On October 9, 2015, the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) with the support of Japan International and Cooperation Agency through the JICA Study Team (JST) held the 2^nd Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) Phase 2 Manila seminar at Discovery Suites, Ortigas, Pasig City. It aimed to present the Bangsamoro Anchor projects based on the BDP Phase II with Four (4) Initiatives under economy and infrastructure thematic areas.

The said activity aimed to present the long list of priority projects on BDP economy and infrastructure thematic areas for medium to long term phase. From there, 24 Bangsamoro Anchor Projects were identified. Also, it enjoined the international development partners, some government line agencies and the private sectors representatives to contribute thoughts and ideas to come up with Bangsamoro Anchor Projects that are technically sound and responsive to pump prime the Bangsamoro “just economy”.

This event was a follow through of the 1^st BDP Manila seminar held on June 26, 2015 at the same venue.

“Despite the challenges we are facing on the political track, the BDA will continue to discharge its mandate to pursue peace and development intervention in the conflict-affected areas in Mindanao in parallel to the political aspect”, BDA Executive Director Mohammad S. Yacob said, in his opening remarks.

Yacob also emphasized that “the BDP is a vehicle towards a comprehensive approach to address the needs and aspiration of the Bangsamoro”.

“The BDA should pursue the aspiration of the people and that the agreement will deliver an equity and inclusive development in the Bangsamoro”, he added.

“We are appealing to the government line agencies to support this track (development track) to enable us to facilitate the delivery of services and peace dividends to our people, and promote strong and strategic communication to address their (Bangsamoro people) high expectation in the peace process. The BDA will continue to commit and collaborate with the government line agencies (national, regional and local), private sectors, civil society organizations and the international communities to pursue the development track in the Bangsamoro and conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.” Yacob further said.

In his message, JICA Chief Representative Noriaki Niwa stressed his attendance to the recently conducted Philippine Economic Briefing where the Philippine government highlighted the growing opportunities in the coming years.

“Given the prospect of the steady economic growth in the country on infrastructure development, the Bangsamoro region is still lagged behind due to years of conflict in the area”, Niwa said.

Niwa also said that the Bangsamoro Anchor Projects have high probability to be implemented in response to the needs and aspiration of the Bangsamoro people. He solicited the supports of other developments partners on the other equally important BDP sub-thematic areas such as: health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH), housing, education, protective services, culture and identity, among others to ensure the completeness of the BDP medium to long term phase.

BDA Deputy Executive Director Engr. Windel Diangcalan, presented the BDP Phase II under four (4) initiatives namely: 1) Broad-based Inclusive Development Initiative; 2) Concerted Pump Prime Initiative; 3) Alternative Socio-economy Promotion Initiative, and 4) Enhanced Resources Management Initiative. He also presented the output of the 3^rd BDP Consultation-Workshop held in Cotabato City on October 6, 2015.

According to Engr. Diangcalan, the BDP Phase II, the medium-term to long-term phase, is the continuation of the Bangsamoro Development Plan formulation after presentation of BDP during the Philippine Development Forum on the Bangsamoro on November 2014 and the publication of the BDP Integrative Report on May 2015.

Engr. Diangcalan clarified that BDP Integrative Report is a development roadmap for the Bangsamoro which has identified some quick impact projects that are responsive to the immediate needs of the Bangsamoro people while BDP Phase II concerns medium to long term period with focus on the economy and infrastructure thematic areas.

“There is a need to really identify specific programs and projects that will be implemented in a short-term, medium-term and a long-term. This is the reason why the BDA asked the development partners to work with extra miles to formulate specific master plan under different thematic areas identified in the BDP”, BDA Chairman Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan pointed out in his closing message.

“We just like to mention that with or without the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), the BDA will continue to work in accordance to its mandate. If the BBL is not passed, then we are just reminding our partners that the MILF Central Committee has strengthened our mandate as the donor and development coordinator for the Bangsamoro and that is now the renewed mandate of the BDA.” Dipatuan added.

The BDP Phase II report on economy and infrastructure thematic areas is expected to be completed on February 2016.