MARAWI CITY (PIA) — The Bangsamoro Government’s Office for Other Bangsamoro Communities (OOBC) is urging Bangsamoro residents outside the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to submit development program proposals, especially those focused on socio-economic development.
The call was made during a three-day needs assessment and mapping workshop held May 6–8, 2025 at the Bajada Suites Conference Hall in Davao City.
The workshop gathered data to assess the economic, social, and cultural needs of Bangsamoro communities outside BARMM’s territorial jurisdiction.
OOBC Executive Director Noron Andan acknowledged the involvement of participants from government, non-government organizations, and civil society.
“I express my satisfaction that this activity will provide a strong foundation for us to recommend policies that can advance the socio-economic and cultural development of Bangsamoro communities in the Davao region,” said OOBC Executive Director Noron Andan.
He emphasized the need to hear perspectives from all sectors, particularly from women, not only on gender and development issues but also regarding their rights and their role in community development.
Andan noted the OOBC’s responsibilities given its wide coverage and limited resources.
“I see this day as a good starting point for the OOBC. Our office may be small compared to other ministries and agencies, but our coverage is vast—extending to Regions 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, the Caraga Region, and even Palawan,” he said.
He also shared that OOBC has drafted a bill titled “Assistance to Other Bangsamoro Communities”, which seeks dedicated funding for the OOBC to carry out its programs without depending on other ministries such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), and Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG), among others.
Ahmad Jovany Mustapha, Ancestral Domain Management Officer and a tribal leader from Davao Oriental, described how BARMM support has affected their community.
“BARMM’s programs like AMBAG medical assistance, where 100% of our hospital bills were covered, TABANG, and the nearly completed 100-unit housing project under KAPYANAN have been a huge help to us,” Mustapha said.
He expressed gratitude, saying the promise made by their leaders—that no one would be left behind—had been fulfilled. He noted that their community had not been forgotten, something they had long awaited, especially given the participation and sacrifices of many from Davao in the MNLF and MILF struggles.
Mustapha also expressed a desire for more sustainable and long-term support for their community:
“Sometimes livelihood programs succeed, sometimes they fail. What we really need is long-term support. I hope our ancestral domain claim as Kagans can be supported so we can stand on our own and not rely on BARMM’s assistance. Sustainable development is the best kind of help for us,” he said.
National agencies present during the workshop included the National Housing Authority (NHA), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), among others. Their participation supports a coordinated approach to meeting the needs of Bangsamoro communities outside BARMM. (BIO/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
