BTA Member of Parliament Atty. Raissa Jajurie (speaking) heads the panel during public consultation with BARMM local government units (LGUs), Bangsamoro Cabinet and select experts on the proposed Bangsamoro Administrative Code. (GALao, Publication and Media Division, BTA Parliament)

COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament conducted a 2 day ‘public consultation’ on the proposed Bangsamoro Administrative Code held at the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) conference hall.

The activity, which aims to document insights of various Bangsamoro government entities, concluded a three-part series of public consultations today, August 17 where ‘experts’ were invited as resource speakers, Atty. Michael Henry Yusingco, Ma. Christina Valte and Atty. Randolph “Bong” Parcasio.

Last Friday, August 14, the first and second series involved local government units (LGUs) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Cabinet.

Member of Parliament (MP) Atty. Raissa Jajurie, who heads the consultation panel, said the panel was created by the Committee on Rules specifically to facilitate the conduct of public hearings.

Earlier, MP Jajurie was tasked by the Committee on Rules to chair a panel in facilitating public consultations with resource persons from the BARMM local government units (LGUs), Bangsamoro Cabinet, and select experts.

“This is not a Sub-Committee. The panel is mainly tasked to conduct and organize the consultations and submit the issues, concerns, and position papers to the Committee on Rules which is still the Committee, the body that will deliberate on the proposed bill,” MP Jajurie emphasized.

MP Jajurie said the consultation with experts is the third and the last of the three-part series, but claimed ‘they might have another one for the other sectors’. 

“For now, we will focus on what our experts will have to say about the political systems, administrative structure of the Bangsamoro government and other matters,” MP Jajurie said.

MP Jajurie stressed the panel will submit the points raised by them.

“We welcome their comprehensive position papers and suggestions for consideration,” MP Jajurie said.

Meanwhile, a committee report will be presented to the plenary during the second stage of the bill, after the panel submits their findings to the Committee on Rules. (GALao, Publication and Media Division, BTA Parliament)