COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) has provided technical assistance to six (6) MILF camps including Abubakar, Omar, Badre, Bilal, Bushra, and Rajamuda during the three-day Camps Transformation Investment Programming (CTIP) workshop held Wednesday until Friday, June 2-4, at BPDA Conference Hall, Bangsamoro Government Center, this city.
This workshop aimed to review the initially identified programs, activities, and projects (PAPs) per domain and enhancement of PAPs or identification of additional PAPs mentioned in the Camps Transformation Plan (CTP). It also aimed to review and finalize the details per PAPs and identify the items to be costed and its possible source of funds.
Furthermore, BPDA was tasked by Joint Task Force on Camps Transformation (JTFCT) to craft the CTP in 2020 and spearheaded the CTIP under the direction of JTFCT with close coordination to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).
BPDA Director General Engr. Mohajirin T. Ali said that the 3-day workshop entails a systematic identification, preparation, selection, scheduling, and phasing of PAPs given the resources available.
“To validate the PAPs initially identified in the CTP and have a rough estimate of the cost for the said identified PAPs,” Ali stressed in highlighting the rationale for the investment programming.
Ali also underscored the significant participation of the camp coordinators as well as anticipating the donor partners’ appreciation on the CTP.
“I hope that the donor partners will be able to appreciate more the CTP and found something interesting on their part,” he added.
The CTIP is anchored to the second and fifth agenda of the 12-Point Priority Agenda of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The second agenda states to review, integrate, and harmonize the Bangsamoro Development Plan, the Regional Development Plan of ARMM, the Camp Transformation Plan and other Bangsamoro plans to make them responsive to the currents needs. Likewise, the fifth agenda states the implementation of special programs for transitioning combatants and their families apart from regular programs of the national government like 4Ps and PhilHealth, among others, “to ensure that these programs are tailored fit to their needs so that they will become productive members of the society.”
Moreover, the CTP is also aligned to the second development goal of the BARMM which states to uphold peace, security, public order, and safety; and respect human rights.
Ali “Maestro Celes” Salik, Member of Parliament and MILF-TFCT co-chair, stressed that a plan without an investment is just a framework and a framework without implementation is just a mere illusion.
“The trust given to Bangsamoro Government is an Amanah, it costs generations of lives and tears and sweat. Thus, it is the moral obligation of BARMM to deliver the best in the fulfillment of the Bangsamoro people’s high expectations, the duty to bestowed to them in this world and the hereafter,” MP Salik said.
In attendance during the workshop were representatives from the 6 MILF camps, OPAPP Cotabato Office, Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), and JTFCT secretariat. Some development partners were also present as observers via zoom video teleconference.
Meanwhile, this activity was supported by International Organization for Migration (IOM). (BPDA-BARMM)