COTABATO CITY— Amilbahar Mawallil, member of the Bangsamoro Parliament, urged the august body to pass a bill aiming to create a corporate body. 

Mawallil emphasized the legislature’s role in promoting moral governance in the Bangsamoro Government.

“The Parliament itself must be able to run its affairs independently and free from political pressures. This requires a system of governance that will give the Parliament the necessary independence to scrutinize the work of the Cabinet,” he said during his sponsorship speech. 

The proposed legislative measure aims to establish a corporate body to better utilize the resources available to the Bangsamoro government while also strengthening the Parliament’s independence from the executive.

The establishment of the ‘Bangsamoro Parliament Corporate Body’ will allow the Parliament to operate free from political pressures. It will also provide for a clear delineation between Parliament and the Cabinet.

Having an independent corporate body, he said, gives Parliament the power to objectively review and scrutinize the work of the government, its annual budget, and legislation that represents its constituents.

Under the proposed measure, the body will establish all parliamentary buildings, organize and maintain the internal and external security of the Parliament, facilitate the employment of parliamentary staff, review and agree on the service arrangements for all MPs, and establish parliamentary communications and visitor services.

Mawallil, Atty. Laisa Masuhud Alamia, Engr. Baintan Ampatuan and  Atty. Rasol Mitmug Jr. introduced Bill no. 105, otherwise known as the “Bangsamoro Parliament Corporate Body Act of 2021”, in the plenary. (Publication and Media Relations Division)

*Originally published by the BTA-Publication and Media Relations Division (https://parliament.bangsamoro.gov.ph/latest-news/bangsamoro-parliament-bill-targets-to-create-parliament-corporate-body/)

COTABATO CITY – In a bid to establish bigger Muslim public cemeteries, some members of the Bangsamoro Parliament filed a bill requiring all Local Government Units (LGUs) in the region to allocate land spaces for public cemeteries.

The Bangsamoro Public Cemetery Act would mandate LGUs in the region to allot at least 2,000 square meters of land per 1,000 population for a burial ground, with 20% of the space allocation will be intended for non-Muslims.

MPs Amilbahar Mawallil, Atty. Rasol Mitmug Jr., and Engr. Baintan Ampatuan submitted the measure in Parliament.

“The establishment of Bangsamoro Public Cemeteries is a reflection of the Bangsamoro’s values, ensuring that each rite is fulfilled by having the appropriate facilities,” Mawallil said during his speech.

According to him, Janazah (funeral) is one of the rites that reflects the Islamic faith, values and culture.

However, as he also mentioned in the session, Muslims have had difficulty performing such rites due to the lack of public cemeteries.

Under Section 2 of the proposed measure, the Bangsamoro Government must ensure its people’s beliefs, customs and traditions. It is also expected that the government will provide accessible health and social services that contribute to the general welfare of the Bangsamoro people.

“Passing the BTA Parliament Bill No. 104 is our way of expressing assurance that all our beloved or even ourselves will be accorded with the appropriate rites in our final moments on the surface,” he added.

The proposed measure has now been referred to committees on social services and local government. (Publication and Media Relations Division)

*Originally published by the BTA-Publication and Media Relations Division (https://parliament.bangsamoro.gov.ph/latest-news/mps-file-bill-requiring-lgus-to-allocate-land-space-for-bangsamoro-public-cemeteries/)

COTABATO CITY —  To maintain transparency and accountability, Atty. Rasol Mitmug Jr. filed a bill seeking to operationalize the Bangsamoro Gazette.

Every Bangsamoro, as stated in the bill, must have access to information, official records, public records, and documents and papers relating to official acts, transactions or decisions, as well as to research data used as the basis for policy development.

The gazette will serve as the official journal of the Bangsamoro government. 

It will publish all legislative acts and resolutions, executive and administrative issuances of general application, and significant Shari’ah Court rulings. 

“It is therefore submitted that it is high time and apt for the Bangsamoro government to publish its official gazette to be published in print and electronic form,” Atty. Mitmug said in his explanatory note. 

He said that it is important for the public to be kept informed on public concerns through platforms that are easily accessible. 

Under the measure, the Bangsamoro Information Office (BIO) will be responsible for the editorial functions over the Bangsamoro Official Gazette, the collection of its subscription fees, and the creation and maintenance of its official website and/or social media pages.

Aside from print publications, the gazette will be published through BIO’s official website, which will also serve as an open-access digital archive for all published material. It will be published in English, with Filipino and Arabic translations as needed. 

Meanwhile, the Bangsamoro Government’s ministries, commissions, bureaus, offices, and agencies and the province, city, and municipal governments within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, shall subscribe to the gazette and pay for it. (Publication and Media Relations Division)

*Originally published by the BTA-Publication and Media Relations Division (https://parliament.bangsamoro.gov.ph/latest-news/bta-bill-eyes-to-operationalize-bangsamoro-gazette/)