On April 13, 2024, plebiscites were held in the Special Geographic Area (SGA) of Bangsamoro in the Philippines to ratify Bangsamoro Acts No. 41–48, which proposed the creation of eight new municipalities out of the 63 barangays in the SGA.
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Plebiscite to ratify Bangsamoro Acts No. 41–48 | ||
![]() Map highlighting the barangays of the Special Geographic Area | ||
Outcome | All bills proposing the establishment of eight municipalities ratified |
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Background
editArea clusters and reorganization
editIn September 2019, there was a reported proposal to reorganize the Cotabato barangays into four municipalities through regional legislation and possibly annex them to the neighboring Maguindanao province. Pending the passage of the regional law, there is a plan by Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim to issue an executive order to group the barangays into eight clusters.[1] However, such a plan to form towns from the barangays was temporarily set aside, and it was decided that an administrative body be formed to oversee the barangays' affairs.[2]
Another proposal was to group the barangays into three municipalities instead of four. One of the proposed municipalities is Sultan Tambilawan, which is planned to consist of Midsayap's 13 barangays.[3]
The regional government would wait for the results of the 2020 census to determine the exact barangays that would be reorganized into new towns.[4]
By March 2020, the 63 barangays had already been grouped into a Special Geographic Area of the Bangsamoro region.[5] and eight area clusters were formed.[6]
Legislations
editOn December 21, 2022, Parliament Bills No. 129 to 136 were filed in the Bangsamoro Parliament proposing the barangays be grouped into eight municipalities.[7][8]
On August 17, 2023, the bills consolidating the barangays into 8 municipalities were approved by the Bangsamoro Parliament,[9] Chief Minister Ebrahim signed the bills into law (Bangsamoro Act No. 41 to 48) on September 4, 2023.[10]
Proposed municipalities
editMunicipality[a] | Barangays | Legislation | Proposed municipalities that will be created from the special geographic area of Bangsamoro: Pahamuddin
Kadayangan
Nabalawag
Old Kaabakan
Kapalawan
Malidegao
Tugunan
Ligawasan
| ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seat of government | Other barangays | PB No. | BA No. | ||
Pahamuddin | Libungan Torreta |
|
129 | 41 | |
Kadayangan | Kapinpilan |
|
130 | 42 | |
Nabalawag[b] | Nabalawag |
|
131 | 43 | |
Old Kaabakan[c] | Pedtad or Nangaan |
|
132 | 44 | |
Kapalawan | Kitulaan |
|
133 | 45 | |
Malidegao[d] | Gokotan |
|
134 | 46 | |
Tugunan | Manaulanan |
|
135 | 47 | |
Ligawasan | Bagoinged |
|
136 | 48 |
Conduct
editThe Bangsamoro government planned to hold the plebiscite for the ratification of the bills alongside the 2023 Philippine barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on October 30, 2023.[13] However, such plan was considered impossible by the Bangsamoro office of the Commission on Elections due to time constraints.[14][15]
The plebiscites were held on April 13, 2024.[16] COMELEC stated that there were 89,594 registered voters covering 189 clustered precincts in 67 voting centers.[17]
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity reported that the creation was declared ratified after the completion of canvassing at 9 pm. Reported voter turnout was 81.10%; while among the valid votes cast, 99.62% were in favor; only 27 participated voters abstained.[18][19]
The conduct of the plebiscites were declared as generally peaceful and orderly.[20] However it was noted that voter turnout in a barangay in Aleosan was affected by a clan feud, while in another barangay in Pigcawayan where a former Bangsamoro Transition Authority officer resides, more than half of the voters refuse to participate.[21]
Results
editChoice | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
Yes | 72,358 | 99.62 |
No | 273 | 0.38 |
Valid votes | 72,631 | 99.96% |
Invalid or blank votes | 27 | 0.04% |
Total votes | 72,658 | 100.00 |
Registered voters/turnout | 89,594 | 81.1% |
Source: COMELEC[18] |
Mother municipality | Yes | No | Valid votes | Invalid votes | Turnout | Registered voters[22] | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | % | Total | % | Total | % | Total | % | Total | % | |||
Aleosan | 1,623 | 99.63% | 6 | 0.37% | 1,629 | 100% | 0 | 0% | 1,629 | 63.39% | 2,570 | |
Carmen | 10,495 | 99.98% | 2 | 0.02% | 10,497 | 99.93% | 7 | 0.07% | 10,504 | 81.34% | 12,913 | |
Kabacan | 6,611 | 99.94% | 4 | 0.06% | 6,615 | 100% | 0 | 0% | 6,615 | 86.88% | 7,614 | |
Midsayap | 12,590 | 99.31% | 88 | 0.69% | 12,678 | 99.94% | 7 | 0.06% | 12,685 | 73.17% | 17,337 | |
