Minister Sinarimbo provides updates on Bangsamoro transition

COTABATO CITY  – Since the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s (BARMM) inauguration on March 29 this year, it has been challenging months for the members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to transition into a new autonomous bureaucracy.

The first step the BTA had taken in transitioning into a new structure was to draft the Bangsamoro Transition Plan which will serve as the guidebook in setting up the new government. In an interview with the People’s Television Network on August 9, BARMM Local Government Minister Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo said the transition plan has already been approved and is currently being implemented.

“Dalawa ho yung laman ng plano. Una ay yung bagong structure ng gobyerno sa Bangsamoro, at pangalawa ay yung phasing out ng defunct bureaucracy nung ARMM. So yung dalawang yun ay patuloy nang pinapatupad na sa ngayon,” Sinarimbo said.

Sinarimbo also said that Chief Minister Al Hajj Murad Ebrahim have a 12-point priority agenda during his term of governance. Included in the agenda, he said, are the legislation of the priority laws, development of revenue codes to generate more income in the region, implementing good governance with the local government units, improvement of the region’s security, and others.

Published by the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority, the 12-point agenda include the enactment of priority bills; integration of development plans; establishment of appropriate bureaucracy; continuity of existing government services; special programs for transitioning combatants; supporting the on-going Marawi rehabilitation; development of enabling policy environment; activation of job-generating industries; enhancement of security; maximizing synergistic partnerships; ensure environmental compliance; and exploration of Bangsamoro’s economic potentials.

“Magkakaroon din po ng massive na improvement dun sa social service delivery. Ang plano ay ibababa ang serbisyo ng gobyerno dun na mismo sa barangay, sa ngayon ay ang abot natin ay ang munisipyo,” he said. “Gusto nating bumaba mismo sa mga komunidad para yung mga statistics sa human development incidences hindi lang mga numero kundi mga tao na mismo.”

Decommissioning of MILF combatants

One of the obligations the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has committed to in the peace process is the decommissioning of its combatants as soon as the Bangsamoro Government is established.

Sinarimbo said, “Yung paunang phase ay 30% ng combatants at weapons nila. Sa September 7 magsisimula yung 12,000 na combatants nila na ide-decommission, at 2,100 na firearms. Madami pong mga tao at madaming armas ang ide-decommission ng MILF.”

Unbeknown to many, good things are already happening in the new BARMM.

“Gusto lang naming ipaalam sa mga kababayan natin lalo na sa mga nandito sa Manila at sa mas malawak na parte ng Pilipinas na yun pong kasunduang pangkapayapaan na pinirmahan ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas at saka ng MILF ay meron nang nangyayaring maganda sa ground,” Sinarimbo said.

“Naaayos na natin yung sa baba at inaasahan natin na sa mga susunod na panahon ay talagang makakamit natin yung kapayapaan at pag-unlad hindi lang sa rehiyon namin kundi sa buong bansa rin,” he added. (###)