Editorial

Enter the BARMM era

Our region makes another political history when the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao makes its inaugural come March 29 after two date postponements, wanting that President Rodrigo Duterte is present during the rites when the BARMM parliament will also hold its first legislative session. We expect a huge attendance in the inauguration of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front-led regional government with Cotabato City and portions in North Cotabato now part of its geo-political territory. 

The BARMM is a continuity of regional governance, this time the political structure --- parliamentary democracy --- given wider powers and functions as well as endowments related to fiscal resources, revenue sharing and enactments, and management so to provide its populace with assuring social and economic services with block grants (for a period of time)  from the national government to sustain its operations. When the Moro National Liberation Front under Nur Misuari signed peace pact with the government, it was given the baton to lead the autonomous government under then Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; now the MILF takes the headship, a concession in the peace process. Following the transition government, election will be held in 2022 and on with the Filipino Muslim sector as the majority population, thus far.

Following the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and creation of the BARMM, we are keen on the next move, that is the decommissioning of the MILF’s combatants and Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Force and their conversion into unarmed civilian status. When the decommissioning is completed, which the Office of the Presidential Assistance for the Peace Process is reportedly preparing, the combatants and its armed forces will be armed with economic tools for them to become productive an no longer belligerent. This scenario will give as an assurance of a peaceable autonomous region. Of course, we still assume that the MILF organization will continue to exist as such with the MNLF. What is of significance is a workable settlement of conflict following the rolling of the peace process.

A governance of service, sincerity, and efficiency  are what the people expect from the MILF-led BARMM, one that can propel the region to the framework of development with an offer of peace formula to other armed splintered groups, and one that can further reduce underdevelopment. It’s a challenge for the BARMM to open more avenues for the entry of economic investments so wider opportunities be given to stakeholders. There are already development (foreign) partners that signify their intent to invest in the BARMM’s geo-political sphere, even offering their technical assistance… indeed this is a good sign the region is moving under the new leadership.

Conflict derails development phase and it’s time to move on to compensate what have been lost during the era of turmoil. Some say that the BARMM is another political experiment… so is any new government for this matter. Remember, the only permanent in the midst is CHANGE… hopefully for the better and “much much” better. We are a witness to and part of CHANGE.