BDAand Aid to farmers in C. Mindanao to increase productivity, income

PIGCAWAYAN, North Cotabato -- You gave us a tree and you taught us how to nurture
it to bear more fruits. This is how Lengan Bitali, president of Cabpangi
Integrated Farmers Association of Barangay Cabpangi, Pigcawayan, North Cotabato
described his feelings for the project they received from
Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) through the Bangsamoro Assistance for
Development and Community Empowerment (Bangsamoro ADVANCE) component of the
Mindanao Trust Fund Reconstruction and Development Program (MTFRDP).

Bitali delivered his acceptance speech during the
Turn-over Ceremony of the Solar Dryer with Warehouse Sub-project last week.

The event was graced by officials from the European
Union, one of the and is the biggest donor of the Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF)
supporting the program the World Bank, Community and Family Services
International (CFSI), MILF Implementing Panel, Political Committee, Tamontaka
Builders, officials from BDA, the Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU) of
Cabpangi and community members.

In Barangay Muti in
Guindulungan, Maguindanao, the project which will benefit a total 2, 892
individuals was formally turned over on Feb.21.

Slah S. Kamsa, president of
Muti Farmers Association said that the project will contribute more to the
community of the said barangay.

This will really help the
people of Muti specially that majority of the people living here in our
barangay are farmers. It is a big help in drying our crops and we now have
storage area for those crops, Kamsa stated.

Abdulrasheed Ambil, BDA-Central Mindanao regional manager, expressed the importance of the project to beneficiaires. I saw how essential this
project is. This is the first solar dryer with warehouse project implemented in
this barangay. It is less expensive considering that they do not need to go in
neighbouring places anymore just to dry their crops, Ambil said.In Barangay Katibpuan,
Talayan, also in Maguindanao the project with 4,650 total number of recipients
was handed over on Feb. 22.

Image may contain outdoor sand//scontent.fceb2-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/16865226_1632487070111037_437403346674341036_n.jpg?oh=bbe85bf5c242aee22dbb8ab9cef8447bandampoe=59397C6A (P2-M worth of solar dryer with warehouse project of the Bangsamoro
Development Agency (BDA) to benefit 4,650 individuals in Barangay Katibpuan,
Talayan, Maguindanao.) Program stakeholders who
helped in the success of the projects attended the turn-over ceremonies. They
were from the barangay and municipal Local Government Unit (LGU), the MILF Political
Committee (PolCom), Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) and BDA staff both
from the Central Management Office (CMO) and Regional Management Office (RMO).

Farmers in the barangays of
Panosolen in Gen. SK Pendatun, Puya in Datu Paglas, Upper Idtig in Paglat, Kakal in
Ampatuan all in Maguindanao province and in Brgy. Pamotolen, Kalilangan,
Bukidnon are also recipients of farm facilities which will formally handed to
them this March 2017.

The same project will also
be realized for the farmers in Barangay Tran, Lebak, Sultan Kudarat which
turnover is on March 1, 2017.

This
support to farmers in Central Mindanao is under the Bangsamoro ADVANCE program
managed by BDA and is being implemented in 49 communities under the influenced
areas of the MILF Base Commands across the BDA six regional clusters (Central Mindanao, Southern Mindanao, Davao, Ranaw,
Zamboanga-Peninsula, Zamboanga-Basilan) and two island provinces of Tawi-Tawi
and Sulu.

Bangsamoro ADVANCE with
total with 202,461 beneficiaries, is a program conceptualized in support to
confidence building measures of the GPH- MILF as provided in the Comprehensive
Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB). This was also in respond to the clamour from the
communities especially on the implementation of basic services including
livelihood opportunities.

This
project demonstrates
thecontinuing commitment of both the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Government of the Philippines (GPH) in
pursuing peace and development in the Bangsamoro, and in Mindanao in
general, BDA Executive Director Mohammad S. Yacob said.

It also
demonstratesthe
enduring support of donors in helping the BDA promote socio-economic recovery in
the conflict affected areas in Mindanao, Yacob added.

Bangsamoro ADVANCE is implemented in partnership with the
Community and Family Services International (CFSI) and is supported by the MTF
with various donors such as the European Union, the government of Sweden,
Australia, Canada, United States, New Zealand and the World Bank which also
serves as trust fund secretariat.

MTF has been
supporting BDA since 2006 reaching 127, 031 beneficiaries thru 140 sub-projects
implemented in 65 barangays of 21 municipalities across the BDA six regions as
of 2015.

BDA is a development
agency established in 2002 in accordance with the Humanitarian and
Rehabilitation Aspect of GPH-MILF Tripoli Agreement of June 2001.