promoting just, honorable and lasting peace and...

Promoting Just, Honorable and Lasting Peace and Sustainable Development in the Bangsamoro (2015 to mid-2016 and mid-2016 to 2022)


VISION

In the name of God, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful

JUST AND LASTING PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE BANGSAMORO:THE VISION OF THE BANGSAMORO DEVELOPMENT PLAN

We, the Bangsamoro people, under the guidance of the Almighty,envision the Bangsamoro as a just, peaceful, and prosperous society

of empowered people and communities, enjoying a dignified quality of lifeenhanced by inclusive and sustainable economic opportunities.

In pursuit of this envisioned society, the Bangsamoro shall be supportedby responsive, participatory and transparent governance systemsthat are reflective of the Bangsamoro’s distinct cultural identity,

and right to fiscal and political self-determination.


The Bangsamoro Development Plan

1. What is the BDP? 1

2. What are its objectives? 1

3. Why does the Bangsamoro need a development plan? 2

4. How is the BDP different from other development plans? 2

5. How is the BDP “a reflection of the aspirations and fundamental needs of the Bangsamoro people”?

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6. How does the BDP address injustice, which is the heart of violent conflict in the Bangsamoro areas?

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7. For whom was the BDP developed? 4

8. How was the BDP formulated? 4

9. Will the other Bangsamoro who live outside the proposed BCT also benefit from the BDP programs?

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10. Who will implement the BDP? When and how will it be implemented?

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11. What can the BDP deliver to improve the Bangsamoro people’s well-being? When will they feel the results of the BDP programs?

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12. How will the BDP address the security question in Bangsamoro? 6

13. How will the BDP strengthen Bangsamoro’s institutions and improve the delivery of basic services?

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14. Where will the funds for the BDP programs come from? How is the funding prioritized?

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15. Who will manage the program funds of the BDP? 7

16. Who will monitor the funds to make sure that it will go directly to the programs that will benefit the Bangsamoro people?

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17. Who will monitor and evaluate that the BDP programs truly address the needs of the Bangsamoro people and that the programs’ outcomes are met?

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18. What is the relationship of the BDP to the BBL? 8

19. Why is there already a BDP, when the BBL has yet to be approved in Congress? What if the BBL does not get approved?

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TABLE OF CONTENTS


Economy and Livelihood

20. How will the BDP programs address poverty, unemployment, and underemployment in Bangsamoro?

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21. What mechanisms are in place to guarantee that BDP programs will provide equitable access to economy and livelihood to all Bangsamoro residents?

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22. How will the BDP programs strengthen Bangsamoro’s agricultural economy, which is the main source of livelihood of the Bangsamoro people?

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23. How will the BDP encourage the private sector to invest in agricultural development?

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24. What is the BDP’s strategy for infrastructure development? 11

25. What are the opportunities for private sector investment in the Bangsamoro?

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26. How will the BDP programs provide jobs and other sources of revenue, specifically for the women and the youth?

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27. How can the BDP’s economic and livelihood programs help resolve security issues in Bangsamoro?

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Social Services

28. How does the BDP respond to the huge gaps in basic social services in the Bangsamoro?

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29. How will the BDP make education accessible in Bangsamoro? 14

30. How will the BDP programs address the low literacy rate in Bangsamoro? How will the BDP education programs capacitate women, the youth, and other vulnerable groups so they may be competitive in the labor force?

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31. How will the BDP strengthen the madaris and IP education? 15

32. How will the BDP programs improve access to overall health care in Bangsamoro?

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33. Why is WaSH (water, sanitation and hygiene) important in the development of Bangsamoro?

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34. What BDP programs will be in place to promote WaSH? 16


Governance and Justice

35. How is the Bangsamoro government different from ARMM? 17

36. Will the Bangsamoro government be secular? Will Philippine laws in the Bangsamoro conflict with Shari’ah Law?

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37. What are the transition challenges to the Bangsamoro government? 17

38. How will the BDP programs mitigate corruption and promote transparency in the Bangsamoro government?

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39. What BDP mechanisms will be placed to ensure that nepotism, ethnic discrimination, and impunity will not permeate the BTA and the Bangsamoro government?

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Environment and Natural Resources

40. What are the priority needs of the Bangsamoro people in Environment and Natural Resources?

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41. How will the BDP address extreme climate challenges in Bangsamoro?

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Culture and Identity

42. What are the pressing cultural needs of the Bangsamoro? 19

43. Why are culture and identity important in the recovery, rehabilitation, and development of Bangsamoro?

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44. How will the BDP equally promote, preserve, and develop each of Bangsamoro’s cultural identity and history?

