Tuesday, July 24, 2018

House ratifies Bangsamoro bill, finally

THE House of Representatives on Tuesday endorsed for President Duterte’s signature the proposed Organic Law for Bangsamoro in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

This, after the new leadership of the lower chamber under Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ratified the bicameral committee report on the proposed organic law.

The ratification of the measure by the House was aborted last Monday following a standoff between former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The Senate, however, ratified its copy of the bill.

The 28-member bicameral conference committee earlier said the proposed organic law seeks to abolish the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and creates BARMM. The committee also said that can withstand constitutional scrutiny before the Supreme Court (SC).

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri said that once the measure is ratified through a plebiscite, President Rodrigo Duterte could start appointing members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) by early next year.

As the ratification of the proposed law deems offices of the ARMM abolished, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority shall be tasked with scheduling the gradual phasing out of the concerned offices.

He added the parliamentary elections for the new region may be held in 2022 along with the national elections.

Iligan Rep. Frederick Siao, a member of the House Committee on Economic Affairs, urged the public, including “detractors,” to give this proposed BOL a chance to be implemented.

“I appeal once more to the detractors and all who remain unsatisfied. Let us give this Bangsamoro Organic Law a chance to be implemented,” he said.

“I strongly urge the voters in the Bangsamoro autonomous region to please elect the most peace-loving, competent, and untiring leaders from among your communities. The success of this new law depends largely on your votes and their abilities to steer your region toward lasting peace and prosperity,” Siao added.

Now that the Bangsamoro Organic Law is ratified, Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Ron Salo of Kabayan called on lawmakers to support the bills related to rebuilding Marawi City.

“As the Islamic City of the Bangsamoro Region, Marawi occupies a pivotal role in Bangsamoro autonomy. It is at the crossroads to Northern Mindanao and other parts of Mindanao. As a strategic city, its rebuilding will spur growth through out the region,” Salo said.

“We will also follow through on the funding needed to support the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region,” he added.

Salo said the Marawi City Rebuilding Act or House Bill 6700, which his group filed, is meant to directly address the unprecedented housing and business crises in the wake of the destruction of homes and businesses in Marawi City.

“What we propose through this bill is that the residential and commercial buildings to be built in Marawi will be at virtually zero cost to the residents and business owners in Marawi,” he added.

Siquijor Rep. Ramon Rocamora also said the ratification of this landmark legislation is a giant step towards the direction of peace and justice in Mindanao.

“The longstanding grievances of our Muslim citizens in Mindanao have been a constant hurdle that numerous presidents have tried hard to resolve, most to no avail,” he added.

“The complex socioeconomic problems of Mindanao can never be solved through sheer military might but through dialogue and understanding. This legal framework is part of that,” Rocamora said.

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