Tag: local government code

Mitmug conducts FGD on proposed local governance code with legal experts

MARAWI CITY – The District Office of Deputy Minority Floor Leader Atty. Rasol Y. Mitmug, Jr. conducted a focus group discussion (fgd) on the draft Bangsamoro Local Governance Code (Bill No. 58) at VIP Room, Sarabi Cuisine & Café, MSU Marawi City last June 23, 2022 with legal experts.

The FGD centered on the legal issues on the provisions of the proposed bill as they discussed the possibilities of resolving and/or raising some conceivable constitutional, statutory, jurisprudence and ordinance challenges in the bill.

MP Mitmug, in his welcome address, said the LGUs have a huge role in the crafting of the LGC considering the responsibilities that would affect the local government.” The legal experts reviewed the bill based on existing laws in the Philippines and exchanged thoughts during the session.

“In the proposed bill, it imposed professional tax of P 1, 300.00 and under the law, the professional tax is just P 300.00. Once you pay a professional tax in any city or provinces, it is applicable, or you can exercise it anywhere in the Philippines. Is it not a disadvantage on the part of the Bangsamoro? Instead of paying 300.00, they would pay professional tax of P 1, 300.00?” said by Atty. Norsary S. Mamad. He also wished that the experts behind the proposed BTA bill were present, so that they can possibly rebut the issues being raised and cite their stance thereupon.

The legal representatives in said FGD include Atty. Norsary S. Mamad (Special Assistant for Legal Matters-MSU System and Overall Assistant Dean at MSU College of Law), Atty. Farhanisah D. Comacasar, Sh.L., REB, CSE, LPT (Professor- MSU College of Law and MSU College of Business Administration and Accountancy), Atty. Hapsha Khabab-Sansarona (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform, Lanao del Sur), Atty. Johari U. Diacat, CE (Private practitioner), Atty. Khalid D. Moner (Attorney III, MSU Legal Services Division), Nassif Nagamora, JD (Assistant Executive Director, MSU Legal Aid and Human Rights Center), Mohammad Mojib Datumanong Marangit, Sh. L. (Professor, Al-Khwarizmi International School, Marawi City).

 

MP Mitmug conducts FGD on proposed BLGC in Lanao

MARAWI CITY – The Office of Deputy Minority Floor Leader of the Bangsamoro Parliament, Atty. Rasol Y. Mitmug, Jr., conducted a focus group discussion on BTA Bill No. 58, otherwise known as the Bangsamoro Local Governance Code at Sarabi Cuisine and Café, MSU-Main Campus, Marawi City, last February 14.

One of the objectives of the program was to consult constituents of various backgrounds and expertise for the potential betterment of the said code. Fifteen resource persons were present during the one-day focus group discussion, each raising various concerns on the provisions of the bill. After the presentation of the salient provisions (the same presentation given by the Committee on Local Government), each participant was given five minutes to share their policy stance and recommendations.

Shariah Councilor Mala emphasized, “Kailangan dn na kabgan tano dn sa equal privilege so mga madrasah tano, sa lagid dn o kapmb’gantano sa equal opportunity siiko mga iskwelaan tano… why not i-incorporate tabo sagyanan a local school board so mga Madrasah tano?” [We need to give equal privileges to our madrasah/madaris, the same equal opportunities provided to our schools. Why don’t we incorporate the madaris in our local school boards?] This was in reference to the BLGC provision on local school boards which makes no mention of Madaris Division Superintendents or Assistant Madaris Division Superintendents in the membership of local school boards.

The Bangsamoro Education Code (BAA No. 18), which was passed into law in May 2021, provided for the inclusion of Madaris in the Bangsamoro Education System (Section 5, Coverage).

