COTABATO CITY (December 21, 2023) — The Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) granted a total of ₱13.6 million in seed grants to 200 former young combatants and the sons and daughters of Mujahideen, aiming to support their positive reintegration and enhance socio-economic opportunities.
The awarding of the seed grants took place on Tuesday, December 19, during the technical-vocational skills graduation ceremony of the 200 beneficiaries of the Positive Peace Project, or 3Peace, held at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex, Bangsamoro Government Center, Cotabato City.
During his keynote speech, BYC Chairperson Marjanie Mimbantas Macasalong emphasized the Commission’s commitment to uplifting young people’s lives affected by violent conflicts.
“Their journey involves overcoming trauma, and their reintegration into a pluralistic society requires sustainable and innovative interventions,” he said.
Macasalong also highlighted that this initiative aligns with the broader efforts of the Bangsamoro Government in advancing youth development within the region.
“Our aim is not merely to reintegrate 200 young individuals into society, but to empower them as catalysts for positive change,” he affirmed.
“I firmly believe that this project will serve as an opportunity to transform the lives of our Mujahideen along with their families and become part of lasting peace and development,” Macasalong added.
The seed grants were allocated to 10 camp-based cooperatives, to be managed by the youth beneficiaries. Each cooperative received ₱600,000 as a capital, intended to bolster and sustain their cooperative and social enterprise initiatives.
3Peace is financed under BYC’s Special Development Fund (SDF) for 2021.
The Beneficiaries
A total of 200 former young combatants, sons and daughters of Mujahideen, and young individuals affected by violent conflict were selected as beneficiaries for 3Peace.
Following stringent criteria, they were chosen from the 10 major camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) located across the Bangsamoro region.
These camps include:
1. Camp Omar, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Maguindanao del Sur
2. Camp Badr, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte
3. Camp Bushra, Butig, Lanao del Sur
4. Camp Bilal, Munai, Lanao del Norte
5. Camp Husni, Tipo-Tipo, Basilan
6. Camp Jannatul Ma’wah, Omar, Sulu
7. Camp Sofia, Simunul, Tawi-Tawi
8. Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte
9. Camp Ebrahim, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte
10. Camp Rajahmuda, Pikit, Special Geographic Areas
Following the comprehensive selection process, the 200 beneficiaries, alongside camp officials, underwent a Rapid Area Assessment and Needs Analysis, which involved engaging in focus group discussions, conducting key informant interviews, and completing survey questionnaires.
The purpose of this activity was to collect pertinent data on the youths’ situations, ensuring that the project’s design is both meaningful and responsive to their needs and concerns.
Cooperative Building and Capacity Development
The Commission, in collaboration with the Cooperative and Social Enterprise Authority (CSEA), facilitated the establishment of camp-based cooperatives, to be spearheaded and managed by the youth beneficiaries.
Additionally, BYC and CSEA organized a series of Pre-Registration Seminars (PRS) to orient the beneficiaries with the fundamentals of cooperative management.
The following are the youth-led cooperatives formed under the project:
1. 117 Youth Consumers Cooperative of Camp Jannatul Ma’wah
2. Darapanan Youth Consumers of Camp Darapanan
3. Camp Kura-Kura Youth Consumers Cooperative of Camp Bilal
4. Bushra Youth Agri-Marketing Consumers Cooperative of Camp Bushra
5. Kangudaan Nu Bader Agricultural Consumers Cooperative of Camp Badr
6. Omar Agricultural Consumers Cooperative of Camp Omar
7. Makinogon Service Cooperative of Camp Ebrahim
8. Basilan People Consumer Cooperative of Camp Husni
9. Tawi-Tawi Young Combatant Consumers Cooperative Camp Sofia
10. Camp Rajahmuda Consumers Cooperative of Camp Rajahmuda
Additionally, the Commission, in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education – Technical Education and Skills Development (MBHTE-TESD), has provided the beneficiaries with training in technical-vocational skills. These skills encompass Bread and Pastry, Cookery, Dressmaking, and Agricultural Crops Production.
BYC also partnered with the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) to deliver values transformation training to the beneficiaries.
Project’s Policy Output
BYC, as a policy-making and coordinating agency for the youth, aims to extract pertinent policy actions and developmental agendas from the outcomes of this project. These outcomes will serve as foundational elements that the Commission will champion and advance across its coordinating bodies.
“This 3Peace is part of BYC’s mandate responsible for framing policies for the Bangsamoro youth,” emphasized Chairperson Macasalong. “This will be a gateway towards crafting policy briefs tailored for ministries, agencies, offices, and other vital entities in the Bangsamoro.”
Chairperson Macasalong, also a Bangsamoro Parliament member, stressed that these policy briefs, derived from documented data of former young combatants, will “provide insightful recommendations for intervention pathways closely aligned with the needs and aspirations of the former youth combatants.”
He envisions that support from his fellow Bangsamoro lawmakers will bolster the effectiveness of these initiatives, resulting in relevant and responsive policies catering to the youth.
BYC, as the lead policy-making, coordinating, and monitoring agency of the Bangsamoro Government in all matters affecting youth, provides leadership in formulating and initiating regional policies and plans, and in setting priorities and direction for youth promotion and development programs. (BYC PR Unit/KAA)