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Security and Normalization

45. How will BDP programs address security, especially ridos? 21

46. What programs will be provided to the MILF combatants so they may transition to civilian life?

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47. Will the families, including the widows and orphans, of MILF combatants also benefit from the BDP programs?

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48. What BDP measures are in place to assure the end of conflict and displacement for Bangsamoro residents?

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ARMM — Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao BBL — Bangsamoro Basic LawBCT — Bangsamoro Core TerritoryBDA — Bangsamoro Development Agency BDP — Bangsamoro Development Plan BLMI — Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute BTA — Bangsamoro Transition Authority BTC — Bangsamoro Transition Commission CAB — Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro CCT — Conditional Cash Transfer CPH — Census of Population and HousingCSO — Civil Society OrganizationCVE — Community Visioning ExerciseFAB — Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro GPH — Government of the Philippines ICP — Independent Commission on Policing JNC — Joint Normalization Committee JPSC — Joint Peace and Security CommitteeJPST — Joint Peace and Security Teams LGU — Local Government UnitMCSOPP — Mindanao Civil Society Organizations Platform for Peace MILF — Moro Islamic Liberation Front MNLF — Moro National Liberation Front NSO — National Statistics OfficeNGA — National Government AgencyPSA — Philippine Statistics AuthorityIPs — Indigenous Peoples TJRC — Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission

ACRONYMS

Promoting Just, Honorable and Lasting Peace and Sustainable Development in the Bangsamoro (2015 to mid-2016 and mid-2016 to 2022) 1

1 What is the BDP?

The BDP is a blueprint for the development of the Bangsamoro into a just, peaceful, and prosperous society. Building on the gains of the CAB between the GPH and the MILF, it aims to build the foundations of a “just economy” that will strengthen institutions; promote greater access to social services, jobs and livelihood opportunities; and foster citizen security, justice and rule of law in the Bangsamoro and its adjacent regions.

2 What are its objectives?

Its primary objective is to provide short- and medium-term vision, strategy, and recommendations for the socio-economic recovery and development of the Bangsamoro during the transition years (2015 to mid-2016) and after the installation of the new Bangsamoro government (mid-2016 and beyond).

Specifically, the BDP will (a) enable the Bangsamoro to build mechanisms of local participation that ensure sustainability and ownership of development planning and implementation; (b) sustain the momentum of the peace process by providing strategic directions for the delivery of basic services in Bangsamoro communities during and beyond the transition period; (c) assist the BTA in the implementation of the post-conflict development process; and (d) help facilitate a seamless institutional transition that will take place in 2016 as provided for by the CAB.

The Bangsamoro Development Plan

Promoting Just, Honorable and Lasting Peace and Sustainable Development in the Bangsamoro (2015 to mid-2016 and mid-2016 to 2022)2

3 Why does the Bangsamoro need a development plan?

The new Bangsamoro government needs a coherent plan to jumpstart its lagging economy and deliver on the heightened expectations of its constituents.

Despite its ample natural and human resources, the envisioned BCT has historically been the poorest region in the country. Plagued by continuing armed conflict, limited livelihood opportunities, inadequate social services, weak institutions, and deep political, cultural and economic inequity, and generations of systemic injustice and armed violence, it faces serious development challenges that must be overcome.

Although it accounts for 3.5% of the Philippine population, ARMM (used as proxy for the BCT in the Plan) contributes less than one percent of national output and has a per capita income less than a quarter of the national average. This means that its growth rates can hardly meet the basic needs of its people. Combined with its consistently poor economic performance in the past, the Bangsamoro people are practically consigned to economic backwardness without a clear plan on how to reverse its economic fortune.

4 How is the BDP different from other development plans?

The BDP is a peace-building plan that analyzes and addresses development issues using the conflict lens. It is anchored on an understanding that complex security, justice, and economic drivers perpetuate conflict in the Bangsamoro region and escalate development costs.

The Plan’s primary objective is to address injustice and tackle the sources of discontent that drive conflict. Thus, its priorities are different from other plans for other areas of the Philippines that are not affected by conflict.

How is the BDP “a reflection of the aspirations and fundamental needs of the Bangsamoro people”?

A series of community consultations in eight strategic areas of the BCT, and its adjacent areas, was conducted to determine the needs and aspirations, sources of discontent and vision for the future of a Bangsamoro society by residents in these places.

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Their responses guided the goals and the short- and medium-term recommendations of the BDP. The BDP also considered the results of the community consultations conducted by Mindanao Civil Society Organizations Platform for Peace (MCSOPP) in support of the BBL.

How does the BDP address injustice, which is the heart of violent conflict in the Bangsamoro areas?

