MARAWI CITY (PIA) — Bangsamoro government’s Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua called on the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament to fast-track the passage of priority legislation ahead of the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in October 2025.
Speaking at the opening of the BTA’s fourth regular session on April 8 at the Shariff Kabungsuan Cultural Complex in Cotabato City, Macacua emphasized the urgency of completing critical measures within the remaining seven months of the transition period.
“We do not have the luxury of delay. What we do in the coming months will define this Parliament’s legacy,” he emphasized
Macacua presented a 12-bill legislative agenda focused on governance, inclusivity, and self-reliance.
Governance and fiscal autonomy
Among the proposed measures is the Bangsamoro Revenue Code, which aims to establish a regional framework for tax collection and reduce reliance on block grants. The Parliament’s Committee on Ways and Means is currently revising the bill.
Committee Chair Paisalin Tago said the updated version is expected to be submitted to Parliament by the end of April.
Also on the agenda is the Budget System Law, intended to improve fiscal management by creating a unified treasury account and reforming budgeting and cash flow processes.
Inclusive and gender-responsive
Macacua urged the passage of the Bangsamoro Gender and Development (BGAD) Code, which promotes equal rights, protection, and representation for women and marginalized groups.
“No transition can be truly successful if the most vulnerable are left behind,” he said.
Other proposed measures include the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities, aimed at ensuring equal access to services, and the Bangsamoro Labor Code, which will define employment standards and safeguard labor rights.
Institutional development
The Chief Minister also pushed for the creation of the Energy Development Corporation of the Bangsamoro (EDCB) to manage regional energy resources and ensure energy security.
The Bangsamoro Investment Code, another proposed measure, seeks to streamline investment procedures and improve investor confidence.
Macacua also supported the passage of the Bangsamoro Code of Muslim Personal Laws, which will align Islamic legal principles with national law on matters such as marriage, inheritance, and family.
Environmental and transitional justice
A key proposal is the creation of the Lake Lanao Rehabilitation and Development Authority to oversee the sustainable management of one of the region’s major natural resources.
As a native of Bayang, Lanao del Sur, Macacua underscored the importance of protecting the lake.
He also proposed a bill to establish a Regional Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Mechanism to address historical injustices and promote long-term peace.
The agenda includes the formalization of Da’wah (Islamic propagation) in governance through the creation of an office dedicated to integrating moral values into public institutions.
Concluding his address, Macacua reminded Parliament members of their role in completing the transition.
“Let us not fall short. Let us not waste this final stretch of the transition,” he stressed. (BIO/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
