Maguindanao del Norte creation plebiscite

Last updated
Maguindanao del Norte creation plebiscite
On or before August 25, 2021
Location Maguindanao, Philippines (excluding Cotabato City)
Maguindanao plebiscite map.svg
Results by municipality;
Yes:   50–60%  60–70%  70–80%
No:   50–60%  60–70%  70–80%
Map of Maguindanao divided into two: Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur Ph fil Maguindanao division proposal.png
Map of Maguindanao divided into two: Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur

The Maguindanao del Norte creation plebiscite is a future plebiscite on the creation of the province of Maguindanao del Norte from Maguindanao. [1] Its history can be traced back to the former province of Shariff Kabunsuan. On March 9, 2021, the Senate of the Philippines has approved of the bill but renaming it into Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, from its former name Northern Maguindanao and Southern Maguindanao. [2] [3] On May 27, 2021, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11550 into law. [4] [5]

Contents

Background

Shariff Kabunsuan

The traces of the proposed division goes back into the formation of Shariff Kabunsuan. Shariff Kabunsuan was established through Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 201 [6] by the former ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly. It was composed of 11 municipalities: Barira, Buldon, Datu Blah T. Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Northern Kabuntalan, Parang, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, and Upi with Datu Odin Sinsuat as its designated capital. Cotabato City became part of Shariff Kabunsuan, but for geographical and statistical purposes only. However, the province was short-lived due to the Supreme Court case Sema v. COMELEC. [7] Citing the cause was that only Congress shall have the power to create legislative districts, and in turn, cities and provinces. [8]

Legislative history

Map of Shariff Kabunsuan ShariffKab.jpg
Map of Shariff Kabunsuan

In 2017, former Congresswoman of 1st District of Maguindanao Bai Sandra Sema filed House Bill No. 5185 which seeks to divide Maguindanao into two: namely Maguindanao North and Maguindanao South. [9] It has the same composition of the former province of Shariff Kabunsuan with Datu Odin Sinsuat as its designated capital. However, it did not went past into the 17th Congress.

At the 18th Congress on August 2019, Maguindanao's 2nd congressional district representative Esmael Mangudadatu filed House Bill No. 3405 in order to create Maguindanao North. Its municipalities composed of former municipalities of Shariff Kabunsuan, along with Datu Anggal Midtimbang and Sultan Sumagka (Talitay). However, its designated capital is the municipality of Sultan Kudarat, which differs from the other bills filed. [10]

In September 2019, the current Congressman of 1st District of Maguindanao Datu Roonie Sinsuat Sr filed House Bill No. 4840 in order to create Western Maguindanao. It is also composed of former municipalities of Shariff Kabunsuan, along with additional municipalities of Sultan Sumagka (Talitay) and South Upi. [11]

Consolidated as House Bill No. 6413, it is the final version of the act that splits Maguindanao into two: Northern Maguindanao and Southern Maguindanao. Northern Maguindanao consists of 12 municipalities:

  • Barira
  • Buldon
  • Datu Blah T. Sinsuat
  • Datu Odin Sinsuat
  • Kabuntalan
  • Matanog
  • Northern Kabuntalan
  • Parang
  • Sultan Kudarat
  • Sultan Mastura
  • Sultan Sumagka
  • Upi

Meanwhile, Southern Maguindanao consists of the rest of Maguindanao. The final designated capital for Northern Maguindanao will be Datu Odin Sinsuat. The capital of Southern Maguindanao will be Buluan. [12] The bill was passed by the 18th Congress on February 27, 2020. [13] [14]

Senator Francis Tolentino co-sponsored the House Bill into the Senate, citing the cause of better delivery of government services within the province. The same sentiment is also shared by Senator Miguel Zubiri. [15]

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References

  1. ↑ Araja, Rio; Ramos-Araneta, Macon (October 27, 2020). "Maguindanao bills set to split province". Manila Standard. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Senate OKs bill creating two Maguindanao provinces". Philippine News Agency. March 9, 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  3. ↑ Felipe, Cecilio Suerte (March 11, 2021). "Senate OKs bill dividing Maguindanao into 2 provinces". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  4. ↑ Galvez, Daphne (May 27, 2021). "Duterte OKs bill splitting Maguindanao into two provinces". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  5. ↑ Punzalan, Jamaine (May 27, 2021). "Duterte approves splitting Maguindanao into 2 provinces— spokesman". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  6. ↑ "Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 201" (PDF). The LawPhil Project. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  7. ↑ Linto, Jose (July 17, 2008). "Supreme Court voids creation of Shariff Kabunsuan". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  8. ↑ Aning, Jerome (July 18, 2008). "(CORRECTED) SC zaps Kabunsuan; RP down to 80 provinces". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Archived from the original on July 29, 2008. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  9. ↑ Sema, Bai Sandra Sinsuat A. (March 2, 2017). "House Bill No. 5185 – An Act Creating the Province of Maguindanao North" (PDF). Congress of the Philippines. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  10. ↑ Mangudadatu, Esmael "Toto". "House Bill No. 3405" (PDF). congress.gov.ph. House of Representatives. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  11. ↑ Sinsuat, Datu Roonie Sr. "House Bill No. 4840" (PDF). congress.gov.ph. House of Representatives. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  12. ↑ "House Bill No. 6413" (PDF). congress.gov.ph. House of Representatives. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  13. ↑ Villanueva, Noel. "Committee Report No. 249" (PDF). congress.gov.ph. House of Representatives. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  14. ↑ Unson, John (June 3, 2020). "House OKs bill splitting Maguindanao into 2 provinces". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  15. ↑ "Senate approves three bills creating more legislative districts". CNN Philippines. March 9, 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
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