Building and Strengthening Capacities (44)
OPAPP to BDA, properly inform communities for massive support to Bangsamoro
Written by BDA Communications
In a meeting hosted by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) on July 18 here at Cotabato City, key official from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) told the agency of the significance of proper information to communities for massive support for the incoming ratification and plebiscite among others.
“It’s up to us now how are we going to make our communities properly informed about the things that matter to them”, OPAPP Assistant Secretary Rolando Asuncion stated.
He added: “we are now in the tail end towards a new beginning and it’s up to us on how we work out things so that our communities – especially those who are not yet very supportive of our endeavors – to provide their support for the coming Bangsamoro government referring to the need for massive support for the incoming ratification and plebiscite among others.
Further, Asec Asuncion recognized the fact that the battle is not yet over in the BBL approval for the fight is yet to be fought still in that plebiscite aspect.
He reiterated support to the efforts towards progress in Mindanao and described the situation as having ‘reached the tail end towards a new beginning’ now the Bangsamoro Basic Law made its way to the approval of the Bicameral Conference.
The JTFCT meeting is part of BDA strategies to cull out learnings, polish related concerns and resolve pressing issues regarding the on-going implementation of the Mindanao Trust Fund – Reconstruction and Development Project attended by representatives from key partners such as the JTFCT, BDA CPST and office staff and the Community and Family Services International (CFSI).
MTF-RDP/2 is part of the continuing effort of BDA together with partners to help uplift the living condition of its people thru access to basic socio-economic infrastructure and alternative learning system.
MTFRDP/2 targets selected communities in the six major camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) namely Camp Bushra, Camp Bilal, Camp Abubakar as-Siddique, Camp Rajamuda, Camp Badre and Camp Omar.
This intervention is comprised of engaging the communities through a community-driven development and alternative learning system with an end in view of making those productive, participative and peaceful communities. Moreover, this is in line with the Normalization Aspect of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).
BDA is the project-implementing unit (PIU) while the CFSI is the trust fund recipient.
Funds for the projects come from the Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF) with various donors such as the European Union, the government of Sweden, Australia, Canada, United States, New Zealand and the World Bank, which also serves as Trust Fund Administrator and Secretariat.
The Spanish Agency for International Cooperation in the Philippines (AECID) is also supporting the project.
On developing socio-econ model for Bangsamoro- BDA-UNFAO conducts Strategic Mng’t. Planning and Dev’t. Training
Written by BDA Communications
Part of the on-going initiative of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) and the United Nations-Food and Agriculture Office (UNFAO) on “developing and piloting socio-economic model durable solution in transforming Bangsamoro communities into productive agro-economic areas” is the conduct of Strategic Management Planning and Development Training, which was realized recently on July 13, 2018 at the Bangsamoro Development Center in Cotabato City, Inc. (BDCCI) in Brgy. Datu Balabaran, Cotabato City.
Participants to the said activity were BDA management team, staff and volunteers led by executive director Mohammad S. Yacob and members of the People’s Organizations (POs) from Brgy. Buliok, Sultan Mastura in Maguindanao and Brgy. Cabpangi, Pigcawayan, North Cotabato where this project is being piloted.
According to Engr. Windel Diangcalan, deputy executive director of BDA who facilitated the training, outputs from the workshops will be inputs for the socio-econ model that this project shall develop once completed.
“The outputs of this project will provide inputs to develop the socioeconomic model and will contribute to the piloting of the socioeconomic model,” he said.
Sessions during the training were presentation about BDA and the Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP), inputs on strategic thinking and management, and the role of communication.
Facilitated also during the activity were workshops on formulation of vision, mission and strategies for each group of the POs and of the BDA, Strength, Opportunities, Aspirations, Results (SOAR) Analysis and among others.
Participants shared their stories of involvement and understaning of BDA.
Lengan Bitali, PO president in Brgy. Cabpangi accounted that “the coming of BDA in our place indeed brought good things. The Values Transformation Training (VTT) is the best part of it. As an Imam (religious leader), I am sharing to our people the learning I gained from VTT”.
