President Rodrigo Roa Duterte; Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim; the honorable Cabinet Secretaries of the National Government and Ministers of the Bangsamoro Government: good afternoon.
It has been two years since the BOL or the Bangsamoro Organic Law was ratified by an overwhelming majority of votes by the Bangsamoro People. This historic initiative is a high point in the Duterte administration’s quest to bring peace and prosperity to our people in Mindanao. We are here today because of the leadership, vision, and determination of President Duterte and Chief Minister Ebrahim as well as the mutual trust and respect shown by everyone.
We also celebrate the first anniversary of the IGRB or the Intergovernmental Relations Body co-chaired by myself and my good partner Minister Mohagher Iqbal. This is an innovative mechanism created under the BOL to effectively resolve issues and strengthen the relationship between the National Government and the Bangsamoro Government.
Notwithstanding all the challenges that faced the nation last year, the IGRB was able to convene six times or an average of 1 meeting every two months. Both sides closely collaborated towards our shared goal of bringing meaningful autonomy, lasting peace, and inclusive development in the Bangsamoro region.
Both sides also acted with haste, but with prudence. In fact, the Body was able to issue the Terms of Reference to govern the conduct of its meetings during the first time it convened on December 16, 2019.
We have worked hard to resolve our points of divergence and reconcile differences to keep the transition of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao moving at the fastest possible pace.
With the unrelenting dedication and strong partnership among the IGRB members, what could have been obstacles in the first year of the complex transition process were threshed out successfully.
I thank Minister Iqbal and our colleagues in the Bangsamoro government for the openness, goodwill, and enthusiasm they demonstrated over the past year.
Today, the IGRB will present to the President its first accomplishment report. The report demonstrates that much progress has been made in putting in place not only innovative institutions of autonomy, but also a service-oriented, people-centric, and transformative civic culture.
We recognize, however, that there is still much to be done. There is also a continuing challenge to undertake creative solutions toward moral, democratic, deliberative, and responsive governance. Nonetheless, we remain determined in accomplishing our targets and reaping the dividends of peace because of the way we have worked in synergy in the pursuit of our common goal.
This report, Mr. President, is a testimony to your commitment to make genuine autonomy an achievement that benefits the grassroots communities as much as it is a triumph of just and lasting peace in Mindanao.
Thank you, Mr. President and Chief Minister.
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