MANILA – The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) said Friday ranking officials of the Marcos administration have lauded the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) leadership for ensuring greater multi-sectoral inclusivity in its development and peacebuilding process.
This was after BARMM Interim Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim convened on Aug. 9 the first general meeting of the Council of Leaders, one of the Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) bodies created through the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
Under the BOL, which established the BARMM in 2018, the Council of Leaders is mandated to advise the Chief Minister, particularly on matters of governance in the region.
Speaking before the body, Special Assistant to the President Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo Jr., who administered the oath-taking of Council members, said the “establishment of the Council of Leaders as an intergovernmental relations mechanism is a significant step forward” for the BARMM government.
Lagdameo, who was tasked by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to oversee the government’s initiatives in the BARMM, said the Council “provides an avenue for addressing concerns, resolving conflicts and forging consensus on critical issues.”
“By bringing together different voices, perspectives and expertise, the Council can play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Bangsamoro region (by) ensuring that the needs and aspirations of all are heard and considered,” he added.
Lagdameo also emphasized that a collaborative approach fosters a sense of trust and shared responsibility that is essential for the sustainable development and stability of the region’s governance structure.
Meanwhile, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman reaffirmed the Marcos administration's steadfast commitment to pushing forward its Agenda for Prosperity in the BARMM.
Pangandaman noted that of the PHP5.768 trillion 2024 National Expenditure Program for Fiscal Year 2024, a total of PHP80.6 billion would go to local government units in the BARMM to fulfill the national government’s goal of uplifting the lives of the Bangsamoro people,
"Additionally, PHP5.3B (billion) has been appropriated for the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) or the Peaceful and Resilient Communities Program,” she said.
Of the PHP5.3 billion for PAMANA, PHP2.5 billion is allocated for infrastructure development projects in the BARMM.
“Ang Bagong Pilipinas ay nagtutulungan at nagkakaunawaan sa kabila ng pagkakaiba ng relihiyon, kulay at pinagmulan. At ang Bagong Pilipinas ay mas pinatatag ng pagkakaisa (The New Philippines is about helping and understanding each other despite differences in religion, color and origin and the New Philippines is further strengthened by unity)," she said.
Meanwhile, Presidential Assistant David Diciano, representing OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., underscored the significance of convening the Council of Leaders.
Diciano said the Council “is a testament to the importance of intergovernmental relations, as we continue to work together to enhance governance systems in the Bangsamoro through joint mechanisms and partnerships.”
“The composition of this Council is a reflection of the ‘jointness’ of our governments. All of the interventions we are carrying out are a product of synergy and complementation. This is the power of convergence,” he said.
Diciano noted that with the convening of the Council, the BARMM government could actively engage local chief executives on matters of governance, as well as provide an avenue for the more effective implementation of the Normalization Program.
The Normalization Program, which is among the key provisions of the CAB, aims to ensure the return of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants to mainstream society as peaceful and productive individuals.
“We agree with Chief Minister Ebrahim that bringing about inclusive governance is a top priority. By ensuring the meaningful participation of local and sectoral leaders in the BARMM, they will be heard and empowered,” he said.
“By improving public service delivery, we shall make sure that much-needed resources are efficiently allocated so that the initiatives we will be implementing in communities will have the greatest impact.”
According to Section 9 of the BOL, the Council of Leaders is headed by the BARMM Interim Chief Minister.
Its members include provincial governors, mayors of chartered cities and congressional representatives in the region; representatives of traditional leaders, non-Moro indigenous communities, women, settler communities, the Ulama, youth, and Bangsamoro communities outside of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, as well as representatives of other sectors. (PNA)
