Peace and progress in BARMM
There are good indications that the implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) will succeed, except for Nur Misuari’s threat of waging war (if federalism is not considered) made under the very nose of President Duterte and his top security advisers.
Misuari did not elaborate what type of federalism he is asking for, and he seems to be not fully aware that the BOL’s features have a semblance of the federalism espoused by former Senate president Nene Pimentel.
I was in the BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) area more than a week ago, and I noticed all top-rated
hotels in Cotabato City were fully booked with foreign visitors. Photocopying and blue printing shops were busy reproducing land titles, location maps, copies of MOAs and deeds of sale, signifying an upbeat business atmosphere after the ratification
of the BOL.
I learned that the leaders of the transition government are attempting to increase the per capita income of Muslims in the area to a level similar to Kuwait’s (GDP per capita $69,700 as of 2017 estimate) from the Philippines’ GDP of $10,000 (2017 estimate).
This is a realistic target, considering the millions of barrels of gas and oil deposits in Liguasan Marsh that belong to the
Filipino Muslims.
Let us pray to Allah that progress and peace will reign forever in the Muslim region.
ISIDRO C. VALENCIA, [email protected]
