BARMM holds 1st governance summit to link, strengthen LGUs

 Governors and local chief executives of the five provinces of BARMM with Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim (third from right) and Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo, BARMM spokesperson and MILG minister, during the Bangsamoro Governance Summit held Friday, July 23, 2021, in Cotabato City.

COTABATO CITY – In pursuit of upholding moral governance and uplifting the lives of its people, the Bangsamoro Government held its first Bangsamoro Governance Summit 2021 here on Friday, July 23.

 The summit aims to fortify coordination among BARMM local chief executives (LCEs) and the regional government to ensure alignment of the consolidated and deliberated programs and projects laid out by each local government unit (LGU) for its inclusion in the region’s priority Projects Program Activities (PPAs) for the fiscal year 

BARMM Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim expressed his hope that the summit will help the region achieve a more responsive and grounded governance. 

“I am optimistic that we can bridge our programs, projects, and activities that are genuinely responsive to the needs of our people,” he said.

Ebrahim also said the transition period provides the Bangsamoro the opportunity to build the foundations that would address development challenges.

“I am proud to say that we have done significant strides in laying the groundwork needed for the attraction and infusion of capital – such as stable environment, infrastructure, and favorable regulatory schemes – but we still need to do a lot more and we need more time. It is along these lines in which strong partnership between the Bangsamoro Government and the local government units is of high importance”, he said.

“Over the past week, regional authorities went to your respective provinces and listened to your plans and priority programs and projects. We believe that being the government at the local level, you can shed more light on the situation on the ground,” he added.

LCEs and governors from the BARMM’s five provinces, contingents from the national government including Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sec. Salvador Panelo and Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri (via Zoom), BARMM key officials, and development partners attended Friday’s event.

In a message read by Panelo, Senator Bong Go said: “Our LGUs will play a vital role in this endeavor by ensuring that our government is seen, heard, and felt by the people.”

“Your success in this undertaking will definitely complement the national agenda to further empower our LGUs to become stronger, more capable, and more resilient,” Go added.

Go also reiterated his unwavering support to the Bangsamoro Government and lauded its efforts in serving the people amidst pandemic.

“I salute the BARMM for continuing the hard work despite the challenges caused by the present COVID-19 pandemic, and for being one with the government in finding ways to secure a peaceful, stable, and progressive future for Muslim Mindanao,” he said.

Meanwhile, Senator Zubiri commended the interim government of BARMM for holding the summit despite the challenges it faces amidst pandemic.

“I’m very happy to see that despite the challenges of this pandemic, the BTA and our LGUs were able to hold much-needed consultations to identify the needs of our people and what projects and programs that they require both short-term and the long-term,” he said.

Furthermore, BARMM Senior Minister Abdulraof Macacua presented the Mandanas Ruling, which aims to significantly affect the service delivery of Bangsamoro LGUs constituencies.

“The impact of Mandanas Ruling is another issue that we need to look into and integrate into our local government code. While the Ruling provides you more financial resources, it would also mean that some of nationally funded projects will be devolved to you,” he said.

He added that through the summit, both local and regional governments can best coordinate, cooperate, and collaborate towards the same goal of making lives easier for the Bangsamoro people 

During the summit, Governors Mamintal Alonto Adiong, Jr. of Lanao del Sur, Jim Hataman Salliman of Basilan, Abdusakur Tan of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi Provincial  Planning and Development Coordinator Wahab Bakil, Guindulungan, Maguindanao Municipal Mayor Datu Midpantao Midtimbang, Jr., and Special Geographic Area (SGA) Administrator Mohammad “Kellie” Antao, presented their respective Provincial Development Frameworks and PPAs.

To cap off the event, BARMM key officials, which include Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo, spokesperson and concurrent interior and local government minister, and Engr. Mohajirin Ali, director-general of Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), presented the State of Local Governance Functionality and Performance and the Regional Development Directions and Priority Thrusts for 2022, respectively. (BANGSAMORO INFORMATION OFFICE, MINDANAO EXPOSE’)