Inter-agency confidence and peace building in Mindanao
First Government Inter-Agency Meeting of the Programme on Local Economic Development through Enhanced Governance and Grassroots Empowerment (PLEDGE)
Through this event, programme concepts, tools, methodologies and delivery systems and progress were shared to existing and potential national line agencies across four regions in Mindanao - Region IX, XI, XII, and ARMM. It also identified technical training and related needs for possible collaboration and follow-up action of the PLEDGE programme. And finally, commitments and other support from the government agencies and stakeholders were made.
More than 25 representatives of various govenrnment line agencies and projects attended the recently concluded PLEDGE Government Inter-Agency Meeting held last 16 March at the Pinnacle Hotel, Davao City. ILO provides technical assistance to the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA). Funded by the Mindanao Trust Fund which is administered by The World Bank, it contributes to confidence and peace-building efforts by developing the capacity of the BDA to support community-based enterprises through local economic development. Beneficiaries undergo different skills and enterprise trainings based on their local supply chain. These trainings were conducted through technical assistance from the national government line agencies such as Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Agriculture (DA), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Trade Industry (DTI) and among others. Presently, PLEDGE is now supporting 42 enterprises, 34 of which are community-based enterprises while 8 groups provides common use services.
Mr Simon Hills, Officer-in-Charge of ILO Country Office for the Philippines provides the Welcome Message during the PLEDGE Government Inter-Agency Meeting held in Davao City.Mr Gaspar S. Gayona, Regional Director of TESDA Region XI commits to support the PLEDGE Community-based Enterprises explaining that there are existing programmes that can be tapped immediately such as skills training with production such as drying machines and fuel efficient cook stove using rice hull. Messeurs Alimmodin Hadjinor, BDA Regional Manager and Arvin Nait, BDA Community Enterprise Development Officer discuss with representatives of different government agencies the types of support needed to support People Organizations in Southern Mindanao. Mr Mohammad S. Yacob, BDA Executive Director thanked the invited guests from various government agencies and explained that the Bangsamoro people, just like every Filipino, aspires to live in peace, justice and harmony.
