Sajahatra Bangsamoro is the “development program for the delivery of basic socio-economic services to target communities in Mindanao.” It includes the provision of health insurance, health services upgrade, college scholarships, support to madaris and private schools including technical-vocational training and cash for work livelihood programs.
By MARILOU AGUIRRE-TUBURAN
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has signed the Terms of Reference (ToR) for Sajahatra Bangsamoro (Blessings, Prosperity and Peace upon the Bangsamoro) Thursday as both parties wrapped up the three-day 37th round of exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
This was announced by GPH Panel Chair Meriam Coronel-Ferrer and MILF Panel Chair Mohagher Iqbal through an e-mailed statement. The signing was witnessed by Malaysian facilitator Tengku Dato’ Ab Ghafar Tengku Mohamed.
Sajahatra Bangsamoro is the “development program for the delivery of basic socio-economic services to target communities in Mindanao.” It includes the provision of health insurance, health services upgrade, college scholarships, support to madaris and private schools including technical-vocational training and cash for work livelihood programs.
The program was launched last February at the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute Compound in Simuay village, Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao Province with MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim and President Benigno Aquino III who, for the first time, visited an MILF stronghold after the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro was signed in October, 2012.
The ToR states that the GPH will provide the funding for the program’s requirements. However, it noted that task forces created by both parties can mobilize technical expertise and “whenever applicable financial support from local and development partners.”
The task forces, it said, will be the mechanism that each Party will utilize to accomplish their respective roles and mandates under the program.
The MILF’s Task Force was created by its Central Committee under a resolution dated 7 March 2013. Meanwhile, the GPH’s Task Force was created under Administrative Order 37 dated 13 February 2013.
The Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) will provide the overall coordination and supervision over the implementation of the Program. It’s composed of four representatives from both Parties and co-chaired by the MILF Task Force Sajahatra Chair and the GPH Task Force Bangsamoro Development Chair.
The JCC will review and approve plans of the program; receive list of areas for coverage, list of beneficiaries submitted by the MILF; oversee the monitoring and periodic evaluation of the Program; establish security protocols in coordination with the GPH and MILF Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities; approve and implement communication plan for Sajahatra Bangsamoro; raise issues to the Panels that may require policy guidance; report progress of the Program to the Panels; implement other development projects as may be jointly identified by the GPH and MILF Panels; and adopt protocols on confidentiality of information relative to MILF members and other information.
Under the ToR, the MILF is also required to establish its Project Management Team which will identify all individual and community beneficiaries for the Program and provide the required social and community preparatory work.
The respective GPH agencies, meanwhile, will ensure that the necessary technical and financial resources are made available for the successful implementation of the various components of the Program. The ToR noted that all funds shall be under the stewardship of the GPH.
The GPH and MILF have agreed to resume talks after the May elections.
GPH’s Coronel-Ferrer said they will continue to find ways to resolve the three issues on Annexes on wealth sharing, power sharing and normalization so that these will “be signed without undue delay.”
She added that their discussions on the normalization annex by the technical working groups continue, leading both Parties into an agreement on the architecture for the normalization process. (Marilou Aguirre-Tuburan/davaotoday.com)
