Aquino to ARMM: Change within our reach

DEAL SIGNED Government peace panel chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer shakes hands with Moro Islamic Liberation Front chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal after the signing of the last annex to the Bangsamoro framework agreement on the fourth day of talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. With them are Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles and Malaysian facilitator Tengku Dato’ Ab Ghafar Tengku Mohamed. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday painted a rosy picture of the improved situation in Mindanao. He promised an even better future once the Bangsamoro Basic Law was passed and enacted.

“Nananabik na po tayo sa araw na maipasa na ang Bangsamoro Basic Law, upang tuluyan na ngang mabuksan ang bagong kabanata ng kasaysayan sa Muslim Mindanao,” Aquino said during the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao Summit in Davao City which was broadcast live on national television.

(We are eager for the day that the Bangsamoro Basic Law is passed, so we can truly start a new chapter in the history of Muslim Mindanao.)

Aquino said permanent change in the “Promised Land” was close at hand, especially with the approval of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro annexes.

The speech was an appeal to the officials and residents of ARMM to cooperate and help pave the way for the changes in the region.

“Makakaasa po kayong sa bawat kasunduang ating nilalagdaan ay nakataya ang aming dangal at pangalan…Tiyakin po nating hindi na tayo babalik pa sa dilim ng nakaraan—totoong maliwanag na kinabukasan po ang inyong matatanglawan,” he said.

(You can be sure that every agreement signed has our honor and name at stake…We will ensure that we will never go back to the dark past – you can expect a bright future ahead of us.)

In his speech, the President boasted of the decreasing incidents of violence in the region, as well as health services successfully delivered by the government.

Aquino said investments in ARMM reached P1.46 billion in 2013, which is 157 percent more than the P569 million in 2012.

He also lauded ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman and called him “ghostbuster” for ridding the region of corrupt practices and dummy projects.

Once the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro is finalized and signed by both the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the Bangsamoro Basic Law will be crafted. Its approval will pave the way for major changes in the region.