Lawmakers urged to stop derailing BBL passage

Published January 17, 2016 4:49pm

Ernesto Ordonez

A former member of the Cabinet's economic cluster called on lawmakers to stop derailing the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

“Short-sighted politics should not derail this legislation,” Ernesto Ordoñez, a former undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture, said in a recent media forum in Manila.

“If we do not act now, we are losing this golden opportunity to show our government’s sincerity in ending [the Mindanao] conflict. Stop politicking this legislation," he added.

Ordoñez said the passage of the BBL will address security concerns in the area and stabilize the economy of southern Philippines.

“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 said. “[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.”

Ordoñez added that the delay in the passage into law of the proposed measure has stalled progress in the roadmap to peace established by the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

He reminded lawmakers of their important role in ending the armed conflict in Mindanao through their legislative power which is a responsibility they should uphold.

“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,” he said.

“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,” Ordoñez said. — APG, GMA News

Tags: bbl, bangsamoro, bangsamorobasiclaw, gphmilfpeacetalks