4th Bangsamoro Foundation Day...

Maguindanao; Lamitan in Basilan; and Marawi in Lanao del Sur.

As in past festivities, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman and Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Balawag “Al-Hajj Murad” Ebrahim will lead the kick-off ceremonies as he and other Bangsamoro officials usher in the event’s colorful festivities.

It is expected that Ebrahim, who succeeded the late founder and chairman of the MILF, Sheikh Salamat Hashim, will once again remind his fellow Bangsamoro government employees on practicing “Moral Governance”. This refers to the BARMM “carrying the responsibility of governing and serving the Bangsamoro, and towards the change that the Bangsamoro Government aspired foritspeople and territory“.

The BARMM has been gearing up for the event this past weeks or so, as regional officials anticipate another blockbuster celebration featuring many highlights and sidelights.

A news report on http:// www.bangsamoro.gov.ph said the celebration revolves around the theme “Sama-Samang Pagtataguyod Sa Mas Mapayapa At Mas Masaganang Bangsamoro.” (In English the theme is translated roughly to “Unity in Promoting a more Peaceful and more Abundant Bangsamoro”.)

BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim stressed that a symbiotic relationship between the regional government and private business sectors is vital to boost BARMM’s economy.

"It is only the desire of the Bangsamoro government under my leadership to commit ourselves to take all measures and courses of action to support all businesses, trades, and investments," Ebrahimsaid.

The Chief Minister said the congress will greatly serve as a platform for exchanging business ideas; and building partnerships in creating a highly developed, competitive, and sustainable economy in Bangsamoro.

"The Government of the Day also recognizes the importance of the business sector as partners for economic development, as they always have daring business and marketing ideas," he added.

During the first day of the event, MTIT Minister Abuamri Taddik, Secretary of Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Maria Belen Acosta, CESE, BBC Chair Atty. Ronald Hallid Torres, and Vincente Lao of Mindanao Business Council (MBC) signed the Sisterhood Agreement to begin the process of forging an agreement between key stakeholders and the development of the business community in the region.

BBC Chairman Torres said that entrepreneurs and business experts must start creating a space to engage among the concerned industry stakeholders.

"Policy-makers and development partners should treat rebuilding stronger with the business sector and co-create more resilient institutions as a top priority," Torressaid.

"Westarted talking with the MTIT and came up with the idea of convening the BARMM business sectors along with the concerned government agencies, policy-makers, and business communities outside the region. Since we (BBC) are also cognizant of the fact that the business sector cannot address issues alone," he added.

Meanwhile, Baby Ebrahim, Value Chain Facilitator of Rural AgroEnterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth (RAPID Growth) project, said she was grateful for being part of the said event since it will help the business sector, particularly in boosting Bangsamoro local prod- ucts to international and national business entrepreneurs.

"Ang programa ay nagbibigay ng mga paraan upang maisulong at maiangat ang iba't ibang mga produkto mula sa mga sektors ng MSME business. Nagkakaroon ng partnership sa pagitan ng mga producer kasama ang iba't ibang business minded at mga entrepreneurs sa loob at labas ng BARMM," she said.

At the end of the congress, a resolution shall be formulated to improve Bangsamoro's economy and address business challenges.

The event, with the theme, "Strengthening Partnership Towards a Resilient Bangsamoro Economy”, runs from Jan. 17 until Jan. 19, 2023. (BIO)

Promising opportunities await tourism investors in BARMM

COTABATO CITY As the first-ever Bangsamoro Business Congress continues, the tourism bureau of the Ministry of Trade, Investments, and Tourism (MTIT) is keen that promising business opportunities await potential tourism investors in the region.

On the second day of the 3-day congress, Bureau of Tourism Director Marites Maguindra presented a glimpse of tourism in the region vis-avis with the national tourism road map.

"We wanted to promote the region as an equally competitive tourism haven in the country like Boracay and Palawan, among others," said Maguindra.

