The Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) conducted its 2^nd consultants and Bangsamoro focal persons meeting at Al-nor Convention Center, Cotabato City on February 6 -7, 2014. It was attended by 115 participants that included consultants from various development partners such as: Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), The Asia Foundation (TAF), World Bank (WB) administered by Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF), and UN agencies. It also included representatives from Government of the Philippines (GPH) line agencies and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) line agencies.

Representatives from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and the Socio-Economic Unit of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) attended this activity, as important stakeholders of this project.

Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan, BDA Chairman, in his opening message said “I pray that with our collaboration we will be able to realized a Plan for the Bangsamoro that will not only languish in bookshelves but something that we can implement in the transition period and that can also be beneficial towards the medium term in the making of new Bangsamoro government.” He was thankful to the growing partners and stakeholders who signified interest to take part in the very important milestone in creating a new chapter of history of the Bangsamoro – the formulation of the Bangsamoro Development Plan.

Mr. Senen Bacani, GPH Peace Panel Member, graced the meeting-workshop. In his message, he divulged that all annexes of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) were already signed, including the Addendum on the Bangsamoro Waters. He added that by March 2014, the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro will also be signed hopefully.

Mr. Bacani further said that “at present, the Bangsamoro Transition Commission is presently drafting the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which is expected to be finished by the end of March so it can be submitted to Congress by April”.

“The basic idea is to have pass and approve it earlier, as we have noticed that the congress has very tight schedule, but in any case the Bangsamoro Basic Law will pass it and to have a plebiscite in the designate areas in the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro”, he stressed.

Mr. Bacani also emphasized on a Special Development Fund, budgetary requirement needed by the Bangsamoro catch up with its neighboring regions. “This fund shall come from the GPH. Need prioritization will depend on the needs of communities, and even look into small scale infrastructure projects that will attract more investment but this is very specific projects in terms of location and balance with the absorptive capacity of the people. The challenge lies on how to do it a quick as possible, so that the people will benefit as soon as possible and in the end the lives of people are important in this endeavors”, he added.

Atty. Laisa Alamia, Executive Secretary of the ARMM assured that the ARMM is fully support ive to the BDP Process

Mr. Senen Bacani, GPH Peace Panel Member, graced the BDP Consultants and Bangsamoro Focal Persons Workshop

Matt Stephens, MTF Task Team Leader, in his message during the BDP Consultants and Bangsamoro Focal Persons Workshop

Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan, BDA Chairman, in his opening message during the BDP Consultants and Bangsamoro Focal Persons Workshop

Matt Stephens, MTF Task Team Leader, shared that “roadmap is little bit messy along the way, this is a big job for us along with other donors and we need a lot of coordination as we move together to accomplish this plan, we are looking forward to work with together with BDA and viewed this meeting as to guide the core team and make the processes easier for us”.

Mr. Stephens informed that MTF is fully supportive in the formulation of the Bangsamoro Development Plan and provide all the needed resources to complete the project on time.

Atty. Laisa Alamia, Executive Secretary of the ARMM assured that the ARMM is fully support and now preparing a mechanism on the smooth transition to the new Bangsamoro Government to avoid overlapping of projects and plans. “The ARMM Regional Governor himself is very supportive on this effort of BDA to have the development plan and in case of needed data or relevant documents, the ARMM line agencies will be willing to provide data and information”, she explained.

The main highlight of the meeting-workshop was the presentation of consultants’ draft outline with regard to their respective assigned thematic areas in relation to the formulation of the Bangsamoro Development Plan. Consultants will be expected to submit their first draft report on the first week of March 2014.

The journey towards this roadmap could be a lonely one, but because of the partners’ commitment and support this journey is surely an exciting one, said Dr. Dipatuan.

In his closing statement, Dr. Dipatuan encouraged the consultants, Bangsamoro focal persons and Core Planning Team to to always refer to FAB and its annexes as well as the concept of note of the Plan which will serve as legal framework.

Also present during this activity were the focal persons of the BDA strategic program thrusts

This project is supported by the Mindanao Trust Fund for Reconstruction and Development Program (MTF-RDP).