Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

Panfilo D. Cerezo

Marianne P. Magalong

I. Introduction

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is an autonomous

region in the southern Philippines formed in 2019. It comprises the provinces of Basilan,

Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. The

creation of the BARMM is a significant development in the pursuit of lasting peace and

sustainable development in Mindanao, a region that has been marked by decades of conflict.

The establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region is rooted in the peace process

between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a rebel

group that had been fighting for self-determination and greater autonomy for the Muslim-

majority areas in Mindanao. The peace negotiations aimed to address the historical

grievances and socio-economic disparities faced by the Bangsamoro people.

The new autonomous region is granted significant fiscal autonomy, allowing it to have

control over its resources and revenues. This is intended to address the economic disparities

that have long been a source of tension in the region. The hope is that by empowering the

Bangsamoro people to manage their own affairs and resources, it will lead to greater

economic development and improved living conditions.

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 Moreover, the Bangsamoro government is tasked with addressing the historical injustices

and human rights abuses suffered by the Bangsamoro people. The law recognizes the distinct

identity and aspirations of the Bangsamoro, aiming to promote social justice and inclusivity.

II. Body

A. History

The current armed conflict in Mindanao reflects the recurring call for the fulfillment of

the right to self-determination of the Muslim population in the Philippines in order to obtain

sustainable peace.

With almost forty years of on and off fighting between Muslim armed opposition groups

and the Philippine military forces, and the resulting high toll on human lives, the search for

sustainable peace and full respect for human rights remains a big challenge.

The current armed conflict started in late 1960s, when a Muslim armed group (Moro

National Liberation Front or MNLF) started to advocate for a “Moro homeland.” The

Philippine government responded through military means, resulting in numerous deaths

among, and displacement of, the civilian population (Muslims as well as Christians). In the

1970s, the Philippine government initiated peace talks and obtained a peace agreement with

the then main Muslim armed opposition group (MNLF) to stop the conflict and address the

problems. But armed confrontations broke out every now and then, between the Philippine

military and the MNLF and also with another Muslim armed opposition group (Moro Islamic

Liberation Front or MILF). For every break out of armed hostilities, thousands of non-

combatants are caught in the crossfire, and suffer displacement and other human rights

violations.

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 To emphasize their deep sense of independence as a people, many Muslims in Mindanao

collectively call themselves “Moro,” the word used by the colonial Spanish government to

refer to the Muslim people. This extends to the use of the word “Bangsamoro” (Moro Nation)

to indicate a people separate from the rest of the Philippine population.

B. Government

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) was established

in the Philippines as a result of the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) or the

Republic Act No. 11054. This law created the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, replacing

the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

It has a parliamentary form of government, which means that the chief minister and other

members of the cabinet are elected from the parliament. The Chief Minister serves as the

head of the Bangsamoro government. The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region has its own

political structure, including executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

Ceremonial

The ceremonial head of the region is the wa'lī. The Bangsamoro Parliament selects and

appoints the wa'lī. The wa'lī has ceremonial functions and powers such as moral guardianship

of the territory and convocation and dissolution of the legislature.

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 Executive

The regional government is headed by a chief minister. Murad Ebrahim is the current

chief minister, who was appointed by the Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, on an interim

basis. The interim chief minister is also the head of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority

(BTA), which also serves the function of serving as the transitional Bangsamoro Parliament.

The chief minister of the Bangsamoro is the chief executive of the regional government

and is assisted by a cabinet not exceeding 10 members. The holder of this position appoints

the members of the cabinet, subject to confirmation by the Parliament. The chief minister has

control of all the regional executive commissions, agencies, boards, bureaus, and offices.

Cabinet

The Bangsamoro Cabinet is composed of two deputy chief minister and ministers from

the members of the parliament. The deputy chief ministers are selected through nomination of

the chief minister and are elected by the members of the Parliament. The ministers in the

cabinet on their part are appointed by the chief minister.

Council of Leaders

The Council of Leaders advises the chief minister on matters of governance of the

autonomous region. It is roughly an equivalent of an unelected Senate, though only advisory,

without legislative powers, and not part of the Parliament.

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 Legislative

Under the BOL, the Bangsamoro Parliament serves as the legislature of the autonomous

region, mandated to have 80 members and is led by the speaker. The wa'lī, a ceremonial

head, could dissolve the parliament.

Regional ordinances are created by the Bangsamoro Parliament, composed of members of

Parliament. Members are meant to be elected by direct vote. Regional elections are planned

to be held one year after general elections (national and local) depending on legislation from

Congress. The first Bangsamoro regional elections are to be held in 2025. Regional officials

have a fixed term of three years, which can be extended by an act of Congress.

Under the BOL, the BTA was organized as a transitional body pending the election of the

new region's government officials in 2025, with the first regular session of the parliament to

be held in 2025.

