Congress, BARMM leaders convene in ‘historic’ forum
ANOTHER milestone in the implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) has been reached after the Congress-Bangsamoro Parliament Forum convened for the first time on Tuesday, focusing on strengthening ties between the national government and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Led by Inter-Governmental Relations Body (IGRB) co-chairmen Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and BARMM Minister of Basic, Higher and Technical Education Mohagher Iqbal, the event was also participated in by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, members of the Bangsamoro Parliament, and other senators and members of the House of Representatives.
The gathering in Pasay City was in accordance with Section 3, Article 6 of the BOL which mandates the establishment of the Philippine Congress–Bangsamoro Parliament Forum (PCBPF) to fortify the cooperation and coordination of legislative initiatives between the national and Bangsamoro governments.
Pangandaman said the establishment of the BARMM was a “historic win for
the whole country,” as it embodied the national government’s medium-term fiscal framework and the eight-point socioeconomic agenda, which became the roadmap for economic transformation of the region.
“This is why from our end, following the President’s agenda for prosperity, we will do all that we can and endeavor to convince all the mechanisms to support the Bangsamoro Transition Authority and ensure the success of BARMM,” Pangandaman said.
One such initiative to achieve peace and sustained socioeconomic development in the region, the national government allocated P64.8 billion from the proposed 2023 national budget; P5 billion for a Special Development Fund for the rebuilding, rehabilitation and development of the conflict-affected ethnic communities in the BARMM; and P4.6 billion in taxes, fees and charges.
“We recognize that the efficient release of funds means more development projects to be implemented for the people and government of BARMM,” Pangandaman said.
For his part, Zubiri vowed the Senate’s full support to the PCBPF “in developing an effective and productive partnership” between the Senate and the Bangsamoro Parliament which will serve as a “concrete roadmap to inclusive and progressive legislation for the region.”
“Still in its growing stages and there remains a lot of work [to do] for the Bangsamoro Transition Authority which will form the foundation of the Bangsamoro government,” the Senate leader from Mindanao said.
“To enable the smooth and efficient delivery of government services, [and] serve the people, we have to work hard on this particular Electoral Code because we don’t think we can extend any longer the Transition Authority, the people would like to vote for the representatives and members they want to,’’ he said.
To recall, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., during the inauguration of the 80-member Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) last August 12, vowed to fully support the legislative body until it completes all of its deliverables by June 30, 2025.
He, however, emphasized that there will be no more extension of the BTA’s transition period once the Bangsamoro Parliament holds its first election in May 2025.
Romualdez also threw the full support of the House behind the BARMM as he lauded the IGRB for its efforts to finally convene the PCBPF.
“The allocation of P4.4 billion for BARMM in the Block Grant under the Special Development Plan[‘s] share in national taxes collected is to ensure that the Bangsamoro Transition Authority will be able to deliver on its commitments,” he said.
“The House of Representatives [is set] to see additional funding for BARMM to cover the cost of repair and rehabilitation in areas affected by the severe tropical typhoon particularly in Maguindanao and Cotabato,” he added.
The PCBPF is likewise expected to play a crucial role in sustaining the gains of the peace process in the Bangsamoro region.
In particular, the body will ensure that the legislative initiatives at the national and the regional levels are harmonized, as it will serve as the appropriate mechanism to address IGRrelated issues that require legislative action from both parties.
This was echoed by Sen. Loren Legarda who said her fellow lawmakers could help bring more “multilateral support from agencies globally.”
“There is no reason for our 36,000 sq km of 4.2 million Filipinos in this beautiful historic resource which [is the] region of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao not to be progressive, successful, peaceful, orderly and sustainable,” she said.
Meanwhile, Iqbal said the PCBPF’s future accomplishments will serve as a crucial blueprint for socioeconomic development and transformation in the BARMM.
BARMM Speaker of Parliament Ali Pangalian Balindong wrapped up the key points of the PCBPF which he said “will put to fruition the many initiatives endeavored to be put into motion.”
Some of the most notable are: the Bangsamoro Transition Authority’s remaining priority codes, which need to be passed which include the Administrative Code, Revenue Code, Electoral Code, Local Government Code and Education Code; the laws enacted to upgrade hospitals in BARMM; the possibility of extending the deadline for Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members who wish to apply for amnesty; the qualification of Shari’ah circuit court judges; and the plans for the continued cooperation of the Philippine Congress and creation of the Bangsamoro Parliament Technical Working Groups to start addressing these concerns.