DAVAO CITY—The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), the region’s interim Parliament, wrapped up its 2-day public consultation in Tawi-Tawi on the proposed Bangsamoro Local Governance Code (LGC), to snowball its commitment to enact the remaining code of laws for the region by the first quarter of 2023.
Member of Parliament Susana S. Anayatin said the discussions revolved around the proposed code’s “inclusivity, its provisions on qualifications and disqualifications for elective local positions, and anti-political dynasties.”
The youth sector was vocal among the issues raised, Anayatin said.
Bensar Muin, founder of the Youth Development for Patikul Association, said the youth “strongly supported” the anti-political dynasties provision in the proposed LGC, saying the code gave “leadership potential an equal chance to participate.”
Muin and the representatives of other youth organizations, lauded the BTA for including the youth sector in the legislative process.
Anayatin said one group from Tawi-Tawi reacted to the proposal that those seeking provincial, city, and municipal positions must at least reach college-level education was.
Princess Rabeah Abdulrahim, representative of the Tawi-Tawi Alliance of Civil Society Organizations, said that the Parliament should look into the educational requirement provision in the proposed LGC.
Deputy Speaker Paisalin Tago acknowledged the participation of the youth and women sectors on the proposed code.
“It shows that they are much more concerned with what is happening in their environment and want to protect the rights of the youth and women,” he said.
Women sector
MP Don Mustapha Loong said he wanted the points raised be put on paper and said he recognized the importance “not only of the position papers but also of the comments and opinions during the consultation.”
The comments and suggestions would be the basis and foundation for improving the code at the committee level, he added.
MP Tarhata Maglangit thanked the women’s sector for participating in the event, assuring them that the proposed code is being carefully crafted to ensure women’s participation and that the gender code will be reviewed afterward.
Charina Izuierdo-Isahac, founder of the women’s group Bansag Babai Inc., thanked the Parliament for “upholding women’s and children’s rights” by incorporating the anti-violence against women and children’s desk and the Local Council for Protection of Children in the proposed code.
Anayatin assured participants “that should the proposed BTA Bill 30 be enacted, it will be instrumental in bringing about the change that the people of Barmm [Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao] desires.”
“The BLGC provides how services from the regional office are cascaded down to provincial offices,” Anayatin said.
She said the proposed bill received support from Tawi-Tawi Sanib Pwersa Kabataan Inc., a coalition of 83 active youth organizations in the province recognized by the Bangsamoro Youth Commission.
Anayatin said the youth coalition “believed that the Bangsamoro LGC is critical in establishing a stronger and responsive government system for the LGUs.”
“We call on other organizations, units, and sectors in the community to remain steadfast in their support for the Barmm government as well as the proposed code, which will provide a stronger bureaucracy and inclusive and transparent governance,” it said in a position paper.