In a call for more support to the Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP), the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) is gathering again development partners on December 11, 2013 at World Bank Office in Manila.

The purpose of which is to firm up the commitment of development partners expressed during the Donor’s Forum on September 3, 2013.

Through a roundtable discussion, BDP Core Planning Team will be presenting updates on the formulation of the Plan.

Recently, a program partnership agreement was signed between the BDA and Mindanao Land Foundation (Minland) for the operational support of the BDP through the Mindanao Trust Fund of the World Bank.

The Japan International Cooperative Agency (JICA) have already submitted initial results of the needs assessment conducted in the Bangsamoro for the past three months following the launching of the BDP. JICA is among the first partners committed to support the BDP.

Copy of the recent revision of the Concept Note on the BDP will also be shared to the partners.

In the discussion, development partners will know the strategic direction, scope, and phases of implementation of the BDP. Through this, they will identify areas of collaboration and possible complementation.

The BDP Core Planning Team will provide outline of the integrative report of the BDP. With here that development partners will know the challenges that may occur in formulation of the Plan.

Part also of the discussion is the presentation of the thematic areas on sustainable human development (SHD) from which the BDP themes is anchored to.

BDP is recognized as vital roadmap that will provide a short and medium-term vision and strategy for the recovery and development of the Bangsamoro.

It was long envisioned since 2008. It is upon the directive from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim on March 22, 2013, that this project was pursued. The order was for BDA to coordinate with donor and funding partners, to conduct needs assessment in the Bangsamoro immediately, and to expedite the completion of the formulation of the Bangsamoro Development Plan.

The BDA’s role in the formulation of the Bangsamoro Development Plan is in accordance with the signed Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro on October 15, 2012 which states that creation of Transition Commission (TC) will coordinate “development programs in the Bangsamoro communities in conjunction with the MILF Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), the Bangsamoro Leadership Management Institute (BLMI) and other agencies” (Section VII, 4c of the FAB).

It was further reinforced after the signing of the FAB Annex on Revenue Generation and Wealth Sharing on July 13, 2013 which stated that the Bangsamoro shall formulate its development plans, consistent with the national development goals but recognizing their unique needs and aspirations. The plan shall also consider the revenue generation needed for the post-conflict rehabilitation, reconstruction and development in the region.