Office of MP Laisa Masuhud Alamia, BARMM Compound, Cotabato City (2026)

22/07/2026

𝐃𝐒 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐚 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥, 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 ₱𝟐.𝟓𝐌 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨𝐯'𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥

Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament Deputy Speaker Atty. Laisa Masuhud Alamia took major strides in Zamboanga City today, July 21, toward strengthening healthcare access for Bangsamoro communities, particularly those in the region's island provinces.

Highlighting her itinerary was the ceremonial turnover of ₱2.5 million in medical assistance funding under the Bangsamoro Health Outreach Program for Everyone (B-HOPE) to the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC). Administered through the BARMM Ministry of Health (MOH), the allocation stems from a Memorandum of Agreement signed last month between the Office of DS Alamia and ZCMC.

The funding is earmarked to directly address financial and geographical barriers for Bangsamoro beneficiaries, expanding access to essential medical consultations, diagnostic services, and rehabilitative care. In close coordination with the MOH, the B-HOPE allocation will deliver direct financial relief and quality healthcare support to patients in greatest need.

On the same day, DS Alamia joined the Second Quarter ZCMC Multi-Sector Governance Council (MSGC) Meeting as council chairperson. During the meeting, the council evaluated the hospital’s operational milestones, strategic development plans, and ongoing governance initiatives to ensure high-caliber service delivery for patient populations across Mindanao.

Emphasizing her long-standing commitment to public welfare, DS Alamia reaffirmed that health remains a fundamental pillar of human rights, community well-being, and peacebuilding in the region. She noted how ZCMC serves as a critical referral gateway for residents from island provinces seeking specialized clinical treatment, and helps realize the highest aspirations for public health in the Bangsamoro through continued collaboration with the regional government.

21/07/2026

𝐃𝐒 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐚 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐌 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐇𝐌𝐄-𝐂𝐀𝐏 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲

The ceremonial awarding of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Access to Higher and Modern Education-College Assistance Program (AHME-CAP) scholarships took place on Monday, July 20, at the Gallery of the Peninsula and the Archipelago in the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU).

Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament Deputy Speaker Atty. Laisa Masuhud Alamia delivered the keynote address, noting her office's steadfast commitment to regional educational reforms and student welfare. In her speech, DS Alamia highlighted ongoing systemic efforts to expand student access, emphasizing that “economic circumstances should never hold back a young person's potential,” and that the regional government is actively working to dismantle long-standing barriers to education.

In addressing the scholars, DS Alamia affirmed her full support and faith in their capabilities. “Know that this scholarship did not become yours by chance,” she said. “It is yours because you demonstrated academic rigor and defied dire circumstances,” she told them, and added the scholarship grant is “a direct affirmation of your capacity and hard work.”

She also urged the scholars to use their education to build a better future for their families and to break new ground for their respective communities, while reiterating her own commitment to protect student welfare while creating more opportunities closer to home for the Bangsamoro youth.

Following the keynote address, a representative from the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) conducted a technical orientation for the recipients, outlining program guidelines and expectations prior to the formal distribution of scholarship certificates among the scholars.

Earlier in the day, Director Jennifer G. Reyes of AdZU’s College Admissions and Aid Office welcomed the attendees, followed by an inspirational message from Fr. Guillrey Anthony M. Andal, SJ, President of AdZU. A message of commitment was then delivered by Ms. Shireen T. Naeem, who spoke on behalf of her fellow MBHTE AHME-CAP scholars. The program was formally concluded by Atty. Annieza Abubakar, Chief of Staff.

The AHME-CAP is a flagship program of the Bangsamoro government implemented by the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), with the goal of having “one professional per Bangsamoro family.” It provides financial assistance to qualified high school and alternative learning system graduates, prioritizing underprivileged youth, marginalized groups, and decommissioned combatants or their children.

