The Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB), composed of representatives from the National Government (NG) and Bangsamoro Government (BG), resolved in its 20th meeting last Friday to ensure uninterrupted government operations in Sulu as the Supreme Court deliberates on the province's exclusion from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
In a unanimous decision dated September 9, 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that Sulu is not part of BARMM, citing the province’s rejection of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) during the 2019 plebiscite. The BOL, enacted on July 27, 2018, is the legal framework establishing BARMM’s governance and political structure.
Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman, IGRB Co-Chairperson for the National Government, affirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining services in Sulu amidst the transition.
“The national government will exert all efforts to ensure a smooth transition, taking a whole-of-government approach to continuously deliver essential services in the region,” Secretary Pangandaman stated in her opening remarks.
She further emphasized IGRB’s pivotal role in preserving the progress made in BARMM’s self-governance, peace, and development. “We in the IGRB have a crucial responsibility to sustain and build on the significant gains we’ve achieved for BARMM’s governance, peace, and long-term growth,” she added.
BARMM Education Minister and IGRB Co-Chairperson Mohagher Iqbal called for a unified effort to safeguard the interests of Sulu’s residents. “As we await the final resolution of the judicial process, it is essential that we adopt a collective approach to protect the rights, aspirations, and well-being of the people of Sulu,” he said, highlighting potential challenges, including the payment of salaries for teaching and non-teaching staff, asset management, and other operational matters.
In response to Iqbal’s call, the IGRB agreed to form a Technical Working Group (TWG) tasked with developing guidelines to ensure minimal disruption to essential services. The TWG will also provide recommendations on maintaining operational continuity as the Supreme Court’s final decision is awaited. Additionally, the IGRB resolved to coordinate with the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) for the issuance of a written directive to the affected offices of the Bangsamoro Government, National Government, and Local Government Unit (LGU) to ensure continued operations of governmental matters in Sulu.
The 20th IGRB meeting took place on October 11, 2024, in Pasig City. The session was led by Secretary Pangandaman and Minister Iqbal, with the participation of Secretary Carlito Galvez from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), and Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo.
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