Malacañan Palace
10 September 2014

President Benigno S. Aquino III witnessed the turnover of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) by Peace Adviser Secretary Teresita ‘Ging’ Deles and Bangsamoro Transition Commission Chair Mohagher Iqbal to Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. in Malacañang.

Addressing the members of Congress present in the ceremony, President Aquino expressed his optimism for the immediate passage of the bill to give its constituents ample time to prepare for the Bangsamoro Government. “Ngayong mayroon na tayong panukalang batas, matibay ang aking pananalig na sang-ayon ito sa ating Saligang Batas; na naaayon ito sa prinsipyo ng ating Framework Agreement,” he said.

Once enacted by Congress, the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will be dissolved and the provinces and municipalities identified in the Bangsamoro framework will undergo a plebiscite that will determine the geographical scope of the Bangsamoro Government.

The President called on the voters to study and understand the provisions of the bill to get them ready in time for the Bangsamoro government in 2016.

“Maliwanag naman pong napag-iwanan ang ARMM sa pag-unlad. Kaya naman gusto nating bigyan ng pantay na pagkakataon ang lahat, lalong-lalo na ang nasa laylayan, upang mabigyan sila ng kakayang maki-ambag sa pag-angat ng bansa,” he said.

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