COTABATO CITY — Bangsamoro Parliament Speaker Atty. Pangalian Balindong reaffirmed the commitment to strengthen peace efforts and advance the region’s development, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) where he lauded the remarkable progress achieved by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
During his SONA, President Marcos expressed great pride in the region’s growth and development, highlighting its strides towards self-governance, prosperity, and effectiveness.
The President attributed the success of BARMM to the collective efforts of various key groups, acknowledging the crucial role played by extensive consultations with local authorities, royal families, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
In response to President Marcos’ recognition of BARMM’s achievements, Speaker Balindong expressed the Bangsamoro Parliament’s honor and appreciation. He emphasized that this acknowledgment serves as a testament to the concerted efforts of the Bangsamoro people, the regional government, and all partners who have been actively involved in their journey towards peace and progress.
“We, the Bangsamoro Parliament, are dedicated to upholding good governance, inclusivity, and sustainable development for all the people of BARMM,” said Speaker Balindong.
BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim echoed this sentiment, assuring that the Bangsamoro government is collaborating with all concerned sectors to sustain the peace and inclusive developments achieved during the crucial transition period.
“We assure that in this ‘Bagong Pilipinas’, we will all strive to have a Bangsamoro that is self-governing, progressive, and effective,” Chief Minister Ebrahim said.
Floor Leader Atty. Sha Eiljah Dumama-Alba said that the inclusion of BARMM in the President’s SONA has been well-received by the government and the constituencies, motivating the Parliament to redouble its efforts in fulfilling its promises during the transition period.
Reaffirming the country’s commitment to the peace process in the Bangsamoro region, President Marcos has appointed the 80 members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to serve as the interim government until 2025.
President Rodrigo Duterte appointed the first parliament, which served from 2019 to 2022 and has been instrumental in paving the way for the region’s autonomy and self-governance.
Following President Marcos’ restructuring in 2022, the new group of MPs has been entrusted with the crucial task of leading the Bangsamoro people.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)-led interim government aims to pass priority measures outlined in the Bangsamoro Organic Law before the scheduled 2025 election, paving the way for genuine autonomy, peace, and progress in the region.
The Bangsamoro Parliament has already achieved significant milestones by successfully approving key legislative measures, including the administrative code, civil service code, education code, and electoral code.
Currently, the local governance code is at the committee level and is expected to pass in plenary later this year. Additionally, the Parliament is actively working on passing the revenue code and the indigenous people code.
Notably, besides the priority measures, the Parliament has also approved 35 bills addressing the specific needs of the Bangsamoro people.
Atty. Dumama-Alba stressed the importance of crafting quality laws, assuring that all priority measures stipulated in the BOL will be enacted during the transition period.
“As the Bangsamoro Parliament Speaker, I assure President Marcos and the entire nation that we remain steadfast in our commitment to support and strengthen the BARMM’s functions and legal framework. We believe that through this autonomous entity, we can pave the way for a better future, not only for the Bangsamoro people but for all Filipinos, as we work together towards a singular vision of a prosperous and united nation,” Speaker Balindong reiterated.
President Marcos pledged continued support from the national government for the BARMM’s pursuit of sustainable growth and prosperity.
The upcoming 2025 elections in the region will give the people of BARMM the opportunity to elect their officials, synchronized with the next mid-term elections. (LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)