Sen. Robinhood Padilla has filed a bill seeking to integrate Bangsamoro history, culture, and identity in the study of Philippine history in basic education.
Padilla said this ensures the country's basic education is inclusive and accounts for all Filipinos.
Padilla filed on January 22 Senate Bill 2939, noting the passage of the 2019 Bangsamoro Organic Law seeks to secure the identity and posterity of Muslim Filipinos and allow for meaningful self-governance.
"In order to ensure an accurate and faithful instruction of the Bangsamoro history under the auspices of the Integrated History Act, this bill seeks to outline the approach to the formulation and creation of history courses or subjects pertaining to BARMM and provide the impetus for a greater interest among the youth to have deeper understanding of the Muslim-Christian dynamics in the country, and build a culture of mutual respect and desire for national unity," he said in his bill.
Under the bill, the Department of Education shall include in the curricula of Philippine history courses or subjects the study and understanding of Bangsamoro history, culture and identity.
The key content shall take into account the roots of conflict in Mindanao, Muslim-Christian dynamics, the character of Mindanao, and the contextual background of the Bangsamoro's desire for self-governance.
It shall also foster the attitudes and values of respect, sensitivity and empathy in the appreciation of various cultures and ethnic identities "towards building a regime of just and lasting peace, and national unity."