MANILA CITY, Philippines — The Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) visited here on Tuesday, Nov. 15 the Department of Finance (DOF) and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to undergo a briefing on policies and processes in handling Official Development Assistance (ODA) led by DOF Asst. Secretary Neil Adrian S. Cabiles and DFA Asst. Secretary Joey Angeles.
The meeting highlighted the presentation on the role of the said two national government offices in the management of ODA, particularly with their engagement on international agreements.
During the briefing, DOF ASec Cabiles discoursed the process of ODA loan, grant, and donation.
Atty. Roussel R. Reyes, Director for Economic and Socio-Cultural Treaties of the Office of Treaties and Legal Affairs (OTLA) under the DFA, discussed the approval of grants following the 2021 Intergovernmental Fiscal Policy Board (IFPB) Guidelines on Foreign Grants to the BARMM.
Pamela F. Durian-Bailon, DFA’s Director for Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs (ASPAC), shared their experiences on processing ODA grants. On the other hand, foreign government engagement with BARMM was also discussed by Ralf G. Roldan, Acting Director for DFA’s Office of the Civilian Security (OCS).
Moreover, DOF and DFA also shared that their functions are based on executive orders issued by the Office of the President. This is to ensure that all proposals are in accordance to Philippine law.
Engr. Kadil A. Sulaik, Jr., Director for Research Development and Special Projects Bureau (RDSPB) of the BPDA, expressed his gratitude to the said national government offices for their generosity in sharing their experiences in handling ODA.
Meanwhile, Dir. Sulaik further said that this information shared by DOF and DFA will aid in managing the ODA in the BARMM and to also ensure proper coordination between the Bangsamoro government and the Philippine national government. (Lovella Lao-Lastimosa with reports from ODA/Nationally Funded Programs Projects Coordination Division, BPDA-BARMM)
