COTABATO CITY—President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., on his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) today, July 24,at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City, said that his administration is proud of the progress in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“We are proud of the progress that the BARMM has taken,” President Marcos said as he highlighted the progress in the region, owing it to the signing of the Bangsamoro Organic Law which established the new autonomous regional government.
“It will be self-governing, it will be progressive, and it will be effective,” the President added citing that these were made possible because of the “cooperation of all key groups”.
Marcos said that in the transition phase, local government, royal families, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were all engaged and represented, with the support of the international community.
He also emphasized that with basic laws being written and functions defined, “former adversaries are now partners in peace”.
“Through the BARMM, we have strengthened the nation’s prospects for finally achieving sustainable progress anchored on a true and lasting peace in Southern Philippines,” the President further said on his SONA.
While the President vowed his continued support for the region, he cited one of the promising milestones of BARMM and his administration in relation to boosting the energy sector in the country.
“The national government has also partnered with the BARMM in regard to energy exploration and development, and also its utilization within its territorial jurisdiction,” Marcos shared on top of the current exploration in Malampaya in Palawan.
The President said that with this recent exploration agreement, the national government expects to see renewed investor interest in its [BARMM] promising sites. (Abdullah Matucan/BIO)
