BARMM passes bill protecting people displaced by conflicts

FLOOD VICTIMS Residents displaced by floods in Datu Montawal, Maguindanao del Sur, queue for food and other aid from the provincial government in July. Victims of natural calamities and man-made conflicts stand to benefit from a measure passed by Bangsamoro lawmakers. —Photo courtesy of Maguindanao Del Sur PDRRMO

COTABATO CITY, BARMM, Philippines — Bangsamoro lawmakers unanimously passed on Friday a bill that will protect the rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which has a rising number of IDPs because of man-made conflicts and natural calamities.

Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Bill No. 32, officially known as the Rights of Internally Displaced Persons Act of 2024, authored by all members of the 80-member Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), was passed on third and final reading on Friday, and was being forwarded to the Office of Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim for signature.

Member of Parliament (MP) Diamila Disimban-Ramos said she was informed that the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) has considered the proposed law protecting the rights of IDPs as the first not only in the country but also in Southeast Asia.

“This law will protect our IDPs. It represents a landmark in our collective efforts to safeguard the rights and dignity of the internally displaced persons within the region,” she said after the parliament unanimously approved the bill.

A similar congressional measure, House Bill No. 8269, was approved by the House of Representatives last year and is currently awaiting deliberation in the Senate.

BTA Bill No. 32 guarantees essential rights, including access to basic needs, health care, education, and employment opportunities for IDPs. It also prioritizes vulnerable populations such as women, children, and persons with disabilities, ensuring they receive inclusive support.

Guidelines readied

Under the measure, an initial budget of P50 million will be drawn from the Office of the Chief Minister to implement the law’s provisions, which detail responsibilities for both the BARMM government and local government units in delivering immediate relief, rehabilitation and sustained support for displaced individuals.

It also calls for the establishment of the Bangsamoro Internal Displacement Coordinating Council to facilitate effective assistance and enhance coordination among government agencies and nongovernmental organizations. The council will oversee the implementation of the bill and ensure that aid reaches those in need.

The Bangsamoro Internal Displacement Program under the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) will set out policies, plans, strategies, and necessary guidelines for addressing needs and protecting IDP rights during and after displacement, as well as in their voluntary and safe return, local integration or settlement elsewhere in the country.

The program will provide financial assistance, livelihood programs, and psychosocial interventions for IDPs, ensuring transparency and IDPs’ involvement in decision-making processes.

Life-saving measure

In a statement, the BTA Media Relations Division said the newly approved IDP measure addresses the needs of IDPs in the BARMM, a region historically affected by armed conflict and natural disasters that have displaced countless families.

Data from the MSSD showed that in 2022 alone, more than 90,000 individuals were displaced in Mindanao.

Last year and early this year, more IDPs have been monitored in the region due to armed hostilities involving Moro extremists and state forces; internal conflict within the Moro Islamic Liberation Front due to clan war and land disputes, as well as natural disasters like flash floods and landslides.

A rights-based, IDP-focused law would save many lives in the Philippines, where internal displacement can be a recurring and cyclical crisis, particularly in areas like Mindanao where an estimated 144,027 individuals are still displaced as of March 2024, according to data sourced by the UNHCR from government and civil society organization partners.

Social Services and Development Minister Raissa Jajurie, also BTA deputy leader, said the IDP bill would be vital in ensuring that the rights and dignity of those affected by conflicts and natural calamities were upheld, aligning the response with international humanitarian standards and the Philippine Constitution.

She said the bill provides a comprehensive framework for addressing the needs of IDPs—individuals forced to flee their homes due to conflict, violence, human rights violations, or disasters.

MP Mary Ann Arnado, BTA deputy leader, stressed the bill’s rights-based approach, stating, “The assistance that will be given to them (IDPs) is because it is their rights,” she said.

The bill also introduces penalties for criminal acts committed during displacement and reaffirms the Bangsamoro government’s commitment to deliver humanitarian aid without discrimination.