“What is I understand about BDA is that it is created for the development of Bangsamoro communities who have been left behind for many years. For us at community level, BDA is an opportunity for learning and for recovery from poverty”, he added.
BDA and UNFAO signed a Letter of Understanding (LOU) in January this year for this project which objective is to open opportunities and link farmers to market to ensure sustainability of their livelihood and establish value chain. There will be also various training for the beneficiaries such as farm preparation through modern methods, Values Enhancement Training (VET), book keeping and recording, project planning and among others.
Moving forward to continue serving the B’Moro: BDA Strat Plan 2019
Written by BDA Communications
Men and women of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) convened recently with high spirit, dedication and commitment to plan together forward actions with the intention to continue serving the Bangsamoro.
The BDA Strategic Planning was conducted on May 1-4, 2019 at the Eden Resort in Davao City with support and facilitation from the Community and Family Services International (CFSI).
In the activity, BDA worked together to revisit the previous strategic plan and assessed the performance of the agency for the past years. From there, participants joined hands in identifying ways forward, BDA identity given the current landscape in the Bangsamoro with the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) ratification and Bangsamoro Government establishment.
Output of the workshops were presented and discussed and will be finalized and subject for the approval of the BDA Board of Directors and then the MILF Central Committee.
BDA was created in 2002 by the virtue of GPH-MILF Tripoli Agreement of 2001 and for the past seventeen years, the agency was able to deliver its mandate of relief, rehabilitation and development in the CAAM while building the capacity of the Bangsamoro on various fields of admin and finance, project planning, management and monitoring, data management, reporting and documentation, community mobilization and organizing and among others.
MILF-JTFCT urges BDA to work harder for another stage of B’Moro journey
Written by BDA Communications
In a meeting hosted by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), a senior officer of the Moro Islamic Liberation Joint Front – Task Force for Camps Transformation has urged the agency’s development workers to perform their responsibilities as expected of them in a message delivered last July 18 here at Cotabato City.
Uz. Zacaria Guma, Chairman of the JTFCT at Camp Omar also told the Camp Project Support Team (CPST) of BDA and their partners to exert extra effort in order to fulfill their duties required of them as catalysts of change towards peace and development in the Bangsamoro communities while striving to be as efficient and sincere as possible in their given tasks.
“What we are doing now is just a small portion of what we need to undertake in the future as we face another stage of the Bangsamoro journey towards peace and development in our respective areas”, Guma articulated in his closing message addressing the co-members of the JTFCT, BDA CPST and key staff of the Community and Family Services International (CFSI) and BDA – Central Management Office.
The JTFCT meeting is part of BDA strategies to cull out learnings, polish related concerns and resolve pressing issues regarding the on-going implementation of the Mindanao Trust Fund – Reconstruction and Development Project Phase II (MTFRDP/2) attended by representatives from key partners such as the JTFCT, BDA CPST and office staff and the CFSI.
MTF-RDP/2 is part of the continuing effort of BDA together with partners to help uplift the living condition of its people thru access to basic socio-economic infrastructure and alternative learning system.
MTFRDP/2 targets selected communities in the six major camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) namely Camp Bushra, Camp Bilal, Camp Abubakar as-Siddique, Camp Rajamuda, Camp Badre and Camp Omar.
This intervention is comprised of engaging the communities through a community-driven development and alternative learning system with an end in view of making those productive, participative and peaceful communities. Moreover, this is in line with the Normalization Aspect of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).
BDA is the project-implementing unit (PIU) while the CFSI is the trust fund recipient.
Funds for the projects come from the Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF) with various donors such as European Union, the government of Sweden, Australia, Canada, United States, New Zealand and the World Bank, which also serves as Trust Fund Administrator and Secretariat.
The Spanish Agency for International Cooperation in the Philippines (AECID) is also supporting the project.
Islamic Leadership Training for B'Moro Professionals
Written by BDA Communications
A group of Bangsamoro professionals from the Kapalawan Province of Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) Central Mindanao Region is attending a three-day training on Islamic Leadership, which started today March 22, 2019 at Bangsamoro Development Center in Cotabato City, Inc. located at Brgy. Datu Balabaran, Cotabato City.
