COTABATO CITY ― Deputy Speaker of the Bangsamoro Parliament lawyer Lanang Ali Jr. filed in the plenary, measures aimed at creating two new municipalities in the province of Maguindanao del Norte.

BTA Bill No. 190 pushes for the establishment of Datu Balabaran Sinsuat as a distinct and independent municipality with a seat of government in Barangay Tamontaka.

If passed into law, the bill will separate the Datu Odin Sinsuat barangays of Tapian, Linek, Dinaig Proper, Tamontaka, Tanuel, Kusiong, Mompong, Semba, Capiton, Tambak, Badak, Awang, and Dulangan to constitute the new town.

Meanwhile, the barangays of Labungan, Taviran, Baka, Sapalan, Sifaran, Bugawas, Bitu, Kurintem, Margues, and Makir, which also all originated from the municipality of Datu Odin Sinsuat in the same province will form the proposed town of Sheik Abas Hamza.

With its seat of government placed at Barangay Bugawas, the municipality of Sheik Abas Hamza will have a total land area of 164,387,474 square meters.

Under the proposed measures, a plebiscite will be conducted in all barangays constituting the two proposed municipalities to ratify their creation.

The municipal officials, including the municipal mayor, vice-mayor, and eight Sangguniang Bayan members of the proposed towns, will be appointed by the BARMM Chief Minister after the conduct of plebiscite, and will continue to hold office until their successors will be elected in the next regular election.

The Bangsamoro Government will appropriate and provide financial assistance for the administration and operation of the municipalities until they will have their own share of internal revenue allotment. (LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)