Gov’t closely working with MILF for BBL passage

MANILA, Oct. 6 (PNA) -- Malacanang has assured Filipino Muslims that the government is doing its best to provide them a strong Bangsamoro political group to further propel their areas’ economic growth.This is the assurance given by Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., adding that the government is working hand-in-hand with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to gather support for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. We appeal to our countrymen to support the principle of establishing a Bangsamoro political entity because we are convinced through this we can have a developed and progressive communities for Pilipinos to be covered by the Bangsamoro Basic Law,” Coloma said in Filipino duringa radio interview.Last September, the Aquino administration submitted before Congress the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), which is dubbed as a very significant event that would propel the economy of the Bangsamoro people.Earlier, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Deles said the draft BBL embodies the substance and spirit of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) that was signed by the government and MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) negotiating panels last March 27 in Malacanang Palace.”She said a plebiscite will be done next year if the proposed law gets approval of the lawmakers.The plebiscite will determine the people’s decision on whether they want to be headed by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), which will also be created by a law.Earlier, Moody’s Investors Service dubbed as credit positive” the signing of the CAB on March 27, 2014.It said the agreement will ensure political stability and economic growth in what is currently called the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), but will be called Autonomous Government of Bangsamoro once the new political entity is put in place in 2016.Under the agreement, the government and the MILF will have to share the revenues from the resource-rich region as well as on governmental power in the area.Moody’s said the agreement is expected to result to greater stability” in the region, which will likely encourage investment in the region and provide scope for the development of more profitable industries, such as mining and agribusiness.” In addition, the truce should facilitate greater investor interest across the several provinces in the island of Mindanao,” it added. (PNA)LAM/JS/UTB and//124.107.92.203/index.php?nid=0