n a meeting with the United Nations-World Food Programmed on September 9, 2018, MILF Chairman Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim told partners of the need for more experts for the Bangsamoro government.

“We need more people with expertise on governance,” Chair Murad said.

He, together with Muhammad Ameen, MILF secretary, Mohammad S. Yacob, executive director of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) and Engr. Windel Diangcalan, deputy executive director welcomed the visitors from the UN-WFP at Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

Stephen Gluning, representative and country director of the United Nations-World Food Programme  visited the MILF to show support on the Bangsamoro and get updates and plans from MILF now that the BOL is signed.

In the meeting, Chair Murad shared story of the Bangsamoro struggle from beginning until it reached the current momentum of signing the BOL.

UN-WFP is among the donor partners who have already showed support to the BOL and have committed of continued help to Bangsamoro.

“The Business Sustainability Framework in the Bangsamoro or BSFB is a very important contribution to the realization of a peaceful and prosperous Bangsamoro.”

This was the statement of Dr. Saffrullah M. Dipatuan, BDA chairman during the launching of the BSFB on 28 Sept 2018, at Makati Diamond Residences, Makati City.

BSFB was launched by PBSP in cooperation with Australian Embassy, Hineleban Foundation, Inc., RBOI-ARMM, Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) and other partners.

He added that this framework will serve as a practical guide for potential investors on how to make successful investments in the Bangsamoro territory.

Dr. Dipatuan further told that the road to prosperity in the Bangsamoro is thru the entry of investors that will open up opportunities for jobs and income generation on a massive scale.

“After all, the real engine for development in any country is the business sector”, he ended.

We at BDA as the development arm of the MILF that is expected to play a very important role in the forthcoming transition period, and having journeyed with PBSP, RBOI and other partners in the crafting of the BSFB, rest assured of our full and unconditional support in presenting the fruit of our efforts to the leadership of the MILF and the Bangsamoro government.

(Read full text of BDA chair Message during the Launching of the BSFB on September 28, 2018 at Makati City).

The Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) through Muslim Blood Donation (MBD) recently received National Voluntary Blood Services Program Sandugo Award 2018 as one of the Top Performing non-LGU partner from Department of Health (DOH) Region-12 on August 23, 2019 at Greenleaf Hotel, General Santos City.

The said award was given to the BDA for the organization’s outstanding support to the National Voluntary Blood Services Program and for collecting a total number of 1, 018 Blood units for the year 2018.

MBD is a regular program of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) since 2008, which aims to contribute to the continuing blood necessity in Central Mindanao.

The program has received various awards and recognitions for the past years for the accomplishments it gained in advocating the importance of blood donation.

Carolyn Biruar, MBD Coordinator attended the 2019 Regional Awards Ceremony with the theme “Journey towards Excellence in Health” to receive the said award.

Biruar stated that everybody is welcome to join their MBD activity.

She shared a data from the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC) that there are 15, 000 units of blood needed every month for patients of various health cases.

“This means that there is more demand of blood over the supply, that is why we really encouraged everyone to share their life and donate blood”, Biruar stated.

She also thanked all the donors who have been there for MBD for almost eleven (11) years.

“Whatever award we will get, the most important is the reward we can get from Allah (SWT). We are not doing this just for the award but to please the God (ALLAH)”, Biruar told.

The next MBD would be on September 15, 2019 at the City Mall Cotabato City.

JULY 26, 2019. The Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) joined the meeting today July 26, 2019 in Cotabato City with Minister Mohammad Yacob of MAFAR-BARMM and potential Korean partners on improving agricultural and fisheries productivity in BARMM thru appropriate agricultural modernization technology. 

With the common commitment on education for Bangsamoro children, the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) together with key partners from Tarbiyyah Committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bureau of Madaris-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) welcomed Nelson Ireland, Education Adviser at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT-Australia) on June 7, 2018 at the agency’s central office located at Brgy. Datu Balabaran, Cotabato City.

The parties discussed about the issue on educating the Bangsamoro children with concerns on the use of the Tahderiyah curriculum as well as plan of action of both institutions in responding to the urgent need in educating the Bangsamoro communities.

BDA Deputy Executive Director Engr. Windel P. Diangcalan gave insights on the state of education in the Bangsamoro based on the agency’s expereince of program implementation and as informed by the Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP).

Program on education is among the priorities of the BDA. The agency has implemented the Tahderiyyah Curriculum Program from 2006- 2018 which aim was to provide balanced and culture-senstitive education for Bangsamoro children.

The program was supported by the DFAT Australia with partners from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Officials of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) welcomed partners from agricultural sectors on September 7, 2018 at the agency’s Central Management Office (CMO) in Cotabato City.

Accordingly, the meeting was aimed at discussing possible collaborations for the development of comprehensive plan related to agricultural development in the Bangsamoro.

“This is an initial effort from concerned groups on agri in Bangsamoro which is very welcome for BDA to talk about. To note, agri is also one of our priorities under the economy and livelihood program thrust of the Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP)”, Mohammad S. Yacob, BDA executive director said.

Dir. Yacob was joined by deputy executive director Engr. Windel Diangcalan, division heads such as Rhadzni Taalin for program operations, Abdulmaguid Salidatan, admin, Hashim Manticayan, human resource development and Macmodin Ali.

