Representatives from sectors of students and youth, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Political Committees, MILF Line Agencies, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), indigenous people, Christians, local government units (LGUs), tribal leaders and traditional leaders attended the series of Pilot Community Validation Activity steered by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) on July 5-10, 2014 across Central Mindanao region.

Specifically, the activity was conducted in strategic areas of Bangsamoro residence in the region, which included neighboring towns and municipalities like in Lambayong in Sultan Kudarat province; Sultan Kudarat and Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao; and municipalities of Carmen and Pikit in North Cotabato.

In an aim to inform and formulate appreciation from the communities regarding its content, the draft Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) was presented to the region highlighting the development projects formed from the results of Community Visioning Exercises (CVE) conducted on February to March this year in strategic areas of Bangsamoro core territories and its adjacent areas. The said projects covered the thematic areas such as economy, social, culture, security, politics, environment & natural resources and cross-cutting areas (gender, youth, peace-building).

These development projects were further detailed out by the participants during the half-day validation activity. Project locations, quantities and indicative costs were reflected through group discussions, workshops and deepening of inputs. Further priority projects were also proposed as a supplement to the development projects presented.

Accordingly, construction of hospitals, health centers and water system are among the priority needs in the region regarding health and sanitation. In aspect of education, projects include Madrasah construction and rehabilitation and provision of scholarship programs, most especially to the increasing number of out-of-school youths.

Workshop results also show the need for farm to market roads and housing projects under infrastructure. In addition, the region expressed the necessity for provision of farm facilities, nurseries and poultry and livestock-raising as part of livelihood. Further priorities recommended for environmental conservation includes reforestation programs, Bantay-gubat and some policy ban on illegal mining, fishing and logging. Lastly, under cross cutting area, the projects include placement of Bangsamoro public cemetery, construction of Bangsamoro museum and orphanages.

More rounds of the said validation activity will be conducted in regions of Southern Mindanao, Davao, Ranaw, Zamboangan Peninsula and island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi on August, as a follow through activity after the conduct of CVE in line with the formulation of the (BDP).

The BDP is an initiative of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) through BDA, with support of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and development partners, to define a short and medium-term vision and strategy for the recovery and development of the Bangsamoro. Its operation is supported by the Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF), a multi-donor fund facility administered by the World Bank and supported by the European Union (EU), Australian Embassy (then AusAID), Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), New Zealand Aid for International Development (NZAID), Sweden International Development Agency (SIDA), and United States Aid for International Development (USAID).