What are the developments in BBL and federalism? How do we harmonize substance and process of these political developments for Mindanao peace? What model of federalism as to the Bangsamoro will best serve the cause of Mindanao peace and development?

These questions take center stage when some 250 key stakeholders from Mindanao and policymakers from the National Capital Region gather at the “National Conference on BBL and Federalism” on 7 June 2018 at the Dusit Thani Manila in Makati City.

The focus in the Mindanao peace process is on the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law and process for constitutional change particularly in the shift from unitary to a federal Philippines.  One of the avowed goals of the shift to a federal system from no less than its chief proponent, President Duterte, is that federalism will finally implement all signed peace agreements with the Moro people and meaningfully address historical injustice in Mindanao. Indeed, federalism is potentially the best political system that will accommodate and meaningfully implement the asymmetric relationship---the core of the autonomy arrangement-- between the central government and the Moro government. Yet, a federal system which is not done right will potentially exacerbate than resolve problems.

The federalism system that must evolve out of the ongoing constitutional change process must:

1. 1. Consolidate and build on the gains of peace agreements and implementing laws including the Bangsamoro Basic Law;
2. 2. Accommodate the terms of peace agreements and implementing laws that are unimplemented under the current unitary set-up and 1987 Constitution; and
3. 3. Promote inclusivity and public support for sustainable peace and development in Mindanao.

The assumption of the conference is that the BBL and federalism are twin pillars in the incremental process to implement peace agreements.  Autonomy and federalism as well as the legislation of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and the crafting of the Federal Constitution are complementary, not mutually exclusive processes.

Organized by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) and International Alert Philippines with support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia, the conference aims to: 

1. 1. Consolidate support for the passage of the BBL and for a model of federalism to implement all signed peace agreements; and
2. 2. Raise awareness and build consensus around current proposals for configuring the Bangsamoro region/state and its relationship with the central government under the envisioned federal Philippines.

Attendance at the conference is strictly by-invitation only.