MARAWI
CITY, Lanao del Sur, June 4 (PIA) ---The proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law
(BBL) will address the weaknesses and imperfections of the Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), a regional official said.
“We
are supporting the passage of BBL as we underscore the need for a
Bangsamoro that is stronger than the ARMM, a new government that will
bring our people a life of greater opportunities and deliver the
promises of a lasting peace,” said Governor Mujiv Hataman.
The
current regional government’s structure has not been responsive to the
needs of the people, he said, noting this has an adverse impact on
efforts aimed at uplifting the lives of ARMM residents. Those
imperfections, he added, led to the rising incidence of poverty, and
unstable peace and order.
Hataman underscored how the
government’s gains in recent years including those achieved by the peace
negotiations have not been effective in the autonomous region’s
governance due to the system’s limitations in addressing Bangsamoro
issues.
However, he noted how peace and order in the ARMM,
promoted largely by strides in the southern peace process, yielded
positive results in the region’s governance.
It should be
noted that after the government pursued the peace agreement with the
Moro Islamic Liberation Front, there was no major breakout of conflict
in the region and other parts of Mindanao.
“The condition of
peace provided the people a respite from the never-ending cycle of
violence, giving them the time to start their lives anew, dream, and
hope once again,” he said.
According to him, it also
allowed the regional government to focus its attention on building
roads, bridges, classrooms, farm facilities, community health centers,
markets, and homes.
Resources spent for infrastructures and
services these past years, he noted, would have been used to buy
medicines, food, as well as building makeshift homes for people
displaced by the conflict had the peace process not moved forward.
“ARMM extends its sincerest appreciation to President Benigno Aquino III for his trust and confidence.” Hataman said.
The
region’s recent achievements, including passing Good Governance
Conditions, are proof that reforms are felt by the people and that Moros
govern well.
“We are also thankful to the members of both the
Senate and House of Representatives for sharing our vision for the
region. In 26 years, for the first time in history, ARMM received its
biggest budget of P24.3 billion,” he added.
Hataman said the increase in budget meant more projects and projects with greater and wider impacts. (BPI/APB/PIA-10)
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