BARMM

Bangsamoro Parliament passes own administrative code

Taj Basman

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Bangsamoro Parliament passes own administrative code
The code is among 8 legislative measures that the interim Bangsamoro government is supposed to craft during the region's transition period

The interim Bangsamoro Parliament passed Cabinet Bill No 60 or the Bangsamoro Administrative Code (BAC) on Wednesday, October 28, during its special session in Cotabato City.

In a hybrid session, the body, led by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), unanimously approved the bill after it went through series of online public consultations.

Bangsamoro Parliament Speaker Ali Pangalian Balindong explained that the BAC “prescribes the functions, duties and responsibilities of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, especially on the power regarding health and public safety.”

Institute of Autonomy and Governance Executive Director Benedicto Bacani said that its passage satisfies the requirement of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in the transition period.

He described BAC as a “crucial piece of legislation as it established the governance structure in the region,” adding that the expectation from this Code is that it will promote efficient, transparent, and effective regional governance.

Meanwhile, in his speech during the special session on October 28, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim said, “In one of its basic principles and policies, the Bangsamoro Administrative Code provides that the Bangsamoro Government, in pursuit of moral governance, shall maintain honesty, integrity, transparency and accountability in governance and take positive and effective measures against graft and corruption.”

He added that the successful implementation of the code is not up to the government alone.

“It will highly depend upon the people to understand the points and provisions of the Codes to assure that they are implemented by heart and are not subject to abuse by a few,” said the Chief Minister.

He noted the challenge of establishing a regional bureaucracy “that is responsive to their needs and provide them with the future anchored in our shared values, identity and self-determination.”

More codes coming up

Since its creation in 2019, the Bangsamoro government is administered by an interim government whose officials were appointed by the President.

The Bangsamoro Administrative Code is one of the priority legislations that the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) are mandated to accomplish during the the region’s 3-year transition period, as mentioned in the Article XVI of the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

Other codes the body will need to craft are the Bangsamoro Revenue Code, Bangsamoro Electoral Code, Bangsamoro Local Government Code, and Bangsamoro Educational Code, and Bangsamoro Civil Service Code. The BTA is also supposed to formulate a law protecting rights and welfare of indigenous peoples.

Other members of the Bangsamoro Parliament expressed optimism about the passage of the other codes now that one has been approved in plenary.

“I hope that the passage of this landmark legislation will lead to the eventual enactment of the succeeding priority codes,” said MP Amir Mawallil after casting his affirmative vote to the passage of the code.

The new Bangsamoro government is a product of almost two decades of peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the MILF.

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