COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro Parliament is pushing for the establishment of an office that will provide assistance to underprivileged veteran mujahideen in the region.

A Bangsamoro Veteran Mujahideen Affairs Office will be established under a proposed measure refiled by the Government of the Day to provide financial, medical, social, and other assistance to Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front veterans who have rendered revolutionary services in the protracted wars for self-determination “between the Bangsamoro people and the National Government” for at least 20 years.

Parliament Bill No. 44, also known as the “Bangsamoro Mujahideen Act of 2022,” prioritizes underprivileged veteran mujahideen who could not work due to old age, a lack of required education, or other employment requirements, and must be at least 55 years old at the time the proposed measure is enacted.

Once approved, qualified beneficiaries will receive a monthly allowance, free medical assistance from any Ministry of Health-supervised facility, health centers, or hospitals, and will be excluded from any Bangsamoro government taxes, fees, and other charges.

The BVMAO’s operation will be supervised and controlled by the Ministry of Public Order and Safety, with three divisions, including processing and validation, benefit availment, and monitoring evaluation.

PB No. 44 has entered second reading and was referred to the Rules and Finance and Budget Management committees. (LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)