MANILA, Philippines - A senior Muslim lawmaker has batted for the creation of two autonomous Muslim regions to address the “fundamental defects” of the sole and existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and resist problems of extremism in the South, the English-language tabloid Tempo reported.
It said Tawi-tawi Rep. Nur Jaafar filed House Bill 4963 that would dissolve the ARMM and create in its place two autonomous Muslim governments – the Autonomous Region for Southwestern Mindanao (ARSM) and the Autonomous Region for Central Mindanao (ARCEM).
Jaafar, senior vice chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, said the bill addresses the "matter of contiguity" which is believed to be one of the principal reasons why meaningful reforms in the ARMM region have continued to elude Muslim Filipinos living in Mindanao for nearly two decades now.
"One glaring inconsistency rests on the matter of contiguity. It is a fundamental weakness to govern areas which remain scattered," he explained.
Jaafar pointed out that southwestern Mindanao provinces, namely, Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-tawi, have opted to be part of ARMM while the rest of the region in Central Mindanao – Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Marawi City – are landlocked by areas inhabited by other indigenous and ethnic inhabitants.
His bill proposes ARSM to include Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-tawi, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay and the cities of Isabela, Pagadian, Dipolog, Dapitan and Zamboanga.
ARCEM will be composed of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Saranggani and the cities of Cotabato, Marawi, Kidapawan, Iligan, Gen. Santos, Koronadal and Tacurong.(Ben Rosario)
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