As Bangsamoro transition begins, what will happen to 35,000 ARMM workers

COTABATO CITY -The status of current employees of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) once the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) takes over was a recurring concern during Thursday’s talkshop on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) at the Tanghalang Michael Clark of Notre Dame University in Cotabato City.The BTA is the interim body that will govern the Bangsamoro until the election of regular officials of the new autonomous political entity in 2016. The interim period for the establishment of the Bangsamoro will commence upon the ratification of the BBL. By that time, ARMM offices are deemed abolished.Will there be massive abolition of offices? Will ARMM employees lose their jobs? There are no specifics in the BBL as to what exactly will happen. That is why we need the blueprint [for transition] as early as now para mawala ang agam-agam ng mga tao at makaboto sila ng matiwasay during the plebiscite,” ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia, a panelist in the talkshop, said. We support the BBL but we cannot discount the fact that the 35,000 ARMM employees are worried about their future,” she added.Alamia, however, believes that the abolition of ARMM agencies and employment on a massive scale will not be practical even when the BTA is already constituted because the interim governing body has yet to enact many regional codes including the Bangsamoro Civil Service Code. Unless and until there is a transition plan that would be implemented and the legal basis for the transition plan would have been enacted by the BTA, magpapatuloy ang functioning ng mga agencies na ito ,” she said.The BBL, in Article XVI, Section 9, also says that the BTA will schedule the gradual phasing out of offices of the ARMM and, in consideration of public interest and the delivery of services, officials holding appointive positions will continue to perform their functions in accordance with the schedule.The BBL adds that funds for the benefits and entitlements of affected ARMM employees shall be provided.In the end, Alamia urged ARMM employees and their associations to submit to Congress recommendations on how to phase transition from ARMM to Bangsamoro.