Marcos lauds BARMM’s progress as it marks its 7th anniversary

COTABATO CITY—President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. graced the 7th founding anniversary of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on Wednesday in a strong reaffirmation of the national government’s commitment to peace, autonomy, and inclusive development.

The President said the anniversary highlights not just the progress of the BARMM but also its significance for the entire country.

During the ceremony, Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua recounted the seven-year journey of the transition government to build effective institutions of autonomy.

Macacua noted that the region is now ready for the conduct of parliamentary elections with his signing on Tuesday of the BARMM districting law.

READ: BARMM polls pushed as Congress priority

Established in 2019, BARMM was created following the ratification of Republic Act No. 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

The BARMM replaced the former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), establishing a new autonomous regional government with expanded self-governance powers and a parliamentary system of regional administration.

It followed decades-long peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), paving the way for a new framework of self-governance./coa