Becoming self-reliant is this year’s vision of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA).

“We envision that BDA shall be self-sustaining, stand its own feet and continue to perform its mandate as development arm of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF),” Mohammad S. Yacob, BDA executive director said.

New priority programs

BDA will have new priority programs this 2015. It is noted that most the agency’s program with various development partners will end this year. This is also the best time to institutionalize the operation of the agency.

According to Director Yacob, all incoming programs and projects shall be aligned with the BDA transition thrusts. It is termed transition thrusts to make sure that BDA operation will be response to the Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) thematic areas.

Based on the MILF Central Committee resolution 001/10 series of 2014, it says that the BDA will continue to exist until the establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA). Then, it will be the BTA that will define what the role of the BDA will be in the transition period.

The BDA operation in pre-BTA period shall be aligned to the BDP flagship list.

Accordingly, the new BDA transition thrusts are: 1) agriculture, fisheries & forestry, and livelihood 2)private sector development 3) culture and tourism 4) public works (infrastructure) 5) public health ( health & nutrition, water, sanitation & health), and food security, 6) education and skills development, 7) social welfare, gender, youth, children and other vulnerable groups, 8) environment and natural resources, 9) climate change adaptation & disaster risk reduction & management (DRRM), 10) politics and governance, 11) capacity building and mobilization, and 12) peacebuilding and normalization.

Human resources sustainability plan

As BDA shifts to new priorities, major changes are expected for its staffing system. However, according to Yacob, the plan on mobilizing resources is relevant to cater to these changes as opportunities will be available. BDA will establish mechanism to keep its valued staff.

“Indeed, there are substantial changes that the agency will face this year because of the transition that is taking place from conflict situation to post-conflict situation,” Yacob explained. Inspite of that, Yacob assured the BDA family that there are better opportunities that shall be anticipated.

“The communities in the Bangsamoro core territories and its adjacent regions shall feel the peace dividends now. There is an urgency to make this happen to manage the rising expectations at the ground. BDA must be ready to take this crucial role”, he stressed.

Need for partners

While BDA is moving towards self-sustainability, it still believes that relief, reconstruction and development will be best achieved through collaborative efforts.

Accordingly, partners are always welcome by BDA so long as they are consistent with the agency’s strategic direction.

Getting ready for Bangsamoro government

Preparing for the Bangsamoro government has always been in the list of BDA. In fact, the above priorities are part of the agency’s gearing up for the new political entity.

“For the Bangsamoro government, we want to show that we are ready and this is through our capacity. Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) who will determine the role and identity of BDA will base their decision on our capacity, so we have these plans” Director Yacob ended.

BDA has been recently tasked by the MILF, over and above its original mandate, as development and donor coordinating unit until the BTA is established.