CIVIL society advocates in Lanao are affirming the vital role of Lake Lanao in the Bangsamoro Basic Law or House Bill 5811 providing for a Basic Law in the Autonomous Region. Lake Lanao is the second largest freshwater lake in the Philippines located in the province of Lanao del Sur. The National Power Corp. (Napocor) has seven hydro-electric power plants drawing energy from the lake.  Drieza Lininding of the Bangsamoro National Movement said it is not their intent to derail the passage of the BBL but to allow fair treatment and social justice to be reflected in the BBL. They demand a clear power-sharing from the national government which is controlling the inflow of revenues of the lake through the Napocor. According to the activists, the lake is in danger in the past decades of having lost many rare species of fish. Lanao imports much of its fish and agricultural requirements. Lake Lanao also faces risks of being “contaminated” by human waste, dynamite fishing, among others. They call on the hundred thousand Meranao OFWs abroad to help raise the plight of Lake Lanao to the congressmen.  “If Meranaws around the world will not care, the Philippine majority will not support Lake Lanao to be under the Bangsamoro jurisdiction. Who else can feel the pain of broken appliances, darkness, zero fish, balding forests, watersheds without agri programs, no provisions for comfort rooms, if not for the residents themselves. If Meranaos will not fight for Ranaw, noone will fight for Ranaw. “For decades, lake waters have been under national jurisdiction. We ask that the Bangsamoro benefit through a clear provision of their shares in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, House Bill 5811. “This is our contribution to the common good, not out of greed, not out of selfishness, but of a responsibility to tender service for ones own natural resource lying in its backyard. Take care of one’s own backyard. We must reflect on the day when we can free our air, land and water from the very excesses that we expend from exercising our freedoms. Everyday must be Environment Day,” a statement said. (Bae Samira Ali Gutoc-Tomawis is former sectoral representative (women) o the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Check out: http://samiragutoc.webs.com)