📸: Ateneo de Zamboanga University College of Admissions and Aid Office

16/07/2026

𝐃𝐒 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐚 𝐩𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬, 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐤𝐮𝐤 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) launched the Philippines Sukuk Framework during the ADB-SEC Islamic Finance Forum. Dubbed as Shaping the Future of Finance, the forum outlined regulatory guidelines for the said financial framework on Thursday, July 15, at the SEC Headquarters in Makati City.

BARMM Deputy Speaker Atty. Laisa Masuhud Alamia attended the launch after a study visit for the Bangsamoro Shari'ah Judicial and Legal Academy (BSJLA), noting the need to align the rollout of national financial policies with regional judicial preparedness.

Sukuk, which are Shari’ah-compliant financial instruments based on asset ownership rather than interest, are especially relevant to the Bangsamoro region. The framework offers a strategic tool to address local financial exclusion by mobilizing ethical capital for infrastructure and development without violating Islamic principles.

In discussions regarding the new framework, DS Alamia raised critical questions on how to best attract international capital, align with the ASEAN Sustainable Finance Taxonomy, and optimize bilateral tax treaties with Malaysia and Indonesia. She also inquired about the possibility of having the SEC fast-track regional Shari’ah approvals and how the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) intends to safeguard cross-border profit distributions from double taxation.

To facilitate investments, she recommended adopting a “certified once, accepted region-wide” protocol for Shari’ah compliance, mapping state green projects directly to ESG benchmarks to secure international mandates, and updating tax protocols or national laws to lower withholding taxes on foreign yields.

Early last year, DS Alamia filed BTA Bill No. 363 in a bid to establish the Bangsamoro Shari’ah Judicial and Legal Academy (BSJLA) where legal professionals can gain a better of Islamic jurisprudence vis-a-vis modern commercial law. Given the need for Shari’ah advisers or committees to certify that issuers’ sukuk structure follows Islamic principles, the BSJLA can help guide institutions in protecting investments and resolving disputes under the new SEC framework.

15/07/2026

𝐃𝐒 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢'𝐚𝐡 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐲 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐨 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐉𝐀

The Committee on Bangsamoro Justice System of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament went on a three-day strategic study visit to the Philippine Judicial Academy (PhilJA) focused on developing Shari’ah judicial capabilities within the region. PHILJA Acting Chancellor Justice Edgardo L. Delos Santos welcomed the delegation led by Committee Chairperson MP Atty. Suharto Ambolodto

Organized by Technical Working Group (TWG) No. 4 chaired by MP Atty. Rasol Y. Mitmug, Jr., the study visit also included the formal presentation of BTA Bill No. 363 or the proposed Bangsamoro Shari’ah Judicial and Legal Academy (BSJLA) Act by its principal author, Deputy Speaker Atty. Laisa Masuhud Alamia. Designed as a consultative and collaborative benchmarking, the visit was meant to help align proposed regional legislation with the preexisting national legal framework.

𝑨𝒅𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑮𝒂𝒑

DS Alamia filed BTA Bill No. 363 in a bid to establish an independent academic training center within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) dedicated to Shari’ah practice. While the Bangsamoro Organic Law envisions a robust regional Shari’ah justice system, the Philippines currently lacks a centralized and continuous judicial training academy specifically tailored for Shari’ah legal professionals.

Within the Shari’ah system, this gap has historically affected the courts’ uniformity, standard, and alignment with national legal standards. The proposed academy is designed to bridge this gap by offering specialized, ongoing training to raise regional legal practice to the highest professional standards.

𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏

Under the administrative framework of BTA Bill No. 363, the academy is inspired directly by the PhilJA model, functioning under the direct supervision of the Philippine Supreme Court to ensure alignment with the national judicial hierarchy and establish high institutional credibility.

The academy will cater to a broad range of legal professionals, serving as the primary training center for Shari’ah High Court Justices, Shari’ah District and Circuit Court Judges, regional court personnel, eligible Shari’ah counselors-at-law, and members of the Philippine Bar, as well as aspirants seeking judicial appointments. To ensure the academy is not an isolated regional entity, its programs may also be opened to judicial candidates from outside the BARMM, subject to inter-governmental agreements and approval from the Supreme Court and PhilJA.

