Hopes and dreams for the Bangsamoro- the BDP story
Stories of hope in a journey towards peace and development
As series of community consultations ensued for the mass awareness campaign waged by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) through its Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) roadshows, various groups have expressed their support for the success of the BDP and rallied for its immediate implementation.
“Before BDP roadshows were conducted, we thought that BDP was only for the Muslims and MILF.” Renelia T. Layo-an, head of the Manobo tribal group said during the community roadshow in Wao, Lanao del Sur. Now, we realized that it’s for everyone who dreams of peace to arrive, she added.
“We support this BDP, after all, we are in the same direction in wanting to help our people” Engr. Debualeg Utto, Provincial Planning & Development Coordinator (PPDC-Maguindanao) stated in one of the workshops hosted by BDP Unit.
Jamalodin Pandi, MPDC of Poona Bayabao Lanao del Sur, said that he is happy to take part in the planning workshop as a Bangsamoro professional because ‘you are serving the Bangsamoro people in general, not just your own self’.
“Hope that we can be a tool towards the success of of BDP”, MPDC Pandi said.
Meanwhile, if there are proposed interventions from the community people, there are also suggestions and recommendations to improve the existing plans to improve the efforts in addressing the Bangsamoro peoples’ current situation. Some of them are the re-writing of the Mindanao history, appropriate and environmentally-friendly technologies and improving the educational system among others.
Several groups are supporting the move for the full implementation of the Bangsamoro Development Plan as they believe that change is within reach with the advent of development initiatives thru the formulation of this BDP. As manifested in the various development projects proposed by partner LGUs together with their constituents, it conveys that the Bangsamoro populace are welcoming the new phase no matter how much challenge that still lingers ahead.
Progressive Bangsamoro dreamt of – Now almost a reality, in God’s time
The Bangsamoro Development Agency staffs are feeling elated at the prospect of various development interventions in their areas of coverage now that dreams for a developed Bangsamoro has its roadmap with the formulation of the BDP.
“With this BDP, it’s as if we see our communities booming with development”, Rhadzni Taalim, the Planning Officer III articulated in an interview by this writer. He also noted that war is not an option; he wants to see his homeland rising up to the challenge of making developments happen.
“We got tired of seeing people run for their lives and end up in misery in the evacuation centers leaving their belongings and resources to waste”, he said adding that it’s heartbreaking to think of those wasted times spent in the evacuation sites waiting for aids to come.
He reminisced his childhood days during wartimes and he shared that he couldn’t help but feel the burden every time the thought comes to mind.
“But now, our dreams are slowly becoming a reality thanks to the support of our active partners both local and international”, he stressed.
For Planning Officer II Engr. Amil Kali, BDP means articulation of needs that would respond to the real plight of the communities as well as an answer to the projected problems that may exist in the future time by both intellectual and individual entity. During the course of our activities, we have seen the reality in the ground and validated that their entries (identified projects) are the genuine needs of their communities.
On his part, Mr. Swaib Mohamad who is also serving at the BDP program, he believed that it’s a guide towards action - that which gives you direction.
During the field technical validations undertaken by the BDP team, they have seen the intensity of needs in majority of the Bangsamoro areas. “These needs pushed us to work more and ensure there will be areas for implementation”, M & E Officer Ismael Mamokan said.
In total, the BDP technical team has visited and validated 23 municipalities and 33 barangays which have identified potential projects to be implemented.
2, 461 numbers of people from various sectors were reached during the community roadshows conducted in different communities across the regions of BDA including the island provinces of Tawi-Tawi and Sulu.
BDP is a comprehensive roadmap that articulates the needs and aspirations of Bangsamoro towards better quality of life.
(Rohania Ibrahim, BDA CommGroup)