Visitors were Mao Baraguir of Tabun Halal, Nanding Sayutin of Department of Agriculture of the Local Government Unit of Datu Saudi in Maguindanao, Dr. Panda of City LGU of Cotabato and Bedo Enggel, a retired DA employee.

BDA has been the donor and development coordination unit of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as per directives issued in November 2014.

With the common objective for the Bangsamoro youth, the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) welcomed visitors from Office of the Bangsamoro Youth Affairs headed by BTA-Parliament Member and Focal Head of the Bangsamoro Youth Commission Atty. Marjanie Mimbantas on May 17, 2019 at BDA-Training Center in Cotabato City.

Engr. Windel Diangcalan, BDA executive director with Hashim Manticayan, deputy executive director sat with the guests for the focus group discussion participated by some youth organization like Union of Muslim Youth  Organization (UMYO) and the  Moro International Students Association (composed of Moro scholars from Turkey).

Accordingly, this FGD aimed to strategically identify several necessary trainings for the Bangsamoro youth that is beneficial during the transition period and the succeeding regular election of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and will be submitted to Turkey as they expressed their commitment in uplifting the Bangsamoro through education assistance.

Engr. Diangcalan expressed his gratitude as he welcomed the participants.

‘’BDA as you may know is focusing on socio-economic development plan and part of that is youth development. The youth are very vital to define Bangsamoro government in the future, we hope that we are able to make a good result in this discussion.’’ Engr. Diangcalan said.

Atty. Marjanie Mimbantas in his statement, stressed the general challenges of the BARMM and one of this is the higher expectation of the people especially the organic member of the MILF. 

The Bangsamoro Development Agency through Executive Director Mohammad S. Yacob joined in the recently concluded Leaders’ Summit-cum-Peace Initiative Forum on May 30, 2018 at Davao City.

According to Yacob, BDA’s presence in the event is part of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) sincerity in pursuit of peace and development in the countryside. He represented Chairman Murad Ebrahim during the event.

Dir. Yacob delivered the MILF’s message, which highlighted the current peace situation and challenges in Bangsamoro, specifically the threat of the violent extremism.

“Violent extremism may likely remain a threat to the Bangsamoro and the entire country. More than anyone outside Bangsamoro, the people of Bangsamoro are aware of this threat and are committed to counter such situation”, he quoted.

He added, “the MILF has proposal for this campaign facilitated by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) which is among the responses of the MILF to this reality. By preparing a Bangsamoro wide campaign to prevent violent extremism, the MILF wants to create a momentum of awareness in the communities of Bangsamoro on the threat of Violent Extremism”.

The message ended by stating that “every sector of our society must have a role to push peace process move forward and play to prevent this serious societal problem, that hamper economic development growth  in all aspects”

Yacob also noted that different leaders in the country have gathered and participated the grand occasion in a show of promoting global peace.

BDA, as a development arm of the MILF, is tasked to determine, lead and manage the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the conflict-affected communities in Mindanao coupled with its added task of being the donor-coordinating unit of the MILF.

The forum was organized by the Jose Maria College and led by its College of Law.

Another milestone complementing the flourishing hope in the Bangsamoro happened today March 26, 2019 as the Program Partnership Agreement (PPA) was signed between the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) and the Ittihadun Madrasah Bil Philippines, Inc. (IMBPI) for the STRENGTHENING CAPACITIES FOR DELIVERY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN LIVING IN THE CAAM. 

The program which will run for 18 months aims to provide early learning program to 40, 000 Bangsamoro children through expansion of Madrasah delivering early learning programme.

It will include strengthening governance and management of Tahderiyyah, improving the quality of Tahderiyyah and strengthening program monitoring and supervision.

For this program, BDA will be the implementing partner with the IMBPI to facilitate the implementation with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and with fund assistance from Embassy of Japan (EOJ).

IMBPI is an organization duly registered to Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) mandated by the Tarbiyyah (MILF Education Committee) to implement educational interventions and accreditation of implementing balanced-education (SMC) and traditional madrasah curriculum.

In a message, BDA referred to education as one of the main priorities of the BARMM.

“We were with you and we will be with you in producing future Bangsamoro leaders equipped with balanced education”, Engr. Windel Diangcalan, BDA executive director stated.

IMBPI president Dr. Ismail Abdullah thanked partners for supporting the mission towards developing future leaders who are professionals and with fear of the Allah s.w.t.

“We hope that our future leaders in the Bangsamoro have those qualities. Tahderiyyah is very important because it is the foundation, the early education that develops our children”, Dr. Abdullah said.

For UNICEF, working together will bring good changes and results for the children education despite the challenges ahead.

“If we want sustainable peace and development in BARMM and Mindanao, we must work together to invest in quality early learning programs like the Tahderiyyah”, Dr. Rosalia Batacalan of UNICEF stated.

Meeting with BARMM Member of the Parliament Eddie Alih and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chief Abdul Jalil Umngan, with BDA executive driector Engr. Windel Diangcalan and Program & Operation Head Rhadzni Taalim at BDA- CMO Cotabato City on September 24, 2019.