ICCMN Caravan Empowers Bangsamoro Communities, Reaffirms Commitment to Peace

THE Inter-Cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization (ICCMN) Caravan concluded on Friday, August 2, its successful run, bringing a wide array of government services to decommissioned Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants and their communities in Camp Abubakar and Camp Rajamuda.

The caravan, which is a testament to the collaborative spirit of various national government line agencies, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) ministries, and international partners, aimed to uplift the lives of the Bangsamoro people and strengthen the Bangsamoro peace process.

The caravan shall be conducted in three legs, covering the core barangays in MILF camps previously visited by ICCMN member agencies.

Camp Abubakar: An Array of Services

In Camp Abubakar, the caravan became a bustling hub of activity, providing medical services, PhilHealth registration, seedling distribution, animal health services, food packs, ICT equipment for students, PhilSys Registration, and birth registration.

The event also featured information booths on the national government’s Amnesty Program, military enlistment, worker organization registration, and peace and reconciliation initiatives.

The collaborative effort resulted in 701 individuals receiving medical consultations and medicine, four minor surgeries, 30 tooth extractions, 63 circumcisions, as well as 486 individuals receiving eye screenings with eyeglasses.

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) registered 1,500 individuals and awarded IDs to 17  decommissioned combatants. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) collectively distributed 12,050 seedlings, with the PLGU of the Province of Maguindanao del Norte also providing animal health services to 300 animals.

The PLGU likewise distributed 150 food packs, while the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) provided nutribuns and milk bars to 1,000 people. The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) awarded a school package consisting of 10 tablets and one computer to Abubakar Siddique Elementary School. The Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE) assisted six individuals in the process of registering worker’s associations. The PSA BARMM also provided PhilSys registration and birth registration to the community. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) offered information on enlistment and free haircuts for children. Explosive Ordnance Risk Education was also provided, while the Philippine National Police (PNP) gave information on recruitment and firearms registration.

In the meantime, the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation (TJR) body facilitated peace conversations with students and community members, fostering dialogue and understanding. The Local Amnesty Board provided information on amnesty and its application process, with one applicant completing their application on-site.

Bassir Dimauko, a local resident, expressed his gratitude to the ICCMN, saying, “Thank you to your colleagues for the free items they gave us.”

He also emphasized the caravan’s significance for those living far from the town proper, stating, “We are thankful to the government for bringing these services closer to us.”

Decommissioned MILF combatant Samsudin Dimasira also thanked the national government for the assistance he received, saying, “I used the initial ₱100,000 I received to support my children’s Arabic and English studies. The subsequent smaller amounts also went to their education at the madrasah. Thank you to the Philippine government for the assistance we received. Many thanks to OPAPRU and everyone who helped provide for us decommissioned combatants.”