PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. reaffirmed on Thursday, September 15, 2022, his administration’s “full and unwavering” support to the peace process as well as the Bangsamoros during the inaugural session of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament.Marcos acknowledged the accomplishments of the BTA, particularly the approval of the Bangsamoro Transition Plan and the passage of the most important legislations such as the Administrative Code, Civil Service Code and Education Code that are the cornerstones of the Bangsamoro region’s moral self-governance.“But nonetheless, no matter how impressive the gains the Bangsamoro have already seen, I always think this is just the beginning. As we go on and we formalize the structure and institutionalize the functions of the Bangsamoro government, we will see that those sufficiency will come in and what we had celebrated today and at the very beginning of the existence of the Barmm (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) that what we had celebrated we will now look upon as only a glimpse of what will happen in the future,” he said in his speech.“The establishment of your offices, their functions, I look forward to the fulfillment of your vision to realize a united, enlightened, self-governing, peaceful, just, morally upright and progressive Bangsamoro,” he added.Marcos pushed for socioeconomic development and interventions to promote peace and development in areas affected by decades of conflict.He urged the BTA to pass crucial legislation on fiscal policy, particularly taxation, and to facilitate the conduct of the elections in the Barmm in 2025.Marcos also encouraged the authority to come up with measures that will secure the welfare of the Moro people, particularly in agri-fishery, healthcare, transportation, communication, digital infrastructure and e-governance.From 2017 to 2022, the government has allocated more than P19 billion under the Pamana Program, which aims to provide socioeconomic interventions that build a culture of peace in highly conflict-affected and vulnerable areas.Under the 2023 National Expenditures Program, the government, through the Department of Budget and Management, has allocated P74.4 billion for the Bangsamoro region.“The path to lasting peace is always under construction. But we walk this path together and we walk it, not because it is an easy one. We walk this path together because even if it is difficult, we know that at the end of the journey is historical justice, progress, peace, stability and the unity that our peoples and our nation have long aspired for and so rightly deserve,” said Marcos.The President also expressed gratitude to the BTA for all their work for the betterment of the region. (SunStar Philippines)