Bangsamoro Parliament opens regular session

COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro Parliament commenced its second regular session on Monday, May 15, following the approval of a resolution designating MP Said Salendab as the acting Wali of the Bangsamoro government to open the session.

Bangsamoro Parliament Speaker Atty. Pangalian Balindong 

The second regular session, which will conclude in February 2024. In his address to the Parliament, Speaker Atty. Pangalian Balindong noted the Bangsamoro Parliament’s dedication and hard work in fulfilling its mandate of crafting laws that will shape the future of the Bangsamoro region by passing 35 measures since its establishment in 2019. The Parliament also adopted a total of 324 resolutions. 

“These legislative measures cover a wide range of sectors and issues, all aimed at bringing about positive change and addressing the needs of the Bangsamoro people,” said Speaker Balindong.
 
He said the passage of the remaining priority codes and the legislative agenda of the Government of the Day are among the important issues that the Bangsamoro Parliament will address during the second regular session. To date, the Parliament has enacted four priority codes, such as the administrative, civil service, education, and electoral codes, he added.

“These accomplishments are just the beginning. The Bangsamoro Parliament remains committed to its task of passing more codes and legislative measures that will further uplift the lives of our people. We recognize the need for comprehensive laws to address other sectors such as health, agriculture, social welfare, and others. Let us approach this second regular session with renewed determination, a spirit of collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to the welfare of our people,” Speaker Balindong said.
 
The Government of the Day will also give priority to medical services, education, strategic infrastructure, and social services by building and upgrading hospitals, creating additional health infrastructure, providing comprehensive medical assistance, and building more schools, according to Speaker Balindong.

Meanwhile, in his report to the Bangsamoro, Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim highlighted the priority agenda for the new legislative calendar, including the enactment of the Bangsamoro Local Governance, Revenue, Indigenous Peoples’ Codes, and other important measures in the second regular session. He also asked the Bangsamoro Parliament to enact the Local Governance Code and submit the Bangsamoro Revenue Code before the end of the year.

Other cabinet legislative agenda of the Government of the Day are: Bangsamoro Holidays Act, revolving fund, Bangsamoro Budget System, redistricting the parliamentary seats in the BARMM, creation of municipalities in the Special Geographic Area, Bangsamoro Investment Code, Labor Code, Bangsamoro Agri-Fisheries Training Institute, Bangsamoro seat of government, a law on the rights of the internally displaced persons, Magna Carta for persons with disability, Bangsamoro Gender and Development Code, Lake Lanao Development Authority, creation of the government-owned and controlled corporations, Bangsamoro Science High School, strengthening the Regional Madrasah Graduate Education Act of 2003, and Bangsamoro Code of Muslim Personal Laws. (LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)