Still part of the business and investment climate in the Bangsamoro, the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID), Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF) and UP College of Law conducted Workshop on Land and Property Rights in the Bangsamoro held in UP Law Center, University of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman, Quezon City last June 4-5, 2014.

“The topic on Land and Property Rights, for obvious reasons, is very close to the hearts of the Bangsamoro people as it touches on very sensitive cords that underpin the struggle of the Bangsamoro to regain what legally, morally and historically belongs to them – their ancestral domain that includes not only its territory but also its governance, natural resources and their identity as a people.” said by Dr.Saffrullah Dipatuan, BDA Chairman, in his vision statement.

“The BDA is presently formulating the Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP). This Plan will serve as the blueprint of the massive rehabilitation and development works that we will implement in the Bangsamoro communities ravaged by several decades of armed conflict and government neglect.Certainly, the outputs from the series of workshops, of which the present workshop is a part hereof, will provide the needed inputs for the BDP and the preparation of a strategic roadmap for private sector development,” Dr. Dipatuan added.

Key leaders from the UP College of Law, Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF), Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) and Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (formerly referred to as AusAID) led the formal opening of the activity.

In this view, the activity highlighted the presentation of selected topics in line with the objectives and their relevance to Bangsamoro.

On the first day of the workshop, a discussion on the Philippine rules and regulations and institutional arrangements on land tenure officially commenced the session focusing on alienable and disposable (A&D) lands and forestlands. It tackled special issues related to forestland and protected areas and importance to the Bangsamoro. Elmer S. Mercado, Land Use Specialist and former Undersecretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources rendered the said discussion and was responded by key representatives from UP College of Law, Watershed Management and Energy Development Corporation and the Philippine Judicial Academy.

In the regional context, Dr. Fermin Adriano, Team Leader of the World Bank Scoping Mission for Mindanao then rendered a discussion on the land tenure issues and performance of the land tenure system in the ARMM. The discussion tackled the significance of these issues to the new Bangsamoro area. Reactions were then provided by the International Alert/Business World, UP Los Baños, Unifrutti Philippines Incorporated and the Institute of Autonomy and Governance .

Furthermore, international practices and forestlands administration and management were presented by Anthony Burns, the Managing Director of the Land Equity International. During the presentation, it was suggested that these practices and management can be used as model in the Bangsamoro jurisdiction. Key representatives from the Ayala Land Incorporated, Philippine Wood Producers Association, Ateneo School of Government and the ARMM-Board of Investments responded as well to the said topic.

On the second day (June 5, 2014), Dr. David Brereton of the Center for Social Responsibility in Mining and Atty. Jose M. Layug, former Secretary of the Department of Energy, tackled inland mining, oil and gas with focus on known mineral resources in the Bangsamoro. It discussed the status of exploitation and applicable national laws, ARMM regulations, as well as international obligations. Thereafter, responses were given from representatives of Wallace Business Forum, Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship, Chamber of Mines of the Philippines, Trans Asia Oil and Energy Development Corporation and ARMM-Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The discussion on coastal waters concluded the sessions by presenting the applicability and implications of national laws, in the ARMM, and treaty obligations to the new Bangsamoro waters. Atty. Rodolfo N. Quicho, Jr.,Country Programme Manager, UNDP P-GEF-Small Grants Programme rendered the said lecture and responded by representatives from Mindanao State University – Tawi-Tawi, Petroleum Association of the Philippines, the representative from Department of Foreign Affairs.

The workshop was attended by key representatives of different Government Agencies and Offices, Business Companies, and Institutions operating in Mindanao. The attendees were Office of the Presidential adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), Mindanao Development Authority, RBOI-ARRM, DILG-ARMM, National Commission for Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), Regional Legislative Assembly-ARMM, Philiipine Judicial Academy, MSU-Maguindanao, Institute for Autonomy and Governance, World Bank, Center for Social Responsibility in Mining-The University of Queensland, Land Equity International, Unifrutti Philippines Incorporated, M. Abubakar Construction and Engineering, International Alert/Business World, Philippine Wood Production Association, Ayala Land Incorporated etc.

“I want to reiterate my thanks to the organizers, the FEF and PCID, and their partners, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (formerly referred to as AusAID) and the UP Law Center for their laudable efforts. The BDA Board of Directors and its BDP Advisory Council looks forward to reviewing the recommendations emanating from the workshop series and gaining useful insights” message of Dr. Dipatuan to the organizer of the workshop.