VARIOUS FOREIGN agencies have committed about P408 million to fund development projects in Mindanao, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) announced last week. MinDA, in a statement, said it will collaborate with the donors in conducting capacity-building initiatives in BARMM. “These initiatives from our development partners will, in the end, help us realize and achieve our vision of a peaceful, prosperous, and poverty-free Mindanao,” Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol, MinDA chair, said. The fund is coming from the Asian Development Bank, United Nations Development Programme, World Food Programme, European Union, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Food and Agriculture Organization, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit. During a meeting with the donor agencies last Oct. 8, the agencies appraised MinDA on their current initiatives in Mindanao focusing on the economy, infrastructure, social, governance, and environment. Mr. Piñol said he wants stronger coordination between the government, both local and national, and the donor agencies in the implementation of programs through the use of the results-based reporting system. He said coordination with local government units could be coursed through the Confederation of Provincial Governors, City Mayors and Municipal Mayors Leagues of Mindanao (CONFED-Mindanao). “In this way, we get feedback on the updates as project status is reported,” he said. BARMM, which replaced the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, is a result of the peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

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