ARMM employees raise concerns on transition to Bangsamoro government

Cotabato City (October 18, 2018) – A number of employees of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) raised their concerns to members of the Coordination Team for Transition with respect to the transition to the new Bangsamoro government during a forum held here on Wednesday, October 17.

The transition process is provided for under Republic Act No. 11045, otherwise known as the Bangsamoro Organic Law. Some of the matters discussed were the employment status of ARMM personnel who will be affected, once the transition period commences, and the incentives for personnel who would opt to retire, or be separated from service.

Commissioner Jose Lorena, a member of the Transition team, explained that Article XVI Section 10 of the R.A. No. 11045 states that “officials holding appointive positions shall continue to perform their functions in accordance with the phase-out schedule. Employees in the sectors of health, education, and social welfare shall be absorbed and transferred to the Bangsamoro Government.”

It also states that “the affected personnel who will not be absorbed in the positions of the new staffing pattern of the different offices in the Bangsamoro Government, whether hired on permanent, temporary, casual, or contractual basis and with appointments attested by the Civil Service Commission, shall be entitled to the applicable retirement, or separation benefits as provided in the Organic Law.”

When asked about the schedule of the gradual phasing-out of the offices of the ARMM, Commissioner Lorena said the Transition team is now preparing a draft plan that will be submitted to the appointed Chief Minister of the new government.

“The Chief Minister will have to review and submit it to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) within 60 days, the BTA will then approve the proposed plan within 10 days,” he said. “Assuming that the ratification is done on January 21, 2019, perhaps (the schedule of phasing-out) will be April 2019,” said Commissioner Lorena.

Among the representatives from other government agencies who also addressed the concerns of the ARMM employees were: Atty. Krunimar Escudero III, from the Civil Service Commission Central Office; Vilma Fuentes, Vice President for Visayas and Mindanao of the Government Service Insurance System; Rio Teves, Vice President for Members Services Operations of Pagtutulungan sa Kinabukasan: Ikaw, Bangko, Industria at Gobyerno under PAG-IBIG; and Herman Jumilla, Department of Budget and Management Undersecretary for Mindanao Concerns. (By JONG CADION with Bureau of Public Information)