Senate OKs bill resetting BARMM polls to 2025

THE SENATE has finally approved on third and final reading the bill seeking to reset the first regular elections in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front-led Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The Senate Bill No. 2214, sponsored by Local Government Committee Chairman Francis Tolentino, proposes to move the date of the BARMM elections from May 2022 to May 2025, synchronized with the national elections.

Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senators Richard Gordon, Aquilino Pimentel III, and Risa Hontiveros also co-authored the bill.

Tolentino the postponement of the BARMM polls was largely due to the Covid-19 pandemic which he said posed significant challenges to the execution of the priority programs and projects of the regional government.

After holding committee hearings and consultation with stakeholders, Tolentino said his committee saw the need to extend the BARMM transition period in order to implement the political and normalization efforts embodied in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

“However, it (the committee) is also mindful of the Bangsamoro people’s right to assert their democracy in the region and exercise their right of suffrage. Although the BTA (Bangsamoro Transition Authority) has considerably delivered some of its mandates under the BOL (Bangsamoro Organic Law), there is much work yet to be done,” Tolentino said.

Under the bill, upon the expiration of the terms of the incumbent members of the BTA, President Rodrigo Duterte shall appoint 80 members of BTA who will serve up to June 30, 2025 or until the election of their successors.

In the House of Representatives, the Committees on Suffrages and Electoral Reform, Muslim Affairs, and Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, also approved a committee report that consolidated proposals to extend the BARMM elections.

Senator Panfilo Lacson previously warned of the danger of citing the Covid-19 pandemic as a major reason for the need to postpone the first regular elections in BARMM.

He said postponing the Bangsamoro elections would require a plebiscite. “We are treading on a very dangerous ground or precedent here because if the pandemic is the reason for the postponement of the BARMM election next year, it could open the floodgates to a no-el (no elections scenario in the country) situation in the national and local elections next year,” Lacson said.

Senator Imee Marcos said BARMM has been allocated a staggering amount of funds worth over P200 billion since last year, but there is “too little progress and change” in the region. 

She also filed Resolution No. 729 directing the Committee on Finance to conduct an inquiry into the accounting and liquidation of the Appropriations and Annual Block Grants allocated for the years 2020 and 2021 to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, including the annual Special Development Fund allocated for the rebuilding, rehabilitation, and development of conflict-affected communities. 

Marcos said under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2020, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region was allocated an annual appropriation of P7 billion and an Annual Block Grant of P63.6 billion, including a Special Development Fund of P5 billion. 

In addition to this, under the 2021 GAA, the region was also given an annual appropriation of P8.6 billion and an Annual Block Grant of P71.6 billion, and a Special Development Fund of P5 billion.  

“Prior to the establishment of the BARMM, the (previous and now defunct) Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was allocated an annual appropriation of P32.4 billion and Adjustments of P7.2 billion with total available appropriations of P39.7 billion,” Marcos said.  

“Thus, as compared to the ARMM appropriation of only P39.7 billion, the total BARMM allocation was higher, amounting to at least double the amount of the budget allocated to the ARMM. Despite these allocated appropriations, there is too little progress and change in the BARMM,” she added. 

Marcos said with the huge appropriations made in the GAA for 2020 and 2021, it is vital for Congress to determine the status of the projects implemented especially since the Bangsamoro Government is still in its transition stage. 

She said the Committee on Finance shall delve into the accounting and liquidation of the Appropriations and the Annual Block Grants allocated for the years 2020 and 2021 to BARMM, including the annual Special Development Fund. 

“It is also important for Congress to be informed on the progress of the transition process, implementation of programs and the proper utilization of funds, as well as the reasons for delay which are not attributable to the dire effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and to determine other legislative measures, if necessary, to be legislated by Congress in order to promote the long-term vision of meaningful growth in the Bangsamoro Region,” Marcos said. 

BARMM is made up of the island-provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi off Mindanao Island. And two other provinces Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao on Mindanao Island. (Mindanao Examiner)