Injustice is manifested in various forms in the Bangsamoro. First, the historical injustice of governance suppression (i.e., the Sultanate had already taken root before the colonial conquest of Mindanao). Second, the massive dispossession of lands from the Bangsamoro and IPs as a result of resettlement programs for northern settlers by the central government. Third, the accumulated neglect of the region because of the protracted conflict and the inadequate resources extended by the national government to the development of the area.

The BDP addresses these injustices. First, the Plan will identify capacity-building activities needed to fully prepare the Bangsamoro to govern effectively and efficiently in 2016.

Second, the BDP calls the attention of Bangsamoro and national government policy makers to immediately address land conflict as it is a key trigger of violence. As part of the MILF-GPH agreement, a Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) was formed to provide policy recommendations on the healing and reconciliation of Bangsamoro communities, including reparations for human rights violations and marginalization through land dispossession. The BDP supports the work of the TJRC.

Third, the Plan recommends measures on how jobs will be generated and incomes raised. It promotes inclusive growth so as to attain a “just economy” for the Bangsamoro.

It also identifies measures to improve the quality of education among the Bangsamoro youth and the overall health status of the Bangsamoro people.

It suggests how the administration of justice can be improved and the security situation strengthened.

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These are all meant to foster peace and stability to lay the foundations of a just, peaceful, and prosperous Bangsamoro.

7 For whom was the BDP developed?

As reaffirmed by Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim during the signing of the CAB, and by extension, the BDP, is “not only for the MILF. It is for the MNLF as well, as much as it is for all the Muslim ethnic tribes, the Christian settlers and the Indigenous Peoples in the prospective Bangsamoro government territory.”

8 How was the BDP formulated?

The BDP was developed by the BDA, as tasked by MILF Central Committee Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim “to coordinate with donor and funding partners, to conduct needs assessment in the Bangsamoro immediately, and to expedite the completion of the formulation of the Bangsamoro Development Plan.”

The development of the Plan was based on extensive consultations with all key stakeholders such as Bangsamoro residents as well as Christian settlers and IPs—including the women and youth— in the proposed Bangsamoro and adjacent areas, ARMM officials, LGUs, NGAs, and CSOs.

However, priority consideration was given by the BDP to those needs, aspirations, and vision articulated by the communities in formulating the Plan since it was designed to respond to their needs.

Will the other Bangsamoro who live outside the proposed BCT also benefit from the BDP programs?

The BDP includes estimated development requirements of Bangsamoro communities in Mindanao that are outside the envisioned core territory, as gathered through the community visioning and validation exercises.

This is consistent with Section 4, Part VI of the CAB, which states that the “Central government shall ensure the protection of the rights of the Bangsamoro people residing outside the territory of the Bangsamoro and undertake programs for the rehabilitation and development of their communities,” while “the Bangsamoro government may provide assistance to their communities to enhance their economic, social, and cultural development.”

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Who will implement the BDP? When and how will it be implemented?

Once the BBL is passed and ratified by the majority of voters in the proposed BCT, the BTA will function as the interim Bangsamoro government. The latter will be formally installed in mid-2016 with the election of Bangsamoro officials during the first regular election. The BTA will implement the short-term recommendations contained in the BDP.

Once the Bangsamoro government is formed, several ministries will be created. The appropriate ministry (i.e., health for health concerns, education for the education agenda) will be responsible for implementing the BDP’s programmatic recommendations.

What can the BDP deliver to improve the Bangsamoro people’s well-being? When will they feel the results of the BDP programs?

The BDP will be implemented in three phases: short-term (2015 to mid-2016), medium-term (mid-2016 to 2022), and long-term (2022 and beyond).

Recommendations for the short-term are focused on implementing high-impact and doable projects. Some examples are cash for work, literacy and livelihood assistance programs, particularly for women; input subsidies for farmers and fishers such as fertilizer and planting materials for the former and fishing nets or small boats for the latter under Economy and Livelihood; construction of farm-to-market roads and irrigation facilities and provision of solar panels for lighting under Infrastructure; conduct of adult literacy and vocational training programs for the youth under Education; hiring of forest rangers to protect the forests, and sea guards to protect coastal areas under Environment and Natural Resources; massive immunization of kids and provision of more PhilHealth cards under Health; acceleration of the implementation of Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) under Social Protection; construction of historical markers, makbarah (public cemetery for Muslims) and museums for Culture and Identity.

The benefits of these projects are intended to be immediately felt by Bangsamoro communities.

Besides their tangible benefits, the BDP programs’ immediate implementation will restore the confidence of the people in the peace process. This will also help enhance the legitimacy of the Bangsamoro institution in view of its ability to deliver results on the ground.

