Zambo solon raises need to revisit Bangsamoro law's effect on power situation

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A lawmaker is calling for the need to revisit and scrutinize some provisions of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) following the revelation on conflict and possible effect on the power situation in Mindanao once the new Bangsamoro region takes over.

The House of Representatives called on the leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to be ready to accept the result of the BBL when it will be passed into law by Congress amid appeal from the MILF hierarchy to stick to the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and not to water down the draft BBL provisions.

Zamboanga City first district Rep Celso Lobregat, a member of the House oversight committee, said control of the Bangsamoro on the regulation of power generation has changed the views of many lawmakers as it will affect the entire Mindanao.

He said there also a provision in the BBL that says that the inland waters will be used largely for the interest of the Bangsamoro.

However, Government Peace Panel Chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer clarified that the regulation of existing hydropower plants in Lake Lanao, a major source of power in Mindanao, will remain primarily under the concerned national government agencies.

Ferrer said the position was clarified during the hearing of the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on the BBL or House Bill 4994 last October 8.

“However, as host community to the power plants, the local governments concerned shall continue to benefit from the resource use fees that are allocated to it,” Ferrer said. She added that there will be cooperation and coordination between the two levels of governments to ensure “harmonious and effective utilization of the waters.”

Lake Lanao falls within the provincial boundaries of Lanao del Sur, one of the five provinces in the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and is part of the envisioned core territory of the proposed Bangsamoro political entity.

According to Section 3 of Article V of the bill, “when power generation, transmission, and distribution facilities are connected to the national transmission grid, the Central Government and the Bangsamoro Government shall cooperate and coordinate through the intergovernmental relations mechanism.”

The intergovernmental relations body is a joint national-Bangsamoro secretariat that will be put up to facilitate interaction between relevant national agencies and their Bangsamoro counterparts.

Lobregat said there were so many questions being asked in the committee hearing that the peace panel and even the Bangsamoro Transition Committee (BTC) are finding it difficult to answer.

“Right now more and more congressman are now starting to realize that there provision in the Bangsamoro Basic Law that really needs to be revisited and scrutinized,” Lobregat said in dismissing critics from fellow Mindanao legislators that he is trying to hinder the passage of the BBL. 

Lobregat reiterated that he wanted that the law will pass the scrutiny of the Constitution and stressed that they want to craft a law that is fair, just and acceptable, feasible and consistent with the Constitution and existing law.

“When I raise certain issues and I raise certain position it means to say we need to clarify any and all ambiguity as this law not only affects those inside the Bangsamoro, not only the entire Mindanao, but the entire country,” Lobregat said.

The Mindanao congressman also believed the MILF peace panel and its leadership have to reconsider its apprehensions of the draft BBL from being watered down citing that Congress has the power to enact the laws.

There are so many provision in the CAB and its annexes that say the BBL has to be consistent with the agreement and that all agreement both peace panels have signed have to be implemented.

“If and when Congress sees that a certain provision needs to be revised, needs to be deleted, some sections need to be added, will it be a take it or leave it position by the MILF that they don’t want a watered down BBL?” Lobregat questioned.

“Nobody wants to water down anything, we just want to make sure that the provisions are consistent with the Constitution and existing law and that can stand legal scrutiny,” he added.