Mindanao stakeholders see passage of Bangsamoro Basic Law for full recovery

Mindanao stakeholders see passage of

Bangsamoro Basic Law for full recovery 

By Lilybeth G. Ison

The business sector, youth, and various stakeholders in Mindanao see the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) as an end to the "costs of war" that would eventually pave way for social recovery in the region.

In the statement of support, the Mindanao business sector particularly the Rotary Club of Tagum North, called for the prompt enactment of the Bangsamoro Basic Law to ensure that the Philippines "never again experiences huge economic losses due to war, a figure that has amounted to more than Php640 billion since the conflict started in the early 1970s."

"We welcome the submission of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law to Congress as the next major step towards achieving peace in the country," the statement said.

The group also commit "to encourage greater investment opportunities in Bangsamoro to counteract decades of lost and wasted economic opportunities, which have left Mindanaoans marginalized and impoverished across generations."

"Our efforts will also strive to establish and support social protection mechanisms that will help prevent pointless loss of lives," they said.

The Young Moro Professionals Network (YMPN) and Generation Peace Network (GenPeace), for their part, also welcomed the submission to Congress of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law.

"The breakthroughs in the peace efforts affirm our hope for enhancement of peace and development in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao; that signed peace agreement namely: the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), will be realized and contribute to the upliftment of the lives of the people," they said.

"Peace-building is a continuing process and we in the youth sector take the challenge to help ensure that the gains of peace in this generation will be sustained and benefit all," they added.

The youth sector also called on members of Congress "to unite -- transcend political differences -- for the crucial passage of the BBL, which is a landmark law in the history of law-making and peace-making in the country."

"Our future is what is at stake in the success of instituting genuine autonomy in the south that serves as a political solution in addressing the decades-old conflict and peace-building to resolve the Bangsamoro right to self-determination," they said.

The group also called on their fellow youth and other stakeholders "to have an informed perspective on the Bangsamoro in building an environment of mutual respect, cultural tolerance and humane society."

"Our diversity as a Filipino people -- in religion or ethnicity -- is a gift that is weaved by our common aspiration for peace and progress. Together, let us be critical and vigilant in appreciating the merits of the BBL that will be opened to the public and undergo deliberations and consultations by Congress. Once the BBL is open to the public, we call on our fellows in the civil society to engage in a productive dialogue as we make yesterday's dream of a just and lasting peace a reality of today and tomorrow," they said.

Meanwhile, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) said the transmission to Congress of the draft BBL is a welcome development for all the stakeholders of the proposed measure.

"It brings to the fore the commitment of His Excellency, President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III, to put an end to the conflict in Mindanao which has threatened the socio-political stability and stunts the economic growth and development of the region," said NCMF Secretary Yasmin Busran-Lao in a statement.

"We encourage all concerned to allow and facilitate the passage of the bill into law to provide opportunity for qualified residents and voters of the affected areas to approve or reject the proposal as part of their democratic right of suffrage to be expressed through the plebiscite to be called for the purpose. Let us avoid unnecessary comments and/or remarks that might inflame or exacerbate the rising emotions attendant to highly charged discussions and deliberations on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law," she said.

"We have to think and act in accordance with what is best for our country and people, giving paramount importance and relevance to efforts towards peace and development," she added. (PNA) (091214)