Reaching a final implementation set-up, the Infrastructure Sector of the Community Development in Conflict Affected Areas in Mindanao (CD-CAAM) Project of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) gets ready for its pilot implementation during the Infra Modality Workshop on December 20-21, 2013 at Iligan City.

The main objective of the activity is to develop and agree on the specific roles and responsibilities of the BDA and Municipal Local Government Unit (MLGU) for road rehabilitation and maintenance and to formulate the final design of the implementation process.

Sir Ike Payumo facilitating the workshop

CD-CAAM staff attentively listening to the overall output presentation of the workshop

In the said workshop, series of meetings and in-depth discussions were undertaken. The body laid down issues and concerns as their guide in coming up for the concrete implementation set-up.

The structure’s basic features include formulation of a Project Management Unit (PMU) which will be composed of BDA at all levels and MLGU. Implementation of the pilot project will be managed by a small scale contractor in close coordination with the PMU. Funds will also be coursed through the Contractor by JICA or ICNET depending on the project cost under a Contract Agreement. And finally, the Control and Feedback mechanism will be established between the Contractor and the PMU through a tripartite Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

Engr. Clovis Ike J. Payumo, JICA Expert on Infrastructure guided both the BDA and LGU during the workshop in determining specific task for each of them through guidelines enumerated such as Detailed Engineering/ Program of Works (POW) Preparation, Procurement Process, Sub-Project Execution, Completion and Demobilization and Trainings and Capacity Building. Each of the guideline undertakes different sub-activities which is also part of the framework of the Infrastructure Sector.

Joined by the MLGU of Matungao, Lanao del Norte and MLGU of Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao, the said workshop has been very productive with the inputs coming not only to the BDA staff but also to the local officials of the two selected municipalities. The two municipalities showed their effort and support to the infra-sector team from conducting of field survey to the implementation of the plan along with the sustainability of the project.

Firming up of the plan, the BDA CD-CAAM Central Management Office (CMO) and Central Mindanao (CenMin) team will have their Coordination Meeting with the Geolane Land Consultants, a surveying company on December 28. The said company will provide the Detailed Engineering (DE) Survey and Detailed Engineering (DE) Design for the Infrastructure Implementation in the municipality of Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao.

CD-CAAM Project Principle

Following one of the principles of the CD-CAAM project which is to produce tangible economic impacts, linking BDA/LGU collaborative type such as road rehabilitation with community-led type income generation was seen to produce an overall community development package. It can also contribute through improving accessibility of producers to the market. Thus the project contributes to confidence building within communities and empowering BDA and LGU staff. In addition, for road rehabilitation, it is also important to establish a stable structure and mechanism for sustainable maintenance.

In his closing message, Ustadz Mohammad S. Yacob, Executive Director of BDA said: “We are all hoping for the success of this project and whatever comes along, we should be committed in producing best output as possible. Because in the end of the day, we can proudly say this is the Pilot Project we want to achieve and replicate to other communities”.

Executive Director, Mohammad S. Yacob delivering his closing message to the group

Workshop Outputs

Engr. Ismail Guiamel, CD-CAAM Rural Infrastructure Engineer (RIE) on action

Sir Ike Payumo on explaining the workshop objectives