Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) presents the concept note in the formulation of the Bangsamoro Development Plan with the Line Agencies of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) on December 17, 2013 in Manila.

The activity is organized and hosted by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) headed by Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo.

“Bangsamoro Development Plan process will depart from traditional sectoral planning as it considers peace lens”, said BDA Chairman Dr. Safrullah Dipatuan in his opening message.

Further, Dr. Dipatuan stressed: “What makes this process unique is that based on the BDP development framework, it will focus on thematic areas that leads to peace and institution building in accordance with universal Islamic values to creats security, social justice and jobs for sustainable human development”.

As part of the legal mandates of the BDA in drafting this BDP, Dr. Dipatuan stressed important bases such as the GRP-MILF Tripoli Agreement of Peace on June 22, 2001, Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) signed last October 15, 2012, and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Central Committee directive to the BDA Chairman on March 22, 2013.

Dr. Dipatuan thanked the representatives from the different GPH Line Agencies for responding the call of OPAPP in convening GPH counterparts as key stakeholders in the formulation of Bangsamoro Development Plan.

Secretary Senen Bacani of the GPH Peace Panel presented highlights of the recently signed Annex on Power Sharing of the FAB. He discussed the main features of the said Annex that includes nine (9) Reserved Powers, 14 Concurrent Powers and 58 Exclusive Powers.

Secretary Bacani informed that one more FAB Annex on Normalization is yet to be signed between GPH and MILF Peace Panels before the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) will finally start thedrafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). The Annex on Power Sharing was signed on December 8, 2013 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Other agendum that was tabled during the meeting was the discussion on the proposed concept note for the On-the-Job Training (OJT) or Placement Program for the Bangsamoro scholars and young future bureaucrats to the different GPH line agencies.

The meeting generated support from the present GPH representatives from the different line agencies. Specific commitment from the GPH end will be determined after they received advice from their respective heads of office. OPAPP commits to lead the effort in ensuring that GPH participation to make this BDP process inclusive and owned by all stakeholders.

Also present during the meeting were GPH Peace Panel Chairperson Ms. Miriam Ferrer; GPH Peace Panel Member Yasmin Lao; representatives from GPH line agencies such as: National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Representing the World Bank was Dr. Fermin Adriano.