.5M people benefit from multi-donor program for conflict-torn areas in Mindanao

“.5M people benefit from multi-donor program for conflict-torn areas in Mindanao” was first published in the MindaNews on May 27, 2015.

By Ferdinandh B. Cabrera/MindaNews

COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/27 May) — Some 500,000 people in 214 conflict-affected villages in Mindanao have been reached by a multi-donor program in support of the peace process since 2006.

The program was launched in response to the request of the Philippine government in 2002 to organize a Mindanao trust fund to support the peace process.

Since 2006, the fund has provided P1.3 billion for projects like roads, water supply systems, sanitation facilities and livelihood programss for farmers, according to Matthew Stephens, World Bank-Mindanao Trust Fund (WB-MTF) program manager, said Tuesday.

“These projects are what the people wanted and suggested to achieve peace in the community,” Stephens said.

The program has reached at least 500,000 people in 214 villages in 75 municipalities in 12 provinces, he added.

Perlita Laogan, of barangay Romangaob in South Upi, Maguidanao, said she is among those who have benefited from the project through a post-harvest facility that enables them to dry their crops faster.

She recalled that before they only had tarpaulins on which to dry their corn and palay.

“But now it’s far different. We save a lot of money and time waiting for our products to be sold,” she said.

In Sitio Tuka, Barangay Ganta, Kabuntalan, Maguindanao, the projects include a trading center and 10 public toilets built in different areas.

Rahima Samba said they used the Pulangi River as their huge “toilet”, a practice that endangered the health of residents especially children.

She said the toilets have also helped the residents observe proper hygiene and sanitation.

The MTF also provided capacity-building support to the Bangsamoro Development Authority, which aims to produce the Bangsamoro Development Plan, a comprehensive economic blueprint for the proposed Bangsamoro territory.

The MTF pools money from the European Union, the governments of Sweden, Australia, US, Canada and New Zealand and the World Bank to support the projects.