Cotabato City (June 3, 2020) – The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament is set to open its ‘Second Regular Session’ on June 16, Majority Floor Leader Lawyer Lanang Ali Jr. said during a caucus meeting held yesterday.

Ali Jr. said that Wali of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Khalipha U. Nando will open the BTA Parliament Second Regular Session as mandated by section 3, article VIII of R.A. No. 11054 and also deliver his message.

Meanwhile, “Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim is expected to report the status of the Bangsamoro during this Coronavirus 2019 (COVID19) pandemic as the highlight of the June 16 ceremonial opening of the BTA Parliament Second Regular Session”, said Ali Jr. in the meeting with the BTA Secretary-General Raby Angkal, representatives from the Office of the Speaker and Minority Block Leader Lawyer Laisa Alamia and BTA heads of divisions.

Preventative measures from spread of COVID19

Following the health protocols such as physical distancing, wearing of face mask, and hand washing and sanitizing, Ali Jr. said BTA Members of Parliament are to attend and participate “voluntarily” in the session provided they reach a quorum of 41 members present physically or via teleconferencing.

Moreover, Secretary-General Angkal said “the ceremonial opening of the BTA Parliament Second Regular Session during Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) is set, provided that physical attendance shall not exceed 50% of the session hall’s capacity, following guidelines issued by the National  Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on COVID19 pandemic.”

National IATF states in its Resolution no. 40 that BARMM is now under MGCQ.  Mass gatherings of a maximum of 50 percent of the venue’s total capacity is allowed in regions under MGCQ .

The public and media are strictly not allowed entry within the session hall premises as a live coverage will be provided via the Bangsamoro Facebook Page ‘Bangsamoro Government,’ Angkal further said. (RSolaiman, BTA Parliament)