Members of the local government unit (LGU) of Sultan Mastura in Maguindanao expressed continuous commitment towards the sustainability of the Community Development in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao (CD-CAAM) projects during the 1^st MLGU updating on November 19, 2015 at the municipality’s town hall.

The activity was facilitated by program staff of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) – Central Mindanao for CD-CAAM project headed by Engr. Abdulwahid Sendad, regional coordinator.

Mayor Rauf Mastura, CPA, said that they are very grateful to be one of the chosen municipalities for CD-CAAM Project.

He added that they are further enlightened with the progress and accomplishments of the project that BDA presented to them during the activity.

“I know it is quiet challenging on the part of MLGU to sustain the project on a well-balance approached among our constituents, but with the groundwork that BDA has been extending to our beneficiaries specifically on values transformation, we can do it in shaa ALLAH through our collective efforts,” Mayor Mastura further stated.

Engr. Rolando Guanzon, head, municipal planning and development council shared: “I was amazed with the progress and accomplishments of CD-CAAM Projects in our place. It gave honor to our municipality”.

He added that “we became a role model to other municipalities who already visited the project sites to study. We thank Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), BDA and ICNet for that. You are all winners for the success of CD-CAAM”.

Engr. Guanzon commended that strengthening of Values Transformation Training (VTT) program among the people is the key to sustainability of the project.

He then stated that the MLGU will formulate a separate program to monitor the sustainability of the project.

Accordingly, said meeting aimed to keep MLGU as one of the key stakeholders up to date on project status for a better and strong partnership. It bolsters LGU’s interest in and commitment to providing technical and financial support.

Also in attendance were Vice Mayor Julhani Tumbas, Jr. with his members in Sangguniang Bayan, Municipal Agricultural Officer Ibrahim Alimpang and representatives from IC Net limited and staff from BDA – Central Management Office (CMO).

Some of the major accomplishments presented were the Manuals on Community Development Guidelines; Vegetable Production & Marketing; Tilapia Fish Production, processing, and marketing; and Road Rehabilitation and Maintenance by Labor-Based Technology (LBT).

Those were all formulated during the pilot implementation of the project in this town and in Matungao, Lanao del Norte.

After the meeting, the participants went to different project sites in the municipality to witness the content of BDA Progress Report and personally talk to the beneficiaries.

CD-CAAM was piloted in March 2012 and currently on its extension phase which started in May 2015 until July 2016.

It is implemented by BDA with the ICNet as the service provider and funded by JICA.