The Government of the Philippines (GPH) Peace Implementing Panel (PIP) Chairperson and Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Mel Senen S. Sarmiento led a community engagement and project site visitation on July 16 in Camp Badre, Guindulungan, Maguindanao del Sur.
The activity was carried out by the Joint Task Forces on Camp Transformation (JTFCT) together with its peace partners, which included the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), Community and Family Services International (CFSI), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and other stakeholders under the Normalization Track of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).
The visit highlighted how multi‑stakeholder interventions in Camp Badre have transformed the MILF camp into a peaceful, resilient, and economically productive community.
Among the initiatives showcased in Camp Badre were:
The warehouse with solar dryer facility and the Multi-Purpose Business Center implemented by CFSI and BDA in 2023 under the Bangsamoro Camps Transformation Project (BCTP);
The bakery and food processing technology which was temporarily housed in the warehouse facility. This project was implemented in 2024 by DOST under the Science for Peace Program (Phase I) and in partnership with OPAPRU through its peace mechanism JTFCT. Also presented were the ZamPen Native Chicken Production Technology and Halal Hito/Catfish Production and the Solar‑Powered Water System; and
A health facility and a building for Alternative Learning System (ALS) which implemented by CFSI and BDA in 2019 under the Mindanao Trust Fund – Reconstruction and Development Project Phase (MTF-RDP/2) and administered by the World Bank
These interventions form part of the broader Camps Transformation Program, which integrates infrastructure, livelihood, and education projects to sustain the gains of peace. They further demonstrate how the CAB’s normalization commitments are being translated into tangible peace dividends for conflict‑affected communities.
Secretary Sarmiento emphasized the importance of recognizing the needs of the community as he addressed the community and peace partners, “Let’s make it very simple. Itanong natin sa kanila– Ano ang nakikita nila sa lugar na ito 50 years from now? Kahit umpisahan natin sa 20 years from now. Ano ba ang nakikita natin? Kung ang vision ng (mga) tao dito gawing agro-industrial center, hindi na camp transformation yon. Palitan natin ng from camp to agro-industrial township.”
He shared and encouraged peace partners to envision and realize the concept of township. “The concept of township is that, malapit lang ang iyong tinitirahan, malapit lang ‘yung place of worship, ‘yung mosque, malapit lang yung lahat (na) kumpleto na,” he added.
He reiterated to make a plan before implementing projects. “Ayokong masayang ang pera ng gobyerno. Kaya i-drowing natin ang plano and pagkasunduan kung ito ba ang kailangan ng community. Kahit abutin yan ng sampu o bienteng taon, basta may plano tayo, alam natin kung saan tayo pupunta,” Sarmiento said
Camp Badre is among the six previously-acknowledged MILF camps.
Also joining Sarmiento were OPAPRU Senior Undersecretary Jonathan Miano; OPAPRU Presidential Assistant Noel Baraceros; GPH JTFCT Co-Chairs Engr. Baintan Adil-Ampatuan and LtGEN. Danilo Pamonag (ret); MILF JTFCT camp coordinator Sheik Bashir Abdulbayan; GPH JTFCT Camp Coordinator and 601st Brigade Commander BGEN Edgar L Catu PA; OPAPRU Executive Director for Bangsamoro Transformation Cesar De Mesa; MILF-PPO Head and GPH-PIP Secretariat Director Leila Halud; MILF JTFCT head secretariat Mohaimen Usman, DOST 12 Regional Director Sammy Malawan and Provincial Director Michael Mayo; BDA Inc. Project Coordinator for BCTP 2 Kadafy Sinulinding; Guindulungan municipal mayor Guiadzali Midtimbang; Barangay Datalpan Chairperson Kaharudin Midtimbang; community peaceworkers from DOST, CFSI, and BDA, leaders of various peace mechanisms under the Peace Implementing Panel.
This engagement reflects genuine progress toward lasting peace and highlights the unity of the Government of the Philippines, the MILF, and local government partners in advancing the normalization commitments under the CAB. (PR)
