The Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) welcomed five staff from one month study abroad during the general staff at the central management office in Cotabato City on January 4, 2015.

Engr. Ismail Guiamel, Rural Infrastructure Engineer (RIE) of the Community Development in Conflict Affected Areas in Mindanao (CD-CAAM)Project implemented by BDA underwent training in Japan under the Rural Development Training Program supported by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on November 19-December 20, 2014.

Guiamel went through trainings on road network planning, planning of highways and bridges, and on road maintenance and management.

Together with other representatives from 15 countries, Guiamel participated in series of lectures and sites visits that introduces technologies on road administration such as intelligent transport system (ITS), expressways, disaster prevention measure for road network like earthquakes, and others.

Serjan Badal, Zaida Dimacisil, Nahea Mohammad and Moniesa Husain underwent study training in Turkey as part of the country’s program on “assistance to selected Bangsamoro communities” on November 26- December 26, 2014. They were exposed to various programs that included office works, database management, orphanage visits, meeting with government officials, and among others.

Their study was sponsored by the Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH), a humanitarian relief foundation in Turkey.

BDA is currently in partnership with JICA for the CD-CAAM Project. It also partners with IHH beginning in 2014 through the Qurban Program.

Participation in short-term courses and trainings abroad in partnership with various development partners is part of the agency’s goal to develop a critical mass of trained, enabled and productive stewards that shall keep the Bangsamoro communities moving forward. It is also in line with the agency’s slogan that goes “building people who will the nation”.

BDA staff who underwent scholarships and fellowship programs in and outside the country are expected to share their learnings and acquired knowledge, and impart their skills to BDA. Further, they shall render services to the Bangsamoro.