NEWS




10January
IN PHOTO: Representatives from Balik Islam sector and CSO Officers during the Consultative Meeting at Barangay Camino Nuevo, Zamboanga City on January 6, 2021

Reverts to Islam group holds consultative meeting on BTA extension

ZAMBOANGA CITY- January 7, 2021.  Reverts to Islam group along with Civil Society Organization (CSO) in Zamboanga City held consultative meeting on various issues related to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim (BARMM) at Barangay Camino Nuevo, Zamboanga City, Wednesday January 6. Mr. Ekong Insani, a Community Organizer together with some members of Reverts to Islam group organized the half-day program to manifest their support on the issue of extension for Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to 2025.

Aside from affirming their support to the call and appeal of CSOs for BTA extension, the attendees were eager to know important updates on the Bangsamoro Regional Governance and other related issues.

We want to be enlightened on matters related to Bangsamoro Governance, and other related issues so that we can see how we can contribute in sustaining the gains of the peace agreement even though we are residing outside of the areas covered by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, Mr. Insani said.

He also said that the Bangsamoro residing outside of the BARMM are optimistic that social services will reach them because of the inclusiveness mentioned in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

Ustadz Taha G. Daranda, a Bangsamoro CSO head in Zamboanga City delivered his message by narrating the Bangsamoro Struggle and the peace agreement since its inception.

Aside from the issue of governance of the BARMM, Ustadh Taha also explained the formation of United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), the Political Party of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

With bigger responsibilities of the leadership of BARMM, they may not be able to accomplish within three-years implementing period its programs, and projects, therefore, the BTA term should be extended to 2025 in order to attain positive changes, Ustadh Daranda added.

The group also made an appeal to BARMM to put up field offices in some strategic areas where there are a large number of Bangsamoro people so that social services of BARMM can be made accessible and availed by them. 

The series of activities conducted in Tawi-Tawi, and Zamboanga City were facilitated by Mr. Tirso S. Tahir of the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI), a capacity building institute donated by an international non-government organization.