The activity is organized by the development catalysts of BDA Kapalawan Province.
Hashim Manticayan, head of BDA human resource division is the lead facilitator/resource person of the training with assistance from other trainers of BDA CenMin Region.
Interested youth flocks for Turkiye Scholarship Orientation
Written by BDA Communications
Over a hundred of interested youth flocked to attend the orientation about the Turkiye Scholarship on January 24, 2019 at the Bangsamoro Development Center in Cotabato City (BDCCCI).
Officials from Turkey Foreign Scholarship spearheaded the activity by informing the participants of the rules and regulations, processes, requirements and among others.
It was informed that the said scholarship program offers free education sponsorship for undergraduate, masteral and doctorate.
Interested applicants may visit https://www.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr/ for more details and information.
Prior to the said orientation, Ebubekir Kadri Biskinter and Hale Karaismailoglu of the Turkey Foreign Scholarship met with BDA executive director Mohammad S. Yacob for a courtesy meeting.
The visitors said that they visited the Bangsamoro to learn about education needs in the region.
It was further informed that accordingly, the Turkey Government considers the education as the 2nd among their priorities for areas for assistance in the Bangsamoro.
Three Bangsamoro Alumni to the Turkey Scholarship were also in attendance during the activity.
Improving communication for project management
Written by BDA Communications
Key staff for the implementation of the Mindanao Trust Fund Reconstruction and Development Project Phase II (MTFRDP/2) convened recently on August 1, 2019 at Em Manor, Cotabato City for the story sharing and communication session facilitated by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) Central Management Office (CMO).
The activity was intended to discuss to the participants the importance of communication in project management.
The session was interactive wherein the participants shared their own understanding of communication in project implementation based on their experience of the MTFRDP/2.
For the facilitator, the activity was very fruitful to the objectives of the session because it helped defined clearly the definition and importance of communication in the operation of the project.
From the discussion, the project staff mentioned about top to bottom flow of communication, analysis of the individual different level of understanding of each stakeholder even of the same group, and knowing the right approach for each member to better communicate the key information about the project.
Part also of the activity was story sharing session where each staff wrote their accomplishments for the previous month as part of documentation and in line with the objective of improving their writing skills.
For unified messaging, BDA learns BOL
Written by BDA Communications
Towards unified messaging on the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) organised orientation for its staff and volunteers on August 14, 2018 at the Bangsamoro Development Centre in Cotabato City, Inc.
BDA executive director Mohammad S. Yacob urged everyone that as Bangsamoro let us accept and welcome the BOL as product of the decades-long struggle of the Bangsamoro.
Hashim Manticayan, BDA head for human resource development discussed and presented in details the BOL especially those provisions related to development efforts which has been carried out by the agency for past fifteen years.
Highlight of the presentation was the Article XIV of the BOL which is about Rehabilitation and Development.
Part also of this one day gathering is the key messaging of BDA for BOL to ensure consistent and strong messaging.
“As development agency of the MILF, it is a must that we have to equip ourselves of proper information about BOL that our stakeholders will expectedly be interested about especially those communities longing for new political system that will address their needs”, Dir.Yacob stated.
He added that for BDA, BOL will enhance development projects in the Bangsamoro.
“We at BDA shall go on with our current projects and programs and we shall continue perform our duties as mandated” he ended.
For OSY education-BDA conducts 2nd planning workshop for ALS component of the MTFRDP/2
Written by BDA Communications
In an effort to push for the smooth sail of the Mindanao Trust Fund – Reconstruction and Development Project II (MTF-RDP/2), the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) in close coordination with the Community and Family Services International (CFSI) conducted the 2nd Planning Workshop for the Alternative Learning System last 18 June at Em Manor Hotel in Cotabato City.
The activity was conducted in order to present the key inputs related to the ALS as a component of the MTF-RDP/2, which concerns about education and literacy of the target communities.
In his words of wisdom, Learning and Development Assistant Uz Mokamad Alon quoted that education is a cultural process by which successive generation takes their places in the history adding that ‘educating the masses should be given priority by those in authority and have the capacity to undertake the educational reform agenda’ for the younger generation to benefit from.
