DAVAO CITY— The members of parliament in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) just passed a resolution proposing the creation of eight (8) new municipalities out of the existing towns in North Cotabato.
The eight municipalities will be created out of the barangays which petitioned and voted to join the Bangsamoro region during the plebiscite held in 2019.Â
The proposed towns were described as the Special Geographic Area will be composed of 63 villages in the towns of Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pikit, and Pigcawayan, all in North Cotabato.
The proposed measures which was contained in series of resolution proposals will create the municipalities of Pahamudin, Kadayangan, Kabalukan, Northern Kabacan, Kapalawan, Malmar, Tugunan, and Ligawasan.
Parliament Bill (PB) No. 129 seeks to create the Municipality of Pahamudin.
Under the proposed measure, Pahamudin will be composed of the barangays of Balacayon, Buricain, Datu Binasing, Datu Mantil, Kadilingan, Lower Pangangkalan, Libungan Torreta, Matilac, Patot, Upper Pangangkalan, Lower Baquer, and Simsiman, which all originated from the Municipality of Pigcawayan in North Cotabato.
The seat of government for the Municipality of Pahamudin will be established in Barangay Libungan Torreta.
A municipality of Kadayangan will also be created, with the barangays of Central Labas, Kapinpilan, Malingao, Mudseng, Sambulawan, Tugal, and Tumbras from Midsayap in North Cotabato, as its components.
According to PB No. 130, Barangay Kapinpilan will become the Municipality of Kadayangan’s seat of government.
Barangays such as Damatulan, Kadigasan, Kadingilan, Kudarangan, Nabalawag, and Olandang from Midsayap, Barangay Macasendeg from Pikit, and Barangay Dungguan from Aleosan, North Cotabato, will also be constituted into one municipality, also known as the Municipality of Kabalukan, as proposed under PB No. 131.
The government seat for the Municipality of Kabalukan will be located in Barangay Nabalawag.
Another municipality, which will be called Northern Kabacan, as proposed under PB No. 132, will be created and composed of the barangays Buluan, Nangaan, Sanggadong, Simbuhay, Simone, Pedtad, and Tamped from the municipality of Kabacan in North Cotabato.
Its seat of government will be in Barangay Pedtad.
Under PB No. 133, barangays from Carmen, North Cotabato, such as Kibayao, Kitulaan, Langogan, Manarapan, Nasapian, Pebpoloan, and Tupig, will be merged into one municipality known as the Municipality of Kapalawan. Barangay Kitulaan will be its seat of government.
PB No. 134 is proposing the creation of the municipality of Malmar. It is composed of the barangays of Balungis, Batulawan, Fort Pikit, Gokotan, Nabundas, Nalapaan, and Nunguan from Pikit, North Cotabato.
The seat of government will be in Barangay Gokotan.
Composed of seven barangays such as Balong, Bualan, Lagunde, Macabual, Manaulanan, Pamalian, and Panicupan from Aleosan, North Cotabato, a municipality of Tugunan will be established under PB No. 135.
The seat of government for the Municipality of Tugunan is in Barangay Manaulanan.
Lastly, constituting the municipality of Ligawasan are the barangays Bagoinged, Barungis, Bulol, Buliok, Gli-Gli, Kabasalan, and Rajamuda from Pikit, North Cotabato.
Its seat of government will be in Bagoinged.
Under the proposed measures, the creation of the eight municipalities will be approved by a majority of the votes cast by eligible voters in a plebiscite to be held in the barangays that make up the municipalities.
The plebiscite will be conducted and supervised by the Commission on Elections, through the Bangsamoro Electoral Office.
The BARMM Chief Minister will appoint the first mayor, vice mayor, and eight members of the Sangguniang Bayan of the new municipalities.
The Bangsamoro government will also appropriate and provide financial assistance for the administration and operation of the news towns.
It was not clear however, if the respective local government units (LGUs) concerned need to officially give a nod for the purpose.-Editha Z. Caduaya with report from BIO
