COTABATO CITY —- In line with the formulation of the 2nd Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) for 2023-2028, the Bangsamoro Government through the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), together with the sectoral committees of the Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council (BEDC), officially kicked off Monday, September 19, the regionwide consultation with Cotabato City as the first local government unit (LGU) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to undergo a consultation for the 2nd BDP.
In partnership with the Support to Bangsamoro Transition (SUBATRA) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the regionwide consultation aims to inform the LGUs and other stakeholders concerning the details of the 2nd BDP 2023-2028 and solicit their comments and inputs for possible integration in the said development plan.
In his message, Engr. Mohajirin T. Ali, BPDA Director General and head of BEDCโs technical secretariat, underscored that a successor plan, the 2nd BDP, is underway to sustain the gains and pursue the Bangsamoro Governmentโs development thrusts, direction, priorities, and strategies for the next six years, emphasizing that the coverage of the 1st BDP will end this year.
He further said that earlier this year, BPDA spearheaded various workshops and writeshops for the formulation of the 2nd BDP and its accompanying documents such as the Bangsamoro Development Investment Program (BDIP) and Result Matrices (RM), and BARMM Development Policy Research Agenda (BDPRA). BPDA also spearheads the provincial and city consultations to collect relevant data and information and solicit comments and inputs from the LGUs of the BARMM.
โAs the head of the technical secretariat, BPDA wants to ensure that as we write the content of the 2nd BDP, we took consideration of our stakeholders to take part in this by providing relevant information to make this plan inclusive,โ DG Ali stressed while highlighting the importance of consulting the LGUs as it will strengthen the foundation of the said plan that is anchored to the enhanced 12-Point Priority Agenda of the Bangsamoro Government.
Led by Mayor Mohammad Ali โBruceโ Matabalao, this consultation for Cotabato City LGU was participated by the officials and representatives from twenty-five (25) barangay LGUs, departments under the Office of the City Mayor, City Health Office, City Engineerโs Office, and City Social Welfare Development Services.
During the workshop, the participants worked with the sectoral committees in identifying potentials, opportunities, and proposed functional roles to support the regionโs development; recommended development priorities, thrusts, and strategies on significant sectoral challenges; and proposed areas of complementation.
Moreover, the sectoral inputs were presented by the participants and gathered by the technical secretariats of the Development Administration Committee (DACom) for the governance sector, Social Development Committee (SDCom) for the social sector, Economic Development Committee for the economic sector, Infrastructure Development Committee (IDCom) for the infrastructure sector, and Peace, Public Order, Safety and Security Committee (PPOSSCom) for the peace sector.
In her message, City Administrator Atty. Aelan B. Arumpac shared that the cityโs overall development thrust is in harmony with the BARMMโs BDP, saying โCotabato City is both honored to get on the BARMM and join taking the ride, a ride to regional developmentโ.
She also said that the city is privileged to be one of the nuts and bolts of the BARMM for the attainment of the lingering aspiration for growth and progress in the region.
โCotabato City shall be most pleased to fulfill the role of being the capital city of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region,โ she added.
Meanwhile, Cotabato City was officially declared as part of the BARMM following the result of the plebiscite held last January 25, 2019, wherein the majority of the Cotabateรฑos favored the cityโs inclusion in BARMM. (Mary Lovella Lao-Lastimosa with reports from Norodin Intia, BPDA-BARMM)