Outgoing ARMM lawmakers urge successors to back reforms

COTABATO CITY, Philippines  --- The outgoing 27 “appointed lawmakers” of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have authored 220 resolutions and enacted more than a dozen laws in 14 months since their appointment in 2012. 

The tenure of the 27 “caretakers” of the 7th Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA), or the “Little Congress” of ARMM, will end June 30 with the assumption of a new set of legislators elected during the May 13 elections.

Assemblywoman Samira Gutoc, representative of the women sector to the RLA, said she is optimistic that the incoming 8th RLA will continue what they have started and focus on laws to support peace and development in the region.

The RLA is comprised of three representatives from each of the seven congressional districts in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, which are both in mainland Mindanao, and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

“We are hoping they will push for reform-oriented bills that can strengthen the autonomy of the regional government,” said Gutoc, one of 27 RLA members President Benigno Aquino III appointed in early 2012 following the postponement of the region’s supposed September 8, 2011 elections.

The RLA only has 24 seats, but  Aquino appointed three more lawmakers to represent the region’s women sector, the agricultural and fisheries groups, and the local indigenous communities, to help run the assembly pending the assumption of a duly elected set of legislators on July 1.

Speaker Rasol Mitmug Jr., also an appointee of  Aquino, said among their accomplishments were the enactment of the Regional Civil Service Law, Reproductive Health Care Act, Strengthened Basic Education Act, Free Birth Registration, and the creation of a  Commission on Human Rights for the autonomous region.

“All of these laws are pro-people and were designed to improve regional governance and protect the socio-economic welfare of the ARMM’s mixed Moro, Christian and indigenous communities,” Mitmug said.

Gutoc, who was a journalist before she was appointed as RLA member, said they could have also enacted, if not for lack of time, an ARMM version of the Freedom of Information Law, and measures aimed at strengthening higher education, and the putting up of the Waqaf, or Islamic Endowment Fund.

An appointed RLA member who was elected during the May 13 regional polls, Maguindanao Second District Assemblyman Khadafy Mangudadatu, said he is confident the members of the incoming 8th RLA will do just the same.

“In fact I intend to sponsor a resolution expressing support to all activities of the ARMM government and Malacañang that are aimed at accelerating the socio-economic growth of ARMM residents regardless of their tribal identities and religions,” Mangudadatu said.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman, who also served as appointed caretaker of the executive department of the regional government prior to his election as regional governor on May 13, said he is ready to certify as urgent “pro-people bills” deemed essential to the Mindanao peace process.