COTABATO CITY – The majority of mayors in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are asking national legislators to review and approve the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
Thirteen mayors from Maguindanao, 26 from Lanao del Sur, seven from Sulu, 12 from Basilan, and eight from Tawi-Tawi manifested their support for the passage of the BBL saying it is a step in fulfilling a lasting peace in Mindanao.
The 66 mayors prepared and signed a statement of support noting the BBL will help resolve the issues affecting Mindanao. Currently, the ARMM is composed of five provinces, two cities and 118 municipalities.
The mayors who signed the statement said the BBL will open opportunities to their constituents. Both the regional government and the local government units, they said, will also be strengthened. However, they noted that this can be achieved through a structurally superior Bangsamoro region.
They further said that the BBL is a leap forward after decades of peace talks between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and that it is “indubitably has the stamp of the Moro aspirations for peace, justice, genuine autonomy and self-determination.”
The ARMM government has been consistent in signifying its support to the BBL and the Mindanao peace agenda. Governor Mujiv Hataman even urged his constituents to support the call of the region for its passage.
On May 18, the 75 members of the House of Representatives’ Ad Hoc Committee on the Bangsamoro headed by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez voted to approve the measure formalizing the creation of a new political entity – the Bangsamoro region. On June 11, the House in plenary is set to vote on its endorsement to the Senate. (Bureau of Public Information)
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