COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro Economic and Development Councilβs (BEDC) Social Development Committee (SDCom) conducted on Monday, February 8, its first regular meeting for the year 2021 held at BPDA Conference Hall, Bangsamoro Government Center, this city.
This yearβs first regular committee meeting was presided by Atty. Raissa H. Jajurie, Committee Chair and Minister of the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), and Engr. Mohajirin T. Ali, Committee Co-Chair and Director General of the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA).In his message, Engr. Ali proposed to conduct a regular meeting once every quarter except for the possible special meetings that will depend on the necessity of the issues and concerns raised by the members. The meeting highlighted the presentation of Resolution No. 1, series of 2021 by the Regional Nutrition Council (RNC), the proposed creation of a sub-committee on International Migration, and the status of the submission of accomplishment reports of the agencies under the social sector.
In response to Dr. Mohammad Candao of the Commission on Population (PopCom), Dr. Kadil Sinolinding, the Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator of the National Nutrition Council (NNC-BARMM), suggested that for PopCom to be part of RNC. A new resolution shall be submitted and decided upon by the SDCom.Upon the motion of the Bangsamoro Commission for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (BCPCH), NNC shall include the Commission as a member of the RNC. Along with the other suggestions of the SDCom, this shall be reflected in the revised resolution for the establishment of the sub-committee known as RNC to be endorsed to the BEDC. Furthermore, Engr. Ali suggested the establishment of a technical working group (TWG) composed of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), and the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE) as the lead ministry.
The TWG shall look closely into the requisite of the national government for the creation of a sub-committee on International Migration and Development (IMD) and represent the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region to ensure the needs and context in the region are considered. The MBHTE stressed the importance of their role and concern in the literacy of the border-risk and stateless children due to the deprived status of the neighboring countries which they raised to be included in the SC-IMD resolution.Meanwhile, all thirteen (13) members of the Social Development Committee were present during this yearβs first commitee meeting. (BPDA-BARMM)