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Friday, March 29, 2024

Crucial issues cited in BARMM portal

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(Second of three parts, continued from yesterday)

Access Bangsamoro initially focuses on three policy issues. These are intergovernmental relations, parliamentary and electoral system, and public finance management and block grant.

The establishment of intergovernmental relations mechanisms is an innovative feature of the BOL but one that will be extremely challenging. The BOL mandates the creation of various IGR bodies such as the National Government-Bangsamoro Government Intergovernmental Relations Body, the Philippine Congress-Bangsamoro Parliament Forum, Fiscal Policy Board, and Joint Body for Zones of Joint Cooperation, Infrastructure Development Board, Energy Board, and Sustainable Development Board.

The most challenging item in the BTA’s to-do-list is the familiarization of the entire Bangsamoro community to the new parliamentary structure of the regional government as mandated by the BOL.

“While we continue to face critical issues and challenges during this transition period, we in the Bangsamoro Government will remain steadfast in pursuing good governance in the region. It is then our hope that the Access Bangsamoro would also be instrumental in pursuit of such noble cause,” added BARMM chief minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, who assumed the leadership of the expanded autonomous region only last February.

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Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana lauded Access Bangsamoro, calling it a “masterfully designed” concept that can “bring stakeholders together to openly exchange views on how to realize prospects and address gaps and challenges in a policy-based approach.”

“The challenge is now upon us to maximize this platform to achieve its objectives in assisting in the successful transition. It took us decades to be where we are now, in a state where we can finally provide our Moro brothers and sisters the real fighting chance to a peaceful and progressive life, and the democratic space to exercise their right to self-determination. We can neither fail nor falter,” he added.

The defense secretary was recently named by President Rodrigo Duterte as Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security for BARMM.

Secretary Lorenzana also thanked the Australian Government for funding the project, saying the “shared endeavor is another leaf to our countries’ years of friendship.”

Australia has allocated about A$85 million for development assistance to the Philippines this year with 50 percent focused on Mindanao specifically for education, infrastructure, governance and planning budget.

The IAG-ASOG Access Bangsamoro collaboration is part of the Australian Government support to peace and stability in the Bangsamoro region.

“During the transition period, the structures and processes to implement the Bangsamoro Organic Law and rebuild democratic institutions will be put in place. Access Bangsamoro will serve as a platform for education and discussion, help create sound and effective evidence-based public policy, and engage as wide a part of society as possible,” Australian Ambassador Steven Robinson said.

BTA-BARMM Parliament Speaker Ali Pangalian Balindong hailed Access Bangsamoro as a third-party initiative that “will definitely help push the peace envelope further forward.”

“It will help inform the whole country of the Bangsamoro, especially that many up to now may still just think that the issues in the region are only of the region, including a host of prejudices and assumptions about the people in the region,” Balindong said. 

(to be continued)

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