MILF: GPH, MILF sign TOR for MTF Project Board for 6 acknowledged MILF camps

From the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Website (Jun 5): GPH, MILF sign TOR for MTF Project Board for 6 acknowledged MILF camps



In an initiative to mobilize resources for the implementation of the Normalization process in accordance with the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Peace Panels signed the Term of Reference for the Project Board of the Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF) for the six previously acknowledged MILF camps at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on May 30 during the culmination of the two-day special meeting between the two Parties.

The six previously acknowledged MILF camps are to undertake activities transforming the surrounding areas into peaceful and productive communities and in order to achieve this, both national and international assistance is required.

The Parties agreed that the World Bank-managed MTF Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), a multi-donor facility will provide the assistance.

“MTF-RDP support is to be implemented this January to December 2016 in accordance with the rules and regulation of the World Bank and with technical assistance of Project Implementation Unit (PIU)- Community and Family Services International (CFSI)-the MTF RDP Camps Project will support confidence-building and the socio-economic recovery of conflict-affected communities in Mindanao,” stated in the TOR.

According to the TOR, the MTF-RDP Camps Project shall be guided by the GPH-MILF Panels and Joint Task Force on Camp Transformation (JTFCT), and its implementation shall have governing body, the Project Board.

The Project Board, which shall have two Co-chairs, one each from the GPH and the MILF, plus two members from the MILF and one secretary, will be supported by the MTF-RDP in its operations through the PIU.

The governing body, specifically, shall perform the following tasks: Set policies relevant to the successful implementation of the MTF-RDP Camps Project; Review and approval of the Work and Financial Plan; Review and approval of the Operations Manual;

Hold coordination meetings monthly, and/or as necessary; Provide guidance to the coordinators of the JTFCT in the six camps to ensure effective project implementation on the ground, including, among others, the identification of needs, project types and project sites;

Provide guidance and, where appropriate, support to CFSI as the PIUU to ensure timely and proper implementation of the MTF-RDP Camps Project, including appropriate coordination with other assistance provided in the camps (either from Government or other development partners; and Submit to the GPH-MILF Peace Panels regular updates on the project progress and completion.

Last January 6, the Department of Agriculture turned-over more than 25 million pesos worth of farm equipment and agricultural inputs to start the transformation of the six MILF acknowledged camps.

In the said occasion, DA Secretary Proceso Alcala pledged for capability-building support to Bangsamoro farmers to increase agricultural production in the said MILF camps and communities.

The GPH and MILF Peace Panels signed the CAB on Mach 27, 2014, as a negotiated political solution aimed at ending the armed hostilities between the state forces and Bangsamoro combatants.

An integral part of the CAB, the Annex on Normalization was signed by the same Parties on January 25, 2014.

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