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How will the BDP address the security question in Bangsamoro?

The Joint Normalization Committee (JNC), a body created as part of the MILF-GPH agreement, is mainly responsible for this concern, along with other transitional security bodies such as the Joint Peace and Security Committee (JPSC) and the Joint Peace and Security Teams (JPSTs). Policing reforms for the Bangsamoro, including the formation of the police force in the region, will follow the recommendations of the Independent Commission on Policing (ICP).

BDP socio-economic assistance for the general Bangsamoro community shall be closely coordinated with the recommendations of the JNC and its component bodies so as to maximize security and stability returns.

How will the BDP strengthen Bangsamoro’s institutions and improve the delivery of basic services?

The BDP recommends implementation of massive capacity-building and capacity-mobilization (called “Balik Bangsamoro”) of Bangsamoro residing outside the BCT to ensure that highly qualified professionals are recruited into the Bangsamoro government.

An equivalent Civil Service Commission will be established in the Bangsamoro to ensure that recruitment of civil servants is merit-based. The establishment of a Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation (RBM&E) System is proposed to track progress made by the Bangsamoro government in the pursuit of the development objectives for the region.

Where will the funds for the BDP programs come from? How is the funding prioritized?

The implementation of the BDP will require a mix of funding mechanisms and channels from national government and bilateral and multilateral donors.

Funding will be based on priority projects proposed by the BDP which are highly doable duirng the short-term and will provide immediate positive impacts on the recipient communities.

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Who will manage the program funds of the BDP?

Prior to the installation of the BTA, development programs and projects intended for the Bangsamoro will be managed by ARMM and the national government agencies where the funding assistance is lodged.

At the same time, BDA and BLMI, as legitimate and recognized agencies of the MILF, will also continue to manage project implementations funded by aid agencies and development partners.

Once the transition government will be in place, the BTA will handle the funds and assets/properties until 2016, when the new set of officers of the Bangsamoro government are elected.

Who will monitor the funds to make sure that it will go directly to the programs that will benefit the Bangsamoro people?

As provided for in the BBL, there will be a COA (acting as an internal auditor) created within the Bangsamoro government. National COA will have the final say on the accounting and auditing of the use of funds.

Moreover, the Bangsamoro government will fully cooperate with the national government’s program of promoting transparency in the use of public funds by posting on their website the amount it received and expenses made. It will also encourage CSOs’ active participation in monitoring the use of funds as part of its “budget watch” program. The close links that the BTC has forged with the CSOs, particularly with the Bangsamoro CSOs, is a good jumping board for further strengthening the relationship between the two parties.

Who will monitor and evaluate that the BDP programs truly address the needs of the Bangsamoro people and that the programs’ outcomes are met?

The BDP provides for a Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation (RbM&E) System that will measure and clearly assess the progress of programs and projects identified in the BDP in order to manage development results. A management information system will track the progress of activities through quantitative and qualitative data gathered on projects implemented and their expected impacts on beneficiaries.

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Public opinion surveys will be sponsored, together with development partners, to determine the pulse of the Bangsamoro on the performance of the Bangsamoro government.

Moreover, the BDP recommends active involvement of stakeholders in decisions on the implementation of development programs and projects, building the capacity of relevant agencies within the Bangsamoro to implement RbM&E effectively, and installing transparency mechanisms such as the use of Open Data as the anchor to make BDP-RbM&E easily accessible to the public.

What is the relationship of the BDP to the BBL?

The BBL is the legal framework that governs the operations of the Bangsamoro government. The BDP is the development blueprint for the BCT.

Why is there already a BDP, when the BBL has yet to be approved in Congress? What if the BBL does not get approved?

The point of the BDP is to ensure a smooth transition so that when the new Bangsamoro government is formed, it can immediately start delivering for the Bangsamoro people and be a working government from day one.

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Economy and Livelihood

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How will the BDP programs address poverty, unemployment, and underemployment in Bangsamoro?

Issues related to the economy and employment formed a substantial part of the responses from the CVEs. The Bangsamoro lags significantly behind the rest of Mindanao and the Philippines in economic growth performance and poverty levels. To respond to the vision and aspiration for a prosperous Bangsamoro with a dynamic private sector that provides livelihood opportunities and help foster sustainable development, the programs in the BDP range from direct livelihood assistance, provision of production inputs (irrigation, aquaculture, farming), infrastructure development (roads, power supply) in support of livelihood, to specific interventions to foster a private sector based on Islamic principles of Halal. These activities are lined up for implementation during the transition years.