Judiciary

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region has its own regional justice system which applies

Shari'ah to its residents like its predecessor, the ARMM. Unlike its predecessor though, the

BOL, which became effective as of August 10, 2018, has a provision for the creation of a

Shari'ah High Court, which, if and when realized, would consist of five justices including a

presiding justice and would oversee appellate courts, district courts, and circuit courts. Non-

Muslims could also volunteer to submit themselves under the jurisdiction of Shari'ah law.

The Bangsamoro justice system also recognizes traditional or tribal laws but these would

only apply to disputes of indigenous peoples within the region.

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 C. Provinces

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, officially designated as

BARMM, is an administrative region in the Philippines grouped under the Mindanao island

group. It covers 5 provinces, namely, Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and

Tawi-Tawi. The regional center is the City of Cotabato.

Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 4,404,288. This represented 16.78%

of the overall population of the Mindanao island group, or 4.04% of the entire population of

the Philippines. Based on these figures, the population density is computed at 120 inhabitants

per square kilometer or 311 inhabitants per square mile.

D. Economy

The Bangsamoro region's economy grew at a 6.6% rate in 2022 and reported the tenth-

fastest economic growth among all 17 regions in the Philippines, the Philippine Statistics

Authority (PSA-BARMM) said during its dissemination forum. PSA-BARMM Regional

Director Engr. Akan Tula reported that agriculture, hunting, forestry, and fishing (AFF)

increased to 3.5%, industry increased to 6.1%, and the services sector increased to 9.8%.

Though slower than the previous year's 7.5% growth rate, the 6.6% in 2022 still indicates

good economic performance in the region. Indicating robustness and resiliency, the economic

performance of BARMM is based on the final estimation of the gross regional domestic

product (GRDP) and gross regional domestic expenditure (GRDE) for 2022.

The GRDP is the aggregate of gross value added (GVA) of all resident producer units

under the AFF, industry, and service sectors in the region, while the GRDE is the expenditure

of residents of the region in the domestic territory plus their expenditure in other regions,

including the rest of the world.

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 PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis Mapa emphasized that the goal of the GRDP and

GRDE is to provide policymakers and stakeholders with a comprehensive picture of the

regional economies, which will serve as an important tool for planning and policy

formulation at the regional level.

E. Culture

The BARMM is a culturally rich and diverse region, with each of its five provinces

having its unique traditions, language, and customs. Basilan, for instance, is home to the

Yakan tribe, famous for their intricate weaving techniques and colorful traditional costumes.

The Lanao del Sur province, on the other hand, is known for the Maranao tribe, famous for

their unique and intricate brassware craftsmanship. Maguindanao is renowned for its stunning

natural landscapes, pristine beaches, and magnificent waterfalls. The province of Sulu,

meanwhile, is mea paradise for nature lovers, with its clear turquoise waters, white sand

beaches, and rich marine biodiversity.

III. Conclusion

In conclusion, the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region is a significant

step towards achieving lasting peace and development in Mindanao. It represents a

commitment to addressing historical injustices and providing the Bangsamoro people with

the autonomy they have long sought. The success of the BARMM will depend on the

collaborative efforts of the Bangsamoro government, the Philippine government, and the

international community to ensure the effective implementation of the peace process and the

realization of the region's full potential.

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IV. References

Briefing, A. (2022, October 5). Untapped economic potential of the Muslim-Autonomous

region in the Philippines. ASEAN Business News.

https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/untapped-economic-potential-of-the-muslim-

autonomous-region-in-the-philippines/?

fbclid=IwAR2BICf2p3ldhBHdiTC6GOZWxw0_74SdnA3hoTx_w63O9E01AradiTlq

rd4

Cepeda, M. (2018, July 12). Bicam approves creation of Shari’ah High Court in Bangsamoro.

RAPPLER. https://www.rappler.com/nation/207171-bicameral-conference-

committee-approval-shariah-high-court-bangsamoro/

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) profile – PhilAtlas.

https://www.philatlas.com/mindanao/barmm.html?

fbclid=IwAR24xCkvgO_c_OPt2MBfef3CWeAx6_4YbgEhG7XpNQIoqIlvhntdJUN

WA0o

BARMM: a cultural and natural treasure in the Philippines waiting to be discovered. (n.d.).

Tour Guide Philippines | Travel & Tours Hub.

https://www.tourguideph.com/p/barmm-bangsamoro-autonomous-region-in.html?

m=1&fbclid=IwAR0XRo8pEiuGIngtJsQt1r-

PKGPX5MS9dbI4ZdNx_GuuKIlKg9_kHRIzd2U#:~:text=The%20BARMM%20is

%20a%20culturally,techniques%20and%20colorful%20traditional%20costumes

Press releases. (2023, May 3). PIA. https://pia.gov.ph/press-releases/2023/05/03/barmm-

economy-posts-66-growth-in-2022#:~:text=MARAWI%20CITY%20(PIA)

%E2%80%94The,its%20dissemination%20forum%2C%20April%2027.

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