Gov’t to intensify efforts to explain BBL

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

After a recent survey showed that majority of Filipinos were pessimistic about the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), Malacañang on Saturday said the government remained positive more and more people would support the passage of the measure seeking to create a new Bangsamoro entity.

In an interview with Radyo ng Bayan, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte welcomed the results of a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, which indicated that 48 percent or nearly half of Filipinos opposed the BBL.

READ: Poll says 48% against BBL; 62% not hopeful for peace

Valte said the government was continuing efforts to explain the BBL to the public.

“As to the rest of the country, the efforts to explain the BBL will continue, efforts to consult with stakeholders will continue, primarily led by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, the peace panel, the peace advocates and the stakeholders that have come onboard to support the BBL,” she said.

According to the nationwide poll, 62 percent of respondents were “not hopeful” about whether the proposed Bangsamoro government would bring peace to its core territories, in addition to the 52 percent which said the negotiations of the government with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front would yield “a little benefit/no benefit at all.”

However, the results differ in the core territories of the proposed Bangsamoro entity—majority of which were generally hopeful on the passage of BBL and its supposed benefits. Net approval ranged from +18 in Sulu to +91 in Cotabato, while the “hopeful” sentiment on BBL’s contribution to peace and development ranged from 49 percent in Sulu to 96 percent in Cotabato.

“I think that can be explained by the fact that they are on the ground, that is their situation and they see how peace can benefit them,” Valte said.

“It’s a continued stakeholder engagement,” she said. “It’s good, it’s a good indicator that those who belong in the proposed core areas are more hopeful than the rest of the nation.”

The SWS survey conducted from March 20 to 23 also indicated that 83 percent of respondents had “little or no knowledge of the BBL, while only 17 percent had “extensive or partially sufficient knowledge.”

The Senate recently conducted a public hearing on the BBL in Zamboanga, with the Zamboanga City government and sultanate of Sulu opposing their inclusion in the proposed Bangsamoro entity.

READ: Zamboanga City shall never be under Bangsamoro—Mayor Climaco | Sulu sultanate wants out of Bangsamoro core territory

The Congress is eyeing to pass the BBL by June.