To build on the gains from this assistance, BDP recommends the conduct of several feasibility and analytical studies such as the (a) development of certain commodities along agribusiness lines, (b) adoption of measures to strengthen land tenure security in the region, and (c) appropriate policy environment to encourage greater private sector participation in the Bangsamoro economy. Also, the crafting of a master plan, particularly for the Polloc Port to serve as the trading hub of the region, will be undertaken to promote vibrant trading relationship within the Bangsamoro provinces and between the region and neighboring East Asian economies.

The implementation of these studies’ recommendations and the master plan will take place in the medium-term (mid-2016 to 2022) to consolidate and sustain the momentum of recovery and growth attained during the transition years (2015 to mid-2016).

What mechanisms are in place to guarantee that BDP programs will provide equitable access to economy and livelihood to all Bangsamoro residents?

A targeting system giving preference for the most needy and vulnerable groups in the Bangsamoro in the delivery of assistance was formulated as part of the Plan. This will be complemented by further consultations with the communities before projects are implemented. Activities will be monitored to track whether the benefits of the projects really reached the intended beneficiaries.

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How will the BDP programs strengthen Bangsamoro’s agricultural economy, which is the main source of livelihood of the Bangsamoro people?

During the transition period, the priority is to give assistance to small farmers and fishers who constitute the largest workforce in the Bangsamoro, in order to increase their productivity and incomes.

At the same time, policies and activities to attract more private investors to invest in Bangsamoro agriculture will be undertaken. Commercial farms will be encouraged, provided they are linked with small farmers/fishers through a production contract agreement, covering processing and marketing, as well.

The value-chain through agricultural/food processing and the creation of new products from traditional crops will be promoted. Initial activities in the development of the Halal food industry will be undertaken from 2015 to mid-2016, with its expected realization in the mid-term.

Islamic finance and credit will be developed to meet the credit requirements of the small farmers/fishers and agricultural ventures. In the medium-term, an integrated approach to agricultural development will be pursued for special areas such as the MILF camps and fertile production areas situated in environmentally-fragile locations. Such an approach will ensure sustainable growth and development for Bangsamoro agriculture.

How will the BDP encourage the private sector to invest in agricultural development?

A number of elements must be present to attract sizeable private investments in the Bangsamoro. First and foremost, security must be guaranteed. Second, the policy environment should be improved. Third, support infrastructure to reduce the costs of doing business (particularly transport) must be constructed.

The BDP addresses all these concerns.

It supports normalization by complementing socio-economic assistance to MILF camps and communities. Security measures recommended by the concerned bodies created for this purpose will be strengthened with a development assistance package from the BDP.

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Analytical and feasibility studies are recommended by the BDP during the transition years, particularly pertaining to land tenure rights and fiscal incentives, among others, to prepare appropriate bills for passage by the Bangsamoro Parliament when it is established in 2016.

The passage of these laws will ensure a policy environment conducive to greater private sector participation in the Bangsamoro economy.

Finally, recommended infrastructure in the BDP are meant to promote greater connectivity between production areas and marketing centers while ensuring easier movement of people and goods within and outside the region. These interventions are meant to reduce the transport and transaction costs of producers, travelers and traders.

What is the BDP’s strategy for infrastructure development?

The Bangsamoro region suffers from a serious deficit in infrastructure, from roads to irrigation facilities, to airports and seaports, to power supply and flood control. The overall strategic goal of the BDP is to develop a well-planned, needs-based, and sustainable infrastructure network and facilities that support five targeted strategies:

a. Infrastructure to connect to economic growth centers (national and provincial roads and bridges, airports and seaports, telecommunications); b. Infrastructure to support production (farm-to-market roads, irrigation facilities, small landing ports, energy supply); c. Infrastructure for access/social justice (access roads, off-grid household electrification for far-flung areas); d. Infrastructure to support security and normalization outcomes (investments in six priority camps); and e. Infrastructure for climate-resiliency (flood control and retro-fitting existing facilities).

What are the opportunities for private sector investment in the Bangsamoro?

Given the presence of huge tracts of fertile land and expansive coastal areas in the Bangsamoro, the main investment opportunities for the private sector are in agriculture and agribusiness, including processing of agricultural products.

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The existence of successful agribusiness firms such as La Frutera Banana Plantation and the Agumil Oil Palm Processing Plant in Maguindanao, and the Matling Cassava Production Processing Plant in Lanao del Sur demonstrate massive opportunities in the agriculture/agribusiness sector.

The second area is in the mining sector given the reported substantial mineral and non-mineral resources in the Bangsamoro. However, inventory or scoping studies of these resources are needed to determine their commercial volume for the private sector to be convinced to invest in this activity.

