ARMM reaffirms support for BBL
• 23:53 PM Thu Oct 23, 2014
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BPI-ARMM press statement
ARMM Exec. Sec. Atty. Laisa Alamia
COTABATO CITY -The
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) reaffirmed its support to the
passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), otherwise known as House
Bill No. 4994, in a public hearing conducted today by the House Ad Hoc
Committee on the BBL in this city. Lawyer Laisa Alamia, ARMM executive
secretary, said the BBL will help lay down the foundation for lasting peace and
development in Mindanao.
The BBL is the highest expression of
the Bangsamoro people’s right to self-determination, and we in the ARMM trusts
its provisions will be implementable, feasible, and is directed for the good of
the people,” she said.
The public hearing drew participants
from local government units, people’s organizations, the academe and other
stakeholders. Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chair of the ad hoc committee, said the
series of public hearings and consultations being undertaken separately by
their committee and the Senate Committee on Local Government in different parts
of Mindanao are meant to provide different stakeholders a venue to express
their opinion and to be clarified on issues surrounding the proposed BBL.
The BBL will give way to the establishment
of a new autonomous political entity, the Bangsamoro government, to replace the
ARMM.
Alamia underscored the importance of
placing the right people to complement the new structure, saying the new system
would only be as good as the people running it. We are anticipating a better system
with competent and committed people to administer the new entity,” she said.
Alamia said they support the passage of
the law and have been hard at work to ensure a smooth transition to the
political entity that will follow ARMM.
She said the leaders who will come
after them will benefit from the gains of the reforms that have been undertaken
by the working government of ARMM.
Other members of the ad hoc committee present
were Rep. Bai Sandra Sema of the 1st District of Maguindanao and Cotabato City,
Rep. Tupay Loong of Sulu and Rep. Jim Hataman-Salliman of Basilan.