In the draft BLGC, part of the local school boards’ function is to, “Determine, in accordance with the criteria set by the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education, the annual supplementary budgetary needs for the operation and maintenance of public schools within the province, city or municipality, as the case may be, and the supplementary local cost of meeting such needs, which shall be reflected in the form of an annual school board budget corresponding to its share in the proceeds of the special levy on real property constituting the Special Education fund and such other sources of revenue as this Code and other laws or ordinances may provide.”

The BEC’s inclusion of the public Madaris system into the Bangsamoro Education System reflects in Section 167, which states that: “Public schools/Madaris and other public educational institutions shall be funded from public funds” and in Section 170: “The Bangsamoro Government, in collaboration with the National Government, shall extend financial aid and assistance to public schools and public madrasah established and maintained by local governments, including barangay high schools.”

Several queries and concerns were also raised over the anti-dynasty provision in the BLGC and the rampant practice of nepotism in the region. MP Mitmug assured the participants that all of these would be forwarded to the Committee on Local Government for proper documentation and their appropriate response.

Legal Education Board Commissioner Alexander D. Dumpa commended MP Mitmug’s office for the qualitative approach to gain a more in-depth understanding of the social issues or challenges that should be addressed in the drafting of said code.

MP Mitmug expressed his gratitude for the active participation of the resource persons and expressed his hope that others would continue to participate in future continuations of their office’s public consultations on the BLGC. This was the first implementation of the Bangsamoro Parliament Program, which was approved in last year’s budget deliberations. The BPP consists of Community Upliftment and Financial Assistance, Community Driven Legislation, and Special Activities Advocating and Championing Bangsamoro Culture and Communities. Mitmug assured that for the remainder of his term, more consultations and constituency outreach would be conducted.

Others present at the activity were stakeholders representing the youth, legal, religious, academe, and civil society organizations, namely: former ARMM Regional Vice Governor Haroun Alrashid A. Lucman, Jr., Mohammad Nasser C. Abbas, Atty. Ating D. Diacat, Sh.L, DPA, Macaumbao U. Baunto, JD, Dr. Abdul Hanan M. Tago, Dr. Tirmizy E. Abdullah, Ansary Masacal, CPA, Sharief Ismael D. Macabando, CPA, Kince Alhansah Panondiongan, JD, Honorable Anwar Galo-Lamping, Mohammad Ryan Radia, Nurul-Izza Sangcopan and Norhanidah D. Macatoon. Minority Floor Leader Atty. Laisa Alamia and Deputy Minority Floor Leader Engr. Baintan Ampatuan were also present via Zoom.

Aside from printed copies of the draft BLGC, all participants received a flash drive which included relevant documents on the BLGC, published ebooks of the Office of MP Mitmug, and instructions on how to use the Bangsamoro Codes Consultation Portal. Chief of Staff Al Amira Alonto reminded the participants that policy papers on the BLGC would still be received by the Priority Codes Secretariat until March 25, 2022.

BTA holds first public consultation on Bill No. 58 in Lanao

The Office of Deputy Minority Floor Leader Atty. Rasol Y. Mitmug, Jr. attends the first public consultation on the Proposed Bangsamoro Local Government Code (BTA Bill No. 58) at Social Hall, Provincial Capitol, Lanao del Sur.
 
 
MP Jose Lorena presented the salient features of the Bangsamoro Local Governance Code, emphasizing that “this code will avoid the duplication of supervision by the Ministry of Interior Local Government and the Department of Interior Local Government.”
 
Meanwhile, MP Atty. Paisalin Tago, Committee on Local Government-Lanao del Sur Chair, reiterated the importance of the measure stating that, “The local governance code is the most important legislation that the Bangsamoro Parliament should pass because it establishes the relationship between local government units and the Bangsamoro government.”
 
The first day of the public consultation were attended by Deputy Chief Minister Aleem Ali Solaiman, Vice Governor Mujam R. Adiong, members of the BTA Parliament and 1st District of Lanao del Sur Board members, Municipal Mayors, Vice Mayors, Councilors, ABC Presidents and representatives from LGUs.