COTABATO CITY – The European Union Delegation to the Philippines Ambassador Luc Véron commended the Bangsamoro Transition Authority for its establishment of the Multi-Party Leadership Caucus (MPLC), a platform that encourages dialogue among its members and across party lines.
“I commend the BTA’s initiative to institutionalize this caucus, which could help steer the BARMM government’s institutional frameworks and policies towards sustained peace and development,” said Ambassador Véron who attended the special session of the Caucus held on 16 November in this city.
He added that the EU’s Support to Bangsamoro Transition (SUBATRA) Programme will boost the BTA’s technical capacities for lawmaking, oversight, and representation mandates.
BTA Speaker Pangalian Balindong said that the BTA designed the caucus to be a safe space to discuss issues, developments, and new knowledge from research with the aim of fast-tracking the enactment of priority legislations.
“The Caucus aims to generate consensus among BTA members – regardless of their party or representations – and speed up critical legislative processes,” said Mr Balindong.
The BTA Parliament will also be represented by the MPLC in the Philippine Congress – Bangsamoro Parliament Forum and will serve as the counterpart of the newly-established Legislative Cabinet Committee of BARMM’s executive branch.
“We are grateful for EU’s SUBATRA Programme. It helps us navigate the challenging period of the Bangsamoro transition”, Mr.
Balindong said, adding that “the BTA hopes to establish an enabling democratic governance environment to pave the way for lasting peace and development in BARMM”.
Ambassador Véron’s visit to Cotabato City is part of his week-long trip to Central and Northern Mindanao to meet key stakeholders in the region and to personally check on the progress of EU-funded project sites and to discuss with implementing partners and stakeholders.
European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Véron and party pay a courtesy call to Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament Speaker Pangalian Balindong and the members of the Multi-Party Legislative Caucus on November 16, 2021, in Cotabato City. (Photo by BTA-PIPMRD)
