USAID Activities in Maguindanao
as of March 2009

• Under the Barangay Infrastructure Projects (BIPs), USAID through the Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) has completed 140 BIPs in Maguindanao. These projects benefit around 342,500 residents.

• Under the GEM 3 Program, seven (7) are ongoing, and eleven (11) other projects are planned for the province.

• Under the Regional Impact Project (RIP), there are nine (9) RIPs completed in Maguindanao Province. USAID and MEDCo have provided preliminary concurrence for the Ladia Road Upgrading which is expected to benefit 2,000 residents is on the planning stage.

• Under the Alliance for Mindanao Off-Grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) program, USAID, in partnership with Mirant Philippines, has provided solar generated electricity for 79 remote and conflict affected barangays. The project also provided 32 streetlights to the communities and lighted 16 community centers, 29 schools electrified and have distance education facilities –13 of which were done under Solar Energy for Rural Electrification and Development (SERED) and installed 18 public calling offices.

Economic Growth

• Under the Business Support Organizations (BSO) activity in Maguindanao, the Metro Cotabato Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (MCCCIFI) provides business services such as business referrals and promotions, networking with LGUs and other national agencies and sustains a databank on business information and loan facilities available to business enterprises in Central Mindanao. 

• Under GEM’s Targeted Commodity Expansion Program (TCEP)

Minfruit Council Intensifies Fruit Industry Promotion

• GEM-supported BSO, Minfruit Council, has intensified its fruit industry development efforts in the ARMM Area with the recent conduct of fruit techno-market seminars in Maguindanao and Sulu. About 180 farmers and LGU technicians attended the fruit seminar held in Maguindanao Province. The ARMM Fruit Forum sought to promote fruit production in key ARMM provinces through dissemination of updated production technologies, market information and linkages and strengthening of local fruit grower associations. The forum is being sponsored by the Minfruit Council in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF-ARMM), the Department of Agriculture (DA), concerned local government units (LGU) with co-funding and technical support from the GEM Program.


• Under GEM 3, ANI (Agri Nurture Inc.) was assisted in identifying and meeting with other prospective grower-suppliers in North Cotabato, Maguindanao, South Cotabato and Davao City. The series of meetings with prospective grower-suppliers culminated in the signing of several marketing agreements between ANI and three fruit grower groups during the 1st Minfruit Market Encounter held in Davao City on 31 July 2008.


• GEM also assisted a melon grower in Maguindanao to initially supply honeydew and cantaloupe melon (1.5 MT) to Angelland Merchandise in September. GEM also provided technical assistance to a group of melon growers in Cotabato and Maguindanao. GEM facilitated the market linkage between the Maguindanao growers and Angelland, a major distributor of fruits and vegetables to hotels, restaurants and resorts in Cebu.


• There are 646 former MNLF combatants in Maguindanao have been trained in catfish and tilapia production (in the municipalities of Ampatuan, Datu Montawal, Pagalungan and Talitay), in livestock production (Talitay, and in vegetable production (Buluan, and Datu Montawal). Of these, 486 are now producing and selling their produce.

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