Naghain ng panukalang batas ang isang senador upang lumikha ng isang special province sa Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) upang matiyak na makaboto ang lahat ng botante sa lugar.
Sa Senate Bill 2875 ni Senador Robin Padilla, ipinanukala na lumikha ng isang special geographic area na kikilalaning Kutawato province, na sasakop sa 63 barangay na gustong lumahok 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 Padilla sa panukala.
Sa panukalang batas, 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 probinsya ang Pahamuddin.
Noong ika-7 ng Nobyembre, dinetalye nn Commission on Elections (Comelec) ang isyu na pumipigil sa 63 barangay na bumoto sa halalan, dahil hindi ito kabilang sa anumang probinsya na nagpaantrala sa halalan sa BARMM.
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 (8) 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,” ayon sa kanyang 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 ng senador.
Ayon din kay Padilla, layunin ng panukala na tuldukan ang pag-disenfranchisement ng botante “by ensuring their access to adequate and effective government services. Ernie Reyes
