The website of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) is formally launched today, 15 March 2013. This is supported by the European Union (EU) through the International Monitoring Team-Humanitarian, Rehabilitation and Development Component (IMT-HRDC).

It aims to showcase significant endeavors and interventions for the Bangsamoro. It also aims to communicate with key partners/concerned stakeholders its accomplishments and milestones in line with its mandate to determine, lead and manage relief, rehabilitation, and development in the conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.

“As it pledges anew to continue its commitment to serve the Bangsamoro and carry its development efforts to new heights, it is high time to take solid and unprecedented steps to strengthen its capacity to transcend the boundaries between places and regions and expand its reach to a wider community. Towards this end, a strong web presence and online identity will help BDA build stronger and solid partnerships with different development catalysts and partners, both locally and internationally”, said Dr. Saffrullah M. Dipatuan, BDA Chairman.

“I consider it a great honor and distinct privilege to serve the Bangsamoro, and this website is another shining achievement - a giant leap - towards fulfilling the agency’s mandate and our aspiration of making it purely transparent, accessible, accountable, and responsive”, he added.

Shiek Mohammad S. Yacob, BDA Executive Director, elaborated that through this website, development partners can easily get information about BDA especially on the program updates, project milestones and important accomplishments to the conflict affected areas in Mindanao. Publications and news about significant events will be published regularly and in a timely manner.

The establishment of the BDA website was made possible through the technical assistance from Mr. Victor Sapar, ICT Consultant, under the supervision of Dr. Rena Korber, Coordinator of the IMT-HRDC.

BDA has successfully emerged as a reliable development arm of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in determining and implementing a considerable number of humanitarian, rehabilitation and development projects in the conflict-affected areas in Mindanao in partnership with reputable development partners such as the World Bank-led Mindanao Trust Fund Reconstruction and Development Program (MTF-RDP), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan Embassy, UNICEF, Australian Aid, The Asia Foundation (TAF), UN World Food Program, United Nation Development Program (UNDP), Malaysian Technical Cooperation Program (MTCP) and others.