She stressed that BARMM has so many tourism destinations comparable to the traditional tourist destination in the country. In the data presented, the region has posted around 784,495 tourist arrival since 2019.

While there are challenges such as gateway access, infrastructure, health and safety (due to the pandemic), and economic impact, the region remained to be competitive. The tourism sector in the region also continuously faces challenges in equalizing promotion, tourist safety and security, and the lack of employment opportunities.

In today's plenary session, one of the mecha- nisms seen to resolve identified tourism challenges is the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) approach. As defined on its official website, it is a contractual agreement between the Government and a private firm targeted towards financing, designing, implementing, and operating infrastructure facilities and services that were traditionally provided by the public sector.

Responding to a question on how would PPP become a viable option for developing tourism opportunities in the region, Maguindra emphasized that tourism investment is not something that can be easily afforded by the government hence private corporations can be engaged as partners.

"The tourism development is not just a million worth of money. It is a very big investment for our government could hardly afford," said Maguindra hence PPP is the best option.

Some of the potential tourism developments shown in today's event are the following: the development of Bulubudtua falls and Liguasan Marsh in Maguindanao, Ramba park in Lanao del Sur, Mahatallang War Memorial in Basilan, Timpuok Lake in Sulu, and Sitangkai Urban Renewal and Seaweed Facility in Tawi-Tawi.

AbdullahMatucan/BIO

The date January 21, 2019, is the period when eligible voters of the region ratified the BOL in a plebiscite, thereby, officially establishing the BARMM, replacing and abolishing the 20 years old Autonomous Region in MuslimMindanao (BARMM).

Included in the plebiscite was the inclusion of the cities of Cotabato and Isabela (in Basilan) as part of the region. In the second plebiscite for its expansion on February 6 the BARMM netted 63 barangays geographically located in the province of North Cotabato, though not a part of the BARMM. The 63 barangays are now under the regional governments jurisdiction, thus, are beneficiaries as well of the “dividends ofpeace” governance infrastructures and services, many of which are being provided by the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) headed by Minister Naguib G. Sinarimbo.

Incidentally, this year’s BFD commemoration coincides with the decision of the Supreme Court dated January 12, 2023, titled SC Upholds Including Cotabato City in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region”. Obviously, the titleis self-explanatory.

The High Court voted unanimously in upholding the city’s inclusion, a politically charged bone of contention, in the Bangsamoro region. None of the justices voted against,two did notparticipate, one was on leave.

Ebrahim lauded the Supreme Court decision.

“The Bangsamoro Government welcomes the Supreme Court of the Philippines’ decision to uphold the plebiscite including the Cotabato city in the new region. Cotabato City is and will always be the crown jewel of the Bangsamoro and home to some of the most importantmoments of our history,” theChief Minister said.

Sinarimbo expressed elation at the decision.

This year’s celebration, the Bangsamoro Information Office (BIO) pointed out in the referred news report, has various committees organized and tasked to prepare “service-oriented” activities, among them, the Tulong Alay sa Bangsamorong Nangangailangan (TABANG), Ayudang Medikal Mula sa Bangsamoro Government (AMBAG), and other social services for the regional constituents. These activities will be conducted at the Bangsamoro Government Center (BGC), the BARMM’s seat of government in the city.

These are the Economic Development Committee (EDCom), Development Administrative Committee (DACOM), Social Development Committee (SDC), Infrastructure Development Committee (IPD), and the Peace, Public Order, Safety and Security Committee (PPOSSCOM). Each tasked to perform and deliver particular functions and services.

Over at the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) headed by Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal, the education ministry is conducting the 1st Salah Jubair Essay Writing Competition, a highlight of the activities, for high school and college students in the Bangsamoro region.

Prizes amounting to a total of Php450,000 will go to the winners of the competition’s three levels or categories.

And at Sinarimbo’s MILG, the ministry will hold the Governance Day on January 23 (another of the event’s highlights) during which, he said, the region’s performing local government units (LGUs) will be recognized and bestowed awards. (✓) (with report from Aisah Abas/BIO)