Pigcawayan | 5,974 | 98.1% | 116 | 1.9% | 6,090 | 99.85% | 9 | 0.15% | 6,099 | 64.09% | 9,517 | |
Pikit | 35,065 | 99.84% | 57 | 0.16% | 35,122 | 99.99% | 4 | 0.01% | 35,126 | 88.61% | 39,643 |
Proposed municipality | Yes | No | Valid votes | Invalid votes | Turnout | Registered voters | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | % | Total | % | Total | % | Total | % | Total | % | |||
Kadayangan | 6,292 | 98.74% | 80 | 1.26% | 6,372 | 99.89% | 7 | 0.11% | 6,379 | 71.37% | 8,938 | |
Kapalawan | 10,495 | 99.98% | 2 | 0.02% | 10,497 | 99.93% | 7 | 0.07% | 10,504 | 81.34% | 12,913 | |
Ligawasan | 11,788 | 100% | 0 | 0% | 11,788 | 100% | 0 | 0% | 11,788 | 93.53% | 12,603 | |
Malidegao | 12,255 | 99.64% | 44 | 0.36% | 12,299 | 99.97% | 4 | 0.03% | 12,303 | 79.28% | 15,519 | |
Nabalawag | 7,442 | 99.81% | 14 | 0.19% | 7,456 | 100% | 0 | 0% | 7,456 | 72.01% | 10,354 | |
Old Kaabakan | 6,611 | 99.94% | 4 | 0.06% | 6,615 | 100% | 0 | 0% | 6,615 | 86.88% | 7,614 | |
Pahamuddin | 5,974 | 98.1% | 116 | 1.9% | 6,090 | 99.85% | 9 | 0.15% | 6,099 | 64.09% | 9,517 | |
Tugunan | 11,501 | 99.89% | 13 | 0.11% | 11,514 | 11514% | 0 | 0% | 11,514 | 94.87% | 12,136 |
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ Macabalang, Ali (September 10, 2019). "63 brgys which voted to join BARMM to comprise 4 clustered municipalities". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
- ^ Fernandez, Edwin (September 19, 2019). "BARMM shelves cluster plan for 63 NoCot villages". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
- ^ Fuerzas, Garry (September 23, 2019). "Konsultasyon patuloy sa 63 brgys sa North Cotabato na sinakop ng BARMM" [Consultation continues with 63 barangays in North Cotabato absorbed by BARMM]. Bombo Radyo Philippines (in Tagalog). Retrieved September 24, 2019.
- ^ Solaiman, Taher (November 23, 2019). "Cotabato cedes 63 villages to Bangsamoro". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
- ^ Fernandez, Edwin (March 21, 2020). "BARMM records 2 Covid-19 deaths, 2 infected". Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- ^ Fuerzas, Edgar (June 29, 2020). "Administrador sa mga barangay sa Barmm napili na" [The administrator of barangays in Barmm has been appointed]. Superbalita Davao. SunStar (in Cebuano).
- ^ Sahidala, Johaira (December 21, 2022). "Gov't of the Day files bills creating 8 municipalities in BARMM Special Geographic Area". Bangsamoro Information Office. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
- ^ Cabrera, Ferdinandh (December 22, 2022). "Bills seek creation of eight municipalities in BARMM's Special Geographic Area". MindaNews. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
- ^ "BARMM approves creation of 8 new towns". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
- ^ Piatos, Tiziana Celine (April 14, 2024). "Marcos approves deputizing PNP, AFP for BARMM plebiscite". Daily Tribune. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
- ^ "Bills creating 8 municipalities in SGA-BARMM approved by BTA Parliament". Luwaran. August 20, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
- ^ a b "Constituents unite in support of establishing municipalities in BARMM Special Geographic Area". Bangsamoro Parliament. June 11, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
- ^ De La Cruz, Sheila Mae (August 19, 2023). "BARMM forms 8 towns out of Cotabato villages". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
- ^ Cabrera, Ferdinandh (August 23, 2023). "Comelec-BARMM says it's too late to include SGA plebiscite during BSK elections". MindaNews. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
- ^ Sumangil, Franz (August 25, 2023). "No go for plebiscite, BSKE on same date". The Manila Times. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
- ^ Fernandez, Edwin (January 18, 2024). "Creation of 32 Bangsamoro districts up for consultations". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ Naval, Gerard (March 4, 2024). "Bangsamoro 'special geographic area' plebiscite: Nearly". Malaya Business Insight. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c Bolledo, Jairo (April 13, 2024). "BARMM residents approve creation of 8 more towns". Rappler. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
- ^ Kabaganil, Lade Jean (April 14, 2024). "81% voter turnout on BARMM special geographic area plebiscite". Daily Tribune (Philippines). Retrieved April 14, 2024.
- ^ "Comelec: Barmm plebiscite peaceful, orderly". SunStar. SunStar Publishing. April 13, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
- ^ "Creation of 8 new towns in BARMM's SGA ratified". MindaNews. April 14, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
- ^ For figures on registered voters per mother municipality: Post from DXDN-FM Facebook page. Retrieved April 13, 2024.