COTABATO CITY — To address issues and concerns in implementing development projects in the Bangsamoro region, some members of the Parliament filed today, February 16, a measure mandating social preparation for development projects in the region.

BTA Bill No. 169 or the Social Preparation Act of 2022, principally authored by Member of the Parliament Engr. Baintan Ampatuan generally aims to create an impact and sustain the implementation of programs and projects in the region.

MP Ampatuan, who previously served as the Planning Chief of the defunct Autonomous Region in the Muslim Mindanao government, said that “policies and plans are more likely to be implemented effectively if their development includes all stakeholders.”

Social preparation is the “conduct of preliminary social analysis of the community where organizers engage in institutional preparations, area selection, and social investigation or integration,” according to the proposed measure’s exploratory note.

The proposed measure enumerates the activities needed to ensure community engagement and specifies a timeline depending on the type of project to be implemented.

For instance, housing projects of the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development (MHSD) require at least two months of social preparation, while vertical projects of the Education ministry should have at least one month.

In the proposed measure, the Bangsamoro government will have a centralized database of all projects that will undergo social preparation.

If enacted, the code will create an impact, improve, and sustain the project implementation and management of the Bangsamoro government.

BTA Bill No. 169 is co-authored by members of the Parliament Amir Mawallil, Atty. Rasol Mitmug, Jr., Atty. Laisa Alamia, Atty. Suharto Ambolodto, Engr. Don Mustapha Loong and Rasul Ismael. (LTAIS- Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)