Bangsamoro pact: challenges and hopes

The Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) congratulates the negotiating panels of the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front for the signing of the Annex on Revenue Generation and Wealth Sharing. We laud the panels’ steadfast resolve to achieve a compromise regarding such a contentious and important issue. The PCID welcomes the signing of this annex as a step forward toward achieving lasting peace in Mindanao. The PCID hopes that this annex will strengthen the foundation for Bangsamoro’s genuine fiscal autonomy. The PCID believes that this signing of the annex will boost the people’s optimism about reaching a final peace agreement within this year.

Although challenges are on the horizon as talks about Power Sharing and Normalization are about to start, the PCID acknowledges that the signing of the Annex on Revenue Generation and Wealth Sharing is a good indication that both panels are committed to achieving a just and fair agreement. The PCID, however, sees that the annex is just an initial step toward fiscal autonomy and economic development in the Bangsamoro. The PCID considers fiscal autonomy as an integral part of genuine autonomy, but it also recognizes that achieving this would require fiscal responsibility from the people and their officials.

The PCID recommends that in order to fully actualize the visions in this annex, the Bangsamoro and the national government must capacitate local officials to adequately implement the taxation provisions in what would be the Bangsamoro Basic Law. We also hope that the Transition Commission will develop the appropriate implementing and monitoring mechanisms as part of the Basic Law. There is also a need to educate the people on how these taxes will facilitate development in their region, and to train them to expect transparency and accountability from their government.

Lastly, we assert the primacy of the peace process and ask both panels to continue fast-tracking the remaining annexes of the negotiations. We also ask the Transition Commission to conduct parallel efforts in preparing for the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law. We, as civil society, are prepared to assist in any way.

—PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR

ISLAM AND DEMOCRACY,

NCPAG Annex Building,

R. P. De Guzman St.,

University of the Philippines

(UP-Campus), Diliman, QC