Continued optimism about BARMM's future direction

TODAY, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) celebrates its fifth foundation day, as the Bangsamoro Organic Law was ratified in a plebiscite on Jan. 21, 2019. The celebration — which has “A journey toward mutual understanding, peaceful co-existence and a shared future in the Bangsamoro” as its theme — starts today and will continue until Friday, January 26. The BARMM has many significant accomplishments that deserve to be celebrated in commemorating its founding. These are summarized in Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim’s 2023 yearend report, which focused on economic growth, education, public infrastructure, health care, disaster response, vulnerable sectors’ empowerment, implementation of the peace process, and approval of the government’s 2024 budget. Well-organized activities are also taking place in the region in preparation for the May 2025 national and local elections. Let me discuss the Bangsamoro interim government’s major accomplishments last year.

Through the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), the Bangsamoro Development Plan for 2023–2028 was crafted to build an empowered, unified and progressive Bangsamoro. In the economic sector, the Bangsamoro Board of Investments reported that the region attracted investments worth P3.1 billion, providing nearly 2,000 job opportunities. The Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism (MTIT) also recorded P3,448,510 in investments, which also increased employment. Activities related to tourism boosted the MTIT’s revenue. In addition, inflation went down to 6.35 percent, lower than the 7.8 percent the region recorded at the start of the fiscal year.

In education, the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) saw a 17-percent increase in enrolment, with 1,258,253 students registered in various public schools, including government-run madaris (Islamic schools) and community learning centers. The MBHTE’s technical education and skills development unit reported that 13,205 scholars benefited from vocational training programs.

In infrastructure, the government supported the construction of roads, bridges, flood-control projects, water systems, fish ports and housing units. The Ministry of Human Settlements and Development completed 557 housing units and established training centers, and is building additional houses. In health care, the Ayudang Medical mula sa Bangsamoro Government extended medical support to 11,790 patients. Project Tabang also provided 74,419 beneficiaries with food, hygiene kits and emergency assistance.

On disaster response, the BARMM-Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster deployed quickresponse teams for 103 cases and provided victims with 410,175 relief supplies. The Ministry of Social Services and Development assisted 68,331 households affected by disasters. The Bangsamoro Food Security and Nutrition Plan promised a future of self-reliance, food security and resilience. On employment and livelihood, it was reported that the BARMM’s labor force participation was high at 74 percent. The Ministry of Labor and Employment assisted 7,000 informal sector workers and extended livelihood support to 6,400 former overseas Bangsamoro workers. The BARMM showcased support for women’s rights with the presentation of the second BARMM Regional Action Plan on women, peace and security. The Ministry of Social Services and Development assisted 3,000 child laborers and supported vulnerable people with disabilities.

Significant progress in the peace process was noted through the amnesty of former rebels, which contributed to the normalization pathway of the peace agreement.

The Ministry of Public Order and Safety settled family feuds and provided legal aid services. Some 1,023 villages were cleared of illegal drugs, thanks to antidrug operations in the region. Finally, the Bangsamoro transition government approved for 2024 a P98.4-billion budget that emphasized commitment to support social services, health care, infrastructure and education.

I am happy to learn that, after the enactment of the Electoral Code in March 2023, the groundwork for the implementation of this piece of legislation started. Civil society, particularly nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and development partners were engaged by the interim government in building the capacity of advocates to carry out public education campaigns on the electoral code and the regional elections. Last Thursday, January 18, the interim government and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) launched the comprehensive “Bangsamoro Electoral Code (BEC) Handbook,” prepared by the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (Lente), in Cotabato City. This handbook serves as a guide for election officials, voters and other stakeholders to hold inclusive and efficient polls in the region. This was adopted by the interim government through Resolution 412, which enjoins the Bangsamoro Information Office (BIO) to organize an information, education and communication campaign in the region. The BTA’s Committee on Rules, BIO, civil society organizations, the media and other stakeholders contributed to the creation of this handbook. It will be distributed to various institutions, government agencies, NGOs and other sectors.

Parliament Bill (PB) 267, which the government filed last December 18, defines the 32 singlemember parliamentary districts in the region. The bill’s enactment is a crucial phase in the preparation of parliamentary elections in 2025. It ensures that the 4.9 million constituents based on the 2020 Philippine Statistics Authority census will have equitable representation in the parliament. Of the 80 members of parliament, 40 percent are district representatives. This proposes 32 parliamentary districts across provinces, cities, municipalities and special geographic areas. The specific distribution of these districts is as follows: three in Basilan, seven in Sulu, three in Tawi-Tawi, eight in Lanao del Sur, four in Maguindanao del Norte, four in Maguindanao del Sur, two in Cotabato and one in the Special Geographic Area (SGA). The SGA is a collection of 63 villages in six municipalities of Cotabato province, which opted to join the BARMM after the two-part plebiscite in January and February 2019.

These villages have been under the supervision of the interim government’s Development Coordinating Office since 2020. Last August, the Bangsamoro parliament approved Bangsamoro Acts 129 to 136, consolidating the villages into eight municipalities. A plebiscite for the ratification of these municipalities is scheduled for April 13, 2024.

This month, the Bangsamoro Parliament Committee on Rules, headed by Floor Leader Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba, is holding public consultations on PB 267 in various provinces. These are open to the public sector, civil society, academia and other concerned stakeholders. The results of these consultations will be consolidated in February and utilized in reviewing PB 267.

I understand from DumamaAlba during the Lente-led social media forum a few days ago that the Comelec will issue the implementing rules and regulations of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code, including the calendar of activities next month. These will provide the guidelines about the roles and responsibilities of the Comelec, the BARMM and other sectors in next year’s elections.

All these significant accomplishments and ongoing activities are indeed sustaining my optimism about the bright prospects of the Bangsamoro government and its people.