Camp Rajamuda Turnover Ceremony, Barangay Rajamuda, Pikit, North Cotabato, March 7, 2017
Philippine Government, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF) representatives formally turned over a 84-meter footbridge and two warehouses and solar dryers as part of the confidence-building measure of the Bangsamoro peace process to over 7,000 beneficiaries from Barangays Talitay and Rajamuda in Camp Rajamuda, Pikit, North Cotabato. Chair of the GPH Peace Implementing Panel Irene Santiago and Professor Abhoud Syed M. Lingga, MILF Chair on the Task Force on Camps Transformation led the delegation. They also spearheaded the community discussion with some of the 280 widows, out-of-school youth and farmers who benefitted from the dressmaking, cattle dispersal and Alternative Learning System (ALS) projects.
The event was part of a series of handover ceremonies under the Camps program. Formed by the Government of the Philippines and the MILF with a PhP 90 million funding assistance from the MTF, the program provides 62 livelihood, infrastructure and adult literacy projects to over 68,000 beneficiaries in 31 conflict-affected communities within the Six Acknowledged MILF Camps to help transform these areas into peaceful and productive communities.
During the 15-month run which started in January 2016, 31 People's Organizations were trained to identify, manage and implement their projects. About 30 MILF representatives on the ground were also capacitated to lead in community facilitation. Many of the beneficiaries have reported improved livelihood and access to basic services, stronger capacities to manage their projects and better social unity among communities, as well as increased trust in the Government and MILF's commitment in fullfilling the promises of the Bangsamoro peace process.
Matthew Stephens, MTF Task Fund Manager of the World Bank; Emily Mercado, European Union Program Officer and Noraida Abdullah Karim, Community and Family Services International Deputy Director for Philippine Programme also attended the ceremony.