BTA strengthens Trade, Investment, and Tourism programs

COTABATO CITY - After gathering legislative inputs and recommendations from different sectors, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority’s Committee on Trade, Investment, and Tourism concluded its two-day public consultation in Cotabato City.

MP Atty. Maisara Latiph, the principal author of BTA Bill No. 157, or the Bangsamoro Social Enterprise Act of 2021, said that social enterprise is now viewed as a means of reducing poverty and empowering youth, women, and other marginalized sectors.

Meanwhile, BTA Bill No. 48, known as the Charter of the Bangsamoro Development Corporation, was cited by CTIT Chair Marjanie Macasalong as the "best way to pursue the inflow of private capital while ensuring fair and non-discriminatory treatment of public and private sector entities in the process of development."

Other proposed bill discussed was BTA Bill No. 124, or the Bangsamoro Cooperative and Social Enterprise Code of 2021, which seeks to govern the establishment and organization of the cooperatives and social enterprises in BARMM.

Members of the academe, non-government organizations and agencies, experts, and other stakeholders shared their inputs and recommendations for the first two proposed measures, which will be discussed during the two-day consultation.

Proposed bills include BTA Bill No. 85 and Bill No. 21, which seek to institutionalize the barter trade and establish a Barter Trade Center, respectively.

CTIT Chair MP Marjanie Macasalong said the bills will serve as a mechanism for the implementation of policies and programs that will promote the development of trade, cooperatives, and other social enterprises in BARMM.

The committee will deliberate on all of the inputs from the participants and integrate them into the proposed legislative measures. (LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)