June 6, 2012 News: The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process concluded its Steering Committee Meeting for CD-CAAM yesterday at JICA Philippine Office in Makati City.

Leading the meeting were Ustaz Mohammad Yacub, Executive Director of BDA, Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo of OPAPP, and Shinichi Masuda, JICA Senior Representative.

Director Yacub, Co-Chair of the Steering Committee, said “the meeting which was supposed to be postponed on suggestion of OPAPP, also a Co-Chair of the Steering Committee, ended successfully.

The GPH Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) was also present. However, the MILF CCCH was not able to attend due to late invitation extended by OPAPP.

Both CCCHs work on security arrangement and coordination in the implementation of the CD – CAAM Projects.

Yacub lauded the strong cooperation and assistance of JICA to the peace process between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

BDA is the development arm of MILF for the ongoing GPH – MILF Peace Process. The development framework of BDA centers on holistic human resources development and responsible and enlightened community.

Yacub said CD-CAAM will prove beneficial in building capacity of BDA and in the community development which are very crucial in the overall efforts for socio-economic reconstruction and development in the context of the peace process and in the post-conflict situation.

Tackled during the meeting were the Approval of the CD-CAAM Inception Report for Capacity Building Plan for BDA, and the Signing of the Memorandum of the basic Agreement.

CD – CAAM stands for the 1st Capacity Building for Community Development in the Conflict Affected communities in Mindanao.