BARMM marks 2nd foundation anniversary; Ebrahim pushes for moral governance

COTABATO CITY - The morning rain on Monday failed to stop the hoisting of the official flag of the Bangsamoro for the first time along with the Philippine flag at the Bangsamoro Government Center (BGC) as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) marked its second foundation anniversary.

It was also on this day that constituents heard the singing of the BARMM official hymn.

A group of men riding motorcycles held a motorcade through the city's streets as they waved the BARMM flag.

With the theme “Moral Governance: Building Strong Foundations for a Better Bangsamoro,” the BARMM officially kicked off as early as 7 a.m. on Monday its week-long foundation anniversary.

The ceremonial flag raising was also conducted simultaneously in several local government units, schools, and other government offices across the region.

In his speech, Chief Minister Ahod Balawag “Hadji Murad” Ebrahim remembered the thousands of martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice toward the realization of BARMM.

“These are the tears, sweats and bloods of our martyrs. For the first time ever we hoisted the Bangsamoro flag next to the Philippine flag," he said. "Allahu Akbar!" Murad said thrice.

"We can now proudly say that we have achieved genuine autonomy that encapsulates the long history of the Bangsamoro people,” he said.

Ebrahim stressed that "moral governance" should not just be BARMM's tagline. Government workers and residents should regard it as the guiding discipline and principles to live by, he said.

“Many of us speak of moral governance but the real challenge is how to live it. Our success lies in how we can change the system from the previous one to a better system. If we cannot deliver, then we are nothing,” he added.

Ebrahim also raised the issue of seeking to extend the term of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to give it more time to meet its objectives.

“This reminds us we are moving forward in our cause. It is about time to develop our own Bangsamoro narrative,” BARMM Executive Secretary Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua said during the welcome address.

The BTA represented by Speaker Ali Pangalian Balindong said the region has stood the test of time and can now create an unparalleled force to propel it further to progress.
 
Several activities were launched by different government agencies to mark the occasion.

Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal led the symbolic turnover of 100,000 BARMM-designed armchairs to several schools in the region.

Ebrahim, Macacua and Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo led the symbolic distribution of relief goods and wheelchairs, and the launching of regional disaster vehicles.

The three also signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the support to local government units’ infrastructure projects in Maguindanao province, particularly in the municipalities of Talayan, Sultan Kudarat, Datu Blah Sinsuat, and South Upi.
 
Ebahim, Macacua, and Sinarimbo also signed a MOA with Cotabato City State Polytechnic College (CCSPC) on the BARMM government’s assistance to indigent students.

Ebrahim also signed an executive order creating the Salam Bangsamoro program intended to provide livelihood assistance to former Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) combatants who returned to the fold of the law.

The different BARMM ministries have mapped out several activities during the foundation week.

The BARMM Ministry of Health (MOH) is conducting synchronized medical and surgical missions in all provinces and cities in BARMM, including the 63 barangays in North Cotabato, and will hold a ceremonial handing over of critical equipment and supplies for safer cold chain management.

The Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE) will conduct a job fair.

The Education ministry will hold a ceremonial awarding of P25,000 subsidy grant for Madaris, and checks to AHME (Access to Higher and Modern Education) scholars.

The Ministry of Finance, Budget and Management (MFBM) will hold a budget info campaign, while the Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS) will conduct inter-faith dialogues.
 
The provincial governments of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, as well as the 63 barangays in North Cotabato, will also hold their own activities to commemorate the BARMM’s founding anniversary.
 
The BARMM was created through the signing of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in 2018 and its subsequent ratification by a plebiscite in 2019.

The law was the result of a two-decade peace negotiation between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Government of the Philippines.

Under the Bangsamoro Administrative Code, January 21 has been declared Bangsamoro Foundation Day, a non-working holiday “in celebration of the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, which shall be celebrated in recognition of the dreams and aspiration of the people to chart their social, political, cultural and economic destiny in exercise of their right to self-determination.” —KG, GMA News