ARMM employees to stay once BBL is passed

Government employees of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will continue to hold their positions once the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is enacted, a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) assured.

Commissioner Maisara Dandamun-Latiph made it clear that through a transition plan which would span for four years, government offices will not be automatically dissolved.

“There will be no abrupt disruption in services. The employees will continue to hold positions and deliver public services,” she stated.

Under the Section 10, Article 16 of the palace-endorsed BTC version of BBL, “officials holding appointive positions shall continue to perform their functions in accordance with schedule” under the plan to be crafted by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).

The BTA will be the governing body tasked to create the plan during the transition period. It shall be consisted of 80 members representing different sectors including indigenous communities, youth, women, settler communities, traditional leaders, and other sectors.

To ensure fairness, representatives from the ARMM itself, Civil Service Commission, and Department of Budget and Management will conduct inventory of liabilities, contracts and employees prior to turn-over to BTA.

Dandamun – Latiph, who is part of the 21-member commission tasked to craft a Bangsamoro law that is inclusive and in step with the Constitution, also guaranteed that the rehiring process of employees shall be impartial and free from irregularities.

“The BTA shall institute an independent strictly merit based and credible placement and hiring process and shall consider gender and ethnic balance,” she quoted from the BTC draft.

During his message in the Liga ng mga Barangay – ARMM Chapter Regional Convention, Deputy Presidential Peace Adviser Nabil S. Tan also ascertained barangay leaders that qualified employees will stay under the Bangsamoro government.

“The new political entity cannot afford to forego the people who have the competence and skills to run the government bureaucracy,” he said.

The passage of BBL is part of the political track of the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), signed in 2014 between the government and the MILF. The BTC draft version of the law has received overwhelming support from President Rodrigo Duterte and leaders from both the upper and lower chambers of the Congress.