Senate ratifies Bangsamoro Organic Law
THE Senate on Monday ratified the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) abolishing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and creating instead a Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BAR) with more powers.
The 22 senators present at the opening of the third regular session of the 17th Congress did not object to the motion of Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri to ratify the bicameral conference committee report on the disagreeing provisions of (BOL).
The BAR’s territorial jurisdiction includes the ARMM area (Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao), six towns in Lanao del Norte, 39 barangay (villages) in North Cotabato, Cotabato City and Isabela City.
The BAR will receive a “block grant,” which is equivalent “to five percent of the net national internal revenue tax collection of the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) and the BoC (Bureau of Customs) from the third fiscal year immediately preceding the current fiscal year.”
“The block grant shall be appropriated and released immediately. The block grant formula shall be reviewed five years after the effectivity of the BOL and every five years thereafter,” Zubiri said.
The Bangsamoro Parliament, to be headed by a Chief Minister, will govern BAR. The Chief Minister must be elected by 80 members or representatives, of which at least 40 are party representatives.
The other half must be divided into district representatives and sectoral representatives. Seats are also reserved for members of the Non-Muslim indigenous peoples as Teduray, Lambangian, Dulangan Manobo, B’Laan and Higaonon.
The BOL provides that a plebiscite must be held not earlier than 90 days and no later than 150 days after the effectivity of the BOL.
The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) should be composed of 80 members appointed by the President.
“Personnel in the education, health and social welfare offices shall be retained during the period of transition,” Zubiri said.
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