COTABATO CITY – Bangsamoro region’s economic and development council (BEDC) conducted on Friday, May 28, its second regular meeting for this year, and approved resolutions on finances, infrastructures, and inclusion of other ministries as its members.
Under the leadership of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim, also the chairperson of BEDC, along with Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) Director General Engr. Mohajirin T. Ali, vice-chair and head of the technical secretariat, the gathering was held via Zoom conferencing at BPDA Conference Hall, Bangsamoro Government Center, in this city.
During the meeting, a resolution endorsing the retrofitting of the US$280 million second additional financing with EUR 18.3 million European Union’s co-financing grant for the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) was approved.
PRDP is a six-year project designed to establish the government platform for a modern, climate-smart, and market-oriented agri-fishery sector. With this, PRDP will partner with local government units and private sectors in providing key infrastructure, facilities, technology, and information that will raise income, productivity, and competitiveness in the countryside.
Another resolution recommending the creation of Energy Infrastructure Development sub-committee under BEDC’s Infrastructure Development Committee (IDCom) of the BARMM was also approved.
A resolution requesting the BEDC to include the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism (MTIT), Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affair (MIPA), and Office of the Senior Minister to the members of the IDCom was also supported.
Meanwhile, Tong Abas, chief agriculturist of the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), presented the Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP), which targets the farmers and fisherfolk in the ancestral domains in Mindanao, by developing sustainable agri-fishery-based economic activities grounded on indigenous knowledge system and practices.
“The objective of this project is to sustainably increase agricultural productivity, resiliency, and access to markets and services of organized farmer and fisherfolk groups in selected ancestral domains and for selected value chains in Mindanao. Very similar ‘yong program with PRDP. Doon lang talaga magkakaiba sa focus natin, talagang indigenous people’s organizations,” he said
To realize the MIADP, Engr. Ali Abas said a certificate of ancestral domain title (CADT) must be secured, which is mandatory for the inclusion of ancestral domains in the region.
“Yes po, it is mandatory. Iyon po ‘yong agreement. So, kaya nga si BARMM after two to three years pa siya pwedeng magpasok sa MIADP project,” he said.
According to reports, no CADT was presented to testify the recognition and inclusion of the ancestral domains in the region.
Atty. Laisa M. Alamia, minority floor leader of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament, suggested MAFAR “to request the funder to reconsider the requirements, make an exception for the BARMM to the general rules.”
“Baka pwedeng hindi na kailangan na meron na talagang CADT and Ancestral Domains Sustainable Development and Protection Plan (ADSDPP) because those take years to draft before the approval of the NCIP. Among all the regions in Mindanao, it’s BARMM that needs this kind of project especially for IPs. There are IPs not just in Maguindanao, but also in Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. Fisheries projects would be really good for them,” she said.
Abas also recommended to raise the issue to the national office for appropriate actions. “Siguro ang gagawin na lang ni MAFAR ay ire-raise natin sa national office ‘yong issue na ito dahil sobrang tagal pa ‘yong three years na ‘yon. Then, kung titingnan po natin ‘yong project ay talagang maganda lalo to support ‘yong mga IPs natin dito sa region,” he said.
Attendees of the meeting include sectoral and special committees of BEDC, members of the BTA Parliament, provincial and city local government units, and private sector representatives.
BEDC serves as the planning, monitoring and coordinating body for all development plans, programs, and projects of the Bangsamoro Government. It also serves as the counterpart of the National Economic and Development Authority board and equivalent of the regional development councils in the administrative regions. (MARY LOVELLA L. LASTIMOSA, BPDA-BARMM, MINDANAO EXPOSE’)
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