After getting support from the Management Staff and Regional Management Staff of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) on December 2013 through the Consultation and Action Planning Workshop at Davao City, the Program for Local Economic Development (PLEDGE) finally get the approval of the Board of Directors (BODs) of the agency on the implementation set-up of the program.

The policy was finalized during the Policy Meeting of the Board on January 23-25, 2014 at Em Manor Hotel, Cotabato City.

Mr. Rudy Baldemor, Program Consultant presented the Draft Interim Policies for Development and Validation for PLEDGE to the member of the BODs. He discussed to them each policy contained in the document. Member of the BODs along with the discussion raised some concern and some suggestion which was then noted and deliberated until the body came into an agreement.

The said project policies will serve as guidelines for the entire PLEDGE implementation phase.

Accordingly, Sir Rudy’s work plan for PLEDGE implementation phase will commence soon after the baseline survey is finished. This will be conducted by the World Bank through hiring of Local Survey Firm on February and expected to end on March 2014.

Joining the activity were the staff of the PLEDGE from BDA Central Management Office (CMO). Also with them are personnel from International Labour Organization (ILO) Manila Office- the trust recipient of the program. They are Virginia Creer, Admin and Finance Officer and Ma. Concepcion Sardana, Senior Programme Officer. They came for a courtesy call during the said activity.

PLEDGE was launched on June 2013 together with the International Labor Organization (ILO) as trust fund recipient. PLEDGE is another component of the Mindanao Trust Fund for Reconstruction and Development Program (MTF-RDP) administered by the World Bank.