After seven years of community driven development (CDD) program implementation in the conflict affected areas in Mindanao, the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) has grown up as an institution and has gained substantial experiences from the CDD pilot up to the 4^th program partnership agreement (PPA4) implementation based on Bangsamoro context. The BDA has several stories to tell that can be shared with the rest of the world.

The East Asia and Pacific Regional Conference on Community Driven Development held in Countryard Marriott Hotel, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia from October 29-November 1, 2013 is the best opportunity for the BDA to share its experiences, challenges and lesson learned in carrying out the implementation of the Mindanao Trust Fund Reconstruction and Development Program (MTFRDP) in conflict scenario.

This regional conference is sponsored by the Asia Foundation, AusAID, SMERU, and the World Bank, and participation by the Vice President of Indonesia’s Office for Accelerating Poverty Reduction.

It aimed to facilitate a dialogue among various actors (government officials, practitioners, implementers) who are working on CDD programs from seven (7) ASEAN countries such as Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam plus Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Island and Timor Leste on challenges to sustain, mainstream, and scale up CDD program. It also aimed to consider useful steps and activities that will facilitate a regional CDD community of practice and establish a set of policy and implementation issues of concern particularly to the country participants that could be addressed through research.

About 80 country and non-country participants attended the conference. Country participants are government officials, practitioners and implementers from the above-mentioned countries. While, non-country participants are representatives from The Asia Foundation, AusAID, SMERU Research Institute, the World Bank and the Office of the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia.

Dr. Agung Laksono, Coordinating Minister of People’s Welfare, Indonesia graced the regional conference. Dr. Laksono is a medical doctor. He was a Member of Parliament from 1997-2004. He serves as Speaker of the House. He chairs the Asian Parliamentarian Assembly.

Dr. Laksono, in behalf of the Republic of Indonesia, conveyed that he is honored to host this multilateral event in Bali to contribute to the development of East Asia and Pacific Region.

Bali is famous for its culture and tourism.

“Program Nasional Pemberdayaan Masyarakat (PNPM) or National Program for Community Empowerment is the largest CDD program in the World. It survived several electoral transitions in Indonesia”, Dr. Laksono said.

“People are encouraged to communicate with their community. Brilliant ideas come out in the community consultation, that is why it is effective in Indonesia”, Dr. Laksono added.

Dr. Laksono also said that “in the past decades, CDD becomes the trend in the World. It should be synonymous to Sustainable Development”.

The Philippine contingent is composed of the representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), E-Net Philippines and the BDA.

Engr. Windel Diangcalan, Program Management Officer of the MTFRDP and Head of Program Division, represented the BDA.

BDA served as resource person on the role of CDD programs in conflict or post-conflict situations, together with resource persons from Solomon Island, Thailand, Afghanistan and Timor Leste.

Engr. Diangcalan shared that “BDA implements CDD in conflict situation, this makes it unique among other CDD programs around the world”. He added that, after the completion of Joint Needs Assessment in 2005, “BDA, with the concurrence of MILF Central Committee, accepted CDD as model for the development program implementation in the conflict affected areas in Mindanao as it harmonizes with BDA’s development principles that human development must precede material development, that development must be inside out, participatory and consultative”.

It is noted that BDA was borne out of the Government of the Philippines and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Tripoli Agreement of Peace on 2001 and MILF Central Committee Resolution of June 2002.

The Government of the Philippines (GPH) and MILF Peace Panels are yet to sign remaining two annexes of Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB), the power sharing and normalization. Then, Comprehensive Compact will be signed thereafter. Post-conflict scenario will be triggered by the establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

Engr. Diangcalan stressed that “BDA put some twist in CDD implementation to make it suitable to Bangsamoro context. BDA espouses value-laden development principles as one of the major activities in CDD process”.

He also said that “CDD, thru MTFRDP, promotes confidence building among various peace and development stakeholders. It help creates an environment wherein GPH and MILF Peace Process can smoothly proceed, while it looks forward for the seamless transition from conflict to post-conflict situations”.

The World Bank and The Asia Foundation supported the conference participants from the Philippines.

At present, Matt Stephens heads the MTF Secretariat and also serves as Task Tem Leader of MTFRDP.

Mindanao Trust Fund is supported by the Australian Aid for International Development (AusAID), New Zealand Iad for International Development (NZAID), Canada International Development Agency (CIDA), Sweden Interantional Development Agency (SIDA), United States Aid for International Development (USAID), European Union (EU) and the Worl Bank.

Recently, AusAID contributed fresh funds to MTF for the Sajahatra Program and the formulation of Bangsamoro Development Plan.

EU already committed to contribute fresh funds to MTF for the formulation of Bangsamoro Development Plan and CDD program expansion.

CIDA committed to support the formulation of Bangsamoro Development Plan thru MTF facility.

MTFRDP is currently implementing CDD program at 65 barangays in 21 municipalities. It has already covered 162 barangays in 75 municipalities.

Responding to the current needs in the Bangsamoro, MTFRDP evolved to this effect. This year, it expanded its components over and above the CDD program which include: a) Programme for Local Economic Development through Enhanced Governance and Grassroots Empowerment (PLEDGE), b) Sajahatra Program, and c) formulation of Bangsamoro Development Plan.