COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council (BEDC) approved Friday, the 2nd Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP), 2023-2028 and establishment of the Bangsamoro International Development Assistance Committee (BIDAC) during its third regular meeting held in this city and via Zoom video teleconference.
In his message, BEDC chairperson and BARMM Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim said that the council spearheaded the formulation of the 2nd BDP through its five sectoral committees, with the assistance of the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) as the councilโs technical secretariat.
โI would like to congratulate the BEDC sectoral committees and the BPDA for leading the formulation of 2nd BDP that will serve as our guide in the development of our region,โ he said.
BEDC vice chairperson and BPDA Director General Engr. Mohajirin T. Ali presented earlier the salient features of the draft 2nd Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP), 2023-2028 to the officials and members of the BEDC, emphasizing the remarkable changes in the regionโs overall context.
โBARMM has the fastest economy,โ DG Ali stressed as the BARMM was able to achieve five out of six macroeconomic targets set in the 1st BDP, 2020-2022.
Following the councilโs approval of the said plan, the council will recommend for the approval of the 2nd BDP to the Bangsamoro Parliament for its deliberation as it will be the basis for the preparation of next yearโs budget proposal of the ministries, offices, and agencies.
Furthermore, the creation of Bangsamoro International Development Assistance Committee (BIDAC) was also approved by the council. The said committee will serve as a coordination mechanism involving the Bangsamoro government and international development partners towards harmonizing the implementation of foreign-assisted programs and projects in the BARMM.
โThe BARMM government is taking the step in developing a mechanism that would consolidate the efforts and initiatives of development partners that supports the government in facilitating the efficient and effective delivery of services to Bangsamoro communities,โ CM Ebrahim said.
The meeting also highlighted the oath-taking of Cotabato City Mayor Mohammad Ali โBruceโ Matabalao and Bangsamoro Attorney General Atty. Sha Elijah D. Alba as new members of the BEDC. The said officials sworn to fulfill their duties as members of the council and committed themselves to democratic means in pursuit of the ideals and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people.
Meanwhile, the BEDC further approved the resolution allowing the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Cotabato Branch to attend council meetings with an observer status. This office is directed to strengthen the surveillance of economic financial affairs of the BARMM through its representation in the council. (Mary Lovella Lao-Lastimosa, BPDA-BARMM)
