Switzerland welcomes submission of BBL to Congress

MANILA, Philippines - Switzerland welcomed President Aquino’s formal submission of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) to Congress, calling it “another major step in the process to bring peace to the Southern Philippines.”

In a statement released on Friday, the embassy of Switzerland called the development – which took place last Wednesday in Malacañang – a milestone in the efforts of the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to achieve lasting peace and sustainable development in Mindanao.

It noted that the submission of the draft BBL came after the signing of the Framework Peace Agreement on the Bangsamoro on Oct.15, 2012 and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro on March 27 this year.

“Together with the international community, in particular the International Contact Group, which comprises the Geneva based ‘Center for Humanitarian Dialogue CHD,’ Switzerland is committed as an active partner to support the establishment of the Bangsamoro,” the embassy said.

The Australian government, through the Philippines Australia Human Resource and Organizational Development Facility (PAHRODF), also said it is expanding its support for enhancing the competence of leaders of the emerging political entity that would replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

PAHRODF said it has signed an agreement with the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI) for such objective.

BLMI, a non-profit organization, is a learning and development institution for leaders and managers who will be tasked to lead the Bangsamoro.

“This partnership between PAHRODF and BLMI is a milestone in our efforts to improve peace and security conditions in Mindanao,” said Australian embassy Chargé d’ Affaires David Dutton.

“It recognizes our commitment to help the Philippines build and enhance human capital to address binding constraints to growth, promote prosperity, reduce poverty and enhance political stability in the country,” Dutton said.

To jumpstart the partnership, PAHRODF will conduct an organizational assessment of BLMI to determine its current state. 

Since 2010, PAHRODF has been spearheading Australian support for human resource management, organizational development and institutional change in the Philippines.

PAHRODF’s facility board is composed of the Australian embassy, Civil Service Commission, National Economic and Development Authority and the Department of Budget and Management.

The United Kingdom, for its part, said is hoping for a speedy ratification of the BBL.

The British embassy in Manila said the UK is ready to provide steady support for the implementation of the BBL.

“An inclusive, secular and democratic law that provides the future Bangsamoro with genuine devolved governance represents the best hope for lasting peace and development in Mindanao and the Philippines as a whole,” the embassy said in a statement.