Photo by Faisal Camsa Jr./BIO
COTABATO CITY—Top officials of the Bangsamoro Government unveiled on Wednesday, April 12, the 2nd Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP), a comprehensive roadmap that outlines the region’s development priorities and strategies which will drive progress and unity in the next six years.
The 2nd BDP, launched at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex inside Bangsamoro Government Center in this city, is a guidepost that underscores the development thrusts, priorities, and strategic directions of the Bangsamoro Government for the years 2023-2028 succession plan that was carefully crafted to sustain the gains achieved by the Bangsamoro Government for the past three years as outlined in the 1st BDP 2020-2022.
During the launch, Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) Director General Engr. Mohajirin Ali presented the approach, cross-cutting themes, planning standards and principles, and the plan’s formulation process which underscored the “whole-sector approach” adopted by the Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council (BEDC) to ensure the formulation of an inclusive plan that is responsive to the needs of all sectors in the BARMM.
“BARMM, being a vast region in terms of geographic feature, and in terms of culture, it is very necessary that the plan is inclusive to the needs of all sectors in the Bangsamoro,” Ali said.
“This plan serves as a guide toward the attainment of the region’s overall goal of becoming an empowered, cohesive, and progressive Bangsamoro,” Ali added.
Meanwhile, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim reminded fellow public servants to remain committed to the full realization of the development plan and urged them to strive to implement it.
“This plan is a major accomplishment for every Bangsamoro, as it sets the development thrusts, priorities, and strategies of the government for a 6-year period from 2023-2028,” he said.
“The dreams and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people cannot be realized unless we, who are in the Bangsamoro government, will work together and decide to achieve the aspirations of our people,” he added.
Former BARMM Senior Minister and newly appointed Maguindanao del Norte Provincial Governor Abdulraof Macacua also urged all the stakeholders of the BARMM to work together in prioritizing the implementation of the development plan to achieve the region’s desired progress and development, with moral governance as the overarching strategy.
“Through this plan and the implementation of our priority programs and projects, we are getting closer to realizing our aspirations for Bangsamoro,” Macacua said.
Also speaking on behalf of Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Speaker Atty. Pangalian Balindong, Secretary General Raby Angkal expressed that the Parliament was elated about the completion of the 2nd BDP 2023-2028 as it will serve as the peace and economic roadmap for the next six years.
“With it serving as a fundamental guidepost, the Bangsamoro people are assured that the successes in the transition phase will be continued and adopted by the future leaders of the BARMM,” he said.
“The duration of the development plan is quite meaningful and significant because it goes beyond our transitory mandate and is intended to influence and guide the policy decisions of our future elected leaders,” he added.
In his message of commitment, Cotabato City Mayor Mohammad Matabalao assured full support and work in the implementation of the plan anchored in the socioeconomic landscape of the entire region and intended for the welfare of the Bangsamoro people.
Highlights of the 2nd BDP
The Republic Act No. 11054, known as the “Bangsamoro Organic Law”, serves as the policy framework for crafting the 1st and 2nd BDP. Aside from this law and the Moral Governance principle which serves as a guidepost for leadership and service delivery, the 2nd BDP is guided by three cross-cutting themes: Inclusion, Equality, and Justice.
This 2nd BDP which consisted of 14 chapters was adopted by the Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council (BEDC) on December 23, 2022, during its third regular meeting. Subsequently, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament approved the 2nd BDP during its first regular session on January 18, 2023.
The Bangsamoro government ensured that the 2nd BDP is linked and supportive to the Enhanced 12-Point Priority Agenda of the BARMM, and the development thrusts and priorities were translated into concrete programs and projects in the Bangsamoro Development Investment Program (BDIP).
This is also anchored to the Mindanao Development Plans, the 8-point Socioeconomic Agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. To ensure an inclusive plan formulation process, a regionwide consultation with multi-stakeholders was conducted to acknowledge and address the development challenges and priorities at the local levels.
Following the pillars of “Moral Governance”, this 2nd BDP features the priority programs, projects, and activities that will support the realization of the six development goals reflected in the Bangsamoro Development Framework.
Meanwhile, there are three (3) strategic shifts from the 1st BDP compared to 2nd BDP which include Setting Targets – a shift from point estimate to a range of values was undertaken in setting targets to accommodate internal and external shocks that oftentimes beyond government or state control; Defining Accountabilities – the notion of “Objectives” is being introduced to make the distinction which accountabilities are at the sectoral level, sub-sector level, or at the institutional level; and Emphasis on Strategy which treated as the unifying element at this is the direct link between targeted results and the initiatives.
Among the most notable macroeconomic goals of the 2nd BDP to meet at the end of the 6-year plan targets include:
- 8 percent to 9 percent Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) Annual Average Growth Rate
- 6 percent to 9 percent GRDP Annual per capita-Annual Average Growth Rate
- 10 percent to 12 percent Annual double-digit real growth of Industry and Services Sectors
- 18 to 20 Gross Capital Formation (GCF) as a percentage of GRDE/GRDP
- 2 percent to 4 percent Inflation Rate
- 3 percent to 5 percent Unemployment Rate
- 4 percent to 7 percent Underemployment Rate
- 20 percent to 25 percent Poverty incidence
Statement from Partners Stakeholders, Developmental Partners, and other Civil Society Groups:
The formulation and packaging of the 2nd BDP were in partnership with BARMM’s development partners, such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), The Asia Foundation (TAF) through Forward Bangsamoro, the European Union through the Support to Bangsamoro Transition (SUBATRA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UNFAO), International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Director Olie Dagala applauded the BPDA for generating a roadmap for growth that people, investors, tourists, government institutions, and development partners can refer to for their individual or collective decision.
“We also hope that the positive transformation that is happening in the BARMM would reinvigorate interests among investors and entrepreneurs leading to jobs creation and reduction of poverty,” Dagala said.
Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) Chairperson Guiamel Alim supported the plan and mentioned that the key to attaining development in the Bangsamoro region is through “unity and solidarity”.
Moreover, partners from Development Sector include the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator Mr. Gustavo Gonzalez; the European Union (EU) Head of Cooperation Christopher Wagner Mr. Christopher Wagner; Japan International Cooperation Agency Chief Representative (JICA) Mr. Sakamoto Takema; and The Asia Foundation (TAF) Country Representative Mr. Sam Chittick expressed their continued commitment of support for the realization of the 2nd BDP towards attaining a more inclusive, peaceful, resilient and progressive Bangsamoro region. (Kasan Usop, Jr./BIO)
