1 while five units of solar dryer are still being constructed for cycle 3 of the program.

Both barangays are IP dominated communities with minority of Christian settlers and Muslim population.

Farming is the major source of income for many families in the said barangays.

Under the program, the community decide what project to put up based on the needs identified during the planning process facilitated to them by the BDA.

MTF-RDP employs a community driven-development (CDD) approach. It empowers the community members and charts their own development priorities responsive to the needs of their community.

Since launched in 2006, MTF-RDP had already reached a total of 496, 527 beneficiaries in 214 barangays and 75 municipalities across the six BDA regions.

MTF is a fund facility administered by the World Bank and is supported by various donors such as the European Union (EU), DFAT Australia (then AusAID), DFATD Canada (then Canadian International Development Agency ), New Zealand Aid for International Development (NZAID), Sweden International Development Agency (SIDA), and the United States Aid for International Development (USAID).