The Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) took another step forward as it adopts online system for its payroll system. This officially started in May 2015 piloting with staff under the Mindanao Trust Fund-Reconstruction and Development Program (MTF-RDP).

Hamodi Tiboron, BDA finance head said that the system will apply for all BDA staff under other programs within this June.

Accordingly, this initiative is part of the continuing objectives of BDA towards institutionalization.

He related the challenges in coming up with this system that he believed significant development in the institutional growth of BDA.

“Many thought that it was impossible because of BDA’s peculiar identity, we are neither a non-government organization (NGO) nor a government agency as we drew our legal personality from the international treaty which is the GRP-MILF Tripoli Agreement of Peace on 2001. But we made it now,” Tiboron said.

Through this online system, processing of personnel salaries is simplified. Security for staff is improved since on-hand cash is prevented.

According to Tiboron, an application for online payroll was signed by BDA and was confirmed by the Metro Bank for this electronic system.

BDA have been strengthening its financial division beginning in 2013 towards the goal of transparency through sound and excellent fiscal management that were being applied already.

Significant achievements of the division includes enhancement of financial manual, re-structuring, use of accounting software like quick books that speeds up financial processes, online payroll system, and among others.

BDA is currently managing programs on MTF-RDP, Program for Local Economic Development through Enlightened Governance and Grassroots Empowerment (PLEDGE) and Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) project administered by the World Bank, Tahderiyyah program with components on education, child protection and water, sanitation and health (WaSH) supported by DFAT Australia (then AusAid) and United Nations’ Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Community Development in Conflict Affected Areas (CD-CAAM) supported by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and Orphanage Care with Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH).