COTABATO CITY —- Officials and members of the Infrastructure Development Committee (IDCom), a sectoral committee under the Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council (BEDC) being chaired by the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) and co-chaired by the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), refined their sectoral outputs during the 2-day sectoral refinement workshop on the formulation of the 2nd Bangsamoro Development Pla, 2023-2028 on July 18- 19, 2022 at the Paragon Hotel in this city.
The said committee aimed to review and refine their sectoral goals and objectives identified during the previous assessment workshops on the formulation of the 2nd BDP.
In addition, this activity also helped the committee to clearly define its development strategies and initiatives for the next six years.
The Support to the Bangsamoro Transition (SUBATRA) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) provided technical assistance during the workshop.
Accordingly, SUBATRA further contributes to the smooth and timely transition of the BARMM through conducting capacity building activities for the personnel of Bangsamoro government and civil society organizations.
In her message, Cristina Elisse Capistrano of UNOPS, said the European Union Delegation to the Philippines, through the SUBATRA Programme, is happy to support this workshop of the IDCom.
“We sincerely hope that this will be the start of our collaboration and meaningful partnership,” she stressed.
In addition, said workshop also provided an opportunity for the committee members to harmonize the context, strategic goals, interventions, and outcome and output indicators that will be included in the 2nd BDP.
Also in attendance were Minister Dickson P. Hermoso of the Ministry of Transportation and Communication (MOTC), UNOPS Country Manager Engr. Oscar Leonel Moreno Ruiz, and UN Agency Focal for Infrastructure.
Further, Engr. Ruiz explained the importance of infrastructure for sustainable development and infrastructure management and planning.
In his message, Minister Hermoso discussed the regulatory functions of MOTC and the key role of infrastructure that promotes and develops industries and attracts investors.
“Many think that MOTC has regulatory functions only. But if we do not promote and develop transport and communication industries, we would have little regulation,” he said.
Meanwhile, as the secretariat of the IDCom, the BPDA’s Infrastructure Planning Division continues to provide technical assistance and coordinates with various development partners to conduct and facilitate workshops, in connection to the formulation of the 2nd BDP. (BPDA-BARMM)