𝑭𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑭𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒎𝒚

Financially, the academy will rely primarily on annual appropriations from the Bangsamoro Government's General Appropriations Act. A start-up allocation of PhP 50 million is proposed from the regional contingent fund to cover initial operating expenses, subject to deliberation by the parliament.

Additionally, a dedicated Bangsamoro Shari’ah Judicial and Legal Academy Fund will manage external grants, fees, and donations. These contributions will be exempt from donor's tax and fully deductible for income tax purposes to leverage the BARMM's fiscal autonomy.

𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑾𝒂𝒚 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝑭𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌

To address potential concerns regarding regional legislative overreach into the national judiciary, the bill explicitly defines the inclusion of national judicial officials on the Academy's Board of Trustees as being “upon the invitation of the Supreme Court” rather than as part of a legislative mandate. Stakeholder consultations have also resulted in structural recommendations, including a proposal to permanently house the physical campus in Marawi City through a hosting partnership with Mindanao State University. During the study visit, the delegation participated in a guided tour of The Judicial Academy Philippines (TJAP), as the Bangsamoro regional government aims to construct a similar facility for the BSJLA.

Moving forward, regional leadership aims to formalize the operational relationship between the new academy, the Supreme Court, and the future Shari’ah High Court through a complementary inter-governmental agreement or a formal Supreme Court Resolution. This initiative directly aligns with the Supreme Court's Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations (SPJI) 2022-2027 by strengthening the foundational capacity of the Shari’ah justice system in the Philippines.

29/06/2026

As we mark this year's International Day of Parliamentarism, we reflect on the global call to place human rights firmly at the frontline of democratic governance. For us in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), this mandate carries a profound weight for our leadership. No parliament can truly serve as a guardian of human dignity if it does not mirror the diversity of the people whose rights it seeks to uphold and protect. The pursuit of just and lasting peace alongside sustainable development requires us to bridge the myriad gaps between institutional policy and the lived realities of our most marginalized and vulnerable within the region.

Throughout our history, the women of the Bangsamoro have been the anchors of our communities, the quiet builders of our peace process, and the core of our strength and resilience. However, their presence in formal political decision-making spaces has remained limited, if not restricted. As we navigate this critical parliamentary transition, we must deliberately disrupt old patterns of exclusion and ensure that the struggles, aspirations, and leadership of women and other marginalized sectors are not treated as mere secondary considerations, but as central forces that actively shape our legislative agenda.

Building a truly resilient Bangsamoro means ensuring that our laws protect human rights and deliver genuine welfare across all sectors. Our transition remains a historic opportunity to institutionalize inclusive systems where every stakeholder has a seat at the table. True accountability and transitional justice can only be realized when those who have carried the heaviest burdens of conflict are empowered to co-create our laws. May this day serve as a reminder that a parliament’s ultimate legacy lies in its defense of human rights, its protection of human dignity, and its commitment to ensuring every citizen is genuinely represented.

26/06/2026

The Office of Deputy Speaker Atty. Laisa Masuhud Alamia joins the global community in observing the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. Grounded in the UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT), this day reminds us that torture is a grave violation of human dignity, a crime under international law that cannot be justified under any circumstance – whether in times of peace, conflict, or political instability.

For the Bangsamoro, this advocacy is deeply personal. Our collective narrative and our struggle for self-determination are rooted in the painful history of the Moro people, who endured systemic torture, forced disappearances, and state-sponsored atrocities during dark chapters of martial law and protracted conflict. As we sustain our gains in the peace process, our commitment to Transitional Justice and Reconciliation (TJR) must remain paramount. We cannot build a genuinely progressive and peaceful region if we refuse to confront the institutional harms of the past and the lingering trauma in our communities.

