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.