Dubbed as another significant milestone in the history of development initiatives in the conflict affected areas of Mindanao, the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) and Mindanao Land Foundation (Minland) signed the first program partnership agreement for the Bangsamoro Development Planning (BDP) Project operational support on November 13, 2013 at The Pinnacle Hotel, Davao City.

The signing was made possible with the commitment and support of the World Bank, through the Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF) facility.

Minland, as Trust Fund Recipient of the Mindanao Trust Fund- Reconstruction and Development Program (MTF-RDP), and BDA, as implementing agency in close consultation with the World Bank, as MTF Secretariat, is currently implementing the fourth partnership agreement (PPA4) pertaining to the Community-Driven Development (CDD) component of the MTF-RDP, through at least April 2015.

During the signing ceremony, the long partnership of BDA and Minland was commended by Matt Stephens, Task Team Leader of the MTF-RDP, as remarkable. Stephens also said “BDA and Minland should further strengthen partnerships as this BDP project is somehow challenging”. He further reminded the two partners to adhere on the value of inclusiveness as in reaching the objectives of the BDP project.

Stephens challenged the BDA to be able to reflect the struggle of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for the Bangsamoro in the BDP project.

Dam Vertido, Executive Director of the Minland, congratulated the BDA for doing so much in the past six (6) years under the CDD component of MTF-RDP and now with BDP project, as new component. Vertido described BDP project as another significant milestone for the BDA as it provides strategic element for the transition of Bangsamoro Entity.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), representing the Government of the Philippines (GPH) witnessed the signing ceremony. OPAPP Assistant Secretary Howard Cafugauan, in his message, said that “the BDP project is very timely especially now that the MILF is preparing for the transition towards Bangsamoro political entity”. “BDP shall be a guide in development for the Bangsamoro and BDA is the lead agency to plan and see towards the collective vision of what we hope to see in the Bangsamoro”, added Asec.Cafugauan.

Asec. Cafugauan likewise commended the World Bank for the continuing support and the increasing commitment towards peacebuilding not only in Mindanao but to the whole Philippines. He related the current situation of the Central Visayas Region ravaged by the Typhoon Yolanda which according to him, needs for a collective effort that the MTF-RDP is already doing.

Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan, BDA Chairman and BDP Project Steering Committee Chairman, in his closing message, said “It is indeed devastating to think the tragedy in Visayas, the loss of properties and lives of many”. He likewise mentioned the Zamboanga incident and expressed his hope for the recovery of the victims of that crisis and now of the Typhoon Yolanda.

Dr. Dipatuan shared the BDA experience with MTF-RDP recalling how the agency started with community-driven development (CDD) approach under the program.

He enjoined the development partners to support the formulation of the Bangsamoro Development Plan.

So far, development partners who committed to support the formulation of the Bangsamoro Development Plan are: Japan International Cooperative Agency (JICA), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and The Asia Foundation.

Australian Aid for International Development (AusAID) also committed to support the BDP, over and above their contribution to MTF facility.

Also present during the signing ceremony were Dr. Rena Korber of International Monitoring Team-Humanitarian, Rehabilitation and Development Component (IMT-HRDC), B/Gen. Cesar Sedillo, Jr. of GPH CCCH and Mr. Alex Rendon, President of Minland. The MILF CCCH was also invited, but they were not able to come due to some valid reasons. The immediate next step after the PPA signing will the second round of Donors Forum to held tentatively on the first week of December 2013. Development partners who committed to support the BDP formulation will be gathered in a roundtable discussion of sort, to strengthen partnership and define areas of collaboration.

Dr.Saffrullah Dipatuan (BDA Chairman) and Alex Rendon (Minland Preident) shakes hand after the signing. Witnesses are Mr.Matt Stephens of the World Bank and Asec.Howard Cafugauan of the OPAPP.

Mr.Matt Stephens (World Bank), Dr.Saffrullah Dipatuan (BDA Chairman), Alex Rendon (Minland President) and Asec.Howard Cafugauan (OPAPP) signed the PPA for the Bangsamoro Development Pln (BDP)