Mohamad Salih, who serves as Project Board member and a Task Force for Camps Transformation member supported the call for educating the Bangsamoro youth in particular as he pointed out that learning is a continuous process, which does not end.
Salih also asserted that this initiative (MTF-RDP/2) is part of confidence-building which means that this is a follow-through activity of the previous engagements relative to the MTF-RDP.
Meanwhile, messages of support were also given by DepED-ARMM and other key partners’ representatives.
Thelma Artil of DepEd-ARMM committed to fully support the program in their area. Aside from Artil, Julkipli Arsad and Armando Patagan also represented the agency.
Hashim Manticayan expressed thanks to all partners who pushed themselves to join and realize the program.
CFSI Team headed by Engr. Nasser Sinarimbo, Project Coordinator were also present in the activity.
MTFRDP/2 is a program partnership signed between the BDA and the Community and Family Services International (CFSI) which aim is to improve access of targeted communities in the conflict-affected areas in Mindanao to basic socio-economic infrastructure and alternative learning system.
This intervention is comprised of engaging the communities through a community-driven development and alternative learning system with an end in view of making those productive, participative and peaceful communities. Moreover, this is in line with the Normalization Aspect of the CAB.
MTFRDP/2 is supported by the Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF) with various donors such as the European Union, the government of Sweden, Australia, Canada, United States, New Zealand and the World Bank, which also serves as Trust Fund Administrator and Secretariat.
For healthier workforce- BDA medical unit conducts blood test for staff
Written by BDA Communications
Towards a healthier and productive workforce, the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) Medical Unit conducted a blood testing activity for the staff of the agency on July 1, 2018 at its Central Management Office (CMO) in Cotabato City.
According to Nazneen Biruar-Piang, focal person of BDA medical unit, the activity is intended to promote health consciousness among staff.
“Through this activity, we can help our colleagues check their health status which are often neglected due to workloads at the office.
She added “it is a common practice of many to seek for medical consultation only when they feel ill or as required. But ideally, one should have regular check-up to see his/her health condition so that it can be prevented earlier”.
Piang reported that there were twenty (20) staff who participated during the first leg of this program.
She disclosed that their team is looking forward for the regular conduct of this similar initiative every first Sunday of the month.
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Financial literacy for camp communities to promote transparency in project management, sustainability
Written by BDA Communications
Capacity building for self-reliance is one of the components of the Mindanao Trust Fund Reconstruction Development Project Phase II (MTFRD/2) - a program partnership signed between the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) and the Community and Family Services International (CFSI).
In line with this, the BDA as the project implementing unit of the MTFRDP/2 is currently conducting Financial Management and Literacy Training, which started on June 24, 2019 at Pagana Hotel and Restaurant, Cotabato City until June 27.
The training is intended for the people’s organizations (POs) created under the project to manage the operation of the sub-projects turned over to them. There are 20 participants from each of the barangay-recipient of each camp namely Camp Omar, Badre, Rajamuda, and Abubakar.
Same activity for the POs of the barangays under the other two camps in Lanao provinces namely Camp Bushra and Bilal will also be organized on July 2-5, 2019 in Iligan City.
Purpose of the training is to educate the PO members on financial management that will help them manage the operational maintenance for them to be able to properly utilize the income of the sub projects given to them towards sustainability.
Facilitator to the activity is the finance team of the BDA headed by Julhaina Cadon with Almira Danda, Mariam Balimbingan, Nor-ayn Abdullah, Bashet Dumadalog and Abdulbasir Bukua.
Topics discussed are basic costing, budgeting, forecasting, procurement process, bookkeeping and financial reporting and among others.
Part of the session are workshops and role play to ensure understanding of the participants.
The participants were able to learn how to create a work plan and a financial plan, the procurement process, and the abilities they must have, the bookkeeping, how to record, asset management and others.
MTFRDP/2 aims to improve access of targeted communities in the conflict-affected areas in Mindanao to basic socio-economic infrastructure and alternative learning system.
