Murad leads first BARMM flag-raising ceremony

MuSHARIFF KABUNSUAN COMPLEX, Cotabato City – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Interim Chief Minister Al Haj Murad Ebrahim led here Monday other regional officials for BARMM’s first-ever flag-raising ceremony at the complex of the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Murad stood at attention as he sang the “Lupang Hinirang” national anthem together with the other BARMM ministerial officials and some 500 employees at the grounds fronting the BARMM administrative building here.

“This is the first time that I, as your Chief Minister, and the members of the Interim Cabinet, have joined you in this flag-raising ceremony,” Murad said in his speech following the hoisting of the Philippine flag.

He noted that the new regional set up is in the very early stage of the transition process, and brings with it some elements of fear, doubt, and resistance.

“Maybe the most frequently asked question among yourselves could be, what would happen to us now?” he said, adding that consistent with his earlier statements, the employees’ status in the BARMM would be determined by the nature of their appointments.

“That is, for the permanent (employees): you remain in your posts until the Bangsamoro Transition Authority has finally adopted the transition plan, which shall contain the organizational plan as well as the schedule for the implementation thereof,” Murad said.

For those holding contracts of service, he said the BARMM would honor such contract in general, but a review of the nature of the job and performance shall also be made.

“For those co-terminus, I know that you are also aware that your service has to end simultaneous with the end of the term of the one who appointed you,” he stressed.

Murad told the BARMM workers to prepare for some snags in the coming months as there would be adjustments in the administrative, fiscal, organizational, legal, and relational matters to be resolved during the transition process.

“My only request to you, fellow workers of the BARMM, is cooperation. I truly understand your concern for your careers, but somehow we have to start this overhauling of the regional government,” he said.

Murad said a ministerial form of government would be established, necessitating bureaucratic changes, that is, changes in structures, processes and even people.

“We have to remember that the constitutional provisions on the creation of our autonomous region are grounded on the history of the struggle of our people for, among other things, the opportunity to improve their lives and their communities,” he said. -PNA