The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs (MIPA) organized a Consultative Assembly and Workshop for the development of its Master Plan 2020-2025 for the Indigenous People in BARMM.
Funded by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the 5-day activity, from August 7 to 11, was joined by the IP representatives from the island provinces and mainland provinces of BARMM.

Connected Ministry representatives from Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Ministry of Basic Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE), and Ministry of Health (MOH) had also participated in the activity.
The assembly workshop highlighted the results on the consultative process of the status of IP affairs in BARMM; the capacity and needs of MIPA and Bangsamoro government to deliver its mandated services for IP affairs; and key Programs, Projects, and Activities (PPAs) that will help in achieving its strategy and goals. These were identified, reviewed, analyzed, and drafted through the constructed lectures, activities and workshops.

Among the presentations, aside from the recap of the proposed IP Code, the BARMM 12-Point Priority Agenda was presented to be of basis for the drafting of the Master Plan.  Also, guest lecturer, Edlin Lumanog from FAO introduced the utilization of SWOT Analysis for the effectiveness of the planned programs to fully respond to the needs and demands of the members of the IP communities in BARMM. 

Tasked with the role of empowering and enriching the lives of the Indigenous People, MIPA Minister, Hon. Melanio Ulama recognized the need to conduct an activity that would gather related sectors to participate for the crafting of its Master Plan. Attuned with the FAO’s program: Support to the New Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) in Establishing the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in the Philippines, MIPA made a leap towards the realization of their mandate, vision and mission.