𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐌 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐒𝐎 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐚, 𝐜𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫

DAVAO CITY – The Bangsamoro Government, through the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), in partnership with the European Union and the Spanish Cooperation/AECID through the SUBATRA Programme, successfully hosted the 2nd Private Sector Organizations (PSO) Summit to further strengthen collaboration with academia, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the business sector in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Attended by 120 participants, the event took place on Monday, November 25, 2024, at Acacia Hotel in Davao City.

The PSO Summit is an annual convention of private sector organizations within BARMM, aimed at sustaining partnerships between the Bangsamoro Government and its stakeholders, promote dialogue and inclusive governance, and foster collaboration to build an empowered, cohesive, and progressive Bangsamoro.

With the theme “BARMM Sustainable Development: Socio-Economic Investment through Collaboration and Leveraging Public and Private Synergies,” BARMM Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim emphasized the summit’s importance in harnessing the collective expertise of academia, CSOs, and the business sector.

“Our ability to collaborate effectively brings together diverse stakeholders, creating a platform for inclusive dialogue and mutual understanding. We must ensure that our socioeconomic development programs are well-coordinated and responsive to the needs of our constituents. It is through these collaborative efforts that we can build an empowered, cohesive, and resilient Bangsamoro region,” he said.

Chief Minister Ebrahim highlighted the establishment of the Bangsamoro Private Sector Committee (BPSC), a special committee under the Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council (BEDC). He also underscored the significant decline in BARMM’s poverty incidence, which dropped from 52.6% in 2018 to 23.5% in 2023.

This economic achievement was further explained by Engr. Mohajirin T. Ali, MNSA, the concurrent BARMM Assistant Senior Minister and BPDA Director General, during his presentation on BARMM’s Socioeconomic Landscape. He provided insights into regional accomplishments, ongoing efforts, and the pivotal role of public and private sector collaboration in shaping a prosperous future for the Bangsamoro.

“One of the most compelling narratives in BARMM’s journey is its remarkable progress in poverty reduction, a story that highlights achievement and opens doors to new opportunities,” he emphasized, citing recent data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showing that BARMM is no longer the poorest region in the Philippines.

In his presentation via video teleconference, Director General Ali discussed the significant opportunities that Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) offer to accelerate BARMM’s socioeconomic development, particularly in infrastructure, agriculture, education, healthcare, and tourism.

“By collaborating with private sector entities, BARMM can leverage additional resources, expertise, and technology to address infrastructure gaps and improve public services,” he stressed.

He also shared updates on BTA Parliament Bill No. 329, or the proposed BARMM PPP Code, which is currently on its first reading. Director General Ali also expressed gratitude for the technical assistance provided by the PPP Center and the support of the SUBATRA Programme in this initiative.

Meanwhile, Director Feroisa Concordia of the PPP Center delivered a presentation on PPP concepts and frameworks, showcasing best practices from other regions that BARMM could adopt for successful PPP project implementation.

The BPDA facilitated breakout sessions focused on three thematic areas: (a) Research and Development: Driving innovation and knowledge creation for economic growth; (b) Community Resilience and Social Impact: Fostering CSO partnerships and building stronger networks; and (c) Empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs): Technology integration, financial inclusion, and sustainable business models for economic growth.

Key experts such as Prof. Rufa Cagoco-Guiam, Robert Apadan of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), and Selahuddin Hashim of The Moropreneur Inc., facilitated the sessions.

Atty. Gilbert V. Sembrano of the Spanish Cooperation/AECID highlighted the collaborative effort between BARMM, BPDA’s Economic Intelligence Division (BPDA-EID), SUBATRA’s CSO partners, and the SUBATRA Justice and Society Project (SJSP).

“In 2023, the Justice Component began supporting the BPDA-EID to serve as secretariat of the BEDC, mandated with accelerating the socioeconomic development thrust and priorities of the BARMM through inclusive participation and partnerships with PSOs,” he said, reiterating the continued support of AECID and SJSP for this initiative.

In his message, BARMM Senior Minister Abunawas L. Maslamama emphasized the summit’s value, describing it as more than just an economic platform.

“Together, we aim to foster dialogue between the private sector and key BARMM ministries, offices, and agencies, address prevailing challenges, and explore avenues for growth. Our discussions today will culminate in a comprehensive set of recommendations to guide policymakers in creating an environment conducive to private sector growth and sustainable development,” he stated.

As the technical secretariat of the BPSC, the BPDA ensures that private sector initiatives align with BARMM’s development thrusts and priorities. The summit serves as a strategic platform for sustaining partnerships between BARMM and its stakeholders. (𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙖 𝙇𝙖𝙤-𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙖 / 𝘽𝙋𝘿𝘼-𝘽𝘼𝙍𝙈𝙈)