In recognition of the Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) as one vital roadmap that will provide a short and medium-term vision and strategy for the recovery and development of the Bangsamoro, the Chairman of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) called for more support from development partners for the formulation of the BDP Project.

During the signing of the program partnership agreement (PPA) for the BDP Project on November 13, 2013, in Davao City, Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan shared his concern for the inadequate support that BDA is getting for the BDP Project.

He specifically identified the Thematic Area on Culture that has no taker yet which according to Dr. Dipatuan is a very crucial and important area in BDA’s Sustainable Human Development (SHD) and Peacebuilding Framework. He further identified sub-thematic areas that still lack support such as Halaal industry, Health, Children and Youth.

Further, Dr. Dipatuan shared his concern for the possible detrimental effect of the lack of support for these specific thematic and sub-thematic areas. He is worried that this might cause gap and delay in the completeness of the Bangsamoro Development Plan. Dr. Dipatuan enjoined the Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF) Secretariat for the possibility of taking those SHD thematic and sub-thematic areas.

In calling for support from other development partners, Dr. Dipatuan underscored the time constraint that the BDA is facing saying “It is now that we are in need of your assistance and not later. What good will be your assistance if it is no longer needed?”

Support of JICA

While expressing his concern for the less support for the BDP project, the Chairman acknowledged the support that BDA is already receiving for this project thus far.

In his closing message during the program partnership agreement (PPA) signing for the BDP Operational Support, Dr. Dipatuan divulged the assistance being extended by the Japan International Cooperative Agency (JICA) to the BDP Project. “It is only JICA that has already been doing development planning activities, in consultation with BDA, for the different thematic areas they committed to work on, said Dr. Dipatuan.

JICA procured local consultants to support the BDA in the formulation of the Bangsamoro Development Plan focusing on the following: a) Agriculture, Fisheries and Agri Industry under Economy Thematic Area, b) Infrastructure under Social Thematic Area, and c) Environment and Natural Resources Thematic Area (with special focus on Power, Water Resources & Disaster Management, and Natural Resources). JICA also committed to participate in the discussion on Governance Thematic Area particularly on Human Resource Management, Organizational and Institutional Building. Initial result of the Needs Assessment, based on the review of existing literature and focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted at Marawi and Maguindanao, was already shared to the BDP Core Planning Team.

Thanking the partners

During the signing of the PPA for the BDP Operational Support, Dr. Dipatuan expressed gratitude to the partners who attended the said event for their commitment and continuous support to BDA.

He thanked the MTF Secretariat for making the official signing of PPA for BDP possible and said that the signing removed any hindrances relative to the operational support to this plan.

He likewise shared appreciation to the Mindanao Land Foundation (MinLand) which accordingly had been a dependable and patient partner for BDA. Minland has been partner to BDA as Trust Fund Recipient under the MTF-RDP.

“We’ve been through many challenges already and I am confident that there are no challenges that we cannot surmount together. We’ve mutually grown up and benefitted learning from each other, “stressed Dr. Dipatuan.

Recognizing the support of other partners, Dr. Dipatuan also commended the presence and support of key stakeholders such as the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), the Government of the Philippines-Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and the International Monitoring Team- Humanitarian, Rehabilitation and Development Component (IMT-HRDC).

Local media in Davao City interviewed Dr.Saffrullah Dipatuan (BDA Chairman) during the BDP signing.

Dr.Saffrullah Dipatuan (BDA Chairman) in his closing message during the signing for BDP.