Maguindanao's Iranun towns want separate district in Bangsamoro
• 14:34 PM Sun Dec 14, 2014
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By:
Edwin O. Fernandez
COTABATO CITY –
Local executives of the municipalities in Northern Maguindanao, composing the
Iranun Development Council (IDC) have submitted its position paper to the House
Adhoc committee which had been conducting consultations on the draft Bangsamoro
Basic Law.
The IDC
composed of the towns of Parang, Barira, Buldon and Matanog, more popularly
known as Iranunc towns, want a separate district in the envisioned Bangsamoro
government.
Rep. Rufus
Rodriguez who chairs the Adhoc committee on House Bill 4994 had been consulting
people in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and in areas outside the region.
Mayor Ibrahim
Ibay of Parang, Maguindanao said under the BBL provisions on re-distriting, the
four Iranun towns, including the towns of Sultan Kudarat and Sultan Mastura can
form a separate district with a population of about 254,000.
Ibay said a
separate district for the six towns will provide its inhabitants with a voice
in the Bangsamoro government.
He said the
Iranun towns are well qualified into a separate district because its population
is more than 100,000, the pre-requirement in creating Bangsamoro district based
in the BBL.
According to
Ibay, creating separate district for Iranun towns will ensure the preservation
of Muslims, Christians and indigenous peoples’ culture in the Bangsamoro
government.