COTABATO CITY—“A new dawn has come and with the coming of light is the rise of the Bangsamoro,”  said Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita “Ging” Deles as she described the unveiling of the Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP).

The formal turnover on Sunday  of the BDP to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Central Committee by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) at Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao marks another milestone in the peace process, Deles said.

The occasion marks the official adoption and launch of the Bangsamoro Development Plan by the MILF leadership. Deles extended her congratulatory message to the MILF leaders and members, the Bangsamoro Development Agency and their partners unveiling a key component of bringing peace and progress in the Bangsamoro.

Another milestone in the peace process has been achieved after decades of conflict, she said, adding that peace is now within the grasp with the unveiling of valuable tool for the economic development in the Bangsamoro notwithstanding the challenges.

“Indeed we have come so far from decades of conflict, grief and loss.  Peace that has been elusive is now within our grasp. Milestones after milestones we have achieved over challenges and difficulties we have faced the past few years under the Administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III are a testament of the strength of commitment and desire of government and the MILF with the help of our partners to bring just and lasting peace in the Bangsamoro,” she said.

The signing between the government and the MILF of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) paved the roadmap for achieving the goal of establishing the Bangsamoro  looking into the future seeing genuine autonomy thriving in Mindanao, she continued.

“We see the MILF leadership at the helm, the reign in your hands leading the Bangsamoro towards progress – Insha Allah!"

With the Bangsamoro Development Plan that presents clear vision of peace and development crafted by the Bangsamoro people that embodies the hearts and minds of those who have struggled for so long to bring peace in the communities, she said, the way ahead is now being in life.

Stressing that peace and development have to be hand in hand as necessary components in ensuring better lives of the people,  Deles also stressed that the national government and the MILF have to work closely together to achieve what is hoped for the Bangsamoro.

“The Bangsamoro Development Plan is important because it gathers the collective hopes and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people, government leaders, partners in the private and business sectors and civil society organizations into a concrete plan. It is a vision of the Bangsamoro, by the Bangsamoro for the Bangsamoro,” Deles said.