Mindanao Trust Fund1 Progress Report Number 402 Quarter: October to December 2015 MTF Milestones: A Year in Photos (1) Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) print publication and electronic release, Cotabato City, April 2015; (2) 11th Implementation Support Mission, Maguindanao and Davao 1 2 3 Regions, April 2015; (3) BDP Communications Workshops, Davao City and Metro Manila, May 2015; (4) BDP presentation at the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Makati City, May 2015; (5) PLEDGE Enterprise Training Graduation Ceremony, 4 Barangay Koronadal Proper, Polomok, South Cotabato, August 2015; (6) MTF website release, Fort Bonifacio Global, September 10 2015; (7) Signing of the Institutional Strengthening Agreement 5 Program, Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, September 2015; (8) Rollout of the business and asset management and financial literacy trainings for the 30 People’s 9 Organizations, BDA Regional Offices, September to November 8 7 6 2015; (9) Rollout of the BDP internal and local community roadshows, BDA Regional Offices, September to December 2015; (10) 12th Implementation Support Mission, Maguindanao, Compostela Valley, and Lanao del Sur, November 2015 Introduction 1. Highlights in the October to December 2015 period (e) the 17th Steering Committee Meeting approves include: (a) capacity-building training completed for community development and livelihood assistance 150 People’s Organization officers (POs) under the for the Six Acknowledged MILF Camps, communities July-December Institutional Strengthening Agreement in the influence area of the 25 MILF Base Camps and (ISA)3, (b) Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) ten mixed communities across Mindanao, and (f) the communications roadshow conducted in eight PO Convention, which was the first congregation of provinces, (c) BDP master list of programs and projects all 30 POs to discuss best management and financial refined and validated, (d) Implementation Support practices, as well as highlight the diverse cultural Mission reviews project progress in 10 communities, identities of MTF beneficiaries across the six regions. 1 The Mindanao Trust Fund is a mechanism for development partners to pool resources and coordinate their support for peace and development in Mindanao. The Mindanao Trust Fund-Reconstruction and Development Program supports four activities: (i) CDD/CDR; (ii) the Program for Local Economic Development through Enhanced Governance and Grassroots Empowerment (PLEDGE); (iii) operational costs for the Project Management Team of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front for the Sajahatra Bangsamoro program; and (iv) the Bangsamoro Development Plan. 2 The MTF Progress Reports are quarterly reports from the MTF Secretariat that consolidate the reports of the Bangsamoro Development Agency and the three Trust Fund Recipients, Community and Family Services International, Mindanao Land Foundation and the International Labour Organization as well as updates on the Bangsamoro Development Plan and Sajahatra Bangsamoro. The Report is distributed within two months after each quarter in order to allow time for information from the field to reach the MTF Secretariat. 3 The ISA program ran from July to December 2015. The third quarter of 2015 focused on BDA planning and coordination of ISA trainings, while the final quarter of 2015 saw to the implementation and completion of the two sets of management and financial trainings, two business exposure trips, and one convention. 1 2. Below is the summary of activities in the final quarter CDD/CDR. The completion of 140 subprojects under of 2015: PPA4 in June 2015 benefited 127,847 beneficiaries in 65 barangays. The six-month Institutional Secretariat. The MTF Secretariat reviewed Strengthening Agreement (ISA) program enhanced implementation of CDD/CDR, ISA, PLEDGE, the technical skills of 300 BDA staff in operations, Sajahatra Bangsamoro, and the BDP during the 12th communications, and financial management to Implementation Support Mission (ISM) from November improve service delivery on the ground. Through ISA, 23-27. Accompanied by representatives from the BDA helped strengthen 30 POs across six regions in European Union (EU), Australia and the Office of the better management and financial practices to increase Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), the revenue potential of their income-generating the 5-day field visit in 10 communities focused subprojects such as level II and III water systems, farm primarily on activities under the PLEDGE community equipment, and pre- and post harvest facilities. enterprise development component. While the mission reported that implementation progress was PLEDGE. The MTF Steering Committee approved picking up, concerns remain about the