COTABATO CITY — The Regional Land Use Committee (RLUCom), one of the special committees of the Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council (BEDC), conducted its first regular meeting for the year 2021 on Wednesday, February 17 at the BPDA Conference Hall, Bangsamoro Government Center, this city.
The committee meeting highlighted the proposed formulation of BARMM Regional Physical Framework Plan (RPFP). It is a long-term physical plan that covers the four major land use components including the Settlements Development, Production Land Use, Protection Land Use, and Infrastructure Development. With the BARMM having the additional land areas, it is a necessity to formulate for the region’s updated RPFP.Engr. Al Kashmir Ko, BPDA Local Planning and Coordinating Division Head, presented to the members the ways forward on formulating the BRPFP. Moreover, the Committee agreed to prioritize the creation of a technical working group (TWG) for the said plan.Director Khalid Dumagay of the Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG) emphasized the need to formulate the BRPFP. “It is about the management of our territory and an actual exercise of autonomy. “Ito iyong magiging guide sa ating development,” he said.
Dir. Dumagay also explained the importance of knowing the exact land area of the different provinces for it will affect all the development plans in the region. “We cannot manage what we cannot measure,” Dumagay stressed.Furthermore, Janice-zah Macapantar of the Ministry of Human Settlement and Development (MHSD), presented the status of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) of the different provinces in the region as of December 2020. As shown in her presentation, she reported that most of the provinces are currently updating their CLUP.Engr. Mohajirin T. Ali, Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) Director General and RLUCom Co-Chair, was elated for the presence of the committee members, as well as the two invited ministries, the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism (MTIT) and Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs (MIPA).“Every member is very crucial especially the MHSD” Ali emphasized in his message.
The MTIT and MIPA were recently added as new member of the Committee. Both ministries expressed their gratitude for its inclusion and vowed to support the Committee’s aim to improve the local government’s plans in terms of land use in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.Meanwhile, the members agreed to conduct the next committee meetings on the second month of every quarter. If necessary, special meetings will also be conducted before the regular committee meetings. (BPDA-BARMM)