Intergov't body to ensure smooth relations between central and Bangsamoro gov'ts

MANILA –
The intergovernmental relations (IGR) body between the future
autonomous Bangsamoro government and central government will work out
the ways and means that will harmonize the exercise of shared powers.
This body shall promote the common goals of the Bangsamoro and Central
government, said government chief negotiator Prof. Miriam
Coronel-Ferrer. Maybe
there is an assumption that interests or goals of the central
government and Bangsamoro government are different, when in fact, for
most parts, they have the same or shared interests. The Bangsamoro
government can be a very cooperative government working with all the
other government agencies,” Coronel-Ferrer said during the fourth
regular committee hearing on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), which
tackled the subject of trade in relation to the proposed law. Coronel-Ferrer,
during previous public hearings, underscored the role of the IGR body
in helping the Bangsamoro government work in harmony with the central
government and other local government units, especially on issues,
policies, and exercise of powers that [have impact] beyond the
territorial jurisdiction of the future Bangsamoro government.” Coverage of intergov’t relations body According
to the Bangsamoro bill, the IGR body will help the Bangsamoro
government and the central government to coordinate with each other in
the exercise of shared powers. Shared powers will be exercised in such
areas as social security and pension pollution control penology coast
guard customs and tariffs funding for the maintenance of national
roads, bridges, and irrigation systems and public order and safety. This
intergovernmental mechanism is a key feature of the Bangsamoro Bill and
the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). A
similar article on intergovernmental relations is found in the Local
Government Code (LGC) which pertains to the relationship between the
Central government and local governments in the exercise of the latter's
devolved powers. The
power of general supervision of the President over the local
governments and the Bangsamoro is reiterated in the LGC as well as in
the draft BBL. Bangsamoro
Transition Commission chair Mohagher Iqbal affirmed the IGR body’s
significance. He said the body is a distinct feature of the autonomy to
be exercised by the future Bangsamoro, in comparison with that of the
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. In
order to solve [problems in decision-making or exercise of powers]
between the central government and the Bangsamoro government, the
principle of continuing negotiations or continuing engagement is in
place. And that is through the intergovernmental mechanism,” Iqbal said. Composition of intergov’t relations body According
to the Bangsamoro Bill, the central government shall appoint a head to
represent the central government. The Bangsamoro government shall be
represented by a minister. The body shall be supported by a joint
secretariat. Article
VI, section 4, of the Bangsamoro Bill, says that the Central
Government and the Bangsamoro Government shall establish a mechanism at
the highest levels that will coordinate and harmonize their
relationships. For this purpose, a primary mechanism shall be a Central
Government – Bangsamoro Government Intergovernmental Relations Body to
resolve issues on intergovernmental relations. All disputes and issues
relating to these intergovernmental relations shall be resolved through
regular consultations and continuing negotiations in a non-adversarial
manner.” On taxation and other fiscal matters, the draft law also provides for the creation of an Intergovernmental Fiscal Policy Board. These
IGR bodies shall exhaust all means to resolve all issues brought before
them. Unresolved issues shall be elevated to the President of the
Philippines, through the Bangsamoro government’s chief minister.