MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Sept. 16 (PIA) -- The Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has engaged the participation of key stakeholders in coming up with improvements to Republic Act (RA) 9054, the law which amended RA 6734 or the Organic Act that created the ARMM.
Members of the RLA are currently holding a series of public consultations in several parts of the region to seek inputs and suggestions on the proposed amendments to RA 9054.
The first leg of the consultation was held August 28 in Cotabato City for stakeholders in Maguindanao while the second consultation was held here on September 11 for Lanao del Sur constituents.
Public consultations for the island provinces kicked-off on September 13 in Lamitan City for Basilan stakeholders followed on September 15 in Bongao for Tawi-Tawi.
Stakeholders in Sulu province will likewise be consulted on September 18.
Assemblywoman Sittie Norhanie Lao said the ideas and inputs coming from the public will be the foundation and bases of the RLA members in coming-up with substantive recommendations and proposals to amend RA 9054.
The outcomes of the consultations along with the other inputs from different sectors including civil society organizations will be reviewed and consolidated by the RLA before final deliberation and adoption by the regional body.
Meanwhile, some of the major issues raised during the consultation here included wealth sharing and control of strategic minerals.
Lanao del Sur stakeholders particularly recommended that at least 70 percent of the income from the National Power Corporation situated in the province should be for the Bangsamoro and the 30 percent for the national government.
Under Section 5 of RA 9054, the control and supervision over the exploration, utilization, development, and protection of the mines and minerals and other natural resources within the autonomous region are vested in the ARMM government except for strategic minerals such as uranium, petroleum, and other fossil fuels, mineral oils, all sources of potential energy, as well as national reserves, aquatic parks, forest and watershed reservations.
The same section further provides that 50 percent of the revenues, taxes, or fees derived from the use and development of the strategic minerals should accrue to the regional government while the remaining 50 percent should accrue to the national government.
Among others, concerns on the educational system, especially on the release of education funds and operationalization Islamic education, and the development of the banking industry were also brought-up in the consultation.
Assemblywoman Samira Gutoc-Tomawis said the conduct of the consultations is part of the huge mandate of the RLA to recommend amendments to RA 9054 for submission to Congress by October this year.
RA 10153, which provides for the synchronization of the elections in the ARMM with the national and local elections, has paved the way for the appointment of caretaker officials of the ARMM government.
Section 6 of RA 10153 mandated the appointed members of the RLA to conduct a study and review of RA 9054 and submit recommendations to the Congress within six months from their appointment. (APB-PIA 10)
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