Senator Sonny Angara
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
While the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is currently being deliberated in Congress, Senator Sonny Angara called for the full implementation of the law requiring the teaching of Filipino-Muslim and indigenous peoples’ (IPs) history in both basic and higher education in the country.
Angara said the Integrated History Law, which he authored, is requiring the integration of history, culture and identity studies of Filipino-Muslims and IPs in the formulation of the curriculum for the study of Philippine history, including the writing, printing and publication of textbooks and other reading materials.
The law was enacted in 2016, but according to the Department of Education (DepEd), it was being implemented only in select schools, mostly in Mindanao, at present.
Angara, thus, urged the DepEd to fast-track the implementation of the law in all schools nationwide in order to create “a truly inclusive history that accounts for all Filipinos.”
“As both houses of Congress are working on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), we should endeavor to have a better understanding of the history of our Muslim brothers and sisters. This would make the people appreciate more the need for an enhanced autonomy in the Bangsamoro region,” he said.
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, chairman of the BBL sub-committee that was created under the local government committee, said the target date for the sponsorship of the Senate version of the BBL is on February 28. /jpv
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