BTA resumes public consultation on Bangsamoro Local Governance Code

COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro Transition Authority resumed its series of public consultations on the proposed Bangsamoro Local Governance Code in Cotabato City.

The consultation was facilitated by Deputy Speaker MP Atty. Omar Yasser Sema, who reiterated that the BLGC is an urgent legislation submitted by the Government of the Day as it is among the BTA priorities that must be completed during the transition period.

He explained that the Bangsamoro government renamed the term “government” to “governance” to emphasize citizen participation in political education and community action.

“Governance entails accommodation rather than marginalization, inclusion rather than exclusion, and association rather than isolation,” MP Sema added.

Policies and guidelines are laid out in the draft BLGC that clearly define the BARMM’s powers, functions, and relationships with local government units within its area of jurisdiction, as well as the establishment of disciplinary measures, sanctions, and reforms in local governance, among others.

Through the BLGC, the Bangsamoro government intends to gradually and systematically grant more rights, authority, and responsibilities to LGUs to improve local government responsiveness and accountability.

BTA’s Committee on Local Government Chair Datu Midpantao Midtimang said that the BLGC is one of the concrete results of the long struggle and sacrifices of the Bangsamoro mujahideen for self-governance and meaningful autonomy.

“It is considered another milestone in our long desire for sustainable peace, progress, development, and stability in the Bangsamoro homeland,” MP Midtimbang added.

City local government officials, members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod, barangay chairpersons, academe, civil society groups, non-government organizations, religious, youth, and women’s sectors, and other non-state entities participated in the event.

The public consultation aims to solicit legislative feedback and recommendations from different stakeholders to improve the proposed legislation.

The first public consultation on the proposed bill was held in Lanao del Sur and Marawi City in February.

Meanwhile, among the priority legislative measures approved were administrative, education, and civil service codes.

The BTA should prioritize three codes during the remaining years of the transition period: revenue, electoral, and local government. (LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)