Because of the expected boom in infrastructure activities during the transition period, construction is another investment opportunity in the Bangsamoro.

How will the BDP programs provide jobs and other sources of revenue, specifically for the women and the youth?

The BDP will address the high unemployment and underemployment and low labor participation rates among women and the youth in the Bangsamoro with the promotion of job-creating investments as a key priority during the transition years.

For women, technical and vocational training programs on food processing, cottage industry, and farming and fishing will provide them with employment opportunities. Such training becomes more viable if the program is accompanied by a small loan to start a business venture.

For the youth, the BDP recommends the implementation of cash for work programs in the maintenance of public facilities, such as roads, canals, irrigation facilities, school buildings and premises, and health centers. Besides promoting transparency and accountability among local officials, the upscaled implementation of the Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach in delivering basic infrastructure facilities will provide thousands of immediate jobs for highly qualified Bangsamoro youth.

The technical and vocational training programs will match the needs of the labor market so that those trained will have immediate employment opportunities. Another scheme to ensure employment of trainees is to find out from potential employers the skills they require prior to the conduct of training programs.

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How can the BDP’s economic and livelihood programs help resolve security issues in Bangsamoro?

The BDP recognizes that job creation and livelihood assistance are a necessary but insufficient component of attaining security. Thus, the BDP stresses that economic and livelihood assistance should be provided with the overall peace-building goal in mind. If necessary, they can be subsumed under the security concern rather than being an upfront agenda.

How does the BDP respond to the huge gaps in basic social services in the Bangsamoro?

Providing access to basic social services to the Bangsamoro entails both a targeted strategy in the short-term and a spatially- and socially-blind strategy over the medium-term to highlight the BDP’s distinctive policy that it is NOT “business as usual.”

During the two-year transition, interventions in the social sector shall be geared towards increasing access to quality basic services and reducing the risk of conflict reversal by ensuring that communities immediately benefit from peace dividends.

Programs and projects in the medium-term shall be anchored on enhancing human resources by ensuring universal access to basic education and health care, and

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Social Services


creating a skilled and able workforce to support the long-term prospects of high and stable growth. Greater attention will be given to the delivery of social services to women, the youth, and other vulnerable groups who occupy the bottom rungs of the social development ladder.

The priority programs for social services are: construction, rehabilitation and staffing of health centers; building of schools/madaris and teacher training to reflect religious diversity; support for IDPs including housing, nutrition and orphan support; provision of potable water supply with sanitation and waste management systems; and a safety net system for out-of-school youth (through programs, sports centers).

How will the BDP make education accessible in Bangsamoro?

At present, only 72.5 percent of children in the Bangsamoro are enrolled in elementary schools (national average is 95.2 percent) and 26.1 percent in secondary schools (national average is 64.6 percent). To improve access to education, the BDP calls for the construction of more schools (standard and madaris) and the provision of teacher trainings. These will lead to the recruitment of more qualified teachers who reflect the cultural and religious diversity of the region.

How will the BDP programs address the low literacy rate in Bangsamoro? How will the BDP education programs capacitate women, the youth, and other vulnerable groups so they may be competitive in the labor force?

The BDP calls for the intensified delivery of learning, competency, and skills development programs for the illiterate inactive youth population through the Balik Eskwela program, the Department of Education’s Alternative Learning System (ALS) with support from DFAT’s BEAM-ARMM, the Abot-Alam program, scholarships for technical-vocational training provided by TESDA and accredited service providers, and training for work and apprenticeship in private companies that will support the anticipated construction boom and other livelihood opportunities during the transition period.

Some 300,000* adults in ARMM are illiterate, which poses a significant barrier to achieving the Millennium Development Goal and the objective of Education for All.

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* NSO/PSA-CPH 2010 data cites 319,815 adults without education in the current ARMM, while 715,173 adults who did not finish elementary including those without education. Magbassa Kita Foundation estimates a total 600,000 adult iliterates in the ARMM.


Improving adult literacy, especially among mothers, will generate both economic and social returns by limiting inter-generational transmission of poverty and illiteracy.

How will the BDP strengthen the madaris and IP education?

The madrasah and IP educational system will be strengthened to encourage more Bangsamoro to enroll and gain knowledge and skills for productive employment. The madaris, especially in MILF camps and schools offering IP education, will be accredited and teachers will be trained not only on traditional fields of learning but also on more secular, technical, and science courses to create a learning environment conducive to technical and scientific proficiency as the future Bangsamoro gears towards global competitiveness.

How will the BDP programs improve access to overall health care in Bangsamoro?

