DAVAO CITY (July 19) — The bicameral conference committee Wednesday night approved the final version of the Bangsamoro bill — officially known as  Bangsamoro Organic Law.
The approval of the bill means the establishment of a new Bangsamoro region in the country, which provides them greater autonomy.
This would also mean the abolition of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)– and replaced with Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The House and the Senate is expected to ratify the bicameral conference committee report.
Earlier reports revealed, the bill will be approved by the Congress and the Senate early Monday, for Duterte to sign during his 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA) on same day.
The proposed region would be composed of the current ARMM – Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, Maguindanao, and Lanao del Sur – pending a regional plebiscite.
This time, Cotabato City and and Isabela City are included in the proposed region, but subject to the approval of their respective registered voters in the plebiscite.
Other highlights if the bill:
75-25 wealth sharing term
The panels agreed on the 75-25 wealth-sharing term in favor of the Bangsamoro. This increases the share of the Bangsamoro in government tax revenues by 5 percent compared with the current 70 percent being received by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) from national internal revenue taxes, fees, and charges, as well as taxes imposed on natural resources.
Block Grant
The automatic allocation of the annual block grant for the Bangsamoro region has been adopted by the committee. This is equivalent to five percent of the net national internal revenue of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
Special Development Fund
The National Government will allocate P5 billion to the Bangsamoro annually for a period of 10 years. This is equivalent to P50 billion for the entire implementation. The amount will be used for the rehabilitation of conflict-affected areas within the region.
Shari’ah or Islamic Law
Primarily, regular courts within the Bangsamoro will continue to exercise their judicial functions provided by national law.
While adopting a justice system that complies with the Constitution, the Bangsamoro has been allowed to implement Shari’ah exclusively to cases involving Muslims.
Meanwhile, tribal laws will be applicable to disputes of indigenous peoples within the Bangsamoro.
Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) chairperson and Moro Islamic Liberation Front vice chairperson Ghazali Jaafar as well as MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal witnessed the ceremonial signing of the bill.
Jaafar told Bicam members “We are satisfied. It is not a perfect law, but it is good to start with. It is very important to us.”
The Philippine News Agency report, quoted Anak Mindanao Partylist Rep. Amihilda Sangcopan saying the final form of the BBL will provide “something better than the status quo- that is the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.”
“We do not say that the BBL is the solution, but we had hopes that this will be one of the most important instruments to begin pursuing our long aspirations of just and lasting peace,” Sangcopan said.
The bicameral panel, led by House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas and Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, was able to reconcile conflicting provisions of the landmark measure after six days of marathon hearings.
In his facebook post late Wednesday night, Zubiri said “We’re finally done passing the Bangsamoro Organic Act at the Bicam Committee!!
After 6 days of marathon hearings with 13 hour days and a lot of tense moments of debate and amendments, we finally came together in the pursuit of PEACE for our area of Mindanao! Finally all the sacrifices written in blood by all those who perished in the name of Peace will not have been in vain. God is Great!! And Godbless the Philippines!! .- Editha Z. Caduaya/NewsLine.ph
