FAST-TRACKING — Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Member of Parliament Engr. Aida M. Silongan presented the draft Bangsamoro Civil Service Code Wednesday, July 08 before cabinet members of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Regional government. (Photo courtesy of the Office of MP Engr. Aida M. Silongan)

COTABATO CITY — After series of extensive consultation to various stakeholders, the Bangsamoro Civil Service Code was finally presented Wednesday, July 08, 2020 to the cabinet members of the Bangsamoro government with the presence of Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim.

Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Member of Parliament Engr. Aida M. Silongan, Chair of the Cabinet Committee on Bangsamoro Civil Service Code (CCBCSC), presented the salient features of the draft Bangsamoro Civil Service Code.

The presentation includes the process flow in the preparation of the Bangsamoro Civil Service Code from undertaking a policy research and review of existing literatures to policy consultations and development up to its enhancement and finalization of the draft Code.

The entire process involved the participation of stakeholders from 5 provinces both mainland and island, 2 cities and representatives from the 63 barangays of North Cotabato as well as from some members of the Parliament, national government agencies, NGOs and experts on civil service law.

Specific issues and concerns were presented and have been addressed by the TWG and the Committee by incorporating specific provisions in the draft Bangsamoro Civil Service Code with limitations of the power and authority of the Bangsamoro Government under the BOL.

The Bangsamoro Government is mandated to craft the Bangsamoro Civil Service Code specific in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) under Section 2, Article V stating that “the Bangsamoro Government shall exercise its authority over the civil service without prejudice to the overall supervision of the President of the Republic of the Philippines”.  In paragraph 2, Section 39, Article VII of the BOL, it further mandates the Bangsamoro Government to enact a civil service law provided that it shall be in accordance with existing national laws.

After presentation to the cabinet members with minor revisions and some additional provisions suggested by the committee members, the draft Bangsamoro Civil Service Code will be presented to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority in this month of July 2020. (BTA Parliament)