NEWS




21September

‘There’s no shortcut to peace, because peace is a process’ – MP Susana Anayatin

COTABATO CITY – Dr Susana S.  Anayatin, a non-Muslim Member of Parliament, said, ‘There is no shortcut to peace because peace is a process’ in Kaunlaran sa Bangsamoro talk show of the Bangsamoro Multimedia Network (BMN) Inc. on Tuesday, September 14, 2021.
Anayatin was invited to guest the talk show to discuss her contributions in the parliament and initiatives in call for Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Extension up to 2025. 

“To President Duterte, Senate, Congress and Bangsamoro Leaders, there is no short cut to peace because peace is a process. That's why we are calling on all of you to give way to the extension of Bangsamoro Transition Authority as an institution of peace in Mindanao," she said.

When asked on the current status of her office and its mandate, Anayatin said, “Well provided naman kami nung aming mga pangangailangan in terms of equipment and budget as well. Sa pamamagitan ng provision na ‘yon naitataguyod at nagagawa natin ang mga mandato para sa Bangsamoro at ang unang mandate ng office ay legislation. In terms of legislation we were able to facilitate the creation of an Office for Settlers Communities in the BARMM. Naipasa na siya kasama ang Administrative Code at last month naitalaga na ni Chief Minister ang mamumuno sa tanggapan nayan sa katauhan ni Mr. Edgar Ramirez.” 

[Our needs in terms of equipment and budget are well provided. With this provision, we are able to execute our mandate for the Bangsamoro and our primary mandate is legislation. We were able to pass it together with the Administrative Code and last month the Chief Minister designated Mr. Edgar Ramirez to manage the said office.]

Anayatin conveyed that she is one of the authors of the Administrative Code, Civil Service Code and Education Code. 

The lady legislator further disclosed that she is also a member of the Committee on Rules, Committee on Budget and Management, Committee on Education and Committee on Trade and Industry.

Aside from a being lawmaker, Anayatin is also inclined in initiating tangible projects. “Meron din kaming mga function to identify projects under TDIF or Transitional Development Impact Funds. Out of that initiative, nakapag sponsor po tayo ng road construction sa SPDA, DOS (Datu Odin Sinsuat), Maguindanao, water system sa Sapalan also in DOS, School Fish Landing sa Kakar DOS, at dalawang ambulance sa residente ng Datu Odin at Datu Piang,” Anayatin said.

[We also have function to identify projects under TDIF or Transitional Development Impact funds. We were able sponsor road construction at SPDA, DOS, Maguindanao, water system at Sapalan also in DOS, School Fish Landing at Kakar DOS, and two ambulances for the residents of Datu Odin and Datu Piang.]

According to Anayatin, as part of her regular humanitarian services, their office gave food packs to the four orphanages in Cotabato City and Sultan Kudarat and they were able to provide hygiene kits and school supplies to some schools in the city.
Meanwhile, Anayatin said that participation in the regional government is one of the concerns of the Settler Communities being addressed by the BARMM Government.

“Kasi noong ARMM wala talagang partisipasyon ang settlers sa ARMM. Meron ngang posisyon for Deputy Vice-Governor for ARMM [ngunit] wala namang siyang tanggapan, wala namang programa, pero sa ngayon sa ginawa nating batas may programa, may upisina at tao na magpapairal ng proyekto at programa ng Bangsamoro. Unang pinakamalaking kaibahan sa ARMM na mabebenepisyuhan ng mga settler communities [sa kasalukuyang Bangsamoro government].

[During the ARMM stint there was no participation of the settlers in the regional government. There was a position Deputy Vice-Governor for ARMM but no office, no program and now we pass a law creating program, office and personnel that will handle projects and programs of the Bangsamoro. The first huge difference in the ARMM is that settlers will be benefitted.]

Anayatin has also relayed the feedbacks of people in the community and said “Some feedback sa BARMM na naririnig ko ay ‘Mapia ged i BARMM anya ka pakatabang ged.’ Nakakataba ng puso sa pamamagitan noong maliliit nating proyekto naipapadama natin sa ating mga kababayan na may gobyerno tayo, na pwedeng  takbuhan.”

[Some feedback in BARMM that I heard was that “This BARMM is nice for it really helps us.” It is heart-warming that through our small projects we were able to let the people feel that we have government which they can ask for help.]

“The BARMM Government is far different from the previous ARMM,” she emphasized. “Road constructions, monthly distribution of food packs in some orphanages are some of the manifestation that this government is really governing morally.”

Anayatin also expressed that three years is not enough for a transition from rebel to civil life and related that in other countries, they were given six years.