Malacañang on Monday, July 30, welcomed the positive response of the international community to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s signing of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. in a Palace press briefing said the Philippine government acknowledges the praises it received from the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) on the enactment of the landmark measure.
“Of course, we are one with the whole world in praying that the Bangsamoro Organic Law would pave the way for lasting peace in Mindanao,” Roque stressed.
The BOL was signed into law by the President last week, following its ratification by both houses of Congress.
Meanwhile, the Palace official confirmed that President Duterte remains open to amending some provisions of the law to appease the worries of some sectors. “I think the general sentiment of the President is, if there are those who want to object because of specific provisions, we’re open to reviewing the specific provisions,” Roque said, echoing a statement made by the President during his speech in an event in Jolo, Sulu.
The Spokesperson noted that while Sulu is traditionally a “bastion of opposition” for the Bangsamoro law, President Duterte would be willing to sit down with the local stakeholders there to discuss possible revisions to the measure.
“Traditionally, Sulu does not want to be part of it. But I think things have changed. I think this is already the fourth or fifth trip of the President to Jolo, Sulu. I don’t think any other President has made these many trips to Sulu,” Roque cited. “And I think the message [of] the President is he really wants to reach out to the people of Sulu and he wants lasting peace to include Sulu,” he added.
The Secretary also refuted claims that the law’s enactment was rushed. He said substantial consultations were made with different sectors as well as with the members of Congress before BOL’s passage. “It wasn’t really rushed. It’s been there. It’s been pending. It took us almost a year to discuss the BOL.
There’ve been substantial consultations,” Roque said. Palace: More halal products to be exported in UAE During the same press briefing, Malacañang announced that more halal products are expected to be exported in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a result of an agreement that aims to ease technical barriers on trade between the two countries.
Secretary Roque said the memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed last week by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Philippine Accreditation Board (PAB) and the United Arab Emirates – Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (UAE-ESMA).
The MOU allows PAB to accredit halal certification agencies, Roque cited. “This is a big boost to the country’s growing halal industry, noting that annual halal export average may reach up to $1.4 billion this year compared to the previous years’ average of only $800 million,” the Spokesperson further noted.