sustainability of a 10-month, USD 378,119 extension to PLEDGE. community enterprise groups. Action plans are being This will focus on increasing the viability of the designed to address this concern over a 10-month 42 enterprises. In 2016, the International Labour extension to PLEDGE from January-October 2016. Organization (ILO) and BDA will closely coach, monitor, and connect the POs to appropriate business The Secretariat facilitated the 17th Steering Committee markets. Currently, four enterprises in Barangay Meeting, which was co-chaired by Secretary Teresita Koronadal Proper, Polomolok, South Cotabato are Deles of OPAPP, BDA Chair Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan in business operation, while Barangay Mamaanun, and World Bank Country Director, Motoo Konishi. Piagapo, Lanao del Sur has completed enterprise Dubbed by Secretary Deles as “the most important training. The remaining nine communities are meeting in the history of the MTF,” the meeting procuring equipment and tools ahead of training in the approved a 10-month extension to PLEDGE, plus first quarter of 2016. community development and livelihood activities for the Six Acknowledged MILF Camps, communities in Operational Support to the Sajahatra Bangsamoro the influence area of the 25 MILF Base Camps and ten Program Project Management Team (PMT). Support mixed communities across Mindanao. This evolution for the MILF’s PMT for Sajahatra Bangsamoro closed in in the MTF assistance is closely aligned with the November. As the first joint peace and development strategic priorities of the parties for implementation initiative between the Philippine Government and of normalization aspects of the Comprehensive the MILF, Sajahatra successfully delivered health, Agreement on the Bangsamoro. education, and livelihood assistance to nearly 50,000 people in the proposed Bangsamoro territory. Figure 1. Status of PPA4 Subprojects per Region (as of 31 December 2015) 2 During the period, the MTF Secretariat completed a 5. Immediate and corrective action to address possible Lessons Learned report on the Sajahatra Bangsamoro risk of water contamination in MTF communities. experience. The previous ISM identified the risk of water contamination due to aerial spraying of an adjacent Bangsamoro Development Plan. BDA completed a banana plantation in Barangay Tagdanua, Pantukan, BDP roadshow in eight provinces in Mindanao. The Compostela Valley. In response, the BDA identified activity reached nearly 2,500 Muslims, Christians, all MTF-financed sites in the vicinity of plantations and IPs with the objective of raising awareness, subject to aerial spraying. With the assistance of the understanding and eventually support for the Plan’s MTF Secretariat’s environmental specialist, water implementation among grassroots communities. The samples were taken from Barangay Tagdanua and MTF also funded the refinement and validation of BDP Barangay Pangi, Talomo, Davao del Sur, and sent for priority programs and projects, which will later serve testing in Quezon City. The test results indicated that as a development guide for the Philippine government the water source remains safe. This will require annual and international donors. In 2016, the BDA will focus monitoring to ensure zero contamination. on a national communications campaign to maintain interest and support for the Plan, as well as present the 6. Expanding CDD/CDR to more communities, final master list of programs and projects to national targeting diverse and vulnerable groups. To meet and regional stakeholders. high community expectations after the signing of the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the MTF Steering Committee approved Progress vis-à-vis Intermediate Outcomes USD 7.3 million in assistance for at least 66 new communities in Mindanao. Support for communities A. CDD/CDR in the influence area of the 25 MILF Base Camps, the Six Acknowledged MILF Camps and ten mixed 3. Subprojects (SPs) fully utilized by communities. Six communities will fund community-driven programs months after the close of PPA4, 140 subprojects were to provide better access to basic services, increase completed in 65 barangays across 21 municipalities livelihood and employment potentials, build capacities in Mindanao. This benefitted 127,847 people, of the Bangsamoro people, and foster social cohesion half of whom are women (see Annexes 1 and 2)4. in diverse and vulnerable communities. This will Under PPA4 Cycle 3, 64 out of 66 subprojects were benefit at least an additional 75,000 people. The formally turned over to communities (See Figure 1). program will also provide technical assistance to the One barangay5 was dropped due to an issue with Philippine Government and the MILF to design the the Barangay Chair, while the community center operational structure of a program