While the Philippines has institutionalized safeguards through the Anti-Torture Act of 2009 (RA 9745), gaps in implementation and monitoring persist. True moral governance demands accountability, starting by closing these gaps. We must support holistic rehabilitation for survivors, empower the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission (BHRC), and ensure zero tolerance for custodial misconduct and coerced confessions within our justice systems.

Today, we honor the courage and resilience of survivors and human rights defenders who continue to speak truth to power. Defending human rights is not an obstacle to peace; it is its very foundation. We call on all regional and national stakeholders to remain vigilant and steadfast in ensuring that the grave injustice of torture is entirely eradicated, and that institutional violence never again finds its way into the lives of the Bangsamoro.

23/06/2026

𝐃𝐒 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧, 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐒𝐔-𝐓𝐂𝐓𝐎

Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament Deputy Speaker Atty. Laisa Masuhud Alamia served as a resource speaker during the first day of the Mindanao State University Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU-TCTO) Capacity Enhancement Training for Department of Women, Peace, and Security (DWPS) faculty on June 23, Tuesday.

DS Alamia focused on the practice of “Islam-responsive and Culturally Grounded Pedagogy” as she explored “Islamic Perspectives on Peace, Justice, and Human Dignity,” within the context of the Bangsamoro region and its political transition. The session aimed to assist the MSU-TCTO faculty in localizing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) framework by grounding it in Islamic faith traditions, Bangsamoro governance experiences, and the unique realities of island and maritime communities rather than teaching it as an abstract or Western concept.

During her presentation, Alamia discussed ethical foundations in Islam, highlighting principles such as amanah (trust) and khalifah (stewardship), alongside core governance principles like ‘adl (justice), shura (consultation), maslahah mursalah (public welfare), and muhasabah (accountability). She connected these concepts to the drafting of regional laws and the ongoing institutional transition of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) from a revolutionary movement to a bureaucratic administration.

DS Alamia also addressed the challenges specific to island communities, referencing the shifting political landscape and mathematical limitations facing island and female representation in the Parliament. Additionally, she spoke on the role of Muslim women leaders, the navigation of male-dominated political and legal spaces, and the historical importance of women in informal peace architectures, such as rido (clan conflict) management.

She concluded her session by encouraging educators to use the BARMM transition as an active case study, or a “living laboratory,” urging faculty to incorporate real-time regional policy issues and gender audits into their classrooms to cultivate analytical citizenship and sustain peace through education. DS Alamia's session was followed by a reflection activity designed for faculty participants to discuss how these Islamic principles and regional governance experiences can serve as pedagogical entry points in their DWPS courses.

18/06/2026

𝐃𝐒 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚, 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬, 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Presiding over the parliamentary session, Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament Deputy Speaker Laisa Alamia guided the floor as three proposed bills advanced to second reading, referred health and transport resolutions to committees, and issued official commendations for two regional athletes.

During the session, DS Alamia oversaw the legislative progress of the three bills. The first, an infrastructure and connectivity development bill, aims to address challenges from limited infrastructure. The second measure regulates motorcycles-for-hire to establish a legal framework protecting riders and commuters while providing mandatory benefits. The third bill aims to institutionalize a sustainable fishing industry framework in the Ligawasan Marsh to support the livelihood of local communities.

DS Alamia also directed the referral of two proposed resolutions to their respective committees. One resolution seeks regional measures to prevent the spread of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), while the other requests the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to facilitate the resumption of Cebu Pacific operations in Cotabato City.

In addition to the policy measures, the session featured the presentation of parliamentary commendations introduced by MP Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba to recognize athletic achievements. The first commendation was extended to Abdulquddos D. Mohamad for winning the silver medal at the 2nd KyokushinRyu World Tournament in Astana, Kazakhstan, representing both the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and the Philippines.

