Bills filed, to benefit ex-rebels, orphans of war

COTABATO CITY - Six bills were refiled by Deputy Speaker Atty. Laisa Alamia, which include providing benefits to Bangsamoro veteran mujahideen and mujahidat, establishing social and economic reparation for orphans of war, and strengthening the regional transitional justice and reconciliation program.

Alamia’s proposed legislative measures are:

 

• Institutionalizing an Agriculture Scholarship and Return Service Program in BARMM;

• Bangsamoro Mujahideen/Mujahidat Benefits System Act;

• Social and Economic Reparation and Benefit Initiatives for Orphans of War Act;

• Bangsamoro Health Care Subsidy Program Act;

• Regional Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission for the Bangsamoro Act; and

• Bangsamoro Women’s Caucus Act.

 

Alamia, the Parliament’s sole woman Deputy Speaker, proposed to establish a Parliamentary Women’s Caucus, a venue for women in Parliament to unite and consolidate representation, cross political divides, and mobilize political consensus to achieve meaningful progress for women’s issues, gender equality, and gender development.

 

Under PB No. 26, or the "Bangsamoro Women’s Caucus Act," a Parliamentary Women’s Caucus in the Bangsamoro Parliament will be established, which will be recognized as an informal group in the Parliament and free of any additional legislative responsibility.

 

All incumbent female members of the Parliament, including transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming women, are considered members of the Caucus, unless they request to be excluded.

 

A pension system that will also serve the needs of the mujahideen and mujahidat will be established, developed, and promoted, as proposed under PB No. 22, or the "Bangsamoro Mujahideen/Mujahidat Benefits System Act."

 

Benefits of Bangsamoro Veteran Mujahideen or Mujahidat are classified into two: non-pension benefits such as education, burial assistance, and hospitalization; and pension benefits including old age, death, and disability benefit.

 

MP Alamia also proposed providing reparation and benefits to ensure the social, economic welfare and redemption of the orphans of war.

 

The Bangsamoro Health Care Subsidy Program, a health and social protection program, will be established to provide access to quality and affordable health care for the conflict-affected Bangsamoro people.

 

A proposal to create a Regional Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission for the Bangsamoro was also filed.

 

The regional program will design and formulate mechanisms that will address legitimate grievances of the Bangsamoro people, historical injustices, and human rights violations, including marginalization through land dispossession.

 

Lastly, to make education more accessible to all, BTA legislators Alamia, Mohammad Yacob, Mohagher Iqbal, Lanang Ali Jr., authored a bill which seeks to establish a scholarship and return service program for Bangsamoro students who desire to pursue a degree in agriculture and other similar fields.

 

The six bills were co-authored by MPs Rasol Mitmug Jr., Suharto Ambolodto, Rasul Ismael, Baintan Ampatuan, Amilbahar Mawallil, Don Mustapha Loong, Jose Lorena, Paisalin Tago, Abdullah Gayak, Omar Yasser Sema, Nabil Tan, Susana Anayatin, Nabila Margarita Pangdaman, Aida Silongan, Diamila Ramos, and Bai Maleiha Candao.(LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)