GPH, MILF form coordination body for Bangsamoro transition

By MASIDING NOOR YAHYA 

The Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) agreed to organize a body called the Coordination Team for the Transition (CT4T) to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Sunday, November 3.

In a press statement, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) said the CT4T shall serve as “the primary mechanism for coordination between Parties and concerned agencies to ensure that the necessary steps are undertaken in preparation for the transition leading to the installation of the BTA.”

“The preparations for the eventual establishment of the Bangsamoro are crucial to ensure that we hit the ground running once the Bangsamoro government is established,” OPAPP quoted Miriam Coroner-Ferrer, government panel chair, as saying.

ARMM TO BE ABOLISHED

The road map signed by the two parties, said the press statement, pointed out that the Autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) shall be abolished once the Bangsamoro Basic law (BBL) is ratified and the BTA is established.

“The BTA shall serve as the interim government in the Bangsamoro during the period between the ratification of the BBL and the assumption into office of the elected members of the Bangsamoro Parliament,” sai the statement.

CT4T COMPOSITION AND MANDATE

The press statement said:

“The CT4T will be comprised of five government representatives from the OPAPP and the regional government of ARMM and five representatives from the MILF.

“The CT4T shall facilitate the generation and sharing of necessary information related to the transition to the BTA such as but not limited to the inventory of personnel, programs, properties, assets and receivables that would be truned over to the BTA. It shall prepare reports containing such information and data, including recommendatiosns for the transition.

The CT4T may request GPH and ARMM officials and employees, and other resource persons, for information, data, reports, and advice as may be necessary; and propose mechanisms, guidelines, and processes necessary to help facilitate transfer of functions of the ARMM and other relevant national agencies to the BTA.

“The CT4T shall also craft and oversee a communication plan that will address concerns ogf stakeholders both within ARMM and other observers of the GPH-MILF peace process.

“Coronel-Ferrer said that “the work of the CT4T shall be vital in addressing the concerns of ARMM employees.” She added that the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and other relevant agencies will be consulted to ensure that civil service rules will be followed, and civil service elegibilities and entitlements of ARMM employees will be respected.”