Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF) representatives formally handed over three sets of solar dryers and warehouses and three rice mills along with 10 tap stands to 5,415 beneficiaries in three villages in Camp Bad’r last March 22, 2017. Other than the PhP 9.6 million infrastructure support, about 267 beneficiaries who are mostly widows and Indigenous People were provided cattle, dressmaking training and equipment, as well as informal education to help boost income and better the chances for gainful employment. The livelihood support provided in Camp Bad’r is estimated at PhP 4.7 million.

Formed by the Philippine Government and the MILF with a PhP 90 million assistance from the Mindanao Trust Fund, the Camps program is part of the confidence-building measure on the Annex on Normalization in the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. To date, over 68,000 beneficiaries in 31 conflict-affected communities in the Six Acknowledged Camps have benefited from 58 infrastructure, livelihood and Alternative Learning System projects.

Leading the MTF delegation were Mohammad Salid, MILF Central Committee representative; Mr. Anuas Hadjiserad, MILF Project Board member; Mr. Mat Kimberley, Chargé d'Affaires, a. i and Mr. Timothy Smith, First Secretary from the Australian Embassy in the Philippines; Mr. Edoardo Manfredini, Program Manager of the European Union to the Peace Process in Mindanao; and Mara Warwick, Country Director of the World Bank, Philippines.