BTA on final stretch of transition

The newly reconstituted Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) convened its inaugural session on April 8, facing the critical task of completing remaining deliverables to ensure a smooth transition leading up to the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao's (BARMM) parliamentary elections this October.

- 

Under the leadership of newly-appointed Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, the maiden session unfolded against a backdrop of both renewed optimism and a clear-eyed understanding of the complex challenges still confronting the region.

Empowered by a fresh mandate and the evident trust of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., the interim body is now accelerating efforts to finalize and amend crucial legislative codes. Simultaneously, the BARMM Government with its ministries is tasked to deliver essential socio-economic services to its more than four million residents within the limited six-month window before the first parliamentary elections.

In his inaugural address, Chief Minister Macacua presented a pragmatic vision, acknowledging the importance of sustaining and building upon the achievements of his predecessor, Ahod Balawag Ebrahim. "I will not claim we will surpass the accomplishments for the people of BARMM," CM Macacua stated, "but we will strive to continue that legacy and complement and sustain the region's development gains."

Foremost on the BTA's agenda is the swift revision and completion of key legislative codes, which will serve as the foundation for the BARMM's continued economic growth in the years ahead. Expediting this task is particularly crucial in light of pressing issues, notably the Supreme Court's decision regarding the exclusion of Sulu province from the BARMM.