A boost for BARMM is a boost for the entire nation

Throughout history, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has often found itself at the bottom of the priority list, lagging in terms of economic growth, investments, infrastructure development, and even educational rankings among regions. This is bound to change soon as a transformative shift is imminent as this region gears up to become the next success story.

This is the essence of the message of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during the historic inaugural BARMM Local Legislative General Assembly held on Nov. 14, 2023 in Davao City. During the event, he urged leaders of BARMM to continue their efforts in pursuit of greater success.

“We have already made our first steps. All we have to do is to continue what we have started to make sure that we never waver in our determination to succeed,” the President said.

The optimism of the President is based on his dismissal of the notion that BARMM is part of a so-called “Mindanao problem.”

“I have said it before but I will say it again. I have never recognized a Mindanao problem. Whatever problem is in Mindanao is a Philippine problem and that is why it requires efforts of all government to make sure that BARMM will be a success in the future,” he added.

Therefore, the President sees the importance of “cooperation” to start the engine for the region’s growth and this begins with the activation of seven intergovernmental mechanisms to ensure strong cooperation and seamless coordination between BARMM and the national government.

“This is the beginning of the process of creating the institutions that we all know are necessary so that we are not dependent on one group… or on certain individuals alone. We are dependent on the institutions that will continue to work no matter what happens in the political sphere,” Marcos said. “The national and Bangsamoro governments will now have greater cooperation because of these offices that have now been established. We will have greater cooperation, greater coordination, and we will converge toward the realization of our shared endeavors.”

The seven intergovernmental mechanisms that have been established and are now working in full swing are the following: Philippine Congressbangsamoro Parliament Forum (PCBPF), Intergovernmental Fiscal Policy Board (IFPB), Joint Body for the Zones of Joint Cooperation (JBZJC), Intergovernmental Infrastructure Development Board (IFPB), Intergovernmental Energy Board (IEB), Bangsamoro Sustainable Development Board (BSDB), and the Council of Leaders.

The President said these mechanisms and initiatives for BARMM are crucial in achieving peace and progress not only in the region but also in the entire nation. With this, he assured the BARMM government of his administration’s continued support to improve the socioeconomic condition of the Bangsamoro people.

“With the activation of all seven mechanisms… there are seven offices that now have been put together that will serve as the basis for all the policies, all the laws that you and the parliament will put together, even the rules and regulations for how the executive will execute those rules,” he stated.

This piece of good news coming from one of the most historically neglected regions is a step toward empowering regions to be self-sufficient. With mechanisms set in place for BARMM, a more equitable, stable, and prosperous future is laid for the Bangsamoro people. After all, they are Filipinos first and foremost, and they deserve nothing less than the best.