01/06/2026
๐๐๐๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฌ ๐
๐จ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ก
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ โ The Economic Development Committee (EDCom) under the Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council (BEDC) convened its second regular meeting on May 25, 2026, at the BPDA Conference Hall 1, Bangsamoro Government Center in this city, advancing key policy discussions and institutional mechanisms on food safety and halal, seaweed industry development, and emerging bio-economy initiatives in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Serving at the center of coordination and technical direction, the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), as Co-Chair and Technical Secretariat of EDCom, facilitated the proceedings and provided technical oversight through Ms. Rohanisah N. Rashid, Chief of the Economic Planning Division, representing Bangsamoro Director General Engr. Mohajirin T. Ali, MNSA. The meeting was presided over by Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) Director General Ismail Guiamel, on behalf of Minister Abunawas Maslamama, with ten Bangsamoro Ministries, Offices, and Agencies (BMOAs) Committee members in attendance.
The meeting highlighted EDComโs continuing role as a central coordination platform for economic policy direction in BARMM. A key agenda focused on a proposal from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to establish a Food Safety and Halal Technical Development Platform and Technical Development Unit to support agribusiness compliance with certification standards.
โUNIDO continues to support BARMM in its plans to build an inclusive and sustainable industry-led regional economy and uplift the lives of the Bangsamoro people.โ said Teddy Monroy, UNIDO country representative in the Philippines.
The initiative aims to improve coordination among agencies in addressing gaps in food safety and halal certification, particularly in testing, licensing, and market access. Discussions highlighted the distinction between food safety under Republic Act No. 10611 and food security as a devolved function of the Bangsamoro Government, shaping the institutional design of the proposed mechanism.
Following deliberations, the Committee agreed to organize a Technical Working Group (TWG) on Food Safety and Halal under EDCom as an interim structure, while further coordination and collaboration with concerned national agencies with mandates on food safety regulations is pursued for further arrangement.
In a related discussion, members reviewed the results of a seaweed processing pre-feasibility study in Tawi-Tawi, opting to adopt it as a reference for future planning and investment programming rather than forming a separate technical working group. The study emphasized opportunities for seaweeds value-added production in Tawi-Tawi, a major contributor to the countryโs seaweed industry.
The committee also discussed bio-economy development strategies, including policy proposals on access and benefit-sharing, roadmap formulation, and the potential creation of a Bio-Economy Development Corporation through BTA legislation. Members likewise identified the need to engage legislative champions to support enabling measures.
A follow-up meeting is scheduled in July 2026 to further refine the proposed initiatives and coordinate next steps among concerned agencies. The discussions and agreements reached during the meeting reflect ongoing efforts to align sectoral priorities with the regionโs broader development agenda, ensuring that emerging economic opportunities are supported by responsive policies, effective coordination mechanisms, and strategic planning interventions. (๐๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ , ๐๐๐๐)
