AFTER it was certified as urgent by President Duterte, the bill postponing the first regular elections of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) from 2022 to 2025 hurdled third and final reading at the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
Voting 187 affirmative, 0 negative and 0 abstention, lawmakers passed House Bill 10121, allowing the BARMM to attend to the more urgent needs of its people by offering them more time to strengthen their foundations for a stronger regional government and economy.The Senate earlier approved its version of the bill.
The House bill grants authority to the President of the Republic of the Philippines to appoint 80 members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) who will serve from June 31, 2022 until June 30, 2025.
The measure also allows the national government and the MILF and MILF to lay better and sturdier foundations and successfully translate the efforts on the gains from the peace agreement into lasting and sustainable peace not only in Mindanao but for the whole Philippines.
Under the law, BARMM elections are supposed to take place at the same time as national elections in May 2022.
The Special Committee on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity chaired by Maguindanao Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu earlier said that the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) “needs more time” due to the disruption brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
For his part, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said with the impending postponement of its elections from 2022 to 2025, Congress will be able to provide the BARMM a more stable foundation in establishing itself as a truly autonomous region.
“We are one with the government in providing the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) its first electoral participation in the national elections in 2022. It is unfortunate, however, that the pandemic has exacerbated an already delayed transition period of the BARMM—a process that is exceedingly nuanced, and one that requires no less than the full and undivided attention of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority to strengthen BARMM’s foundations for a stronger regional government and economy,” said Velasco.
“We express our gratitude to President Duterte for certifying House Bill 10121 as urgent,” he added.