NEWS




7January
In Photo-Nasser Pulindao FBCSO Deputy President speaks to an audience during a consultation

FBCSO calls for BTA extension

Cotabato City-A series of consultations were conducted by the by Federation of Bangsamoro Civil Society Organizations, inc (FBCSO) in Central Mindanao and Southern Mindanao in support for the extension of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority from June 2022 into June 2025. 
FBCSO is a network of Civil Society Organization Movement for Moral Governance (CSO-MMG) comprising civil society organizations supporting the Bangsamoro Region.

FBCSO initiated the consultations to get the pulse of respective member-organizations such as non-government organizations (NGO’s), people’s organizations (PO’s) including MILF and MNLF combatants, BLGU’s and LGU’s, youth and other sectors of society.

From October 2019 to present, the FBCSO had conducted eleven consultations in different provinces of Central and Southern Mindanao Regions. 

On the basis of the Mindanao Peoples Caucus’ (MPC) midterm review presentation held at the BTA Office, a panel of presenters revealed that some political issues including the normalization track were not fully implemented especially on decommissioning, and other aspects of the normalization Track embodied in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

 A majority of the FBCSO’s member -organizations were very responsive to the call of CSO-MM for the extension of BTA by amending the (BOL) congress.

FBCSO conducted consultations with members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) at Kusiong, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao on October 31, 22020, followed by another consultation at Simuay Seashore, Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao on November 2, 2020 participated by more or less one thousand individuals and at Marogong, Lanao Del Sur on November 5, 2020.

On November 7, 2020 another consultation was held at Al-Ersad College of Propagation and Islamic Studies in Calsada, Sultan Kudarat Maguindanao followed by a consultation at Lampari, Banga, South Cotabato on November 18, 2020.

Another consultation was held in Marawi City followed by a consultation in Marantao, Lanao del Sur on December 2, 2020, then followed by a consultation at Baumol, then at Katitisan on December 27, 2020 both in the municipalities of Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat Province. Another consultation was held at Barangay Gadung, Barira Maguindanao.

The resource speakers discussed the current status of the operation of the Bangsamoro Region, priorities and programs of BTA, and updates on the status of the normalization aspect that needs to be completed as soon as possible.

The member-organizations of CSO-MMG comprising 397 members without hesitation agreed to conduct consultations with various stakeholders in select areas of Mindanao. 

Nasser Pulindao, FBCSO Deputy President acted as resource person, while Ustadh Mahmod Ahmad, Executive Director of Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI) delivered the context of Moral Governance. For his part, Abdulwahab Guialal delved on the findings, and recommendations of the midterm rapid review conducted by MPC.

The FBCSO is counting on the support of both House of congress by passing an amended Bangsamoro Organic Law. They appealed to President Rodrigo R. Duterte to support the BTA extension, and certify a bills filed by members of Congress.