COTABATO CITY - The proposed measure that would transfer the administrative capital of the Bangsamoro Government to the municipality of Parang in Maguindanao del Norte has been approved at the committee level.
The Bangsamoro
Parliament's Rules Committee promptly deliberated BTA Bill No. 43 with the
position papers, comments, and recommendations of various stakeholders the day
after its public consultation with various stakeholders.
After conducting a feasibility study, Parang was determined to be the most ideal municipality for the BARMM's new administrative capital. The new administrative center, once approved, will house the offices of the Chief Minister and Wali, the Bangsamoro Parliament, ministries, and offices.
COR Chair Atty. Sha
Elijah Dumama-Alba said that the committee report will be presented in the
plenary on the second regular session this May. She added that this will
encourage the Bangsamoro government to expand its development and progress to
other areas of the region.
Under the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), the Parliament shall
fix by law the permanent seat of the Bangsamoro government anywhere within the
territorial jurisdiction of the region, taking into consideration accessibility
and the efficiency with which its mandate may be carried out under the BOL.
The selection criteria for the new government center,
according to the committee's presentation, include location and accessibility,
land availability and suitability, infrastructure and utilities, economic,
institutional, and social services, social and political acceptability, peace
and order conditions, and the potential to enhance BARMM development.
The committee said that the results of the feasibility study showed not
just the need to relocate the government center but also the most ideal
location for it to establish a new capital, the fast-growing town of Parang.
According to the proposed measure, the
Bangsamoro Government Center in Parang will be autonomous from the local
government unit and will report directly to the regional government.
A committee will be formed called the Committee
on the Establishment of Administrative Capital to lead and organize the
preparation, development, and implementation of masterplans, strategies,
processes, and timetables that will serve as the framework for the development
of Parang as the new administrative center of the Bangsamoro government.
Why Parang?
Parang Mayor
Cahar Ibay said the municipality is “ideally best for establishing the
development and implementation of the master plan for the new seat of capital
of the Bangsamoro government.”
Based on the data of the Philippine Statistics Authority, the
municipality of Parang has 102,000 population, 17,000 households, and 25
villages. It also includes the seven villages of Bongo Island.
Strategically placed in Maguindanao's northwest,
Parang is bordered by Matanog Municipality to the north, Barira and Buldon to
the west, and Sultan Mastura to the south, all within Maguindanao del Norte
Province.
The presence of the Polloc Freeport and Economic
Zone creates a potential gateway to national and international direct
commercial links that will provide a favorable environment for investment and
trade, as well as employment opportunities that will stimulate economic growth
and inclusive development.
The regional office of the Philippine National Police is also located in
the municipality which is just 31 kilometers from Cotabato City and 36
kilometers from Awang Airport.
It is also a municipality in the province that
produces agricultural products, including agro-industrial and high-value
commercial crops.
“We firmly believe that our locality is
appropriately and capably suited as an advantageous setting for the
establishment of BGC, which will offer quality services that can be easily
accessed by constituents across the Bangsamoro region,” said Mayor Ibay. (LTAIS-Public Information, Publication,
and Media Relations Division)
No comments:
Post a Comment