A former undersecretary of the Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI) cited the urgent need to enact the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law
(BBL) in order to address security threats and stabilize the economy of
southern Philippines
Former DTI and Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary
Ernesto Ordoñez urged lawmakers to push for the passage of the BBL, emphasizing
that the delay has stalled progress in the roadmap to peace and stability
established by the Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF) through the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).
”We are calling on our congressmen and senators to pass a
BBL that is consistent with 1987 Constitution and continues to protect the
rights of the indigenous peoples in the Bangsamoro,” Ordoñez said in a media
forum in Manila.
”We are talking of inclusive growth that will benefit the
Moro people. It will be a shame to waste all efforts as we have come so far,”
he added.
To recall, Congress failed to meet the deadline in passing
the BBL set on Dec. 16, 2015 and only completed the period of interpellations
before adjourning for a one-month Christmas break.
The first session for the year 2016 resumed on Monday with
only eight session days before Congress adjourns again on Feb. 5 to give way to
the campaign period for the May 9 polls.
The former DTI undersecretary reminded lawmakers to uphold
their role in ending the armed conflict in Mindanao
through their legislative power, noting that “short-sighted politics should not
derail this legislation.”
Act now
Ordoñez also urged lawmakers to “act now” and seize this
“golden opportunity to show our government’s sincerity in ending this
conflict.”
He noted that the armed conflict situation raises security
and stability concerns for the business community.
”(The Bangsamoro people) need jobs but there are no new jobs
because of the armed conflict situation which is a concern (of) the business
community,” said Ordoñez.
”Investors are looking for stability in the area. The
promises (from the business sector) have been coming in since the start of the
BBL discussion. If we have these companies , there will be jobs,” he added.
Investments worth USD366 million (PHP16.3 billion) were
pledged for Mindanao by business leaders by
June on assumption that the BBL would be enacted into law.
Unifruitti Group of Companies Chairman John Perrine said
that the initial investments in agricultural products vowed by different
companies would generate around 23,000 jobs in direct employment in the
Bangsamoro region.
”Give peace a chance”
On Nov. 3, 2015, the business sector, both international and
local, renewed their call to both chambers of Congress to immediately pass the
Bangsamoro law to stabilize the security situation and make Mindanao
more attractive to business ventures.
”(This is) a very sincere appeal to our political leaders to
give peace a chance. Unless we try to correct the imbalances, the problem in Mindanao cannot be worked through the barrel of a gun.
The best solution is economic intervention,” said Mindanao Business Council
President Vicente Lao.
”It is difficult to invite business in an area with security
concern(s). Realities in the ground are in dire need of support. Let us give
the Bangsamoro people a chance to chart their own destinies. The BBL is not a
perfect document but it is the first step,” he added.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=847598
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