Development Challenges in Achieving Fiscal Autonomy in the Bangsamoro

The effective implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsmoro holds a lot of promise for a more inclusive development in Mindanao, especially in the Bangsamoro areas. The new features of the agreement correct some of the institutional weaknesses and practices of the past. The additional taxing powers, increased shares from revenues from natural resources and the automatic appropriation of block grants coupled with added fiscal resources will help achieve fiscal autonomy without which political autonomy cannot be fully realized. In actualizing the socio-economic potential in the Bangsamoro, there will be development challenges such as proper preparation and planning of the new leadership, transformation of the traditional leaders to development managers, horizontal conflicts that could undermine the peace process and the institutionalization of good governance principles and practices. These challenges need to be faced squarely and managed properly to contribute to a just and lasting peace in Mindanao.