COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) and World Food Programme (WFP) facilitate the formulation of the Bangsamoro Food Security Plan (BFSP) 2021-2025 in the ongoing three-day workshop which started on Monday, August 23 until August 27 held at Avior Hotel in General Santos City.
This workshop aims to craft a plan that shall guarantee food security in the Bangsamoro region, manifested by improved accessibility and availability of sufficient, safe, and nutritious food for all people at all times resulting to economic growth, poverty reduction, and progress of the region.
In his message, BPDA Director General Engr. Mohajirin T. Ali underscored the creation of the ‘task force’ under EO 005 series of 2020 as one of the commendable efforts of the Bangsamoro Government.
“We are the first region in the Philippines that were able to organize a regional task force on food security and the first region to launch food security roadmap. We are doing this effort to institutionalize the programming and budgeting of programs and projects related to food security in the BARMM,” Ali said.
With this initiative of the Bangsamoro government to combat food insecurity in the region, Ali added that he is looking forward to a more coordinated BARMM efforts, strengthened linkages between the national, regional, and local government, and regular monitoring of programs and projects related to food security.
In a message delivered by MAFAR Minister Mohammad S. Yacob, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim said “the journey towards this roadmap will be rocky, but with competence and vision of the team that crafted this substantial document, it can be done.”
“In order to create the conditions for lasting food and nutrition security, our efforts must be sustainable economically, environmentally, and socially,” Yacob added.
Furthermore, Darren Espaňola of the World Food Programme (WFP)Cotabato Sub-Office, expressed their commitment and support in addressing the food insecurity and malnutrition in the Bangsamoro Region.
“Through this activity, I hope that we can have a concrete plan and direction and look for a possible collaboration with other concern ministries and stakeholders. We should also double our effort in addressing this issue and translate all those strategies, vision, and goals into action,” Espaňola said.
Panel of reactors during the workshop were Melanie Indar, Daren Espanola, and Rohanisah N. Rashid, Chief of BPDA’s Economic Planning Division (EPD).
Meanwhile, participants were the planning officers and focal persons of the Bangsamoro Food Sufficiency Task Force (BFSTF) that includes the Ministries of Interior and Local Government (MILG), Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE), Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE), Health (MOH), Trade, Investment and Tourism (MTIT), Labor and Employment (MOLE), Science and Technology (MOST), Technical Management Services – Office of the Chief Minister (TMS-OCM), and Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA). The National Nutrition Council (NNC-BARMM) also joined via zoom video teleconference.
As stated in Executive Order No. 005 series of 2020, BFSTF is mandated to formulate the BFSP which shall outline the regional priorities based on the comprehensive understanding of the problem related to access, availability and the utilization of food in the region. (BPDA-BARMM)