BBLWatch

IAG News

BTA, CSOs to discuss key issues confronting transition to BARMM

Jun 14, 2019

IAG, through its DELACSE Bangsamoro project, will be bringing together some members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, key officials from national government agencies, civil society organizations (CSOs), and policy think-tanks at a forum on July 19 in Makati City to discuss the key issues confronting the successful transition to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

IAG, Ateneo School of Government launch knowledge portal on Bangsamoro

May 30, 2019

A knowledge portal that promises to be a credible capacity-building online infrastructure for the Bangsamoro has been unveiled today, May 30, during a short ceremony in Cotabato City.

Panel done with draft transition plan for BARMM

May 21, 2019

Experts are done drafting a transition plan for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which will be turned over to the new region's caretaker government.

BTA member calls for immediate creation of national coordinating body

May 06, 2019

A Bangsamoro Transition Authority member has called on the national government to immediately set up the Intergovernmental Relations Body that will facilitate interactions with the newly-formed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao | BusinessWorld

IAG kicks off discussion series focusing on intergovernmental relations and BARMM

May 02, 2019

IAG joins forces with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Ateneo Policy Center and Department of Interior and Local Government to conduct a series of academic and technical policy discussions that will generate input to policymakers and to intergovernmental relations mechanism in the BOL on critical issues in intergovernmental relations such as devolution, powers and oversight.

READ: Executive Order No. 79 implementing normalization program in the Bangsamoro

Apr 30, 2019

Executive Order 79 orders the implementation of the Annex on Normalization under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

Bangsamoro economy up by 7.2% in 2018

Apr 30, 2019

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which now makes up the core territory of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, posted a 7.2 percent growth rate in its Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) for the year 2018.

Analysts: Dynasts to complicate federalism drive

Apr 22, 2019

The switch to a federal system is still possible but dynasts will resist the inclusion of an anti-dynasty provision in the federal constitution, according to analysts | BusinessWorld

IGR: The key to genuine and meaningful local autonomy

Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco I Jun 10, 2019

The concept of intergovernmental relations (IGR) is traditionally associated with federal systems. But many scholars maintain that IGR mechanisms can and do play a key function in unitary systems with embedded decentralization arrangements such as the Philippines. Read more

Funding the Transition to BARMM: Mandates, Myths and Reality

iag.org.ph I May 23, 2019

Are there transition funds for the BTA-BARMM? The second of the IAG-Konrad Adenauer Stiftung roundtable series on Bangsamoro transition aims to find answers to this question. Read more

Bangsamoro Transition Authority: A Transition Beyond Bridging ARMM to BARMM

iag.org.ph I May 14, 2019

How does the BARMM evolve a relationship with the national government? Would it be through intergovernmental relations? Would it be better through devolution as was in the previous ARMM, or just by executive order of President Duterte, banking on his strong political capital? These are some of the fundamental questions that need answered to make BARMM work for the Bangsamoro. Read more

More of the same means the same problems: Updates on and prospects of the shift to federalism

iag.org.ph I May 07, 2019

A constant talking point in the president’s State of the Nation addresses before Congress, the shift to federalism has been touted as a cure for unequal development in the regions and a focus on policy- and decision-making from Manila. Read more

Proper use of IGR mechanisms is vital to the success of the BARMM

Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco I Apr 11, 2019

It cannot be emphasized enough that for the newly organized Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) the path ahead is extremely challenging. Right up there in the BTA’s challenging to-do-list is the familiarization of the entire Bangsamoro community to the concept of Intergovernmental Relations or IGR. Read more

Policy Brief: Survey of Mining, Petroleum Issues in the Bangsamoro-ARMM

Ishak V. Mastura I Mar 21, 2019

The issue of “strategic minerals” has been done away with in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) by removing any distinctions regarding minerals but the BOL is now very explicit that mining and mineral resources in the Bangsamoro-ARMM are subject to the Constitution and national laws. Hence, the Bangsamoro cannot pass any legislation in its parliament that would contravene the Philippine... Read more

Filipinos must own Charter change process

Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco I Feb 06, 2019

How can any reform process ever be truly robust when there is a glaring disconnect between majority of Filipinos and the 1987 Constitution? Read more

[POLICY BRIEF] The Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Leading the Philippines towards genuine and meaningful local autonomy

iag.org.ph I Jan 04, 2019

This Policy Brief lays out the issues that have emerged from the IAG and Konrad Adenaeur Stiftung Philippines multi-stakeholder roundtable discussion last December 7, 2018 that explored the constitutional, legal and political ramifications of the Bangsamoro Organic Law. Read more

Dynamics of Poverty, Politics and Peace: Mindanao and Beyond

Dean Benedicto Bacani I Dec 03, 2018

Sustainable peace does not only require acknowledging historical injustice but most critically, promoting social justice. We have to reform our politics and constitutional and legal framework, in order to provide equal opportunities and burdens to people especially the poor. Read more

Implications of the GPH-MILF peace process and the Bangsamoro Organic Law to Mindanao and the emerging challenges

Mohagher Iqbal I Nov 14, 2018

Fear of the unknown remains a challenge, and those who are not well-informed on the gains of the peace process or the pertinent provisions of the BOL would still have misconceptions. We are always faced with the challenge to provide more timely information to the public that would allay any fears. Read more