CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, October 10, 2018 — Good governance will be the key in the successful implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
This was underscored by Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza during the seminar workshop dubbed “Understanding Federalism in the Philippine Context” held yesterday at the VIP Hotel in this city.
Speaking to journalists from across Mindanao, Dureza said the main challenge confronting the future Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government is finding the right leaders who will be able to translate the BOL’s vision into reality.
“We really need good, effective leaders to make this happen,” he said.
Dureza said no matter how good the law is, positive change will not take root unless the system of governance in the region becomes more dynamic and responsive to the needs of the people.
He said there is a need to capacitate upcoming local leaders who will be taking the reins of government once the BARMM is established.
This is the difficult part, Dureza said, as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the main proponents of the BOL, is still making the transition from being fighters to becoming leaders in the community.
“The question now is, who will be running the (BARMM) government? Are they capacitated?” he asked.
Dureza said he was pleased when the international donor community offered its assistance in helping train members of the MILF in the fundamentals of good governance.
“Their assistance will certainly go a long way in helping our MILF brothers become more effective leaders,” he said.
Dureza also emphasized the importance of inclusivity in local governance, saying it would be difficult to successfully implement initiatives under the new BARMM government if residents are not able to partake of the dividends of economic growth.
He said the region will also continue to lag in terms of development unless the delivery of basic services such as health, education, and infrastructure is improved.
“These are the triggers of conflict, when people feel that they are being deprived and their needs are not being addressed,” he said.
Dureza said this is the reason the national government is carrying out a whole-of-government approach in which the “nexus of peace and development” must always go together.
“Peace and development should happen simultaneously and not happen one after the other,” he said.
Dureza highlighted the critical role of media not only as chroniclers of events but as key influencers who can help amplify messages of peace, hope, and empowerment.
“This is the role of media. Your work is very important,” he said, challenging the journalists to use their pens and microphones to inform the general public – the “bigger peace table” – on pressing peace and development issues.
“Continue working because we need the help of media to address the bigger table. You have the passion to do that,” Dureza said.
The media forum was organized by the Philippine Press Institute in partnership with the Pimentel Institute for Governance and Leadership and the Hanns Seidel Foundation. ###
