A team from the MILF’s Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), accompanied by a team of consultants from the World Bank, met with cabinet members of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) at the Regional Planning and Development Office (RPDO), ORC, this city on 24 January 2014 to discuss a possible collaboration on the formulation of a Transition Development Plan, which is the first phase of the Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) being formulated by BDA.

The BDA-World Bank Team that visited the ARMM-RPDO was headed by Dr. Saffrullah M. Dipatuan, BDA Chairperson, and Dr. Mohammad S. Yacob, BDA Executive Director. The group was received by the different Cabinet Secretaries of ARMM or their representatives headed by Atty. Laisa Alamia, ARMM Executive Secretary.

In her welcome address, the Executive Secretary expressed their firm support to the on-going GPH-MILF Peace process and extended the willingness of the ARMM government in trying to ensure a smooth transition to the Bangsamoro once it is set up by the enactment of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

After presenting the Concept Note of the Bangsamoro Development Plan, Dr. Dipatuan expressed satisfaction on the warm welcome extended by ARMM Cabinet Secretaries or their authorized representatives demonstrated by their eager presence. “Let us not allow the difference in nomenclature of the ARMM and the Bangsamoro to divide us. We are working for one people and one homeland – the Bangsamoro.

This dichotomy emanating from the present name of ARMM and the emerging Bangsamoro government must vanish once the Bangsamoro is finally established. We are happy to know that the ARMM government has formulated its Transition Plan and we will appreciate very much if you can share this with us in addition to other plans crafted by the ARMM which will serve as invaluable references in the formulation of the Bangsamoro Development Plan,” Dr. Dipatuan said.

Engr. Baintan Ampatuan, Executive Director of ARMM-RPDO, responded by presenting the ARMM Transition Plan as well as other plans formulated by their office and formally turned over copies of these plans to the BDA team. “We are ready to help in whatever means possible towards the realization of this effort. Our office is always open for you,” said Director Ampatuan.

During the open forum that was moderated by the Executive Secretary, herself, Director Maulana of the Bureau of Elementary Education of DepEd-ARMM conveyed the serious concern of DepEd teachers who are receiving information that they will be replaced in mass once the Bangsamoro government is in place.

“This disinformation campaign is being spread by the spoilers of the peace process. The MILF leadership has no intention of causing mass termination of qualified teachers and other civil servants in the ARMM who are covered with securities of tenure. We are assuring you that the negotiating parties will not allow the occurrence of a vacuum in government during the transition process,” Dr. Dipatuan said.

Asked whether this initiative includes the local government in ARMM areas, Dr. Dipatuan explained: “The MILF leadership is aware of the perennial problems and challenges experienced by the ARMM due to the frailty of its structural relationship with the national government caused by the devolution of some powers and responsibilities to ARMM line agencies without necessarily devolving operational funds leading to unsatisfactory performance of the concerned line agencies. This phenomenon also results to the structural infirmity in the relationship of the autonomous regional government with the local government units under its territorial jurisdiction. The Philippine government and the MILF are confident that once the Bangsamoro Ministerial Government is established, these structural infirmities will be corrected.”

The meeting was concluded in the spirit of brotherhood and unity in the pursuit of the common goal of realizing the objectives of the struggle of the Bangsamoro for its right to self-determination. Mr. Max Africa, the representative of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) assured the participants that their office will continue to work for the successful implementation of the peace agreement that will bring sustainable peace and development to the Bangsamoro, the Indigenous Peoples as well as the settler communities in the Bangsamoro areas.