Two of the technical workforces of the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development participated in the Training-Workshop on the Updating of the Bangsamoro Regional Spatial Framework, hosted by the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on June 13-14, 2022 at the Acacia Hotel, Davao City.

The participants revisited the first Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) during the training and updated the 3rd Chapter: Overlay of Economic Growth, Demographic Trends, and Physical Characteristics “The Bangsamoro Regional Spatial Framework.”

Throughout the workshops, participants provided understanding on the content of spatial planning principles, analysis-approaches, tools and techniques, the integration of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) for Developments and other considerations for spatial planning, facilitated by key Resource Speaker Engr. Evan Anthony V. Arias, EnP, MBA, DMDM.

The participants also learned to differentiate Sectoral Planning, which promotes economic development in major sectors of the economy, with Spatial Planning, using the geographic location.

“Success is no accident, it is hard work, perseverance, learning, sacrifice and loving what you are doing,” Director Melanie M. Indar, EnP, RN, of the Planning and Policies Bureau-BPDA, said during her opening statement, where she urged participants to continue to persevere even after the training-workshop.

“Spatial Framework is an important component of the BDP to orient and materialize the physical aspect of development in the Bangsamoro Region,” expressed JICA Advisor Yukiko Sana. She highlighted the Bangsamoro’s great potential for development and, added that in order to best utilize Bangsamoro Resources, spatial framework must be strategically and well designed.

“The bottom line to achieving sustainable development is to have a balance in the development between the people, environment and that of profit,” Engr. Muslima K. Abusama, Housing and Homesite Regulation Officer who served as MHSD representative, said.

With Engr. Abusama was Engr. II Rohaima M. Abas of the MHSD’s Planning and Design Division.

Also present during the two-day activity were representatives from the BPDA, MOTC, MAFAR, MENRE, MILG, MIPA, MOST, MPW, MTIT and TMS-OCM.