Solons gather to form Mindanao bloc in Congress

DAVAO CITY – Mindanao lawmakers on Tuesday met to form the Mindanao bloc in Congress to ensure support for the programs of presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

Ariel Casilao, incoming representative for Anakpawis Partylist, said that 90 percent of lawmakers from the various congressional districts of Regions 9, 10, 11, 12, Caraga and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao met in an hotel in Metro Manila to officially establish the bloc.

Also present were lawmakers from partylists, including Anakpawis, Bayan Muna, TUCP, PBA and 1Pacman, Casilao said.

Casilao, a Davao-based labor and peasant leader, said that one of the priority agendas of the gathering was the discussion on the expected programs of Duterte that would need support from the legislative body.

“The legislative agenda includes federalism, realization of a progressive Mindanao as the food basket and lasting peace based on social justice,” Casilao said. JE/rga

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