October 4, 2012 News: The Technical Working Group (TWG) for the Capacity Building for Community Development in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao (CD-CAAM) Project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) had endorsed the adoption of the pilot project areas.

The TWG adopted the two municipalities for the pilot projects during its 2nd Meeting in Davao City last week, and the CD – CAAM Project Steering Committee subsequently will have to approve these two pilot project areas.

Ustaz Mohammad Yacub, Executive Director of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), chairs the TWG with members from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) represented by Director Enrico Dela Torre, IC Net Ltd & Central Consultant – a Japanese NGO represented by Michimasa Numata, and JICA represented by Yusuke Mori.

Also present during the meeting were Naoyuki Ochiai, Japanese member of the International Monitoring Team (IMT), BGen Dato’ Zulkaple bin Mohd Noor, Deputy Head of Mission of IMT, and Said Shiek, Chairman of the MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH).

CD – CAAM is part of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) in support of the current peace process between the government and MILF particularly in establishing an effective and efficient implementation mechanism for community development projects, and developing the absorptive capacity of BDA as development institution.

The TWG explained that the selection of the pilot areas underwent a tedious process involving area assessment, partnership and collaboration, stability of governance, natural / geographical and resources condition, and situation of needs of barangays (villages).

The BDA, OPAPP, IMT and CCCH expressed their commitment to support the implementation of project, even as they conveyed their gratitude to Japan for the strong support to the GPH – MILF Peace Process.

Japan is also a state-member of the International Contact Group (ICG) of the Peace Talks between the GPH and MILF being facilitated by Malaysia.