BARMM priority codes passage eyed

The BTA will also continue to work on the first four priority codes on medical and health services, education, infrastructure as well as social services during the second phase of the transition period

The Bangsamoro government is eyeing the passage of the remaining priority codes stated in the Bangsamoro Organic Law within the end of the year or early next year, according to Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Interim Chief Minister Ahod Murad Ebrahim.

Ebrahim assured that the codes on local government, electoral, and revenue would be the main focus of the new members of the Bangsamoro parliament in the inaugural session of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

“We are hoping that these three codes will be completed within the year or the latest will be the first quarter for next year. That’s our target,” Ebrahim said.

He added the BTA will also continue to work on the first four priority codes on medical and health services, education, infrastructure as well as social services during the second phase of the transition period.

“We have accomplished substantively in this field but we need to do more during the second phase,” Ebrahim said.

The BARMM chief minister stressed that its government is delighted that the BTA is being equally represented by the Bangsamoro former revolutionary groups including the Moro Islamic Liberation Front as well as the other two factions of the Moro National Liberation Front, led by the Nur Missuari and Muslimin Sema respectively.

Ebrahim said the transition period has helped the Bangsamoro region gain significant achievements in the past three years and among the accomplishments include the decline of the BARMM poverty incidence from 51.6 percent in 2020 to 49.6 percent in 2022.

While the BARMM investment rate has drastically increased by P2.8 billion in 2021, an additional P4 billion was recorded in 2020. BARMM also sets the record as the fastest growing region in the Philippines this year.