Transition panel needs time – Noy

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino wants Congress to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) before June 11 to give Muslim rebels more time to show their sincerity in talking peace with the government.

“They are projecting approval by June. I’m hoping Congress approves the Bangsamoro Basic Law way before June,” Aquino told the Christian Leaders Coalition in a prayer meeting at Malacañang on Monday.

Aquino’s own timeline, which he has conveyed to the lawmakers, is to give the Bangsamoro Transition Authority enough time to demonstrate the merit of their belief that this is a better mode of governance.

“We will submit drafts, we will suggest and I’m sure we will arrive at a compromise in due time,” Aquino said.

Aquino also reiterated Monday his instructions to his allies in Congress to pass the stalled BBL soonest, since the government has to demonstrate its sincerity to the Muslim rebels by adopting the measure in its entirety.

“If the lawmakers amend or delete some of the portions of the BBL that was agreed upon, then how do we say it is more of a good version of the original?” he said.

Aquino himself acknowledged that his administration, just like what many others have been saying, may have been offering the Moro Islamic Liberation Front too much in terms of P75-billion funds, but he pointed out this is really the way negotiation works.

The whole concept is that of a “catch up,” Aquino said, where local government units in Mindanao would eventually be at par with Manila or with any other urbanized locality in Luzon or the Visayas and not have a backward economy.

“The bottom line here is to allow them to catch up. They were left behind in terms of basic education, infrastructure and health services,” he said.

An alliance of business leaders in the country calling itself Philippines Inc. has joined other business groups in support of the Aquino administration and the peace talks amid the Mamasapano incident.

The group has also given its support to the BBL to address the concerns of various stakeholders.

In a statement, Philippines Inc. said it is one with the business community in calling for sobriety and level-headedness as the country continues to reel from the effects of the encounter in Mamasapano.

“In line with this, it rejects as counterproductive both the demands for President Aquino to resign and for the government to abandon the peace talks and launch an all-out war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front,” the group said.

“History teaches us that the unrest in Mindanao stems from the pervasive underdevelopment of the region, a reality that neither Aquino’s resignation nor an all-out offensive will address. Instead, efforts must go into securing lasting peace in the area by focusing on economic development,” it said.

The group is of the view that setting up economic zones or providing tax incentives to encourage companies to locate in Mindanao would create jobs and give sustainable income for people there.

The group has conducted meetings with several American and foreign enterprises, all of which expressed willingness to pour investments in Mindanao should the situation make it possible.

“The setting up of economic zones and provisioning of tax incentives should be immediately implemented. Job creation will lead to lasting peace, cooperation and unity among residents in the area,” it said.

Philippines Inc., an alliance of the most respected leaders in the country from various industries, aims to establish a reformed business environment to attract investments. – Jess Diaz, Louella Desiderio