DAVAO CITY โ The Bangsamoro Private Sector Committee (BPSC), chaired by Engr. Mohajirin T. Ali, MNSA, Director General of the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), convened for its inaugural meeting today, August 13, 2024, at Panorama Summit Hotel in Davao City.
The meeting highlighted the election of the committee vice-chairperson. Nominees included BARMM Business Council (BBC) President Atty. Ronald Hallid D. Torres, League of Bangsamoro Organization (LBO) Chairperson Abdulbasit R. Benito, and Colegio de Upi, Inc. President Carmen Chavez. After the election, Atty. Torres, who is a member of the Business Investment, Industry and Job Employment Working Group, was announced as the first elected BPSC vice-chairperson.
Administered by Director General Ali, Atty. Torres, along with Atty. Raissa H. Jajurie, Minister of the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD); Abu Amri A. Taddik, Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism (MTIT); Guiamel M. Alim, Chairperson of the Bangsamoro Civil Society President (CBCS); Abdulbasit R. Benito, Chairperson of the League of Bangsamoro Organization (LBO); Carmen Chavez, President of the Colegio de Upi, Inc.; Dir. Nasrodin U. Buisan, representing Engr. Aida M. Silongan, Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST); and Notre Dame University (NDU) President Rev. Fr. Francis Efren C. Zabala, took their oath as officials and members of the committee.
During the meeting, Daren D. Espaรฑola, Economic Intelligence Division (EID) chief of the BPDA and BPSC secretariat, reported the highlights of the meeting conducted by three BPSC-Thematic Working Groups: the Research and Development Working Group chaired by MOST; the Community Engagement and Development Working Group chaired by MSSD; and the Business Investment, Industry and Job Employment Working Group chaired by MTIT.
Meanwhile, the committee deliberated on the finalization of the BPSC Internal Rules and Procedures.
As a special committee under the Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council (BEDC) established on December 1, 2023, the BPSC aims to strengthen government-private sector partnership and engagement at the regional level. This committee will ensure the alignment of initiatives to support the development thrust and priorities of the Bangsamoro government.
The committeeโs inaugural meeting was facilitated by its technical secretariat, the BPDA, with support from the Support to Bangsamoro Transition, a program funded by the European Union and co-funded by the Spanish Cooperation.