COTABATO CITY(January 15) — The Bangsamoro region’s Special Geographic Area (SGA) is taking a decisive step toward inclusive, community-driven development with the launch of a comprehensive development planning process led by the Special Geographic Area Development Authority (SGADA).
Rolled out during a two-day gathering on January 6–7, the initiative brings together BARMM ministries, municipal planners, barangay leaders, and field enumerators to craft a single roadmap that reflects local priorities and guides long-term growth across SGA municipalities.
“This plan is about working together—combining government expertise with the lived experience and voices of our communities,” SGADA Administrator Butch Malang told participants, urging active cooperation at every level.
At the heart of the effort is a two-month baseline study that will capture on-the-ground realities—from access to services and livelihoods to infrastructure, environment, gender concerns, and citizen participation. The data will form the backbone of the SGA Development Plan and help prepare the area for a possible transition into a province.
SGADA Chief of Operations Bong Lumabao said the timing is critical. “If the SGA becomes a province, this plan will guide a more inclusive and peaceful transition—one shaped by your understanding of your own communities,” he said.
Barangay captains and enumerators were briefed on household surveys and key informant interviews to ensure accurate, community-level data. A planning official from the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) emphasized aligning local findings with the Bangsamoro Development Plan to keep policies evidence-based and locally grounded.
SGADA said the process aims to tighten coordination among agencies, elevate community voices in decision-making, and lay the groundwork for sustainable, peace-oriented development—turning local insights into concrete gains for families across the SGA.
