MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) has already reached the final leg of public consultations on the proposed electoral code as it conducted the last one in the city, January 31.

The Bangsamoro parliament has been working to pass BTA Bill No. 29, which is also called an act providing for the Bangsamoro Electoral Code (BEC) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Officials from the provincial government, managers from different local government agencies, and other stakeholders from different sectors all took part in the public consultation and gave their recommendations and thoughts on the bill in position papers.

Ali Montaha Babao, a member of parliament, said the comments they heard during the public consultation were valid, and that most of them were about the parliamentary district.

He was also glad to see that the people of the province worked well together and actively took part in the legislative process. Babao stressed that the BEC is for the entire population of Bangsamoro people.

He stated that this particularly aims for the betterment of the future generation and millions of lives, so officials need to have the region’s best interests at heart and ensure to reap victory from it. Babao was excited about the idea that the BEC would help solve peace problems that have been going on for hundreds of years.

"This is supposed to be a medicine or solution to hundreds of years of conflict. Once the BARMM succeeds, magkakaroon na tayo ng kapayapaan (we will have peace). Do you think we will really progress without achieving lasting peace? Pilit nating binabalik ang kapayapaan (We strive to bring back peace)," he said.

Babao explained that public consultation is a must because it is a part of making laws.

After the consultations, this will be discussed again in plenary sessions involving the Committee on Rules. For the discussion and third reading of the plenary, all of the reports and position papers that were sent in by the different sectors and entities will be put together.

If it garners the majority approval of the MPs, it shall be enacted and implemented. Babao is positive that the process of passing the BEC will be done before the end of the first quarter or early in the second quarter this year.

"Hindi aabot ng March o April, tapos na iyan. Sa barangay elections, baka magamit na iyan. Once enacted by April, magagamit natin iyan sa barangay elections within BARMM," he said.

(It will not go as far as March or April for it to be completed. In the barangay elections, maybe this will be used. Once enacted in April, we can use this in barangay elections within BARMM). (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)