| Tan commit full support to BDA-MTF projects | | | | agreement states that BDA, as a development arm of |
| Cotabato City—Kabacan Mayor Jorge Tan has | | | | the MILF will be responsible to design, lead and |
| expressed his willingness to extend his full support to | | | | manage the relief and rehabilitation of the conflict |
| the projects which will be implemented by the | | | | affected areas of Mindanao. |
| Bangsamoro Development Agency under the | | | | When asked about the projection which BDA wants |
| Mindanao Trust Fund-Reconstruction and | | | | to realize, Dr. Piang was quick to respond that “we |
| Development Program. | | | | are not projecting anything as of the moment as far |
| Tan conveyed his support during the orientation | | | | as peace process is concerned. What’s important |
| conducted by the Regional Project Management | | | | is we learn how to do things”. |
| Office held at the municipal hall of Kabacan last | | | | Dr. Piang added that BDA does not want to preempt |
| September 11. He said that his office is open for | | | | as far as result of the peace talks is concerned. |
| whatever development efforts which will benefit his | | | | “We will just wait and see for the outcome of the |
| constituents. | | | | on-going peace process”, he commented. |
| The orientation was attended by the multi sectoral | | | | Meanwhile, academe representative Dr. Abubakar |
| group which comprises the local government unit of | | | | Murray has given weight to the role of BDA in the |
| Kabacan as well as the academe and business | | | | process of reconstructing the conflict affected areas |
| sectors. | | | | in Mindanao saying that BDA has been consistently |
| It was purposely conducted to give awareness to the | | | | responsible over their mandated task. |
| key stakeholders who are going to be the target | | | | “For us to respond positively, we must work in unity |
| beneficiaries for whatever project that might be | | | | and support the peace and development initiatives of |
| possibly extended to the communities. However, the | | | | BDA”, he said. |
| RPMO elucidated that the project to be given will | | | | “We all aspire for the end of the centuries-old |
| depend on the identified needs of the community just | | | | conflict in Mindanao, therefore we are also responsible |
| like the community-driven development being used in | | | | to work for the realization of this dream”, Dr. |
| the previous projects of BDA. CDD approach will | | | | Murray added. |
| make use of barangay volunteers who will themselves | | | | He urged everyone to sincerely work for the |
| be responsible for gathering data from their respective | | | | attainment of the long-sought dream for peace as he |
| areas. | | | | concluded that “if we help one another, we can |
| Barangay Magatos in Kabacan was among the piloted | | | | spell a difference”. |
| areas for the MTF-RDP Batch 2A. Nineteen more | | | | RPMO Coordinator Eng’r. Tohami Ibrahim, |
| sites were identified for the six regional offices of | | | | Community Development Specialist Uz. Abdulrasheed |
| BDA. Full-scale sites expansion is being eyed after a | | | | Ambil, PMES Eng’r. Rayhana Pangilan, Field Adviser |
| final peace compact is signed between the national | | | | Ishak Pasawilan as well as the Municipal Development |
| government and the MILF. | | | | Facilitators (MDF’s) were also present during the |
| During the orientation, RPMO Manager for Central | | | | activity. |
| Mindanao Dr. Rizaldy Piang told the participants that | | | | After the orientation, RPMO plans to get done with the |
| BDA is merely doing its mandate as stipulated in the | | | | Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing between |
| 2001 signed peace agreement between the national | | | | BDA and the local government of Kabacan. |
| government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The | | | | |