Government’s
chief peace negotiator Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer on Saturday urged
Congress anew to finish its work on the draft
Bangsamoro Basic Law and at the same time continue to raise
awareness and understanding on the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.
Ferrer made the
call as the country was poised to celebrate the 12th National Peace
Consciousness Month next month.
In a statement,
Ferrer said that this year’s observance “comes at a most opportune time as the
leadership of both Houses of Congress are eyeing a September passage of the
BBL.”
Ferrer said that
the celebration will be meaningful if Senate President Franklin Drilon and
House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. will pass the emended version of BBL into
law.
“September has
always been an important month for us in the peace process. This year will be
extra special and memorable if our esteemed lawmakers in the House of
Representatives and the Senate will finally finish their work on the Bangsamoro
law,” Ferrer said.
Both Drilon and
Belmonte have made a public pronouncements that there’s still time
to pass their respective BLBARs (Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous
Region), the amended version of the BBL, in September.
The Office of the
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process is scheduled to hold several
activities for the month-long commemoration.
Ferrer said that
the agency would be launching a series of exhibits around Metro Manila and
parts of Mindanao with the assistance of
several government agencies, major shopping malls and universities.
“Beyond just
calling for the passage of the bill, the purpose of these exhibits is to bring
closer to the Filipino people the stories and dreams of our fellow Filipino
brothers and sisters in the prospective Bangsamoro,” Ferrer said.
Ferrer said that
the series of exhibits in different universities and campuses may empower the
general public to engage in the continuing dialogue on the Bangsamoro and the
legislative process involving the BBL.
She added that
they are also planning to put out information and education materials in
public spaces to increase awareness of the peace process.
The exhibit
will kick off at the Miriam
College
On September 14,
the exhibit can be viewed at the College
of Arts
On September 14
to 17, the exhibits will be seen at the House of Representatives.
The exhibits will
focus on providing information and clarifying misconceptions on the draft law,
Ferrer said.
Aside from
exhibits, the OPPAP will also hired a public utility vehicles in Metro Manila
and Mindanao province carrying messages and
information education about BBL.
Various tricycle
drivers and associations have agreed to carry the advertisements,
pointing out the need to bring closer to the public the Bangsamoro message of
peace and social justice.
“I can’t stress
enough the importance of keeping the Bangsamoro peace process in the
consciousness of the public because the best opportunity to end the decades of
alienation and hostility is now with us,”Ferrer said.
Ferrer also
invited everyone to visit the official OPAPP website as various activities and
contests were also being planned.
“We are bringing
the peace month to the social media. The OPAPP will be launching several
online-only events aligned with the objectives of the Bangsamoro peace
process,” she said.
OPAPP has been
leading the annual celebration of the National Peace Consciousness Month by
virtue of Proclamation No. 675 series of 2004.
The highlight of
last year’s celebration came when the Office of the President transmitted the
original BBL which was drafted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission.
http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/08/30/info-blitz-on-bbl-under-way/
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