UN, Jica execs laud MILF for development plan

(FROM LEFT) Malaysian facilitator Tengku Dato Abd Ghafar Bin Tenku Mohamed, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chair Murad Ebrahim, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles and Budget Secretary Butch Abad attend on Nov. 2 the hand-over ceremony of the Bangsamoro Development Plan, the road map to human and sustainable development for people affected by decades of conflicts in Mindanao, at Darapanan, the main camp of the MILF in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao province. JEOFFREY MAITEM/INQUIRER MINDANAO

SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguindanao—The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) now holds the distinction of being the only revolutionary group in the world that has crafted a development plan, two senior international aid group officials said on Sunday.

Luiza Carvalho, United Nations (UN) country coordinator, said the Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP), which the MILF’s Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) has turned over to the group’s central committee, was a road map to human and sustainable development for people affected by decades of conflicts in Mindanao.

“The drafters of the plan, led by the BDA, and all the participants should be lauded for their knowledge of sustainable human development, principles and practices, as well as for effective peace building,” Carvalho said in a speech during the formal turnover ceremonies here.

Noriaki Niwa, country director of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), also credited the MILF for being the “only rebel organization” to formulate a development plan for the people it strives to serve.

“The completion of the BDP is a testament to your determination of lasting peace and prosperity for the people of Mindanao and the Bangsamoro,” Niwa said.

But Carvalho said development and peace “only work if they are together.”

“Peace agreements cannot lead to lasting peace if their implementation does not lead to equality and increase in basic services, participation and economic opportunity for all population,” she said.

Carvalho said peace and sustainable development would happen only within the context of constructed consistent reconciliation.

“For many residents of the Bangsamoro, the new Bangsamoro will have an immediate meaning only through a system of governance that is able to deliver basic services in an equitable, transparent and accountable manner,” she said.

Carvalho also said the future Bangsamoro entity would need to develop a very strong short-term plan for revenues and to invest in economic opportunity for the people for it to succeed.

Murad Ebrahim, MILF chair, acknowledged that there was indeed a daunting task ahead.

But Ebrahim said that with the BDP, the MILF was hopeful that the dreams of the Bangsamoro would be fulfilled.

He said he understood that one thing the MILF should do, through the BDA, was to conduct a massive information campaign to make the people realize that having a development plan would not bring them prosperity overnight.

Ebrahim said that unless the people see tangible programs in the next few years after the advent of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, the body that would take charge of the future region until elections would be held, discontent could take place.

This was why, he said, the BDA, with its partner agencies such as the national government, had crafted a development plan with four stages, including economy and livelihood.

“Our farmers should be able to bring their produce to the markets without difficulties through the construction of farm-to-market roads and livelihood programs should also be designed for our people,” he said.

BDA executive director Mohamad Yacob told the Inquirer that under the BDP, the other initial focus includes education, agriculture and economy.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said President Aquino had assured the MILF of strong financial support to cover the needs of the implementation of the BDP.

“The President is deeply committed to this peace process and we have firm instruction from him to ensure that there is adequate and ample financing for the BDP,” said Abad, who also attended the formal turnover of the BDP.

He said the government would be solidly supporting the peace process.

“We did not go very far just to leave you here looking for ways to ensure the implementation of this plan. We are with you here and will be with you all the way,” Abad said.

He also agreed with Ebrahim’s view that the people need to feel progress to ensure a continuing support to the peace agreement.

“I think it is also important for us to be able to deliver all of these services and programs with greater transparency because what is most critical is to keep the trust and approval of the people every step of the way,” he said. Allan Nawal and Jeoffrey Maitem, Inquirer Mindanao