COTABATO CITY — The plan of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to move its capital from THIS City to nearby Parang town in Maguindanao del Norte gained traction with public consultation done on Monday.
The Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 42 was passed on September 22, 1995, with the intention of making Parang, Maguindanao, the permanent location of the regional capital. However, the move never materialized until the passage of Republic Act No. 9054 in 2001, which directed the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to construct a new permanent seat of government within its territory. Still, Cotabato City remained the de facto location of the ARMM government.
Under the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the Parliament shall fix by law, the permanent seat of the Bangsamoro government anywhere within the territorial jurisdiction of the autonomous region, taking into consideration accessibility and the efficiency with which its mandate may be carried out under the BOL.
The BTA Bill No. 43 seeks to answer the provision and move the seat of power of BARMM to Parang, Maguindanao del Norte.
According to the committee’s presentation, the selection criteria for the new government center, included location and accessibility, land availability and suitability, infrastructure and utilities, economic, institutional, and social services, social and political acceptability, peace and order conditions, and the potential to enhance BARMM development.
Other locations considered were Cotabato City, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Sultan Kudarat, and Sultan Mastura. Of these municipalities, Parang scored the highest in the assessment.
According to the proposed measure, the Bangsamoro Government Center in Parang will be autonomous from the local government unit and will report directly to the regional government.
The BTA will create a committee called the Committee on the Establishment of Administrative Capital (CEAC) to lead and organize the preparation, development, and implementation of masterplans, strategies, processes, and timetables that will serve as the framework for the development of Parang as the new administrative center of the Bangsamoro government.
The BTA Parliament’s Rules Committee chair, Floor Leader Atty. Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba held a public consultation inviting officials, and representatives from the BARMM’s ministries, national agencies, local government units, and civil society organizations.
“It is important to consult the public to provide the BTA legislators with a more nuanced understanding of the implications of the proposed measure,” Dumama-Alba said.
Deputy Floor Leader Atty. Mary Ann Arnado said that public consultations are a great opportunity to engage with the public and hear their voices.
“It’s crucial that everyone understands ‘what is the administrative capital’, what requirements should be considered to become an administrative capital, and why Parang,” Arnado said.
Parang Mayor Cahar Ibay said that the municipality is “ideally best for establishing the development and implementation of the master plan for the new seat of the capital of the Bangsamoro government.
“We firmly believe that our locality is appropriately and capably suited as an advantageous setting for the establishment of BGC, which will offer quality services that constituents across the Bangsamoro region can easily access,” Ibay said.
Ibay added that the presence of the Polloc Freeport and Economic Zone creates a potential gateway to national and international direct commercial links.
“This will provide a favorable environment for investment and trade, as well as employment opportunities that will stimulate economic growth and inclusive development,” Ibay added.
“I hope the Parliament will discuss the impact of this legislation on the economic growth and activities of the city,” Cotabato City Vice Mayor Johari Abu said.
Abu added that the 17th Cotabato City Council expresses its full support for the Bangsamoro government’s actions for the betterment of its constituents.
Cotabato City is home to the Bangsamoro Government Center, from the creation of the Regional Autonomous Government (1979), ARMM in 1989, and the BARMM in 2019.
Currently, the Bangsamoro Government Center houses the Bangsamoro Parliament along with the Office of the Chief Minister, 15 ministries, five commissions, and other agencies.
According to Dumama-Alba, the committee report will be submitted to the plenary by May 2023.
