MILG, UNDP host #DigitalBangsamoro Summit on BARMM’s 6th Foundation Day
January 23, 2025

(L-R): Mr. Edwine Carrié, UNDP Philippines Deputy Resident Representative; Mr. Khalid S. Dumagay, Bangsamoro Director General; Minister Atty. Sha Elijah B. Dumama-Alba; Honorable Abunawas Maslamama, Senior Minister; and Director Fausiah K. Romancap-Abdula of the MILG.
Cotabato City – As part of the 6th Foundation Day of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG), the Bangsamoro Information and Communications Technology Office (BICTO), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) hosted the #DigitalBangsamoro Summit under the theme “Defying Boundaries, Empowering Bangsamoro Communities.”
Organized in partnership with UNDP Philippines through the Localizing e-Governance for Accelerated Provision of Services (LeAPS) Program, the summit showcased BARMM efforts and achievements in advancing inclusive e-governance towards improved public services. The summit also served as an avenue for participating government and non-government agencies to have meaningful collaborations for improved e-governance and innovations, and as a platform for these agencies to share their unique experiences in implementing digitalization.
MILG Minister Atty. Sha Elijah B. Dumama-Alba welcomed participants from local government units (LGUs), civil society organizations, and the private sector to the summit by highlighting that it was an “opportunity to forge partnerships that will propel the Bangsamoro forward ensuring that [our] digital journey is both inclusive and sustainable.” She added that it was her hope that “this event serve(s) as a catalyst for a digitally empowered Bangsamoro.”
Mr. Edwine Carrié, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Philippines offered a message of support and congratulations to MILG for successfully hosting the #DigitalBangsamoro Summit, saying that it “stands as a pioneering initiative that highlights the vital role of digitalization in transforming public services and empowering communities in the region to ensure that no one is left behind.” He further reaffirmed the steadfast partnership and support of UNDP Philippines to the BARMM government, particularly through the flagship LeAPS program, which is targeting to transform local governance in BARMM by “significantly accelerating connectivity in communities and enabling citizens to capitalize on the benefits of digitalization and capacity-building through improved access to services and information.”
On behalf of the BARMM Chief Minister Honorable Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, Senior Minister Hon. Abunawas L. Maslamama gave a message of inspiration at the summit, noting how in this digital era, “the Bangsamosro movement is exerting all possible [efforts] to cope with the latest trends, without losing the essence of [BARMM’s] integrity, efficiency, and moral governance.”
Among the resource speakers was Undersecretary Eng. Gerald G. Divinagracia of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), who gave an overview of the current state of ARTA and the e-BOSS compliance in BARMM. He was followed by Dr. Jonathan M. Mantikayan, Ph.D. IT, the Executive Director of BICTO, who gave a talk about building resilient digital infrastructures in the Bangsamoro region.
During the summit, two historic Memorandums of Agreement (MOA) signings that will strengthen the efforts for digitalization in BARMM were signed. An agreement between MILG and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region IX was signed to enable the sharing and joint utilization of digitalized internal systems and the local governance resource center between the two agencies. On the other hand, the MILG agreement with GCash will enable its use as an online payment option for the LeAPS #DigitalBangsamoro Web Portal and other MILG services.
Among other presenters at the summit were representatives of key BARMM agencies with on-going initiatives in digitalizing social services in the region. These representatives include Engr. Mohammad N. Acmad of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), Mr. Ferdaussi Ross T. Abdullah of MILG, and Mr. Fahad B. Sabal of the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD).
Several LGUs with successful digitalization initiatives gave presentations, namely the Municipality of Pagawayan and the Municipality of Butig in Lanao del Sur. Hon. Khalida P. Sanguila, Mayor of Pagawayan, presented their municipality’s One Name, One Identity project, which has made it easier for their citizens to access services and protect them against identity theft and fraud. A representative of the Municipality of Piagapo also shared Piagapo’s digital transformation experience.
To share international experience in digital transition of government services, OrangeBD from Bangladesh talked about the role of their Service Delivery Ecosystem Blueprint in Bangladesh’s journey to digitalization.
In her closing remarks, MILG Director Fausiah K. Romancap-Abdula of MILG underscored that: “the summit is the beginning. The partnerships formed and insights we have gained are calls to action. Let us move forward here with renewed determination. Let us embrace the challenges ahead. Together we will shape a digitally connected Bangsamoro."