MARAWI CITY—The Bangsamoro Government, through its Council of Leaders, is optimistic for a peaceful and honest Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSK).

The advisory council made this public statement after its August 9 general meeting in Davao City.

"The Council agreed to convene the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) specifically to avoid any unwanted violence and to sustain the peace and public safety leading to 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSK)," the statement said.

It concurred to strengthen coordination between the Bangsamoro Government and Local Government Units (LGUs) through the Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council (BEDC) to rationalize and harmonize the planning and implementation of programs, projects, and activities.

Composed of representatives from various sectors and stakeholders, the council shall advise the Chief Minister on governance matters in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. This is stipulated in Section 9, Article VI of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL)—the enabling law of the Comprehensive Agreement of the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed by the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The RPOC, chaired by Chief Minister Ebrahim, is vital in maintaining the general public's safety as it engages both the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other sectors in all its peace efforts.

While there have been concerns from various officials regarding the upcoming election, the Bangsamoro Government, through the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG), is working closely with other government institutions as part of the preparation.

The Chief Minister's advisory council also lauded the national government for its unwavering support of the Bangsamoro Peace Process.

The council specifically thanked the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his cabinet members who showed their support to the council meeting, namely, Special Assistant to the President Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo Jr., Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Presidential Adviser on Peace Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., represented by Presidential Assistant David Diciano of the Office for Bangsamoro Transformation, and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez represented by Deputy Speaker Kristine Singson-Meehan. (BIO/PIA-10 Lanao del Sur)