By Philippine Muslim Today News

BANGSAMORO PRESS FORUM. Expected resource persons in the BPC maiden weekly (every Saturday) "Tapatan" forum  on Aug. 21 are Minister Naguib Sinarimbo, Maguindanao 2nd District Rep. Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu, and Parliament Deputy Speaker Zia Alonto-Adiong. (File photos)

COTABATO CITY – It's all set for launch of the Bangsamoro Press Corps (BPC) weekly media forum on Saturday, Aug. 21, with three renowned Muslim personalities invited to provide update on focal thrusts and pressing concerns of the new regional autonomous governance.

Bangsamoro Interior and Local Government Naguib Sinarmbo, interim Parliament Deputy Speaker Zia-ur Rahman Alonto-Adiong and Maguindanao 2nd District Rep. Esmael "Toto" Mangudadato have confirmed virtual attendance in the maiden episode of the BPC weekly "Tapatan" forum from 10.a.m. to 12noon every Saturday.

The first episode of the BPC "Tapatan" will focus on the theme - "BARMM: Its Potentials and Realities."  

The three resource persons are expected to talk on their respective current thrusts in relations to specific issues and concerns:

1)       The status of Congressional bills to postpone the 2022 BARMM Parliament poll & extend the BTA lifespan;

2)       Update on R.A. 11550 dividing Maguindanao into two provinces vis-à-vis a referendum to ratify the law;

3)       A controversial plan for the national government to stop subsidizing seven state universities in BARMM; and

4)       Absence of funds for maintenance of national highways in BARMM.

Discussions may partly tackle the brewing questions on the Marawi reconstruction and rehabilitation, which is one of the focal agenda of the Bangsamoro autonomous government, but a specific dialog on it will be done in one or more succeeding episodes of the "Tapatan."

The proceedings of the weekly forum will be aired live via social media platforms or on delayed broadcast partly and fully by the broadcast entities belonging to the BPC, with related stories carried by print journalist-members.

The weekly forum's online links will be made public, especially for media organizations and personalities interested in the workings of the 31-year old autonomous government – with emphasis on members of the national press club (NPC) and the foreign correspondents associations of the Philippine (FOCAP).

The initial episode will be held and moderated at the 10a.m. to12noon at the studio of the Bandera FM news network in Midsayap, North Cotabato.

Succeeding episodes will be held in Cotabato City to allow BARMM officials based in the city to be present physically. The conduct of next episodes in the studios of BPC-member broadcast outfits is highly possible. ALI G. MACABALANG

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