(Photo shows from left): DAP President and Chief Executive Officer Engelbert C. Caronan, Jr. and DAP sa Mindanao Managing Director Jo-Ann Emilene A. De Belen during their courtesy call on Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) OIC Chairman Atty. Nathaniel D. Dalumpines last July 18 in Davao City.

The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) President and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Engelbert C. Caronan Jr. and DAP sa Mindanao Managing Director Ms. Jo-Ann Emilene A. de Belen paid a courtesy call on Atty. Nathaniel D. Dalumpines, the newly appointed OIC-Chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) last July 18 at the Grand Regal Hotel in Davao City.

During the meeting, Caronan signified the DAP’s commitment to Mindanao, and its intent to pursue strategic partnerships in the intersection of peace and governance.

He explained how the Academy can assist the MinDA through it various efforts in the region as well as in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP EAGA).  He also said that Mindanao should take advantage of its strategic geographical location and abundance of experts.  According to him, the DAP and the MinDA can jointly explore opportunities with the BIMP-EAGA which could further boost the economic, cultural and educational ties of the Philippines, specifically Mindanao, with other countries.

On the other hand, De Belen updated Dalumpines of the status of projects on development of Quality Management System certifiable to ISO 9001: 2015, Knowledge Management Strategy Assessment and Capacity Building, and Organizational Assessment and Restructuring that the DAP is currently implementing or is pipelined for the MinDA.

“We are mandated to assist the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and Mindanao as a whole. And we are committed to assist, especially during the transitions,” Caronan said as he discussed the DAP’s initiatives in the region which includes capacitating the BARMM on leadership and governance, productivity, and public management.

“The symbiotic relationship between MinDA and DAP would truly be beneficial for Mindanao,” Dalumpines said as he thanked the DAP officials for the visit and expressed his commitment to the partnership between MinDA and DAP. – Fatima dela Cruz