PAGADIAN CITY – Congressman Victor J. Yu of Zamboanga del Sur’s first district has recently encouraged the people to give their suggestions and comments on the provisions of draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
Yu, who served as the keynote speaker during 10th Chinese New Year celebration here on Thursday at Plaza Luz, discussed briefly some provisions of the BBL before the crowd saying that the law would affect the Moro Gulf coastline of the province.
“I take this opportunity to discuss the very important provisions of the BBL not only to the Chinese community but to everybody because some of these provisions would affect our province,” the solon explained.
Yu, who brought with him copy of the draft BBL, said the Bangsamoro entities want to have a greater share of our natural resources – referring to the 58 exclusive power of Bangsamoro entities as stipulated in the draft bill.
Under the BLL, the municipal waters of Bangsamoro entities were expanded from 15.5 to 22.5 miles.
Yu said “the Moro Gulf coastline of the province is a big part of it and was considered joint cooperation of the Bangsamoro and national government.”
He encouraged feedback from the people because once the said bill will be passed in Congress, it will automatically become a law.
It can be recalled that President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday urged the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) to draw up soonest the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law so it can be ratified and implemented in time for the 2016 elections.
Meanwhile Interfaith forum for Solidarity and Peace Muslim Convenor Sultan Abdulmaguid Maruhom in an interview said the members of BTC are all competent and qualified.
“I believe their draft BBL will reflect the will of the majority since the framework agreement is their guideline,” Maruhom opined.
“No peace agreement is perfect, but the framework agreement on the Bangsamoro is the best we have forged so far,” Maruhom concluded. (PIA9)