COTABATO CITY – A total of eleven (11) resolutions proposed by the sectoral committees of the Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council (BEDC), chaired by BARMM Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim, were approved Saturday, May 6, 2023, during the Council’s first regular meeting at the Conference Hall 1 of the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) and via Zoom video teleconference.
During the meeting, Abunawas Maslamama, the newly appointed BARMM Senior Minister, and Roderick Furigay, the local chief executive of Lamitan City, took oath as new members of the Council.
In his message, CM Ebrahim congratulated all the Council members and the BPDA’s workforce for the successful launch of the 2nd BDP 2023-2028 last April 12, saying “It was indeed another milestone of the Bangsamoro government in sustaining the gains and pursuing the development thrusts, direction, priorities, and strategies toward becoming an empowered, cohesive, and progressive Bangsamoro.”
He also encouraged his members and all the region’s stakeholders to be united and focus on genuinely working towards realizing the dreams and aspirations of the Bangsamoro.
“I am in high hopes that with moral governance as our guide, we can do greater things for our homeland and our people,” CM Ebrahim stressed as he looks forward to working with his fellow public servants in harnessing their collective expertise and resources in building a better Bangsamoro.
BEDC endorsement to support the RDC X11 Resolution NO. 132, series of 2022. On April 14, 2023, Regional Development Council XII through the National Economic and Development Authority SOCCSKSARGEN region sent a letter to BEDC to support the RDC Resolution No. 132, series of 2022, “Requesting the Office of the President to Separate the Bureau of Customs Sub-Port of Dadiangas from Collection District No. XII (Port of Davao) and Convert the Same into an Independent Collection District of Principal Port of Entry, Pursuant to Section 208 of Republic Act No. 10863, Otherwise Known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.” The Council agreed to adopt a resolution supporting RDC XII Resolution No. 132 series of 2022.
𝑻𝒘𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑬𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒄 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒆 (𝑬𝑫𝑪𝒐𝒎)
BPDA Director General Engr. Mohajirin T. Ali, BEDC vice chairperson and head of the technical secretariat, presented the proposed resolution approving the Bangsamoro Food Security and Nutrition Plan (BFSNP) 2023-2028. It is a plan that articulates the overall thrusts and direction of the Bangsamoro government toward achieving a self-reliant, food-secure, and resilient region. DG Ali underscored that this plan is consistent with the enhanced 12-Point Priority Agenda of the BARMM, particularly Agenda No. 4: Agri-fishery Productivity and Food Security.
After thorough deliberation, the Council approved and adopted the plan while ensuring other investments from national government agencies (NGAs) that will attribute to the achievement of food security and nutrition shall be included in the plan.
Nasrullah Dilangalen, an enterprise development and marketing specialist, presented the resolution endorsing the proposed “Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) Scale-up” of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) – Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) for evaluation and appropriate action. This resolution was also approved by the Council.
On the other hand, Arch’t Eduard Guerra, IDCom chairperson and minister of the Ministry of Public Works (MPW), recommended complementing the PRDP Scale-up from the region, particularly for the proposed projects at the local level.
𝑭𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑰𝒏𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒆
Under the IDCom, around five resolutions were approved by the Council to improve the infrastructure development in the region.
DG Ali presented to the Council the resolution approving the list of priority Bangsamoro High Impact Projects (BHIP). These projects were identified by the IDCom in the Bangsamoro Development Investment Program, an accompanying document of the 2nd BDP 2023-2028 containing the rolling list of priority programs and projects of the BARMM.
The resolution endorsing the proposed acquisition of construction equipment for road network improvement/implementation and disaster quick response operation through grant aid from the Japan Government to the NEDA for evaluation and appropriate action was presented by Engr. Danilo Ong, Director General of the MPW. The said project will aid flooding caused by water hyacinths that hamper the water flow and boat/barge operations along the river and other concerns.
Considering the bulk of projects that are being implemented ‘by Administration’ and its high demand during disaster quick response operations, Minister Guerra said “There is a need to urgently acquire the additional equipment to compensate the insufficient existing operational units.”
DG Ong discussed the three proposed resolutions requesting the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to consider the urgent funding and implementation of road and flood control projects.
The resolution requesting the DPWH to consider the urgent funding and implementation of special projects under the ‘Road Network Development Project’ in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao: SP-1 Matanog-Barira-Buldon-Alamada-Libungan Road and SP-6 Tapian-Lebak Coastal Road.
Likewise, the resolution requesting the DPWH to consider the urgent funding and implementation of the Cotabato West Diversion Road under the special projects on disaster risk reduction countermeasures was also deliberated by the Council.
Another resolution requesting the DPWH to fast-track the implementation of Ambal-Simuay River and Rio Grande de Mindanao River Flood Control Projects under the Urban Development and Redevelopment Project. The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) initiated to craft the Mindanao River Basin (MRB) Master Plan which delved into the root causes of the constant flooding in the river basin and outlined priority development interventions that will address the problem through an integrated and holistic approach that cuts across the regional and provincial border.
𝑻𝒘𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑺𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒆 (𝑺𝑫𝑪𝒐𝒎)
The Council also approved two resolutions proposed by the SDCom, particularly on the proposed projects of several academic institutions in the region and adding the Office for Other Bangsamoro Communities (OOBC) under the Office of the Chief Minister (OCM) as a member of the Council.
Marjuni Maddi, Director General of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), presented the proposed projects of Mindanao State University – Maguindanao, Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (TCTO), and MSU-Sulu. The SDCom requested the Council to endorse the said projects to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to allocate funds for the fiscal year 2024.
Moreover, the OOBC was the latest addition to the roster of members of the Council following their approval during its first regular meeting. The Council recognizes the role of OOBC in protecting the rights and promoting the economic, social, and cultural development of the Bangsamoro in the communities outside the BARMM.
𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆, 𝑷𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄 𝑶𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓, 𝑺𝒂𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚 (𝑷𝑷𝑶𝑺𝑺𝑪𝒐𝒎)
The Council further approved the resolution for the inclusion of the Office of Civil Defense – BARMM (OCD-BARMM), the Bureau of Immigration – Cotabato District (BI), and the OOBC under OCM as additional members of the Peace, Public Order, Safety and Security Committee (PPOSSCom). The Committee acknowledges the crucial roles of the said offices in promoting peace, public order, safety, and security in BARMM. (𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑎 𝐿𝑎𝑜-𝐿𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑎 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑠 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐷𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛 𝐷𝑖𝑒𝑙 𝐸𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑛̃𝑜𝑙𝑎, 𝐵𝑃𝐷𝐴-𝐵𝐴𝑅𝑀𝑀)