JUNE 1, 2022| Member of the parliament Atty. Maisara C. Dandamun-Latiph presented the salient features of the BTA Bill No. 157 or Bangsamoro Social Enterprise Act of 2021 in the recently concluded public consultation conducted by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority’s Committee on Trade, Investment, and Tourism held in Tawi-Tawi on May 31-June 1.
Parliament Bill No. 157, otherwise known as the Social Enterprise Act of 2021, is a proposed law aimed at promoting the creation, growth, and development of Social Enterprises.
This social enterprise legal framework will work towards improving BARMM’s economy and help solve BARMM’s social, cultural, and environmental issues.
This Act seeks to provide a milieu where social enterprises can implement their proactive and innovative ideas to address social problems. It will empower social enterprises’ stakeholders, establish mechanisms essential to realizing their potential and achieving their full growth, and extend the assistance necessary for
their advancement. It also proposes the formulation and adoption by the Bangsamoro government of the Bangsamoro Resilient and Inclusive Social Enterprises for Peace and Sustainable Development (RISE for Peace and Sustainable Development) built around the values of social justice, social equity, economic efficiency and peace.
The proposed measure is to allocate resources for capability building, tax exemptions, a diverse base of financing source, marketing, research and systems development support, and the preferential right of social enterprises to government procurement.
It also mandates the creation of the Bangsamoro Social Enterprise Council
that shall work with the Cooperatives and Social Enterprise Authority or CSEA on
social enterprise programs and services in the region.
Under this measure, social enterprises aims to operate in areas like social services, employment, women empowerment, protection and promotion of health, education, environment, tourism, cultural heritage, sports activities, peace and reconciliation, and disaster risk reduction and management.
Also, local government units shall play an active role in SE development, such as developing and implementing a strong SE support and development plan, that incorporates solutions and projects into their local development plans, allocating 5% of their funds to SE research, and prioritizing SE participation in public procurement procedures.
CTIT Chair Marjanie Macasalong, Vice-Chair Amilbahar Mawallil, and MPs Diamla Ramos, Eddie Alih, and Deputy Speaker Hatimil Hassan were present during the said consultation.
Photo credit to BTA-LTAIS
