The government remains steadfast in its commitment to continuously assist the Bangsamoro Government, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday.
Speaking during the ceremonial turnover of the Third Progress Report of the National Government – Bangsamoro Government Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) in Malacañang, President Marcos said positive change would soon be realized for the Bangsamoro people.
“I reaffirm once again the National Government’s unwavering commitment to helping and assisting the Bangsamoro Government in all its endeavors,” the President said.
“Together, let us continue to build a future where peace, progress, and unity prevail. May our collective efforts to bring about positive change for the BARMM and our nation be realized sooner, rather than later,” he added.
The IGRB report highlights the accomplishments that have been met on the road toward meaningful autonomy for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). These achievements include the operationalization of the IGRB mechanisms.
According to the President, the operationalization of all seven IGRB mechanisms is pivotal in ensuring the smooth implementation of the provisions and principles laid down in the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
“With the said bodies established, we now possess the necessary platforms to ensure greater collaboration, coordination, and cooperation between the National Government and the Bangsamoro Government in pursuing our shared goals and endeavors for our people,” he said.
The seven IGRB mechanisms are the Philippine Congress-Bangsamoro Parliament Forum (PCBPF); Intergovernmental Fiscal Policy Board (IFPB); Joint Body for the Zones of Joint Cooperation (JBZJC); Intergovernmental Infrastructure Development Board (IIDB); Intergovernmental Energy Board (IEB); Bangsamoro Sustainable Development Board (BSDB); and the creation of the Council of Leaders.
President Marcos also highlighted the developments undertaken, which include the qualification and commissioning of former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members into the Philippine National Police. A total of 396 qualified applicants took their oath as PNP patrolmen/patrolwomen as of December 2023.
National Government agencies also successfully turned over properties and assets within the BARMM to the Bangsamoro Government. Among these agencies were the Department of Health, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and Land Transportation Office (LTO).
The Intergovernmental Energy Board (IEB) Circular on the Joint Award of Petroleum Service Contracts and Coal Operating Contracts in the BARMM was also signed in July 2023.
“These peace and development milestones are part of our collective efforts to lay the groundwork for effective governance and meaningful autonomy in BARMM,” President Marcos said.
“I am confident that we are on the right path to building a more peaceful, stable, and prosperous Bangsamoro Region, as we find responsive solutions to the remaining issues and concerns that still need to be addressed,” he added.
The first two IGRB Progress Reports were presented during the previous administration on January 22, 2021, and June 16, 2022, respectively. PND
