President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday, Sept. 15, graced the ceremonial opening as the guest of honor of the second Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) parliament at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex in Cotabato City.
Marcos, along with Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Chief Ahod Ebrahim, led the ceremonial beating of Agong to signify the start of BTA inauguration.
Chief Minister Ebrahim also administered the Oath of Moral Governance to 80 members of the BTA including 41 endorsed by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and 29 nominated by the national government.
During his speech, Marcos assured the Bangsamoro people his unwavering support to the peace process in the region.
“As your President, I assure you, the BTA and all the Bangsamoro people, of this administration’s full and unwavering commitment to the peace process and to BARMM,” Marcos said.
Marcos said that under the PAMANA program, the government will provide socio-economic interventions in highly conflict-affected areas.
“Through the PAMANA program, we provide socio economic interventions that build the culture of peace in highly conflict-affected and vulnerable areas,” he said.
“The government has allocated more than P19 billion for the period of 2017 to 2022 in this endeavor. And we will ensure the completion despite delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” he continued.
Marcos added that the Department of Budget and Management has also allocated P74.4 billion in their region for 2023.
Meanwhile, he urged the BTA to pass crucial legislation, particularly relating to taxation, and to manage the BARMM elections in 2025.
He also encouraged the passage of laws that will ensure the welfare of the Moros, mostly in “agri-fishery, healthcare, transportation, communication, digital infrastructure and e-governance.”
Marcos expressed his confidence that BTA will be “successful in facilitating the institution of the Bangsamoro government” through its “unity and solidarity.”
“The path to lasting peace is always under construction. But we walk this path together and we walk it, not because it is an easy one,” he said.
“We walk this path together because even if it is difficult, we know that at the end of the journey is historical justice, progress, peace, stability, and the unity that our peoples and our nation have long aspired for and so rightly deserve,” he added. -With reports from Mark Fetalco & Katrina Gracia Consebido-ag
