“IN THE NAME OF GOD, MOST GRACIOUS, MOST MERCIFUL”

H.E. Commissioner Andris Piebalgs of the European Commission, H.E. Ambassador of E.U. Guy Ledoux, Hon. Sec. Teresita Quintos Deles of OPAPP, Hon. Country Director of World Bank Mr. Motoo Konishi, Hon. Dr. Habib Macaayong, member of the TWG of the MILF Peace Panel, other distinguished guests, members of the media, ladies and gentlemen, good morning and peace be with you all. Assalamo alaikom.

When we were selected by the MILF Central Committee in late 2002 to serve the Bangsamoro people thru the Bangsamoro Development Agency, we accepted our tasks without hesitation. But as soon as we assumed our posts we realized we were up against overwhelming odds.

Firstly, we have to prove that we can fulfil our tasks and rise up to the expectations of our principal and our people. But the truth is none of us, whether among the members of the Board of Directors or the staff, possess any relevant educational background or experience in development works. We were all neophytes in the kind of tasks that were assigned to us.

Secondly, although BDA is a product of the peace process between the Philippine government and the MILF, the agency has no stable source of fund to sustain its operation. The big question is, “is there any entity that succeeded in fulfilling its enormous responsibilities without operational funding support?”

Thirdly, scepticisms emanating from the unique nature and personality of BDA were prevailing in the minds of potential partners. The MILF is the only liberation movement in the whole world that engaged its counterpart in doing development works thru its development arm – the Bangsamoro Development Agency – even before a final peace agreement is concluded. This makes BDA the only one of its kind in the world today. This cynicism is even more intense due to the fact that we have just emerged from the failure of our MNLF brothers to meet the expectations of all stakeholders in handling the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or ARMM for more or less 7 years.

This is the kind of difficult environment where BDA came into existence. In order to prove that we can rise up to the challenge of serving our suffering people we have to start learning the basics of how to do relief, rehabilitation and development works.

The establishment of the multi-donor MTF facility in late 2005, as a product of a collaborative effort of the Philippine government and the World Bank, jumpstarted our learning process. The Mindanao Trust Fund – Reconstruction and Development Program became our jumping board in experiencing the “learning by doing” approach of undertaking community-driven development projects. Through it, we were given the opportunity to undergo real life experience in managing rehabilitation and development works.

To address our lack of funding support, we have to harness and rely on the sense of volunteerism of our members. We started developing slowly our own paradigm of development that is anchored on the development of man physically, mentally, emotionally, materially and spiritually. We crafted our values laden transformation trainings and internalized important core values that are necessary to change the corrupted mindset of our people.

We confronted our assigned tasks ignoring all the sceptics around us. We are determined to prove that if others can, the Bangsamoro can. All that is needed is strong commitment and consistent dedication to the mission we have laid before us – to serve the Bangsamoro in an unselfish and inclusive manner and make a difference in their lives.

In due time, we are able to establish confidence-building relationships with government at all levels and the international community. We are also able to create a network of people’s organizations in the community, an experience that has given us a strong and realistic understanding of conditions on the ground in conflict-affected communities. We are able to learn important knowledge and skills in community consultations, strategic planning, financial management, procurement and human resource management.

By August 2013, thru the MTF program we delivered 254 sub-projects benefitting over 320,000 people in 215 villages across 79 municipalities in Mindanao. This year, we added PLEDGE, which is a community livelihood and employment creation programming through a grant with the International Labour Organization. In this new engagement with ILO we aim to learn relevant new skills and develop important networks in the private sector.

We are also presently in the forefront of implementing the Sajahatra Bangsamoro Program, a joint undertaking of the Philippine government and the MILF, envisioned to deliver quick gestation, high impact projects in Bangsamoro communities affected by conflict. We are also leading the way towards the formulation of the Bangsamoro Development Plan that will serve as a blueprint for the reconstruction and development of Bangsamoro areas ravaged by decades of armed conflict.

To date, MTF has also assisted us to build up BDA from an Agency with no experience in development to one with more than 100 staff operating across seven regional offices. It has filled the gap needed to build the foundation for our Agency to develop and strengthen new partnerships with a range of international development partners such as Japan International Cooperation Agency, Japan Embassy in the Philippines, European Union, Australian Aid for International Development, World Food Program, UNICEF, United Nation High Commission on Refugees, the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Program (MTCP) and others.

Without any fear of exaggeration, I could say with confidence that in BDA the MILF now has an experienced organization that possess the capability to engage in dialogue on development needs and priorities as we position ourselves towards the transition to the Bangsamoro.

On account of this, I can assure you that the additional contribution of the European Union to the MTF, in the amount of 8M Euro, will never go to waste. It will definitely play a very vital role in realizing the goal for which the MTF was originally established which is “to improve social and economic recovery in conflict-affected communities of Mindanao through activities which promote confidence-building, peace and demand-driven governance.”

In behalf of the Bangsamoro Development Agency and the Bangsamoro people, in general, I am expressing our sincere appreciation to the European Union for its unwavering support to the success of the GPH-MILF peace process leading towards the speedy reconstruction and development of Bangsamoro communities in Mindanao. This is once more concretely manifested by this fresh contribution from EU to the MTF.

Allow me to conclude with my sincere thanks and gratitude to the Philippine government thru the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) headed by Hon. Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles for its serious commitment towards the conclusion of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement with the MILF, which we believe will finally bring a just and lasting peace, not only in the Bangsamoro, but in the whole of Mindanao and the entire country as well. Thank you very much.

(Message of Dr. Saffrullah M. Dipatuan, Chairperson of the Bangsamoro Development Agency during the Public Announcement of Additional Contribution from the European Union to the Mindanao Trust Fund held at the OPAPP office on November 11, 2013.)