It was a festive Saturday for the Community members of two villages in Camp Omar as they finally received Development Projects in two consecutive turn-over ceremonies.
Barangay Tuayan in Datu Hoffer and Barangay Saniag in Ampatuan, Province of Maguindanao formally accepted the 1.12-Km One Lane Concrete Road and the Water System Level II projects, respectively, during the turn-over rites held morning and afternoon of February 16.
In the simple ceremony, a symbolic ribbon cutting took place in each of the project site. Officials and representatives from the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), Community and Family Services International (CFSI), Joint Task Forces on Camp Transformation (JTFCT), Local Government Units (LGUs), Barangay Local Government Units (BLGUs), People’s Organizations (PO), private contractors and others were also present.
The One Lane Concrete road amounting to Php 4,651,074.98 will pave the way for easy transportation of local products and convenient access for community populace, especially those with special needs like women and children. It was built under RNS Construction Engineering which serves as the contractor of the said project.
Barangay Tuayan Chairman Hon. Datu Abdulmoen Ampatuan delivered his welcome message by acknowledging all guests for their presence. He promised to be more supportive in all activities involving the implementation. He concluded his speech by reminding the community to use the project properly.
“I thank Allah for the implementers who serve as instruments in carrying-out the Project,” said Sakina Nabanding, Darul Wihda People’s Organization Treasurer of Barangay Tuayan in her acceptance speech. Sakina, speaking on behalf of their PO president reminds the community to be cooperative in every undertaking.
Noraida Abdullah Karim, Director for Mindanao Programmes of the CFSI invited the community to be more involved in projects in order to encourage more support. She ended her message by saying that the key to good governance and implementation is a good relationship between the leader and its members.
“The love of Allah in the community was actualized in this endeavour,” said TFCT Chairman Ustadz Zacaria Guma in his inspirational speech. He added, “the community should be grateful no matter how big or small the blessing.” He hopes that Camp Omar will not just be known as an MILF Camp, but as a developed Community.
Meanwhile, the water system which costs Php 1,388,427.60 was constructed under the service provider JJHAK Construction. The project aims to provide clean and potable water which is safe for the health of the recipients. Also, since tap stands are situated adjacent to households, it will help the community ease the distance when fetching some water.
“We thank all the implementers who’ve made this project possible,” said Hadji Norodin Baguinda, United Bangsamoro Farmer Association PO President of Barangay Saniag in his acceptance speech. “I hope this is not the end of our strong relationship. I pray to Allah that there’s more to come,” he concluded.
Datu King Magelna, Municipal Engineer of Ampatuan imparted the good news from the Municipal Mayor Datu Rasul Sangki that apart from this project, the LGU will add more additional top stands.
Hadji Olem Hassan, TFCT Co-Chairman also reminded the community to be of good citizens especially that there’s a new government in the form of BARMM. “I hope everyone will have a good relationship with each other with the projects now in our hands,” he said.
Said projects are in line with the implementation of the Mindanao Trust Fund- Reconstruction and Development Project Phase 2 (MTF-RDP/2), a program implemented through the project partnership agreement between BDA and CFSI. While the water system is funded through the Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF) and administered by the World Bank, the road project is supported by the Spanish Cooperation for International Development (AECID).
The MTF-RDP/2 implementation is in accordance with the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB). Its objective is to empower communities in identified conflict-affected areas to achieve improved access to socio-economic infrastructures and alternative learning systems.
It also includes transforming the communities in the six previously acknowledged camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) such as Camp Abubakar as-Siddique, Camp Badre, Camp Bilal, Camp Bushra, Camp Omar and Camp Rajamuda into peaceful and productive communities.
The MTF finances the program with the donors such as the European Union, the government of Sweden, Australia, Canada, United States, New Zealand and the World Bank. The World Bank also functions as Trust Fund Administrator and Secretariat.
In support for the objectives of the MTF-RDP/2, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) provided complementary assistance directly to CFSI through the project referred to as “Supporting Access to Basic Services and Building Institutional Capacity in Conflict Affected Areas in Mindanao.”