NEWS




22January
IN PHOTO: CSO core group and BCOBAR Federation Officers Banguingi Chapter pose for souvenir picture after their caucus meeting @ Arena Blanco. Zamboanga City

CSO, Bcobar Federation officers intensify information drive campaign on BTA extension

ARENA BLANCO, ZAMBOANGA CITY (January 19, 2021)-  We stand on the same ground and unite for similar purpose were the words of officers of the Bangsamoro Civil Society Organization (CSO) and the Federation of Bangsamoro Communities outside the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BCOBAR Federation) when they converged at Insani Compound, Arena Blanco Zamboanga City, Sunday, January 17. The event was organized by BCOBAR Federation- Banguingi Chapter, Zamboanga City. 
Hadji Usman Insani, CSO leader along with key Officers from the BCOBAR Federation have agreed to consolidate their strength on information drive campaign in the Bangsamoro grassroot communities to emphasize to them the importance and significance of term extension for Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to 2025. 

“We, the Bangsamoro in Zamboanga City have participated in peace building activities in order to preserve and nurture the gains of the peace agreement despite the fact that we are residing outside the areas of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM),” Insani said.

“The Bangsamoro population in the city is very substantial, thus they should be informed and updated on BARMM recent development and other important issues particularly on the call and appeal of CSOs for BTA extension to 2025,” Insani added.

He further said that the three-year period for BTA to implement the salient provisions in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) particularly on normalization is too short to accomplish due to various complicating factors, not just the COVID-19 pandemic, hence, the BTA should be given enough time to implement what has been agreed upon between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Mr. Maca Asmawil, a community organizer, and BCOBAR Federation deputy coordinator of Banguingi Chapter from Sacol Island said, that extending the BTA to 2025 is also to strengthen and solidify the efficacy of the BARMM in delivering social service to the Bangsamoro people. 

Mr. Tirso S. Tahir, Officer from the Institution of the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI), a Non-Government Organization (NGO) has facilitated various activities undertaken by BCABOR Federation, and civil society organizations in the city particularly on peace advocacies in order to transform them into productive members of Bangsamoro society.