COTABATO CITY — Thousands of constituencies in Kabacan, Carmen, and Pikit have joined forces, expressing their unified support for the proposed measures aimed at establishing municipalities in the BARMM Special Geographic Area.
Member of the Parliament Engr. Aida Silongan has cited this unified support as a compelling reason to expedite the passage of the bill, with a target approval date set no later than August of this year.
The Bangsamoro Parliament’s Local Government Committee, on June 11, simultaneously held public consultations for the first four bills, filed on December 2022, which seek to establish the municipalities of Northern Kabacan, Kapalawan, Ligawasan, and Malmar.
The proposed measures seek to address the aspirations and demands of communities that have expressed their desire to be incorporated as separate municipalities within the BARMM.
BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim has issued a certificate of urgency indicating that these measures are among the legislative priorities for this year.
Silongan stressed the importance of public consultations in shaping the final legislation to ensure it accurately represents the local context, ambitions, and developmental needs of the respective areas.
She emphasized that the Parliament is establishing these municipalities to improve the delivery of basic services and speed up socioeconomic development by providing more effective and responsive local governance.
MP Mohammad Kelie Antao reaffirmed that the proposed establishment of new municipalities in the BARMM Special Geographic Area is part of the ongoing efforts to empower local communities and promote effective governance at the grassroots level.
Located in North Cotabato, close to Maguindanao, are 63 barangays that make up the Special Geographic Area. These towns are Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pikit, and Pigcawayan.
One of the proposed measures, BTA Bill No. 132, suggests the creation of a new municipality in Northern Kabacan with barangays Buluan, Nangaan, Sanggadong, Simbuhay, Simone, Pedtad, and Tamped.
Stakeholders expressed support for the bill and proposed renaming the municipality “Laya” to better reflect the people’s distinct identity. They recommended that the seat of government be located in Barangay Nangaan because of its strategic position and easy access to basic services.
The BTA Bill No. 133 aims to move the barangays of Kibayao, Kitulaan, Langogan, Manarapan, Nasapian, Pebpoloan, and Tupig from Carmen, North Cotabato, to Kapalawan, making it a separate and independent town.
Tribal Chieftain Rodolpho Palawan Jr. has particularly highlighted the support of the Indigenous Peoples (IP) sector and pushed for the IPs to be included and remembered in the bill once it is passed.
Under BTA Bill No. 134, the municipality of Malmar would be comprised of seven barangays: Balungis, Batulawan, Fort Pikit, Gokotan, Nabundas, Nalapaan, and Nunguan. If the measure is passed, these barangays would be united into a single administrative unit, resulting in a total population of 366,438 residents for the newly formed municipality of Malmar.
During the consultation, one of the concerns raised was changing the name of the municipality from Malmar to Madridagao. This proposal sparked a lively discussion among the attendees, who expressed their reasons for the proposed name change. The stakeholders believed that renaming the municipality would better reflect the cultural heritage and identity of the local population.
If BTA Bill No. 136 becomes law, it will result in the formation of Ligawasan, a new municipality within the SGA. Barangays including Bagoinged, Barungis, Bulol, Buliok, Gli-Gli, Kabasalan, and Rajamuda would be split off from Pikit in North Cotabato to form the new municipality.
Deputy Floor Leader Atty. Mary Ann Arnado, who presided over the public consultations for BTA Bill No. 136, said that the participants showed a general consensus in favor of the bill and emphasized their desire for its prompt enactment.
According to the bills, the proposed municipalities will be established upon ratification by a majority of qualified voters in a plebiscite to be conducted in the barangays that compose the municipalities.
The Commission on Elections, through the Bangsamoro Electoral Office, will oversee and supervise the plebiscite.
Once established, the first mayor, vice mayor, and eight members of the Sangguniang Bayan will be appointed by the BARMM Chief Minister. The Bangsamoro Government will also provide financial assistance for the administration and operation of the new municipalities.
MP Silongan expressed hope that the plebiscite for the creation of these municipalities would be conducted simultaneously with the upcoming 2023 barangay elections. (LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)