PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte met with key officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) at the presidential palace on Wednesday to tackle issues including how the region can better interact with the national government.
Mr. Duterte will issue an executive order creating an Intergovernmental Relations body for that purpose, Mohagher Iqbal, Education minister of the new autonomous region, said by telephone.
Also discussed at the meeting was the plan to transfer Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol to the Mindanao Development Authority (MDA) as the president’s point person, Bangsamoro Transition Authority member Omar Yasser C. Sema said by telephone.
Mr. Duterte told reporters yesterday BARMM Chief Minister Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim had accepted Mr. Piñol’s designation to the MDA. — Arjay L. Balinbin