This intervention is comprised of engaging the communities through a community-driven development and alternative learning system with an end in view of making those productive, participative and peaceful communities. Moreover, this is in line with the Normalization Aspect of the CAB.
MTFRDP/2 is supported by the Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF) with various donors such as the European Union, the government of Sweden, Australia, Canada, United States, New Zealand and the World Bank, which also serves as Trust Fund Administrator and Secretariat.
The Spanish Cooperation Agency for International Development (AECID) is also supporting the project.
Enhancing values training module in support to moral governance
Written by BDA Communications
Pool of professional trainers and writers of the values transformation training (VTT) convened recently for the second time on August 18, 2019 at Bangsamoro Development Center in Cotabato City to work together for the review and enhancement of the module in support to the call for moral governance in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
According to Hashim Manticayan, deputy executive director of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) and one of the strong advocates of value-based leadership and management, this initiative is a major response and commitment of the agency to help in the promotion of change with newly established Bangsamoro government.
To note, BDA as major bearer of the VTT has been instructed and expected to facilitate values training for the leaders and employees of the BARMM; thus a need to enhance the module in order to fit to the profiles, level of education and understanding of the targeted participants.
“The BDA has been carrying VTT as foundation for any other programs or projects; however the module we have is designed for community-based approach so this time, we need to upgrade it given the higher level of target participants and objectives”, Manticayan stated.
Values Transformation Training or VTT was conceptualized during the early days of BDA in 2003 in line with the agreed principle of the agency on self-change first before overall development.
It is organized before other major activities or training in a program or project can proceed to ensure that necessary values of a development catalyst is learned and comprehended by the person involved.
The VTT has become of the major programs of the BDA and is integrated as key components of all other projects. The objective is to develop a pool of catalyst with enhanced knowledge, appreciation and practice of Universals values that will help them in serving the most marginalized and indigent communities in Mindanao.
Dev’t.catalysts in Central Mindanao convene for 2019 1st quarterly meeting
Written by BDA CommunicationsDevelopment catalysts of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) from the eleven provinces of Central Mindanao Region convened on January 5-6, 2019 for the first quarterly meeting for this year at the Bangsamoro Development Center in Cotabato City.
Highlights of the event included presentation of accomplishments of each province for the last quarter based on the major program thrusts of the BDA.
The role and becoming of BDA as development arm of the MILF was discussed by Dr. Abdus Sameh R.L. Piang, vice chairman of the agency’s board of directors.
Dr. Piang also talked about the present changes and situation related to the campaign on the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), the schedules of plebiscite for said law, and the responsibility of each other to work together to be able to contribute to the establishment of the Bangsamoro Government.
Hashim Manticayan, head of BDA human resource division further shared updates on the BOL campaign in Cotabato City and the current advocacy activities of the MILF in the island provinces.
Quarterly meeting has been the tradition of the BDA Central Mindanao to gather all development catalysts who are organized at the community level as local counterpart and coordinating body during field works.
They are volunteers who are mobilized to co-facilitate community-based activities and trainings and in coordinating with local partners and stakeholders to ensure proper completion of any project or program.
Volunteerism has been the primary capital of the BDA in managing and enriching its human resources that is contributory to the success and sustainability of the agency operating for sixteen years already for rehabilitation and development of the conflict-affected areas in Mindanao with the principle of learning by doing in building the capacity of the Bangsamoro.
Camp support team learns digital data sharing for project documentation
Written by BDA Communications
Members of the camp project support team (CPST), field workers employed under the Mindanao Trust Fund-Reconstruction and Development Project Phase II (MTFRDP/2) learned digital data sharing through the 2-day activity on April 1-2, 2019 at BDA Training Center in Cotabato City.
The Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) Division of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) organized and facilitated this activity, which objective was to introduce the tool and orient the CPST of the proper usage of which.
According to Engr. Rahima Hassan, monitoring and evaluation officer, the tool is a mobile application fitted in todays’ generation of android phones. The features of the app is very usable for data gathering and updating, which is an essential part of project monitoring, management and implementation.
“Our CPST members will use this app in sending us data to ensure regular updating of our database thus will help in producing efficient reports on weekly basis”, Hassan told.