The strategic thrust of the health sector over the transition period is to expand the implementation of universal quality health care in areas most affected by conflict and where the most needy and vulnerable are clustered. This will underline the dividends of the peace process. Focusing on target and/or clustered areas will ensure that the scale of public health interventions have significant impact on regional health indicators.

In the medium-term, the Bangsamoro government should deepen the implementation of universal access to health care, taking into account cultural diversity and sensitivity in the provision of quality health care.

Why is WaSH (water, sanitation and hygiene) important in the development of Bangsamoro?

Sanitation is a major concern in a region where only 36.9 percent of the population has access to safe water and 22.5 percent have access to sanitary toilets. Water resources in the Bangsamoro are limited and at risk and have to be managed for the good of everyone.

Considering that many water-borne diseases can be traced to the inadequate provision of clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, the provision of WaSH should be a priority component of the Bangsamoro’s universal quality health program.

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Thus, the BDP treats WaSH concerns not only as a program or project of the government but as part of the service to maintain a healthy population and to reduce poverty caused by illness.

What BDP programs will be in place to promote WaSH?

The delivery and management of WaSH entails the systematic participation of stakeholders performing different roles such as communities, different levels of local governments, regional level bodies, national agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector, and international partners.

WaSH services must be compliant with the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water, the standards on appropriate water and sanitation technology, and other criteria and benchmarks provided by law. It must also take into account the demands of economic activities such as agriculture, energy and industry, the pressures of pollutive economic activities and extreme weather conditions.

The Bangsamoro government shall draw up a regional framework or roadmap that will provide strategic guidance, targets, and support to its local units with respect to WaSH planning. Private-Public Partnerships shall be explored to encourage entrepreneurs to provide water services using mobile filtering technologies for a minimal tariff based on capacity to pay.

The Bangsamoro government shall also study the possibility of encouraging households to invest in improved and sanitary toilets in exchange for durable household goods such as a solar power package.

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Governance and Justice


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How is the Bangsamoro government different from ARMM?

ARMM is patterned after the national government structure that operates under a unitary system while the Bangsamoro government will operate under a parliamentary system.

This means that cabinet ministers will come from the elected Bangsamoro Parliament, with the Chief Minister chosen by the majority of the members of parliament. There will be proportional representation from the various constituencies comprising the BCT to ensure that all the provinces and districts therein are properly represented in the Bangsamoro Parliament.

Will the Bangsamoro government be secular? Will Philippine laws in the Bangsamoro conflict with Shari’ah Law?

The Bangsamoro government will uphold legal pluralism in the BCT. It, therefore, recognizes that Shari’ah Law should be applied only when cases and litigants are Muslims, even with the proposed expansion of Shari’ah to other legal concerns.

Other courts recognized by Philippine laws shall have jurisdiction over other cases involving Muslims and non-Muslims, or Christians and Christians, or IPs and IPs, etc.

What are the transition challenges to the Bangsamoro government?

The transition to a Bangsamoro government with a ministerial form will require a substantial effort in human resource capacity development and mobilization.

At the same time, the new government must address the immediate governance challenges articulated by the people during the BDP CVEs. These include corruption, injustice, nepotism, political dynasties, and discrimination among tribes.

The priority programs under governance are: electoral reform; transparency and accountability in budget utilization; a review of the justice system; strict implementation of laws or ensuring the rule of law; and installing government accountability programs.

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How will the BDP programs mitigate corruption and promote transparency in the Bangsamoro government?

The BDP recommends the establishment of transparency and accountability mechanisms such as the posting of all budget transactions on the official Bangsamoro website, the participation of CSOs in the budget watch program, the promotion of “Open Data Access,” the conduct of a regular monitoring and evaluation system, extensive media coverage of Bangsamoro government transactions, and provision of contact numbers where complaints against corruption can be lodged for investigation by appropriate authorities.

What BDP mechanisms will be placed to ensure that nepotism, ethnic discrimination, and impunity will not permeate the BTA and the Bangsamoro government?

Under the Bangsamoro government, a Civil Service Commission will be created to screen applicants to government service and ensure that only those who are qualified and dedicated to serve the Bangsamoro will be recruited. This will be without prejudice to the authority of the National Civil Service Commission.

If some of the qualified and dedicated applicants are relatives or friends of appointing powers, they cannot be denied of their right to be recruited, but they will be assigned to duties outside the jurisdiction of their senior official relatives or friends.

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Environment and Natural Resources


What are the priority needs of the Bangsamoro people in Environment and Natural Resources?

The priority programs planned under environment are: reforestation and management and protection of forestlands; a conflict-sensitive assessment of the mineral potential of the region; watershed management of Lake Lanao and Liguwasan Marsh; enforcement of environmental policies to counter pollution due to environmental exploitation; and disaster risk reduction and management programs for flood control.

