Bangsamoro must align with NG

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. urged the Bangsamoro government to align closely with national programs and streamline regulations to attract investment, saying the autonomous region has a rare opportunity to build a more efficient system of governance from the ground up.

Speaking at the seventh foundation anniversary of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on Wednesday, Mr. Marcos said the region’s development plans were “very much aligned” with those of the national government (NG), encouraging local leaders to tap existing state programs to accelerate growth.

“Take advantage of those national programs to bring it here to Bangsamoro. And that way, if we work together there is a synergy,” he said at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex in Cotabato City, adding that cooperation between Manila and the Bangsamoro government would remain a priority of his administration.

The President said the creation of BARMM marked a historic milestone not only for Muslim Mindanao but for the country as a whole, underscoring that dialogue and unity had proven essential to achieving lasting peace.

The Bangsamoro Organic Law, enacted in 2018, laid the foundation for self-governance in the region, which was formally inaugurated months later under a transitional authority.

Mr. Marcos pointed to visible improvements in Cotabato City and a shift in public sentiment as signs that peace was beginning to yield positive changes.

He called on regional leaders to expand livelihood programs, raise living standards and prioritize social welfare, pledging continued support from the national government.

Looking ahead to the first regular elections in the region, Mr. Marcos said the polls should allow residents to freely express their aspirations and help entrench democratic, accountable leadership.

The President said BARMM holds an advantage over other levels of government because it is still shaping its institutions.

“You are creating a government on a blank sheet of paper,” he said, warning against replicating layers of regulation that have slowed business activity elsewhere. Investors, he added, are drawn to ease of doing business — simple registration processes, reasonable fees and predictable rules.

Mr. Marcos said he was optimistic about the prospects of the nearly 4.5 million residents of the Bangsamoro region, expressing confidence that sustained peace would translate into broad-based prosperity.

BARMM, the only parliamentary form of government in the country, is set to conduct its first elections on March 30, but still needs Congress’ power to enact a law to change the initial date of election of Oct. 30, 2025.

The Supreme Court struck down Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) Nos. 77 and 58 for violating legal and procedural requirements, ruling that BAA No. 77 was enacted after the election period had begun and contained district configurations that failed to meet contiguity rules under the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

It also clarified that voiding BAA No. 77 did not reinstate BAA No. 58, leaving no valid districting law and preventing Commission on Elections (Comelec) from preparing for elections involving over 2.25 million voters.

The Court ordered the Bangsamoro Parliament to pass a new, valid districting law and directed Comelec to continue election preparations no later than March 31, 2026. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana