COTABATO CITY – A lawmaker in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has filed a bill before the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) plenary to operationalize a Bangsamoro gazette for transparency and accountability in all of the regional government’s official acts and transactions.

BTA Parliament Member Rasol Mitmug Jr., a lawyer and author of the bill, said Friday he filed Parliament Bill 108, or the Bangsamoro Gazette Act of 2021, to serve as the official journal of the Bangsamoro government.

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.

It will also publish all legislative acts and resolutions, executive and administrative issuances of general application, and significant Sharia 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,” Mitmug said in his explanatory note.

He underscored the importance of keeping the public informed of public concerns through platforms that are easily accessible. Under the proposed measure, the Bangsamoro Information Office (BIO) – BARMM will be responsible for the editorial functions over the 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 also be published through the BIO’s official website, serving as an open-access digital archive for all published materials in the English language with Filipino and Arabic translations as required.

Mitmug said the BARMM’s various ministries, offices, and agencies, including those in the region’s provinces, cities, and municipalities, shall subscribe to the gazette and pay for the compulsory subscription fees. (PNA)

*Originally published on Philippine News Agency (https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1144933)

COTABATO CITY – The Bangsamoro Parliament has backed Moro legislators on their efforts to ensure the protection and welfare of Bangsamoro people living outside the region. 

All Parliament members approved the resolution who were physically and virtually present at Thursday’s session.

The resolution, according to Atty. Rasol Mitmug Jr. is a way for the BTA to show that “they have us supporting them.” 

“It is necessary to monitor the progress of this case to ensure effective coordination surrounding the arrest,” stated in the resolution.

House Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman, with the support of other Moro lawmakers, called for an investigation on the warrantless arrests of Muslims in Cavite in March.

Such operations are labelled as “kidnapping” by Basilan Congressman Hataman, who also stated that investigations would be conducted to prevent law officers’ from using violence and abusing their authority.

In February, authorities from National Intelligence Agency (NICA) and National Capital Region Police Officer (NCRPO) have illegally arrested 11 individuals in a construction site, including seven locals from the Basilan province. 

It was explained in the resolution that “law enforcements allegedly asked the individuals who among them were Muslims.”

According to Bacoor police, the operation was part of the agencies’ verification of the alleged presence of Abu Sayyaf in the area. 

Last year, a similar incident happened when two other Muslims were seized without search warrants and coordination with local government units. 

Mentioned events prompted the Parliament to support the appeal of mentioned legislators in protecting and securing the general welfare of the Bangsamoro people outside the region’s borders.

The Bangsamoro Administrative Code states that the National Commission on Human Rights and its counterpart in the Bangsamoro may collaborate “to conduct joint investigations on human rights violations and abuses that occurred either outside the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region”. (Publication and Media Relations Division)

*Originally published by the BTA-Publication and Media Relations Division (https://parliament.bangsamoro.gov.ph/uncategorized/bta-approves-resolution-supporting-moro-legislators-for-protecting-moro-people-outside-barmm/)

COTABATO CITY — BARMM lawmakers proposed to create district engineering offices in Cotabato City and 63 villages in North Cotabato.

Engr. Baintan Adil Ampatuan, Atty. Laisa Alamia, Amilbahar Mawallil, Atty. Suharto Ambolodto, Engr. Don Mustapha Loong, Atty. Rasol Mitmug, Jr., and Rasul Esmael introduced to the plenary Parliament Bill No. 100 or “An Act Creating the New Geographic Areas District Engineering Office”.

At present, there is no DEO in Cotabato City as it was abolished following its inclusion in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The ‘New Geographic Areas District Engineering Office,’ if passed into law, will provide high-quality public infrastructure and maintenance services throughout its area of jurisdiction.

The offices will be under the supervision of the Ministry of Public Works. It will be located in Cotabato City, covering 37 barangays and 63 villages in North Cotabato. 

Improvements in the quality of infrastructure services, according to the proposed bill, will help reduce the cost of doing business and result in positive economic value, which will stimulate job creation, encourage private investment, improve productivity, and ensure the Bangsamoro people’s well-being.

The DEOs in new geographic areas are  responsible for local roads, flood control, water resources development system, and other public works in Cotabato City and 63 barangays in Cotabato province and performs the following functions:

•   Implement policies, guidelines and procedures for the effective implementation of construction and maintenance of infrastructure projects;

•   Inspect, verify, monitor, supervise and evaluate infrastructure projects in accordance with existing standards and guidelines;

•   Implement various infrastructure projects in their respective areas of jurisdiction;

•   Conduct, inspect, and assess the condition of roads, bridges, and other infrastructure projects and submit a report thereon to the MPW;

•   Prepare, review and evaluate plans, programs of work, and estimate including reports and submit a report thereon to the MPW;

•   Prepare, evaluate and endorse requests for funding to the MPW for the repair/rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure facilities brought about by calamities;

•   Undertake the management, repair, maintenance and rehabilitation of construction and maintenance property, plant and equipment;

•   Undertake regular monitoring of the progress of programs and project implementation, including implementation problems and issues for timely resolutions; and

•   Perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Director-General and/or the Minister of MPW. (Publication and Media Relations Division)

*Originally published by the BTA-Publication and Media Relations Division (https://parliament.bangsamoro.gov.ph/latest-news/barmm-legislators-push-for-the-establishment-of-district-engineering-offices-in-cotabato-city-north-cotabato/)

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/)