INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Anticipation and participation are ‘high’ and preparations are underway for the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao parliamentary elections, BARMM Cabinet Secretary Mohd Asnin Pendatun said on Saturday.
“Iyon pong BARMM sa ngayon, we are preparing for the first parliamentary elections in 2025. Mataas ho iyong anticipation, mataas po iyong participation,” Pendatun in a news forum.
He added that BARMM is also conducting voters’ education and information drives to raise awareness on the first parliamentary elections in the region.
“Dahil admittedly, our public ay hindi pa po ganoon kataas iyong level of understanding doon po sa changes from the regular elections before at sa ganito pong first parliamentary elections,” he said.
(Admittedly, the public does not have a high level of understanding when it comes to the changes from the regular elections before and the first parliamentary elections.)
16 parties have already registered under the Bangsamoro Comelec and are expected to have “significant participation” in the upcoming elections.
Pendatun pointed out that the extension period granted under the Marcos administration is “crucial in filling the gaps” and providing enough time to finish priority legislations.
The Bangsamoro Transition Authority Bill No. 29, introduced in September 2022, paves way for BARMM residents to elect their leaders.
The region is under the Moro Islamic Liberation Front-led interim government, or the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.
The institutional life of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority was extended to 2025 to give way for the lawmakers to establish key foundations for autonomy.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. in 2022 told the Parliament to ensure the 2025 BARMM elections as he did not want any extension of the transition period.
The BARMM official also shared that the education code, electoral code, admin code, and local government code have been passed, among others while they wait for the indigenous peoples’ code and revenue code to be passed before the year ends.