NAGHAIN nitong Lunes si Sen. Robin Padilla ng panukalang batas na lilikha ng special province sa Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), para panindigan ang karapatan ng mga botante doon.
Sa Senate Bill 2875 ni Padilla, malilikha ang special geographic area na kikilalaning Kutawato Province, na sasakop sa 63 barangay na piniling sumali sa BARMM noong 2019.
“The establishment of the Special Geographic Area (SGA) reflects the historic aspirations of the sixty-three (63) barangays from the municipalities of Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pigcawayan, Pikit, and Aleosan in the Province of Cotabato to become part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), as affirmed through a plebiscite held on February 6, 2019,” ani Sen. Robin Padilla sa kaniyang panukala.
Sa panukalang batas ni Padilla, kasama sa Kutawato Province ang mga bayan ng Pahamuddin, Kadayangan, Nabalawag, Old Kaabakan, Kapalawan, Malidegao, Tugunan, at Ligawasan, na sakop ang 63 barangay sa Special Geographic Area. Magiging kapitolyo ng probinsiya ang Pahamuddin.
Noong Nobyembre 7, dinetalye ni Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia ang isyu na pumipigil sa 63 barangay na bumoto sa halalan, dahil hindi sila kabilang sa anumang probinsiya.
Ayon kay Garcia, ito ang isa sa isyu sa pagkaantala ng halalan sa BARMM. Aniya, Kongreso lang ang makapaglikha ng probinsiya na may sariling legislative district. Dagdag niya, pwedeng isali sa probinsiyang ito ang walong na-disenfranchise na bayan.
Nag-alala si Padilla na kung patuloy ang ganitong sitwasyon, malalabag ang karapatan ng mga botante sa apektadong lugar na bumoto.
“To address this serious concern, this bill thus proposes to create an SGA under the BARMM to be known as the Kutawato Province, to be composed of the eight (abovementioned municipalities) with Pahamuddin as its proposed capital. It outlines the powers and functions of the provincial government, including but not limited to revenue generation, taxation, land use regulations, consistent with the provisions of the Local Government Code of 1991,” ani Padilla sa kaniyang panukala.
“To facilitate the swift development of these newly established municipalities within the SGA and to ensure the provision of essential services to their constituents, it is essential to establish a province that will oversee and support these localities. The creation of Kutawato Province also aims to streamline the delivery of basic services and facilities and enhance local government operations within these areas,” dagdag niya.
Ayon din kay Padilla, layunin ng panukala na tuldukan ang pag-disenfranchise ng botante “by ensuring their access to adequate and effective government services.”
