There’s no ‘Mindanao problem.’ That is ‘Philippine problem,’ says Marcos

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers a speech at the first ever Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao  Local Legislative General Assembly in Davao city on Tuesday, November 14, 2023. (Photo from RTV Malacañang)

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. believes there is no such thing as a ‘Mindanao problem.’

What is he sees is a ‘Philippine problem’ instead.

The President expressed this view on Tuesday as he attended the first-ever Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Local Legislative General Assembly at Acacia Hotel in Davao city.

Lawmakers from across the region convened in this forum to discuss national government’s initiatives for BARMM.

“I have never recognized a Mindanao problem. Whatever problem is in Mindanao is a Philippine problem,” Marcos said in his speech.

“And that is why it requires the efforts of all government to make sure that BARMM will be a success in the future,” he added.

The Chief Executive said all seven mechanisms of its Inter-governmental Relations Body have been activated.

According to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity, these mechanisms are the following:

• Congress with Bangsamoro Parliament Forum
• Inter-governmental Fiscal Policy Board
• Joint Body for Zones of Joint Cooperation
• Inter-governmental Infrastructure Development Board
• Inter-governmental Energy Board
• Bangsamoro Sustainable Development Board
• Council of Leaders

“There are seven offices that now have been put together that will serve as the basis for all the policies, all the laws that you will put together, the parliament will put together, even the rules and regulations for how the executive will execute those rules, those laws that the parliament will enact,” said Marcos.

The President said his administration will support BARMM’s development and agenda for peace.