BTA proposes to create Ligawasan Development Authority

COTABATO CITY — In an effort to regulate and manage the exploration and development of the natural resources of the Ligawasan, a measure establishing the Ligawasan Development Authority (LDA) was introduced on first reading.

The LDA will rationalize, develop, utilize, restore, and conserve the natural resources of Ligawasan within the areas of responsibility of BARMM.

In his explanatory note for BTA Bill No. 137, also known as the Ligawasan Development Authority Act of 2022, principal author Mohammad Kelie Antao highlighted the historical significance of Ligawasan to the residents of Maguindanao.

He stressed that it has been an integral part of their lives for their social and economic survival and that it has been one of their significant havens, particularly at the height of the modern Bangsamoro struggle for self-determination.

MP Antao threat to the maintenance of the dwellers’ historical life in the area and its ecology is posed by the constant exploitation and usage of the natural resources by the dwellers without alternative acts to preserve their historical existence.

In addition to its historical and environmental significance, “there is a need to urgently address the problem so that these resources would give sustainable economic advantages to the constituents, the region, and the country,” Antao said.

The Liguasan Marsh, the biggest wetland in the Philippines, is spread across the provinces of Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat, covering a total area of 288,000 hectares and housing about 100,000 families. It makes up about 10% of the Mindanao River Basin.

The LDA shall cover all the provinces and municipalities of the Bangsamoro region that hold parts of the Ligawasan enclave as their respective areas of responsibility, including Maguindanao del Sur and the municipalities of Ampatuan, Datu Piang, Talitay, Pagalungan, Datu Montawal, Buluan, Pandag, Mangudadatu, Datu Paglas, Paglat, and SK Pendatun; Maguindanao del Norte and the municipalities of Mother Kabuntalan, Northern Kabuntalan, and Southern Kabuntalan; and the 47 barangays of the Special Geographic Area (SGA) from the municipalities of Pikit, Midsayap, and Pigcawayan.

The bill also aims to generate long-term revenue while protecting the environment for the benefit of Ligawasan communities, the region, and the country.

The proposed measure is also coauthored by MPs Mudjib Abu, Tawakal Midtimbang, Suwaib Oranon, and Bassir Utto.

BTA bill seeks college scholarship program

COTABATO CITY – The proposed bill to provide financially disadvantaged but academically capable and highly motivated students in the region with access to college scholarship grants was introduced in first reading.

Also known as the Bangsamoro Scholarship Act of 2022, the proposed measure authored by Members of the Parliament, Diamila Ramos, Abdulazis Amenoden, Suharto Ambolodto, Mohammad Kelie Antao, Eddie Alih, and Nabila Pangandaman, aims to make tertiary education accessible to all.

A Bangsamoro Scholarship Program will be established under Parliament Bill No. 140 for Filipino residents of the region who have graduated from recognized private or public schools in BARMM and whose family income is insufficient to support their bachelor’s degree.

Scholars in the program are guaranteed admission to any state university or college in the region identified by the Education Ministry.

Free tuition and other school fees, financial assistance for research projects and internships, allowances for necessary books, supplies, equipment, clothing, or uniforms, monthly living, transportation, and other miscellaneous educationrelated costs are also provided to students.

After graduating and acquiring a bachelor’s degree, scholars are required to complete three years of return service in any private or public institution in the BARMM.

The MBHTE will be in charge of implementing, evaluating, awarding, entering into scholarship contracts with scholars, and monitoring the program. It will also ensure the timely release of benefits and entitlements for the scholars.

As the implementing agency, it will also be responsible for ensuring that no scholarships are duplicated and that those who are underserved by national government financial assistance programs are prioritized.

It will also provide access to equal opportunities and special privileges to those involved in the peace process, including former combatants, their families, and the MILF and MNLF communities.

MBHTE will provide a web-based portal and information system for the scholarship program in order to manage the application and submission of requirements, as well as the database and profiles of scholars and applicants.

In the proposed measure, a Bangsamoro Scholarship Coordinating Council headed by MBHTE will be created to coordinate and consult with ministries and other agencies and offices of the Bangsamoro government in implementing said scholarship program.

The BSCC will be composed of the region’s Science and Technology, Health, Agriculture and Fisheries, Trade and Investment, Environment, Labor, Indigenous Peoples ministries; youth and women’s commissions; and other agencies and offices.

MPs Michael Midtimbang, Susana Anayatin, Basit Abbas, Ali Solaiman, Ali Sangki, Abdulwahab Pak, and Hamid Malik are the co-authors of the proposed measure.