COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is bound to strengthen its collaboration with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) following the latter’s technical meeting on Monday, May 16 with the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA).
BPDA Director General Engr. Mohajirin T. Ali was welcomed by MinDA Executive Director Usec. Janet M. Lopoz, Deputy Executive Director III Romeo Montenegro, and other MinDA officials and staff at the MinDA office in Davao City.
DG Ali said that part of the agreements during the meeting were preparation of a memorandum of cooperation, and the conduct of joint planning between BPDA, MinDA and concerned Bangsamoro ministries, offices and agencies to come up with a conceptual framework defining the future collaboration between MinDA and BARMM on BIMP-EAGA and interregional concerns.
โThese initiatives hope to strengthen cooperation between the BARMM Government and MinDA on BARMMโs participation in the BIMP-EAGA and other interregional concerns,โ DG Ali said.
Usec. Lopoz and her team provided a briefing on Mindanao Development Corridor and updates on the status of MinDA facilitated projects in the BARMM such as the Tawi-Tawi Water-Energy Food Nexus Program, Ambal-Simuay River and Rio Grande de Mindanao River Flood Control Projects and Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project which includes 3 bridges in Tawi-Tawi.
In addition, updates on the development framework and initial business case for the proposed Tawi-Tawi Special Economic and Freeport Zone and the business case for the proposed Agro-Economic Zones in BARMM were also presented during the meeting.
Meanwhile, DG Ali provided updates on the current development initiatives of the Bangsamoro Government in Maguindanao and the island provinces.
He also discussed issues on water and energy in the island provinces and emphasized the importance of ensuring project sustainability.
Also in attendance during the meeting were Bangsamoro Member of the Parliament Suharto Ambolodto and Directors Melanie Indar and Kadil Sulaik, Jr. of BPDA. (BPDA-BARMM)