BDA Board of Directors and staff and key representatives from ISEDI and DAP taking a pose during the Assessment of the initial implementation of the Management Development Program

Assessment result of the series of trainings implemented by the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and Institute for Socio-Economic Development Initiatives (ISEDI)-Ateneo de Davao University from January to March 2013 was presented to the Board of Directors of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) on March 15, 2013 at Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao City.

These trainings are part of the ongoing Mindanao Development Program supported by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Four (4) trainings were implemented by DAP and managed by ISEDI, such as: 1) Personal Peak Performance, 2) Strategic Management, 3) Operations Planning, and 4) Budget and Financial Management. The first two trainings were held at DAP Conference Center in Tagaytay City last January 2013 while the other two trainings were held at El Bajada Hotel, Davao City on February 2013. These trainings were participated by BDA Board of Directors, Executive Director, Central Management Office Division Heads and BDA Regional Managers.

ISEDI, on the other hand, implemented two batches of Project Cycle Management (PCM) trainings and two batches of Basic Business Skills trainings. Both were held in Davao City from January to February 2013. On March 8-9, 2013, Orientation on Local Development Planning was held at Waterfront Hotel with Philippine Government’s Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Ms. Millet Ty, ISEDI Project Team Leader, presented that some of the recommendations on how to move forward were: 1) Linking Training Programs & other capacity building programs with CHED’s Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) and 2) Basic Orientation to Local Development Planning for BDA should include training on collaboration with LGUs and partners to facilitate planning and implementation of development programs and projects.

Dr. Saffrullah M. Dipatuan, BDA Chairman, responded that “Partners who work with BDA in the implementation of Management Development Program help transcend prejudices and biases against the Bangsamoro”. He said that “it is very challenging to confront prejudices and biases because you cannot turn away with it”.

Dr. Dipatuan further said that “our partnership with JICA, DAP, ISEDI, OPAPP and others are very valuable”.

“We are very thankful to DAP for bringing in the best faculty members to ensure that BDA received the best knowledge, skills and attitude that are highly material to prepare the BDA in facing the greater challenges ahead”, Dr. Dipatuan added.

Present during the activity were Ms. Magdalena Mendoza, DAP Senior Vice President; Maricris Valte, DAP Program Director; Ms. Jocelyn Calbo, ISEDI Executive Director; Mr. Howard Cafugawan, OPAPP Undersecretary; Mr. Eric dela Torre, OPAPP Director, Uz. Mohammad S. Yacob, BDA Executive Director and BDA Board of Directors.