Duterte declares Jan 21 a holiday in parts of Mindanao for Bangsamoro plebiscite
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2019 04:43:37 +0000
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte declared January 21 a special non-working holiday in parts of Mindanao for a plebiscite to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea signed on January 10 Proclamation 646 declaring Monday, January 21, a special non-working holiday in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Isabela City in Basilan and Cotabato City.
The proclamation aims to allow voters in those areas to actively and fully participate in the plebiscite and exercise their right to vote.
Residents of Lanao del Norte except Iligan City, and six towns in North Cotabato, meanwhile, will participate in the referendum on February 6.
Records from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) show that at least 2.8 million voters are expected to participate in the plebiscite.
Duterte is expected to attend an assembly in Cotabato City on Friday to galvanize support for the ratification of the BOL.
The BOL creates the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, replacing the current ARMM. This new region will have wider control over its resources and political power.
A plebiscite is necessary for the legal creation of the new Bangsamoro region.
Under the BOL, a 75-25 wealth sharing in favor of the new Bangsamoro region will be implemented to raise its share in tax revenues.
The government will also allocate P5 billion to the Bangsamoro annually for 10 years or P50 billion to rebuild areas ravaged by the armed conflict.
The European Union and the United Nations, among others, have lauded the enactment of the BOL and have promised to continue supporting peace efforts in Mindanao.
Duterte signed the law in July 2018. CATHERINE VALENTE
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