Some former young combatants and children of Mujahideen undergo intensive cooperative governance and management training of the Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) in Cotabato City from May 27 to 31, 2024. (Photo courtesy of BYC)
COTABATO CITY—Former young combatants and children of Mujahideen are now equipped and ready to operate their cooperatives after undergoing intensive cooperative governance and management skills training from May 27 to 31, 2024.
Under the Special Development Fund Project of the Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC), these youth groups are beneficiaries of the Youth Reintegration Program (YRP), also known as the Positive Peace Project (3Peace).
The beneficiaries were carefully selected from the 10 camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) across the Bangsamoro region.
These camps include Camp Omar, Datu Anggal Midtimbang in Maguindanao del Sur; Camp Badr, Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte; Camp Bushra, Butig in Lanao del Sur;
Camp Bilal, Munai in Lanao del Norte; Camp Husni, Tipo-Tipo in Basilan; Camp Jannatul Ma’wah, Omar in Sulu; Camp Sofia, Simunul in Tawi-Tawi; Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat in Maguindanao del Norte; Camp Ebrahim, Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte; and Camp Rajahmuda, Pikit, in Special Geographic Areas.
The five-day training, facilitated by BYC and the Cooperative and Social Enterprises Authority (CSEA), provided essentials of cooperative operation and management through various learning sessions, workshops, and simulation activities.
One of the YRP’s key components is the formation of cooperatives that will operate in their respective camps.
In December 2023, 200 beneficiaries completed technical-vocational skills training and were awarded approximately 14 million pesos in seed grants to fund their selected business operations.
BYC Chairperson Marjanie Macasalong said, “Through the project, BYC aims to foster the positive transformation of former young combatants and the sons and daughters of Mujahideen, facilitating their meaningful reintegration into society.”
He added, “The project’s outcomes will help shape policy actions and development agendas that the Commission will champion.”
Meanwhile, another phase of the training will be held in Zamboanga City for beneficiaries from camps in the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. (Kasan Usop, Jr./BIO with reports from BYC)
