About the BOL

1. THE BOL
CHRISTIAN JAY G. JARABE

2. • According to RA No. 11054, the purpose of BOL is to establish a political
entity, provide for its basic structure of government in recognition of the
justness and legitimacy of the cause of the Bangsamoro people.
• The autonomous region will have an “Intergovernmental Relations Body”
composed of representatives from both the Bangsamoro government and
central government that will settle the problems on intergovernmental
relations.

3. • Budgeting, administration of justice, agriculture, disaster risk reduction and
management, ancestral domains, human rights, local government units, public
works, social services, tourism, and trade and industry are the exclusive powers
the Bangsamoro government.
• The central government will retain powers over constitutional and national
matters such as foreign affairs and defense.
• The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region shall also enjoy fiscal autonomy.

4. SOCIAL JUSTICE
• Injustice against Bangsamoro identity; injustice against Bangsamoro sovereignty and
territory; and injustice against Bangsamoro integral development will end.
• Women are to be given a seat in the government.The BOL also provides for one sectoral
seat for women in the Bangsamoro Parliament.
• “important role of women in nation-building and regional development, ensuring the
representation of women in other decision-making and policy-determining bodies of the
Bangsamoro Government” and to create a commission on women.

5. CHALLENGES
• According to Malcom Cook,
resolving local divisions over the Bangsamoro Organic Law in Muslim
Mindanao;
improving state capacity in Muslim Mindanao, and;
ensuring national government support for the regional autonomous
government

6. • The Moro community saw it as the creation of an agreement between the
MNLF then led by Nur Misuari and the government, and not as a regional
autonomous government for all.
• January 2015 Mamasapano massacre and The Maute Group that led the five-
month siege of Marawi City in 2017.

7. • ARMM socio-economic indicators entwined with the Philippines’
patrimonial, clan based political culture that is particularly strong and
violent in Muslim Mindanao to undermine the state capacity and service
delivery of the current ARMM government.
• Mindanao has a long history of political violence, from the anti-colonial
struggles of the past to the jihadist groups of today

8. • The BOL might have passed but the new struggle will start in the long run.
But, it is now in the hands of the Moros as to what extent they can hold the
promise for peace and resiliency in the Island of Mindanao.

9. • “This is the beginning of peace in Mindanao.This is the start of unity between
Muslims and Christians.”

10. REFERENCES:
• Cook, Malcolm, Three Challenges Facing the Bangsamoro Organic Law. ISEAS – YUSOF
ISHAK INSTITUTE ANALYSE CURRENT EVENTS. Singapore. 26 December 2018
https://www.iseas.edu.sg/images/pdf/ISEAS_Perspective_2018_82@50.pdf
• Gutierrez, Beatrice Jilie. “Fast facts on the Bangsamoro Organic Law”
https://pia.gov.ph/features/articles/1018364
• What you need to know about the BOL Plebiscite, https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/01/07/what-
you-need-to-know-about-the-bol-plebiscite/
• Quevedo, Cardinal Orlando B., PEACETALK: The Bangsamoro Organic Law and Social
Justice. Mindanews. https://www.mindanews.com/mindaviews/2018/12/peacetalk-the-
bangsamoro-organic-law-and-social-justice/