MARAWI CITY, LANAO DEL SUR — If Parliament Bill No. 267 passes into law, Lanao del Sur, with eight parliamentary districts, will have the highest number among all the provinces in the BARMM.
According to the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the allocation of parliamentary district seats for the first parliamentary election will be determined by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.
Atty. Udtog Tago, the Commission on Elections’ provincial election supervisor in Lanao del Sur, emphasized the importance of a districting bill as the region gears up for its first parliamentary elections.
Tago stressed that such legislation is crucial for ensuring a fair and equitable representation of constituencies.
Parliament Bill No. 267 proposes the establishment of 32 single-member parliamentary districts throughout all BARMM provinces, cities, municipalities, and special geographic areas.
Under the bill, the proposed distribution will be three in Basilan, seven in Sulu, three in Tawi-Tawi, eight in Lanao del Sur, four in Maguindanao del Norte, four in Maguindanao del Sur, two in Cotabato City, and one in the Special Geographic Area.
In Lanao del Sur, three districts will each have five municipalities, four will have six municipalities, and one will include a city.
Stakeholders in Lanao del Sur lauded the efforts of the Bangsamoro Parliament in involving them in the legislation process before it advances to the plenary.
Among the proposals in a public consultation held on January 18 is the addition of a parliamentary district for Marawi City, the capital of Lanao del Sur, which has 96 barangays.
With 1,195,518 residents, Lanao del Sur stands as the most populous province in the BARMM.
Following extensive consultations with stakeholders in Cotabato City, Maguindanao del Norte and Sur, Lanao del Sur, and the BARMM Special Geographic Area, the Rules Committee will proceed to the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi in the last week of January for another simultaneous public consultation. (LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)