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27December
IGRB pledges smooth transition for Sulu following SC ruling
- Dec 27, 2024
- Taher G. Solaiman
- HITS: 603
During the 21st IGRB meeting held in Manila on December 11, the IGRB Co-Chairs, Bangsamoro Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, affirmed their cooperation to facilitate the orderly turnover of Sulu to the national government without disrupting government services.
Iqbal emphasized the importance of preserving Sulu's connection to the Bangsamoro identity, saying, "Our efforts must ensure the people of Sulu remain strongly connected to the overarching vision of peace and self-determination."
He added that the IGRB's immediate focus would be on facilitating a smooth and gradual transition of Sulu to the national government.
Pangandaman emphasized the IGRB's commitment to continuity.
"We in the IGRB have a clear stand for Sulu, and that is to ensure an uninterrupted government operation amid this transition period," she said.
Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan, who attended the IGRB meeting for the first time, expressed his commitment to respecting the Supreme Court's ruling and urged the IGRB to prioritize service continuity during the transition period.
"I am calling upon the Bangsamoro and the National Governments not to suppress any of the basic services in Sulu before the transition period," Tan said.
Tan stressed the urgent need to strengthen education in Sulu by hiring more permanent teachers and constructing additional school buildings.
Finance, Budget and Management Minister Ubaida Pacasem reported that Sulu's programs, activities, projects, and services (PAPS) and other operating expenses have already been included in BARMM's recently approved budget for Fiscal Year 2025.
Meanwhile, Labor and Employment Minister Muslimin Sema suggested exploring political avenues to allow Sulu to remain part of BARMM.
The IGRB is a crucial institution established to facilitate cooperation and coordination between the national government and the BARMM. It serves as a platform for resolving intergovernmental issues, promoting peace, and ensuring the effective implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
It was conceived during negotiations for the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Philippine national government.
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