MTF's technical and funding assistance to the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) in the formulation of the Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) was arguably the most important capacity-building achievement of the Facility since its inception. Now—as evidenced by the wide acceptance and support of the international and national communities for the BDP—the BDA, the development arm of the MILF, is recognized as equipped to formulate macro-level development planning and investment programming.

Nearly 400 representatives from international organizations, donor agencies, national government agencies, civil society organizations, the academe, business community, and media took stock as the BDA discussed the technical and sustainable merits of building a “just economy” in a region ravaged by generations of violence, insecurity, and dire poverty. This signaled that that agency can professionally perform and deliver in a formal governance setting, a marked transformation from a small group of medical volunteers in 2002.