NORTH COTABATO (January 20, 2023) — Youth organizations in North Cotabato showed their manifestos supporting the Bangsamoro Electoral Code during a consultation in Midsayap on Thursday, January 19.
Several youth organizations attended the public consultation including the Active Youth Alliance of Dudie-Dalga, Al-Ukhuwaatul Organization, Lagunde Active Youth Association, and Manarapan Youth Organization, among others.
“We would like to commend the BTA [Bangsamoro Transition Authority] Parliament for finally putting these conversations on Electoral Code in the table. Maraming salamat po,” President of Youth Alliance Norul-Hidaya Mentoc stated.
“Muli, buong-buo po ang aming supporta sa sinusulong na mga reporma ng code na ito,” Mentoc added.
The Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) through the Office of BYC MagCotSGA Commissioner Nasserudin Dunding also attended the consultation on the Bangsamoro Transition Act (BTA) Bill No.29 or “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE BANGSAMORO ELECTORAL CODE OF THE BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO.”
During the consultation, BYC Commissioner Nasserudin Dunding also expressed his support to the approval of the said code.
“On behalf of the youth of the MagCotSga, we convey our sincere support for what BTA has done in BEC and also the whole support of the young people to the leadership of the BARMM,” Commissioner Dunding said.
Bangsamoro Parliament Floor Leader Atty. Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba said the bill lays down the structural, functional, and procedural principles for the first regional election of officers within the region in 2025.
Atty. Dumama-Alba also added the bill will ensure honest, credible, just, and free elections, allowing democratic political participation and reflecting the genuine will of the electorate in the region.
Local and barangay government unit officials, civil society organizations (CSOs), the academe, government agencies, non-government agencies, and other key stakeholders from the BARMM Special Geographic Areas (SGA) also showed their support and reiterated several comments and recommendations on the inclusion of the bill.
The 63 barangays under the BARMM Special Geographic Areas (SGA) also participated the consultation wherein each cluster was given an opportunity to discuss their concerns on the said proposed bill.
Meanwhile, Municipal Mayor of Midsayap Rolando C. Sacdalan expressed his full support to the passage of the code which would definitely integrate the procedures and systems into a thorough conduct of regional elections in the Bangsamoro region. (BYC PR Unit/SAMN)
