COTABATO CITY — Following the approval of the Bangsamoro transitionโs extension until 2025, the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), the executive arm of the BARMM government, spearheaded on Thursday, November 4, the first-ever BARMM Planners Congress held at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex, Bangsamoro Government Center in this city.
First BARMM Planners Congress aims to harmonize collaboration and linkages between the autonomous regional government and LGUs towards good governance and efficient public service in the BARMM, as well as to update the 3-year Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) through collecting inputs from the BARMM LGUs.
In his message via Zoom, Engr. Mohajirin T. Ali, Director General of the BPDA, recognized the concerted effort of the BARMM planners who were involved in the formulation of the 1st BDP that was officially launched exactly a year ago on November 4, 2020.
โThis demonstrates clearly that the success of the 1st Bangsamoro Development Plan was contingent upon the commitment of all relevant development stakeholders. More importantly, this necessitated the proactive engagement of all BARMM planners from both the regional and local governments,โ Ali said.
Ali also underscored the extension of the Bangsamoro transition signals the continuation of efforts to sustain the gains of peace, emphasizing the significant work to do to catch up in terms of achieving the development goals outlined in the 1st BDP.
โThis would also imply that the Bangsamoro Development Plan will be updated in light of the 3-year BTA extension, and taking into account also the COVID-19 related challenges that we are currently facing,โ Ali added.
Furthermore, said event was attended physically and via Zoom video teleconference by regional, provincial, city and municipal planners from the local government units (LGUs) in the region, together with the planning officers from various BARMM ministries, offices, and agencies.
BARMM Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim said via Zoom, the Planners Congress was one of the actions taken to further strengthen and sustain the collaboration of the BARMM government among the planners regionwide. It also serves as an avenue to provide their feedbacks to assess the implementation of the 1st BDP.
โTodayโs gathering of our hardworking planners who are playing a significant role in the BARMMโs economic and development initiatives, clearly demonstrates the Bangsamoro governmentโs unwavering commitment towards achieving our vision of uplifting the lives of the Bangsamoro and laying the foundations for self-governance through moral governance,โ Ebrahim said.
Also, Ebrahim hopes that these plans shall foster camaraderie and help strengthen linkages with BARMM LGUs.
โI am appealing to all of you, my fellow public servants, to carry out your duties and responsibilities in such a way that will bring glory to our beloved BARMM. Let us continue to serve our fellow Bangsamoro with integrity, utmost dedication, dignity, and honesty,โ Ebrahim stressed.
Meanwhile, the Bangsamoro Directions for 2020-2025 amid the transition phase will be focusing on the following: address the identified BARMM bureaucratic challenges and gaps; full establishment of the BARMM bureaucracy; completion of the passage of priority legislations; continuing improvement of functionality and performance of the LGUs; improving access of people to quality delivery of social services at all levels of the government; improving productivity in agriculture and services through value and chain approach; sustaining and promoting peace, public order, and safety in the region; mitigate emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, and climate and disaster risks especially the vulnerable sectors; improving infrastructure support facilities; and substantially provided support for the completion of Marawi rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Through a video message, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua, reiterated the commitment of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in supporting the BARMM government in the establishment of strong governance and relevant development assistance projects.
โNEDA commits to continue working with BARMM to address challenges, resolve issues, implement measures that are mutually beneficial to both the national government and the BARMM government, particularly on fiscal policies, financing requirements, legislative measures, policing, energy and power generations, and the transfer and creation of new offices, among others,โ Chua emphasized.
Chua also stated that the pandemic has forced us to rethink, reevaluate, and re-strategize the plans, which has become challenging for the Bangsamoro government, as the region moves forward from its history of armed conflict. (BPDA-BARMM)