How will the BDP address extreme climate challenges in Bangsamoro?

The BDP will identify vulnerable and high risk areas in the Bangsamoro and recommend appropriate measures for implementation by the Bangsamoro government, in collaboration with the LGUs, to mitigate the effects of extreme weather and climate change. However, there must be follow-up activities along this concern at the local or on-site level because the communities are in a better position to determine which measures should be adopted.

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What are the pressing cultural needs of the Bangsamoro?

The cultural concerns raised by Bangsamoro communities during the CVEs are the lack of respect for ethnic and religious traditions; minimal access to Islamic justice,

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Culture and Identity


finance, health and education facilities; and the disregard for traditional cultures among the youth.

Why are culture and identity important in the recovery, rehabilitation, and development of Bangsamoro?

The Bangsamoro region is a highly diverse multi-cultural society composed of 13 Muslim ethno-linguistic groups, approximately 20 non-Islamized Indigenous Persons groups, and Christian settlers of various origins. This cultural diversity underscores the need for inclusivity and localized solutions, while preserving the rich Bangsamoro heritage and cultural practices.

Initiatives that recognize and preserve Bangsamoro culture and identity are scarce and hence, will be pursued under the Bangsamoro government. Recognition of unity within diversity is the first step towards strengthening social cohesion in the Bangsamoro.

How will the BDP equally promote, preserve, and develop each of Bangsamoro’s cultural identity and history?

The BDP’s priority programs include cultural preservation through inter-faith dialogues and the establishment of museums, memorials, and parks that celebrate the various cultures in Bangsamoro; the construction of culture-specific facilities for health, education, and religious purposes such as prayers rooms, traditional birthing facilities, cemeteries, and madaris, among others.

To instill cultural appreciation among the youth, peace-building, interfaith dialogue, outreach and education programs will be undertaken to instill understanding of and pride in the multi-ethnic nature of the Bangsamoro.

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How will BDP programs address security, especially ridos?

The BDP is foremost a socio-economic development document though it recommends measures that touch on security issues. However, the protracted history of violence and conflict in the region has shaped the views of the Bangsamoro. Hence, security is one of the main issues identified in by the communities during the CVEs.

Priorities that emerged from the CVEs were: police reform and promotion of law enforcement; review of security coordination for a predictable security environment, especially in the light of rido; disarmament of private armies; and training in values transformation, including gender and human rights.

These were considered in the formulation of socio-economic recommendations to stress the contribution of socio-economic projects in helping promote stability and prosperity in the BCT.

What programs will be provided to the MILF combatants so they may transition to civilian life?

The MILF-GPH negotiating panel established the Joint Normalization Commission (JNC) to address the needs of the MILF combatants and their communities. The JNC will formulate a plan for rehabilitation and recovery based on a needs assessment of combatants and communities so they may smoothly transition into civilian life.

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Security and Normalization


The Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) is tasked to recommend programs and measures that will bring about the reconciliation of the different communities that have been affected by the conflict.

The recommendations of the BDP will support these processes by providing complementary socio-economic assistance in the areas of job generation, education, health, and infrastructure, and related policy and analytical work.

Will the families, including the widows and orphans, of MILF combatants also benefit from the BDP programs?

Along with other vulnerable groups such as widows, orphans, IPs, and PWDs, the families of the MILF combatants will be provided an array of social protection measures such as cash for work and scholarships for the youth, provision of core shelter housing, food subsidy and feeding programs for the children, small livelihood assistance, adult literacy, and the expansion and acceleration of Community Driven Development (CDD) and Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) implementation.

What BDP measures are in place to assure the end of conflict and displacement for Bangsamoro residents?

The BDP emphasizes that while incidents of vertical conflict (state vs. rebel groups) have significantly diminished because of the successful MILF-GPH peace process, incidents of horizontal conflict (e.g., rido) remain high.

To attain stability in the BCT, the Bangsamoro government must draw up and implement measures that will address the causes of communal conflict. One of these is to look into competing claims on land, which have often triggered the outbreak of violence. The Bangsamoro government will have to exert more effort in ensuring stability and security but this is not uncommon in a society emerging from protracted armed conflict.

Moreover, as part of the BDP’s social protection program, housing and livelihood needs of displaced Bangsamoro residents will also be addressed to ensure maximum normalization and stabilization returns.

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OTHER NATIONAL GOVERNMENT PARTNERS

DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS


To request for BDP Primer copies, please contact:

Bangsamoro Development Agency Number 68 Oblates Drive

RH-7, Cotabato CityPhone: (064) 552-0131

[email protected]

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