Lawmaker seeks to put up Bangsamoro River Basin Management Council

COTABATO CITY — Member of the Parliament Dr. Hashemi N. Dilangalen has introduced a measure that would establish the Bangsamoro River Basin Management Council (BRBMC) as the BARMM’s central coordinating body for all Mindanao River Basin management matters.

Outlined in BARMM Parliament Bill No. 278, also known as the BARMM River Basin Management Act of 2023, the proposed council addresses the need for an office within the region for seamless coordination with the Mindanao River Basin Management Council (MRBMC).

The absence of such an entity has led to systemic challenges and complications in communication and coordination between MRBMC and stakeholders operating within BARMM.

“The establishment of the BRBMC underscores our commitment to sustainable development and the ecological well-being of the region while promoting clarity, coherence, and synergy in our collective efforts,” said Dr. Dilangalen.

The BRBMC’s strategies are intended to be closely aligned with those of the MRBMC in order to facilitate cooperation, achieve shared objectives, and improve transparency, efficiency, and synergy in river basin management.

Among the functions of the BRBMC are overseeing the implementation of the Mindanao River Basin Integrated Management and Development Master Plan, coordinating with MRBMC and stakeholders, exploring funding sources for Mindanao River Basin projects in BARMM, approving basin-wide plans and proposed programs, and recommending legislative support to the Parliament.

To ensure comprehensive representation, a council will be formed to discuss and initiate high-level policy decisions, chaired by the Chief Minister or his authorized representative.

The Bangsamoro River Basin Management Office (BRBMO) is proposed to serve as the program management office of the BRBMC and act as the secretariat to the technical working group and the Council.

The technical working group will be responsible for crafting the BRBMC manual of operations, election rules, and other internal policies. The bill is co-authored by MPs Ail Montaha D. Babao, Rasul E. Ismael, Tarhata M. Maglangit, and Abdulwahab M. Pak. (LTAIS- Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)