THE Philippines is on the right path to building a more peaceful and prosperous Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Wednesday as he expressed confidence that remaining issues and concerns in the region would soon be addressed.
Marcos received the Third Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) Progress Report from IGRB co-chairs Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and BARMM Minister of Higher and Technical Education Mohagher Iqbal in Malacañang.
In his speech during the turnover, Marcos cited the transformative reforms that the government has undertaken to assist BARMM, including the commissioning of former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front to the police force and the granting of amnesty to qualified former Moro combatants.
PROGRESS REPORT President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. receives the third Intergovernmental Relations Body Progress Report from Budget Secretary and IGRB Co-Chairman Amenah Pangandaman and BARMM Basic, Higher and Technical Education Minister and IGRB Co-Chairman Mohagher Iqbal on July 31, 2024. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
He also mentioned the successful turnover of various properties and assets of the national government within the BARMM and the signing of the Intergovernmental Energy Board Circular on the joint award of petroleum service contracts and coal operating contracts in the region.
“These peace and development milestones are part of our collective efforts to lay the groundwork for effective governance and meaningful autonomy environment,” Marcos said.
“I’m confident that we are on the right path to building a more peaceful, stable and prosperous Bangsamoro region as we find responsive solutions to the remaining issues and concerns that still need to be addressed,” he added.
The IGRB, established under the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), facilitates coordination and resolves issues between the National and the Bangsamoro governments through regular consultations and negotiations to achieve mutual goals.
It operationalizes and oversees other intergovernmental relations mechanisms outlined in the BOL.
Marcos said the operationalization of all seven IGRB mechanisms was pivotal to smoothly implementing the provisions and principles laid down in the BOL.
“We now possess the necessary platforms to ensure greater collaboration, coordination, and cooperation between the national government and the Bangsamoro Government in pursuing our shared goals and endeavors for our people,” he said.
The President also expressed confidence that the IGRB would continue performing and executing its mandate pursuant to the principles and provisions of the BOL.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. receives a copy of the New Expenditure Policy 2025 from Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman at the Malacañan Palace on July 31, 2024. PPA POOL / KJ ROSALES
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. receives a copy of the New Expenditure Policy 2025 from Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman at the Malacañan Palace on July 31, 2024. PPA POOL / KJ ROSALES
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. receives a copy of the New Expenditure Policy 2025 from Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman at the Malacañan Palace on July 31, 2024. PPA POOL / KJ ROSALES
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. receives a copy of the New Expenditure Policy 2025 from Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman at the Malacañan Palace on July 31, 2024. PPA POOL / KJ ROSALES
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. receives a copy of the New Expenditure Policy 2025 from Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman at the Malacañan Palace on July 31, 2024. PPA POOL / KJ ROSALES
“Maximize the established mechanisms as a conduit for identifying and resolving issues, ensuring judicious use of resources, and learning about best governance practices for BARMM,” Marcos said.
“Sustaining and ensuring that our progress remains resilient amidst political transitions is absolutely crucial,” he added.
Marcos said the Third IGRB Progress Report is a testament to the stakeholders’ “fruitful partnership and enduring commitment to peace and development.”
“As we move forward, let us be reminded that our partnership is built on trust, respect, and a shared vision for our people’s prosperity and their well-being,” Marcos said.
“I reaffirm once again the national government’s unwavering commitment to helping and assisting the Bangsamoro Government in all its endeavors as we continue with this important process for — not only for Muslim Mindanao, not only for the southern Philippines but for the entire Republic,” he added.
The President also ordered Pangandaman to expedite the finalization of the IGRB manual of operations and resolutions of identified issues ahead of the upcoming BARMM elections next year.
The first parliamentary election in BARMM will be held simultaneously with the May 12, 2025 midterm elections.
“The manual will clarify the roles, the functions, facilitate proactive monitoring of issues, and establish a system of continuity amongst those mechanisms,” Marcos said.
“So, together, let us continue to build a future where peace, progress, and unity prevail. May our collective efforts to bring about positive change for the BARMM and our nation be realized sooner rather than later,” he added.
Pangandaman said the success of BARMM is “not only a matter of concern for [the] BARMM but also a top priority of the Philippine government.”
“In fact, beyond being a matter of national interest, the success of BARMM is also a world issue because the world is looking [at] BARMM to be the shining example of peace. Hence, I must emphasize that we cannot fail,” she said.
BARRM, which replaced the poverty- and conflict-stricken Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, was created in 2019 through the enactment of the BOL — a product of the government’s negotiations with the MILF.
BARMM, comprising six provinces, three cities, 116 municipalities and 2,590 barangay, is home to over 4 million residents.
Speaker Martin Romualdez welcomed the submission of the Third IGRB Progress Report, calling it a “significant milestone” to foster lasting peace and development in Mindanao.
“The continuous collaboration between the national government and the Bangsamoro government is essential in addressing the unique challenges faced by our fellow Filipinos in BARMM,” Romualdez said.
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