December 24, 2011: In a resolution dated December 14, 2011, the Central Committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has formally organized the “Sulu-Tawi-Tawi Regional Management Office” (SulTa RMO) of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA).

The BDA, which determines, leads, and manages relief, rehabilitation, and development projects in conflict affected areas in Mindanao, is the development arm of the MILF.

The BDA is a product of negotiation between the MILF and the Government of the Philippines (GPH).

The new office was sliced from the original Zamboanga-Basilan-Sulu-Tawi-Tawi RMO or ZABASULTA RMO, which now only carries the name ZamBa RMO.

The resolution directed the BDA Executive Director, Mohammad Suwaib Yacob, in coordination with Dr. Zafrullah Dipatuan, Chairman of the BDA Board of Directors, to implement this order immediately.

A new RMO for the new office is expected to be announced shortly by the MILF .

This decision to organize a new BDA RMO comes in the heel of development in the island provinces where both the political and military organs of the MILF are firmly established.

At present, these provinces are no longer the exclusive domain of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

Spoilers of the GPH-MILF peace negotiation intrigued the government by saying that despite its being established in accordance with the Implementing Guidelines on the Humanitarian, Rehabilitation and Development Aspects of the 2001 Tripoli Agreement, the government has no hand in it or control over it.

In coordination with the GPH, both the World Bank (WB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are dealing deeply with the BDA.