COTABATO CITY – A significant progress in the Bangsamoro region has been assessed according to the overall assessment made by the sectoral committees of the Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council (BEDC) for the 3-year implementation of the 1st Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) 2020-2022.
The Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) spearheaded the 4-day workshop on January 24-28, 2022 in Davao City, which mainly assessed Bangsamoro region’s major milestones and identified the gaps, issues, opportunities, including the strategic recommendations in line with formulation of 2nd BDP 2023-2028.
Among the major milestones of the Bangsamoro Government include the passage of major priority laws or codes, the increased in investments, improvement of businesses, trades, socio-economic and livelihood assistance to the poor that reduces the poverty incidence in the region, which are said to be in line with the Bangsamoro framework.
The assessment also highlighted the extensive and coordinated health/medical aids and building of health facilities in response to Covid-19 pandemic, rehabilitations and infra-projects assistance, institutionalization of the principle of Moral Governance, and maintaining peace and security in the region, among others.
The BDP aims to accelerate the economic growth in BARMM region in line with the National Development plan.
BPDA Director General Engr. Mohajirin T. Ali emphasized the significant tasks of different participants in shaping the future of the BARMM and bringing its vision into reality.
“This is a new and challenging milestone for us. Considering the trust given to us, I encourage everyone to sustain the installed values of Moral Governance and to promote teamwork and optimism while working on the assessment of 1st BDP,” Ali said.
Meanwhile, BARMM Cabinet Secretary Mohd Asnin Pendatun shared significant accomplishments of the region using the framework of 1st BDP.
“Recently, despite of the challenges we have encountered brought about by the pandemic and while undergoing transition period, a statistical data from Philippine Statistics Authority for the period of 2018-2021 has posted highest significant reduction in poverty incidence in BARMM – from 55.9% to 39.4%,” Pendatun said.
“This means a lot and surely we are heading towards the right direction,” Pendatun added.
Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim encouraged all the ministries, offices, and agencies to collaborate actively with BPDA on its series of planning activities “to support in realization of our aspirations for our people.”
Atty. Reginald Pastrana, one of the resource persons, congratulated the participants and Bangsamoro constituents saying, “our shared collaborative ideas and hard works in the decision of our mandated tasks in this event have prevailed.”
The event was graced by 154 attendees, both face-to-face and via zoom, from the different BARMM ministries, offices, and agencies, including other development partners (UN-FAO, UNICEF, WB, NEDA, TAF, SUBATRA and JICA), facilitators, and resource persons. (Kasan M. Usop, Jr./BIO)
