ARTICLE VI

INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

Section 1. General Supervision. – The President shall exercise general supervision over the Bangsamoro Government to ensure that laws are faithfully executed. The President may suspend the Chief Minister for a period not exceeding six (6) months for willful violation of the Constitution, national laws, or this Organic Law.

Section 2. Intergovernmental Relations Mechanism. There is hereby created a National Government-Bangsamoro Government Intergovernmental Relations Body, hereinafter referred to as ” Intergovernmental Relations Body,” to coordinate and resolve issues on intergovernmental relations through regular consultation and continuing negotiation in a non-adversarial manner.

The inter-governmental Relations Body shall exhaust all means to resolved issues brought before it. Unresolved issues shall be elevated to the President, through the Chief Minister.

The National Government and the Bangsamoro Government shall each appoint representatives to the Intergovernmental Relations Body. The Intergovernmental Relations Body shall be supported by a joint secretariat.

Section 3. Philippines Congress-Bangsamoro Parliament Forum. – There shall be created a Philippines Congress-Bangsamoro Parliament Forum for purposes of cooperation and coordination of legislative initiatives.

Section 4. Intergovernmental Fiscal Policy Board. – There is hereby created an Intergovernmental Fiscal Policy Board that shall address revenue imbalances and fluctuations in regional financial needs and revenue-raising capacity of the Bangsamoro Government, whose functions and composition are provided for in Sections 37 to 38, Article XII of this Organic Law.

Section 5. Joint Body for the Zones of Joint Cooperation. – There is hereby created a Joint Body Cooperation, which shall be responsible for formulating policies relating to the Zones of Joint Cooperation in the Sulu Sea and Moro Gulf as provided for in Section 19, Article XIII of this Organic Law.

Section 6. Intergovernmental Infrastructure Development Board. – There is hereby created an Intergovernmental Infrastructure Development Board, which shall be responsible for coordinating and synchronizing national and Bangsamoro infrastructure development plans.

The Intergovernmental Infrastructure Development Board shall be composed of the heads or representatives of the appropriate ministries and offices in the Bangsamoro Government. The National Government shall likewise be represented in the Intergovernmental Infrastructure Development Board by the Secretary of Public Works and Highways and such other officials as may be necessary to be designated by the Secretary of Public Works and Highways.

Section 7. Intergovernmental Energy Board. – There is hereby created an Intergovernmental Energy Board. It shall resolve all matters specified in Section 36, Article XIII of this Organic Law and other energy issues referred to it by the Intergovernmental Relations Body. It shall be composed of representatives of the National Government and the Bangsamoro Government from their respective energy regulatory commissions and electrification administrations.

Section 8. Bangsamoro Sustainable Development Board. -The Parliament shall create a Bangsamoro Sustainable Development Board composed of representatives from the National Government and the Bangsamoro Government. The Bangsamoro Sustainable Development Board shall ensure the integration and harmonization of economic, social, and environmental considerations as vital dimensions of sustainable development policy and practice in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

The funding support of the Bangsamoro Sustainable Development Board shall be included in the annual budget of the Bangsamoro Government. However, if there are revenues collected from the exploration, development, and utilization of any natural resources within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, a certain percentage of the revenues shall be allocated for the operation of the Bangsamoro Sustainable Development Board, as may be provided in a law to be passed by the Parliament.

Section 9. Council of Leaders. – There shall be a Council of Leaders that shall advise the Chief Minister on matters of governance in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. It shall consist of the following members:

(a) Chief Minister as head of the council;

(b) Members of the Congress of the Philippines from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region;

(c) Provincial governors, and mayors of chartered cities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region;

(d) Representatives of traditional leaders, non-Moro indigenous communities, women settler communities, the Ulama, youth, and Bangsamoro communities outside of the Bangsamoro communities outside of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region; and

(e) Representatives of other sectors.

The mechanism of representation and number of representatives in paragraphs (d) and (e) shall be determined by the Parliament. The representation of the non-Moro indigenous communities shall be pursuant to their customary laws and indigenous processes.

Section 10. Bangsamoro Government and its Constituent Local Government Units. – The authority of the Bangsamoro Government to regulate the affairs of its constituent local government units shall be guaranteed in accordance with this Organic Law and a Bangsamoro local Government code to be enacted by the Parliament. The privileges already enjoyed by local government units under Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the ” Local Government code of 1991,” as amended, and other existing laws shall not be diminished.

The parliament may create, divide, merge, abolish, or substantially alter boundaries of municipalities or barangays in accordance with a law enacted by the Parliament. The municipalities or barangays created, divided, merged, or whose boundaries are substantially altered, shall be entitled to their appropriate share in the national taxes or Internal Revenue Allotment: Provided, That the criteria laid down in Republic Act No. 7160, as amended, and other national laws shall be satisfied: Provided, further, That it shall be approved by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite in the political units directly affected.

When such acts require the creation of a legislative district, the Bangsamoro Government shall cooperate and coordinate with the National Government through the Philippine Congress-Bangsamoro Parliament Forum to prioritized the deliberations on the creation of a legislative district.

Nothing on this Organic Law shall be construed to allow the Bangsamoro Government to create legislative districts.

Section 11. Bangsamoro Participation in National Government. – As far as practicable, the Bangsamoro Government shall be represented in the departments, offices, commissions, agencies and bureaus of the National Government that implement and enforce policies, programs, and projects of the National Government in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

Section 12. Assistance to Other Bangsamoro Communities. – The National Government shall ensure the protection of the rights of the Bangsamoro people residing in communities outside the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and undertake programs for their rehabilitation and development. The Bangsamoro Government, in coordination with local government units where these communities are located and the appropriate national government agencies, shall provide assistance to enhance their economic, social and cultural development.

Section 13. National Programs and Projects. – The National programs and projects such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Health Facility Enhancement Program, School Building Program, retained hospital of the Department of Health, PhilHealth, social pension for senior citizens, and the Task Force Bangon Marawi shall continue to be funded by the National Government, without prejudice to the power of the Bangsamoro Government to provide for supplemental funding for such programs and projects.