The November 13, 2020 Study Group Session is the first of the three-part series that IAG has scheduled to discuss critical issues in regard to the forthcoming first parliamentary elections and the political party system in the Bangsamoro. 

The main resource person was former elections commissioner Atty. Luie Tito Guia. Atty. Guia’s presentation highlighted the principal innovation introduced by Republic Act No. 11054, the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). The BOL re-engineered the BARMM government structure and electoral processes to increase incentives for political parties, rather individuals running for office particularly for the Bangsamoro Parliament. Instituting policies that would lead to the “formation of genuinely principled political parties” is therefore critical to the success of the “new experiment” in the region – a parliamentary government which seeks to institute the proportional representation (PR) system.

This initiative is part of the 10-month project on Political Party Building and Development in the Bangsamoro which is being implemented by IAG in partnership with Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) with support from the government of United Kingdom.

The project aims to meaningfully implement the provisions of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) towards a political party system in the region that is principled, effective, democratic and inclusive. Commencing in July 2020, the project will provide technical inputs to the crafting of the law on political parties and will contribute to strengthening the capacities of new and existing local political parties. The project will likewise provide the platform for consultations in the crafting of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code, a major piece of legislation for the region.