Senators vow full support for Bangsamoro Organic Law

MANILA, Philippines — Senators yesterday vowed to support the full implementation of the newly signed Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), which they hope would bring lasting peace in Mindanao.

The BOL abolishes the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, paving the way for the new Bangamoro region that would be composed of the current ARMM region and the provinces of Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, who sponsored the BOL in the chamber, said now that the landmark law was enacted, “the more difficult part begins.”

“The Bangsamoro stakeholders, including legislators should see to it that the preparatory measures are completed. We need a plebiscite to implement the law,” Zubiri said in a statement.

Zubiri also said he will follow through with the provisions for the plebiscite, its funding and Commission on Elections’ preparations for the BOL, even as it prepares for next year’s midterm elections. 

He expects President Duterte to see to it that all government agencies concerned will be up to their respective tasks and that the budget, personnel and other resources needed will be sufficient.

“Old setup of the ARMM did not promote the peace and development that it had promised to do by lacking the political reform measures that are sorely needed to achieve those gains,” Zubiri said.

“Thankfully, the BOL has many of these measures in place. From transparency and accountability, to political party system of governance to fiscal autonomy and strengthened self-governance.

“The BOL will be able to achieve what ARMM failed to do. Which is to equally serve every Filipino living in the Bangsamoro area,” he added.

Sen. Sonny Angara, chairman of the committee on local governments, also hopes the greater powers and autonomy given to the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao “will be used for the greater good and welfare of its residents.”

Sen. Panfilo Lacson credited Duterte’s strong political will to push for the BOL.

“I would have wanted the creation of two sub-regions under one Bangsamoro Autonomous Region so we could do away with the possible breakaway factions from the Tausug and other ethnic groups from the Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Palawan geographical areas of Mindanao,” Lacson added.

For Sen. Nancy Binay, the BOL showed that true local autonomy can be achieved within the framework of the Constitution.

“The BOL surprisingly has given us that ‘eureka’ moment. We have finally found the way to strengthening regions and local governments all within the constitutional framework as intended in the Local Government Code, and by giving our Muslim brothers and sisters the inherent right to govern themselves and defining a territory without raising a different flag,” she explained.

Meanwhile, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian urged the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) to take inspiration from the example set by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and engage the government in good faith peace talks to finally bring the decades-old communist struggle to an end.

“Now is the time for the CPP-NPA-NDF to step up. The passage and signing of the BOL is proof that there is always a way to work out our differences and come together to achieve lasting peace,” he said.

Ozamiz Archbishop Martin Jumoad yesterday welcomed the signing of the BOL, saying the law would pave the way for lasting peace in the Mindanao region if implemented properly.

He is hoping that the people of Mindanao will vote positively during the plebiscite.

 “It is a welcome development in our desire to have peace in Mindanao… Islamic culture must not be obliged to be followed by the Catholics. Respect of religious traditions must prevail. Peace and harmony will be enjoyed if this new Bangsamoro government is inclusive and does not discriminate others,” he said.

ARMM infrastructure push to continue

Infrastructure push in the ARMM would continue as planned even with the enactment of the BOL, but building plans would be reviewed, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said yesterday.

In a briefing, NEDA officials said that even if the new Bangsamoro region would have greater autonomy, there would still have to be strong collaboration between the national government with regard to its economic landscape especially with the programmed infrastructure project for the region.

“They would have more say but there would still be collaboration between the new Bangsamoro region and the national government,” said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia.

NEDA Undersecretary for investment programming Rolando Tungpalan said public infrastructure projects that are ongoing would be continued, especially those funded by loans. – With Czeriza Valencia, Helen Flores, Evelyn Macairan