Delegates from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) headed by Toshiyuki Kuroyanagi, JICA Vice President visited the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) on March 08, 2015 at the BDA office in Barangay DatuBalabaran (MB Tamontaka), Cotabato City.

During the visit, current partnership of BDA and JICA was discussed including updates on programs being implemented, the future role of BDA in the Bangsamoro, JICA support and the peace process.

Dr. Mohammad Yacob, BDA Executive Director welcomed the Japanese visitors and gave them updates on what BDA has been doing especially in relation to the peace process.

He mentioned of the current completion and the proposed extension of the Community Development in Conflict Affected Areas in Mindanao (CD-CAAM) project, the BDA’s plan on aligning the programs to the Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP), the continuing objectives for BDA’s institutionalization, the proposed scaling up of the Mindanao Trust Fund Reconstruction and Development Program (MTF-RDP) and for the massive capacity building for Bangsamoro as BDA is mandated to.

Kuroyanagi, thanked BDA for welcoming them sharing that“peace is very important in upholding the development in Mindanao”.

He then expressed sympathy to the recent bloody incident in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

He shared his belief that the Bangsamoro can overcome the current situation now in the process, like the suspension of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) deliberation.

“JICA is willing to help, call us whenever you need assistance”, Kuroyanagi said.

BDA expressed gratitude to the Japanese Government through JICA for continuing commitment in helping the Bangsamoro people especially to the community conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.

BDA and JICA partnership began in 2007 and the latter is currently supporting the agency with the CD-CAAM project, Quick Impact Project (QIP) with the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) and the BDP medium to long term phase.