The second commendation from MP Dumama-Alba was awarded to 17-year-old student-athlete Al Ghamidie "Obang" Hamja of Tumahubong National High School in Sumisip, Basilan. Hamja became the first student-athlete from Basilan to win a gold medal in the history of the Palarong Pambansa national games, securing the top spot in the Pencak Silat-Tanding Class E Secondary Boys category after training through a sports clinic organized by the Bangsamoro Sports Commission.

The commendation was followed by an appeal from MP Abrar Hataman for the regional government to mobilize support for student athletes so that more of them can represent the BARMM at their fullest potential, as Hamja’s personal win drives the hopes and dreams of other student athletes in the Bangsamoro.

16/06/2026

𝐃𝐒 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐬-𝐚-𝐯𝐢𝐬 𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒, 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐱-𝐒𝐂 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐢𝐨

Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament Deputy Speaker Atty. Laisa Masuhud Alamia took part in a high-level policy consultation on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) today, June 16, at the Alnor Hotel and Convention Center.

With former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio at its helm as the primary resource speaker, the event sought points of alignment between the socioeconomic trajectory of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and the prevailing national maritime policy.

As a leading policy expert in the BTA Parliament, DS Alamia introduced policy inquiries regarding BARMM's legislative and economic landscape in relation to international law. She focused on how the Parliament can ensure regional maritime and environmental codes align with the state’s assertion following the 2016 arbitration ruling on the WPS. She also raised the need to effectively integrate UNCLOS principles into local governance frameworks, especially in efforts to empower coastal municipalities in managing waters within their jurisdiction amid overlapping disputes.

DS Alamia also focused on regional interests under the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) which mandates wealth-sharing and joint exploration of natural resources. She raised the need to protect local fisheries and maritime transportation against incursions within the adjoining Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), while also addressing direct threats to food security and livelihoods that rely on the bounty of the sea.

During an assessment of the national government response to tensions in the WPS, DS Alamia outlined points of entry for the BARMM regional government to reinforce its mandate and autonomy as it secures fiscal independence and future investments for the region. Alamia stated that the BARMM government can utilize legislation, resolutions, or policy frameworks to reinforce the Philippines' legal arguments, and project strength and solidarity to international observers.

Beyond the West Philippine Sea, DS Alamia also expanded the conversation by introducing policy questions tailored to the geographic realities of BARMM's island provinces in the Sulu-Celebes Sea, as she led an exploration of how BARMM can pursue maritime law enforcement against transnational threats like illegal fishing and smuggling without triggering territorial disputes with Malaysia and Indonesia. She further examined UNCLOS protections for traditional fishing rights and cross-border trade with Sabah and Indonesian islands.

The consultation was split into a morning session for BARMM ministries to focus on maritime governance, and an afternoon session for the BARMM security sector regarding national defense. This dialogue was organized by the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) and the National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), with support from the Office of MP Suharto Ambolodto.

12/06/2026

As the Philippines marks its 128th Independence Day, we are called to look beyond historical milestones and reflect on what true liberation means for a people carrying a long history of struggle. Amid a turbulent and shifting national political landscape, we must remember that genuine independence is a legacy we stand to inherit without earning our place in our people's narrative, which is only possible by engaging in consistent, active practice – measured by the strength of our democratic institutions and our affirmation of human rights, justice, and the rule of law.

Here in the Bangsamoro, independence carries a distinct weight that is felt squarely on our shoulders, forged through generations of sacrifice our people made to assert our right to self-determination. As our political transition enters its final, crucial mile toward the inaugural regular parliamentary elections, we bear the sacred responsibility of breathing new life into just and lasting peace in our communities.

Our future must be all-inclusive. True autonomy must deliver transitional justice to our Moro brothers and sisters, protect the ancestral domains of Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples, and uplift Christian convergent communities. It must champion our women and secure safety for our youth. Our independence is moot, unless we break the shackles of poverty, heal the wounds left behind by violence, and ensure that the most marginalized have a definitive voice at the table of governance. Now, more than ever, let us continue to safeguard the gains of our peace process with fierce vigilance.

Office of MP Laisa Masuhud Alamia

22/07/2026

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