The Ministry of Human Settlements and Development (MHSD) of the BARMM, represented by Planning Officer Zainodin A. Buisan, Human Resource Officer Janice-zah M. Macapantar, and Housing and Homesite Regulations Officer Engr. Muslima K. Abusama, attended the Regional Land Use Committee’s (RLUC’s) second Regular Meeting held at the BPDA Conference Room, Bangsamoro Government Center, Cotabato City on June 1, 2021.

The meeting highlighted the reading and adoption of the minutes of the previous meetings held on February 17 and March 8, 2021.

The RLUC secretariat presented the Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council (BEDC) Resolution approving the request of the RLUC to include the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism (MTIT) and the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs (MIPA) as members. The request was suggested by the MHSD and MOST on a prior RLUC meeting.

The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE) presented the Cadastral Survey Results on the latest map of the Philippines, which highlighted the delineation on the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Cadastral maps are essentially descriptions of the parcels of land, whether they be survey plots or holdings, with reference to which rights in land are defined and the holders of these rights identified.

Planning Officer Buisan said such maps will be important to the MHSD in future projects where land use and ownership is an integral part of any housing and human settlement projects.

“The MHSD’s role in the RLUC is very crucial because we coach and guide partner agencies, especially the Local Government Units (LGUs) on the formulation of their Comprehensive Land Use Plan, which we then endorse to the RLUC for review”, Buisan added.

Discussions were also centered on the issues and concerns presented by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA-XII), and the Ministry of Interior and Local Government’s (MILG’s) presentation on the status and ways forward for the special geographic areas.

The meeting was presided by RLUC Co-Chair and BPDA Director General Engr. Mohajirin T. Ali who also formally opened the activity with reminders on the importance of the RLUC regular meeting.