DAVAO CITY –-The Bangsamoro government intensifies its effort to attain a peaceful plebiscite in the area they newly identified which will form part of their territory , said Mohd Asnin Pendatun, the newly appointed spokesperson of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The plebiscite will involve 63 villages culled out from North Cotabato to form part of BARMM should the residents affirm their support during the April 13 plebiscite. The villages have been considered as the Special Geographic Areas (SGA) of BARMM.
The upcoming plebiscite aims to ratify the laws or the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act Nos. 41-48, if the ratification succeeds the 63 villages will form part for the creation of eight municipalities considered as SGA, which has been approved by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament on Aug. 17, 2023.
The proposed municipalities will be named Pahamuddin, Kadayangan, Nabalawag, Old Kaabakan, Kapalawan, Malidegao, Tugunan, and Ligawasan.
During the April 2 press conference, Pendatun said the Bangsamoro government has coordinated with the stakeholders to guarantee that it will be peaceful and hostile-free since the gun-ban has been implemented since March 14.
“Recently, the first-quarter Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meeting took place, and the discussion primarily revolved around the security preparations and other relevant contingency plans to ensure a peaceful and credible plebiscite for the SGA,” said Pendatun, who also serves as the Secretary to the Cabinet.
The Council plays a pivotal role in securing the safety of the general public through its peace interventions, involving different security sectors such as the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), among others.
He said further that the interim government is in active partnership with the PNP, AFP, Commission on Elections (COMELEC), and other local partners and stakeholders to aid and facilitate violence-free SGA-wide voting.
“At this point in time, there have been no incidents or reports of conflict or violence, specific to the 63 barangays, related to the upcoming plebiscite,” he stressed.
A total of 89,594 SGA constituents are qualified and expected to vote next week, with 67 voting precincts available.
The barangays of Central Labas, Kapinpilan, Malingao, Mudseng, Sambulawan, Tugal, and Tumbras, in Midsayap, North Cotabato, will be part of Kadayangan.
The combined barangays of Damatulan, Kadigasan, Kadingilan, Kudarangan, Nabalawag, and Olandang, all from Midsayap, and Barangay Dungguan in Aleosan, North Cotabato, will be part of Nabalawag.
Kaabakan will be composed of barangays Buluan, Nangaan, Sanggadong, Simbuhay, Simone, Pedtad, and Tamped, in Kaabakan, North Cotabato.
Barangays Kibayao, Kitulaan, Langogan, Manarapan, Nasapian, Pebpoloan, and Tupig, in Carmen, North Cotabato, will be included in Kapalawan.
Malidegao will be composed of barangays Balungis, Batulawan, Fort Pikit, Gokotan, Nabundas, Nalapaan, and Nunguan in Pikit, North Cotabato.
The barangays of Balong, Bualan, Lagunde, Macabual, Macasendeg, Manaulanan, Pamalian, and Panicupan, in Pikit; and Barangay Tapodoc, in Aleosan, will form Tugunan.
Ligawasan will be composed of barangays Bagoinged, Barungis, Bulol, Buliok, Gli-Gli, Kabasalan, and Rajamuda in Pikit, North Cotabato.
Under the law, the Bangsamoro Government is mandated to provide financial assistance for the administration and operation of the municipalities each month until they receive their share in the national tax allotment, subject to usual accounting and auditing rules and regulations.
Pendatun revealed that the Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG), in partnership with the COMELEC, has been spearheading a series of voter education efforts for SGA residents. -with a report from Johamin Inok/BIO
