Members of the media both local and national, print, TV and radio visited project sites of Mindanao Trust Fund-Reconstruction and Development Program (MTFRDP) currently implemented by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) for its on May 26, 2015 at barangays in Romongaob, South Upi and Ganta, Kabuntalan all in Maguindanao province.

The visit provided media partners an opportunity to interact with community beneficiaries and get their stories and experiences of the project highlighting the strong partnership between the government and the BDA as development arm of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“Through this, BDA thru the MTFRDP implementation shall tell the world of this significant development that is achieved thru collaboration of all parties involved. The media indeed can help us in this objective,” Dr. Mohammad Yacob, BDA executive director said.

In the visit, media partners were able to see the status of the sub-projects directly managed by the community through the people’s organization (PO).

They also interacted with the beneficiaries and hear straight from them of the impact of the project in their lives and their community. PO elaborated on how they manage and ensure sustainability of the project.

The PO members mentioned that thetrainings provided by the agency helped them develop their skills in sub-project management.

Some of the trainings they underwent included leadership skills, financial management, operation and maintenance, and values transformation training (VTT), a training that promotes importance of good values as foundation for self-development.

In Brgy. Romongaob, sub-projects were solar dryer with warehouse and farm machineries (corn shellers).

In Brgy. Ganta, sub-projects were water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) facilities (toilet), trading center and farm machineries (rice mill equipment).

Officials from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), World Bank and BDA also shared stories regarding their partnership and support in the implementation of the program.

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).

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.