Tire path project benefits mixed community, unites warring clans in Zambo Sur village

COTABATO CITY -- It is indeed true that road connects people, lives and resources.
It is a bridge towards development.

For the populace of Barangay Sambulawan, Dinas, Zamboanga del Sur, development has been felt since the
construction of a tire path implemented by the Bangsamoro Development Agency
(BDA) through the Bangsamoro Solidarity component of the Mindanao Trust Fund
Reconstruction and Development Program (MTFRDP).

The project was
formally turned over to the community of Barangay Sambulawan in ceremoniesattended by Dinas Municipal Mayor Felisito Ricky Chavez, Sangguniang Bayan
Members Mark Nian and Rambo Domingo, Chairman Daranda Butito, Political
Cahirman Naguib Mantolino, Barangay Captain Tuwag P. Lao and his council, BDA-
Regional Management Office (RMO) Staff headed by Engr. Ali L. Butongkay and
officers and members of Sambulawan Peoples Organization.

This 500-meter tire
path will benefit 5,593 individuals (48.10 percentmen and 51.90 percentfemale), Ramil
Casio, president of Sambulawan People’s Organization (SPO), said.

He added that the
500-meter tire path will help further improve access to basic services as
it complemented the previous 620-meter road also through BDA-MTFRDP which was
implemented in 2015.

This project is
really a big help for us in many aspects of our lives here in our barangay
because it will help reduce and or prevent the risks of accidents in the
community such as vehicular accidents caused by slippery and sometimes
impassable road, especially when it rains, Casio stated.

Agri-fishery
development

People in Barangay Sambulawan rely mainly on farming (rice, corn, coconut, sea weeds, among
others) and fishing.

Alfredo Corbita, PO
member accounted that transport of their crops to nearby market becomes better.

It has become easier
for us to transport our products to sell. Before, the only means of
transportation was a horse-drawn cart. We were paying 10 pesos for every kilo
of rice. Now, motorcycle can already access our community, transportation is
easier, less expenses and lesser time, Corbita said.

Benefit to women and
children

Women and children
also become the primary users of the tire path project. The project has
provided easier road in times of emergency for the residents of the community
especially for the women (e.g. giving birth).

For the children,
going to school is easier especially when it rains. They are no longer traversing
muddy and sticky road. They have better access to education, they are more
motivated and parents have fewer worries.

Bridging gap between
warring clans

Ali Butongkay, regional
of BDA Zamboanga Peninsula Region recalls the situation of their community
before the coming of BDA and the program.

Brgy. Sambulawan was
affected by the clan feud existing for many years before. When BDA implemented
project in 2016 in nearby barangay, the Sungayan, their staff passes through
Sambulawan so the people asked on how can they avail same project, Jamilon said.

Upon learning that
security and peace and order is among the criteria in site selection, the
barangay local government unit (LGU) then initiated to settle the conflict
through the help of the municipal LGU.

The Brgy. Sambulawan
was then considered as one of the community-recipients of BDA for the 4thProgram
Partnership Agreement (PPA4) of the MTFRDP implemented in 2013-2015.

Indeed, when there
is peace, there is development. Since the coming of this program, there was
peace and people started living harmoniously without fear of being affected by
the conflict, then life become prosperous, the community told.

Inclusivity

The completed tire
path project is implemented under the Bangsamoro Solidarity component of the
MTFRDP implemented by the BDA since January 2006 up to the present.

Bangsamoro Solidarity
is conceptualized to demonstrate inclusivity. It targeted mixed communities.

The Bangsamoro
Solidarity component is really intended for communities with mixed populace in
line with our principle of inclusiveness, and also because we are operating in
conflict-affected areas in Mindanao, reaching out communities even outside the
proposed Bangsamoro Core Territories, BDA Executive Director Mohammad S. Yacob
said.

Barangay Sambulawan with
1,004 populations is composed of 45% Maguindanaon, 50% Cebuano and 5% Subanen.

Implemented across
the regions of Davao, Southern Mindanao and Zamboanga-Peninsula, the program
has 26, 976 number of beneficiaries (48% male, 52% female in 10 tri people
communities).

Bangsamoro SOLIDARITY
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, Dir. Yacob said.

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

Bangsamoro SOLIDARITY
is implemented in partnership with the Mindanao Lanao Foundation as trust fund
recipient.

It is supported by
the Mindanao Trust Fund (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 Administrator and 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.