House ratifies report on postponement of first regular elections in BARMM

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives ratified Tuesday the bicameral conference report on the bills postponing the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to 2025. 

During its session, the lower chamber ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the disagreeing provisions of House Bill 10121 and Senate Bill 2214, which pushed for the postponement of the polls. 

Once ratified by the Senate, the substitute bill, which combines the Senate and the House versions of the measure, will be transmitted to the office of President Rodrigo Duterte. 

Under the measure, the first regular election for the Bangsamoro Government shall be held synchronized with the 2025 national elections. The Bangsamoro elections were originally scheduled for 2022.

According to the House version of the bill, the postponement seeks to give BARMM time to “strengthen its foundations for a stronger regional government and economy.”

The postponement, the bill states, will also allow the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to “lay better and sturdier foundations and successfully translate the efforts on the gains from the peace agreement into lasting and sustainable peace not only in Mindanao but for the whole Philippines.”