3RD UPDATE/MARCH 26 The Institute for Autonomy and Governance in partnership with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Philippines is set to undertake a series of in-depth discussions for better understanding of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and the ways and means to implement it in a meaningful, efficient and relevant way.

The roundtable series will examine the context, resources and capacities of institutions that will implement the BOL. Concrete actions and proposals are to be generated to build on the strengths and address the gaps and weaknesses in current processes and implementing institutions. The series will generate policy briefs to inform and aid policymakers and key stakeholders moving forward.

The first roundtable in the series, “Understanding the Bangsamoro Transition and BTA under the BOL”, is scheduled on March 20 in Cotabato City. The 80-member BTA is the interim regional government appointed to exercise executive and legislative powers over the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) until the 2022 elections. This roundtable hopes to deepen critical discussions on the provisions and interpretation of transition and BTA in the BOL. It will look into the nature, role and mandate of the BTA – whether the BTA is unitary, parliamentary or mixed – and shed light on some of the questions and grey areas still begging for answers with regard to transition. A robust discussion of these key issues will hopefully identify what is a good transition roadmap and what should be the priorities of the BTA moving forward.

BTA member Atty. Lanang Ali Jr., former Chair of the ARMM Bureau of Investments and IAG Development Consulting Inc. (IDCI) COO Atty. Ishak Mastura, and BTA member Baintan Adil-Ampatuan are confirmed resource persons in the first roundtable.

The second roundtable will tackle funding for transition and BTA, while the third will be about supervision and oversight by the national government over BARMM and the BTA. IAG will announce schedule of these succeeding roundtable discussions once invited speakers have confirmed their participation.