Marcos calls on BTA to pass crucial legislations for Bangsamoro

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Thursday called on the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to pass "crucial" fiscal legislations and other measures that will promote the welfare of the Bangsamoros.

Marcos graced the inaugural session of the BTA parliament held at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex in Cotabato City. Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari was also present during the event, together with other key government officials.

The Chief Executive urged the BTA to ensure the conduct of polls in the region in 2025. Then-President Rodrigo Duterte had signed the law postponing the May 2022 elections in the BARMM to May 2025.

"Given these new opportunities, to deliver our commitments to the people of BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), I urge you to pass all the crucial legislations on fiscal policy particularly taxation and to facilitate the conduct of the elections in the BARMM in 2025," Marcos said in his speech.

"I also encourage the BTA to pass measures that will secure the welfare of the Moro people, particularly in agri-fishery, healthcare, transportation, communication, digital infrastructure, and e-governance," he added.

The President lauded the BTA for its gains as three of the seven priority codes, such as the administrative, civil service, and education, have already been approved. The first parliament, which served from 2019 to 2022, had also enacted 31 bills and adopted 263 resolutions.

"My congratulations to all that have been involved. To the newly-appointed members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, we would not have witnessed this glorious unfolding of history without you. We set our feet before this place and herald the triumphs that you have won through courage, certainty and noble bravery," Marcos said.

"The diverse representation now of the BTA speaks volumes of your answer towards that call for unity, of shared responsibility, and the invitation to advocate peace and development in the Bangsamoro region," he added.

The President, however, said this "long list of achievements," including the approval of the Bangsamoro Transition Plan and the passage of the most important codes, was just the beginning.

"As we go on and we formalize the structure and institutionalize the functions of the Bangsamoro government, we will see that those efficiencies will come in and what we had celebrated today and at the very beginning of the existence of the BARMM, what we had celebrated, we will now look upon as only a glimpse of what will happen in the future," Marcos said.

Marcos committed that his administration would provide "full and unwavering commitment to the peace process and to BARMM."

Election

Meanwhile, during the session, members of the parliament elected the following officials:

• Atty. Pangalian Balindong, Speaker;
• Atty. Lanang Ali Jr., Deputy Speaker;
• Hatimil Hassan, Deputy Speaker;
• Atty. Nabil Tan, Deputy Speaker;
• Atty. Omar Yasser Sema, Deputy Speaker;
• Atty. Paisalin Tago, Deputy Speaker;
• Benjamin Loong, Deputy Speaker;
• Abdulkarim Misuari, Deputy Speaker;
• Atty. Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba, Majority Leader;
• Prof. Raby Angkal, Secretary-General; and
• Abdulgani Caludtiag, Sergeant-at-Arms.

The BTA officers will serve until their successors are elected in 2025.

On August 12, Marcos administered the oath-taking of the new members of the BTA parliament. The BTA serves as the the interim government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The new members will represent the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Sulu, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi, as well as members of the Bangsamoro community in North Cotabato, indigenous peoples who are not Moro, the Kalagan or Kagan community in Davao Oriental, and Christian or settler communities in Davao City and Cotabato City. — RSJ, GMA News