President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed support on Friday, Aug. 12, for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), as he acknowledged the “great deal of work” that needs completion by the interim government in three years.
During the oath taking of the 80 newly appointed Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament members in Malacañang, Marcos recognized the need to enact basic local government laws, fiscal policy, and peaceful elections come 2025.
“Such important laws to be passed in three years is not an easy task, and that’s why I will be here as head of the national government to support BARMM,” he said in his speech.
“We are given another chance because of the extension of the Transition Authority. We are given another chance, but we have three years, and three years is not a long time,” he added.
Marcos also stressed the urgency to complete the work by 2025, saying that there will “no longer be“ any extensions to the authority, with the conduct of the elections.
In October last year, former President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11593 postponing the first BARMM regular elections from May 2023 to May 2025.
This also extended the transition period and allowed the BTA to continue as the interim government in the region.
It also mandated the President to appoint 80 new members who shall serve up to June 2025.
Meanwhile, the chief executive underscored the importance of representation in the BTA by giving “a voice” to all stakeholders and parties involved.
He also conveyed his confidence in the new appointees.
“I’m confident because I have seen the list of the new appointees, the new members, and I believe that everyone has come on to be part of this process with a sincere desire to get BARMM back into the normal fold of life in the Philippines,” he said.
-ag
