Special geographic area of Bangsamoro | |
---|---|
Special geographic area | |
![]() Territory in Cotabato province under the special geographic area of Bangsamoro | |
Country | ![]() |
Region | ![]() |
Province | Cotabato |
Municipalities | |
Area clusters | 8 |
Barangays | 63 |
Plebiscite of Cotabato barangays to join Bangsamoro | February 6, 2019 |
Turnover to Bangsamoro | November 20, 2019 |
Government | |
• Body | Special Geographic Area Development Authority [1] |
• Administrator | Mohammad Kelie Antao |
Population (2020 census) [2] | |
• Total | 215,433 |
The special geographic area of Bangsamoro (SGA) is a loose collection of 63 barangays in six municipalities of the province of Cotabato in the Philippines. It is part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, despite the province of Cotabato itself being part of a separate neighboring region, Soccsksargen.
These barangays were partitioned from Soccsksargen following a two-part plebiscite held in January and February 2019 that formed Bangsamoro after residents of said barangays consented to their localities' inclusion in the new autonomous region. The municipalities these barangays are a part of, as well as the barangays themselves, remain part of Cotabato. These barangays could be reorganized into one or more new municipalities or merged with any of the neighboring municipalities in Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, which are part of Bangsamoro.
The Bangsamoro regional government has started effective governance over these barangays since the official turnover of these localities to the region by the Cotabato provincial government on November 20, 2019.
Some of these barangays are exclaves, which means they are entirely surrounded by localities that are not part of Bangsamoro.
The Philippine government organized a two-part plebiscite that concerns the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the founding basis of the then-to-be established Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which was intended to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), and the expansion of the then-proposed Bangsamoro autonomous region to potentially include municipalities in Lanao del Norte, the cities of Isabela in Basilan and Cotabato in Maguindanao, and select barangays in Cotabato province. For the prospective barangays in Cotabato to join, voters in all of the parent municipalities also had to consent to their bid to join Bangsamoro.
Out of 67 barangays in Cotabato that were included in the plebiscite, 63 had successful bids for their inclusion in the Bangsamoro autonomous region. [3] The four that rejected the measure are Galidan in Tulunan, Balatican in Pikit, and Pagangan and Lower Mingading in Aleosan; these four were excluded from BARMM and remained part of Soccsksargen. Meanwhile, each municipality consented to its barangays joining the BARMM. In Pikit, the most populous municipality in Cotabato, all but one barangay that voted in the plebiscite to join declined. This led to 20 barangays staying out of the BARMM out of 42. Pikit's town hall, which is located in Fort Pikit, one of the barangays that voted for inclusion, is being petitioned to be annexed by Poblacion, one of the towns that did not petition to be included. [4]
The barangays in Aleosan and Tulunan voted in favor of their inclusion, but the majority of voters in the rest of their parent municipalities voted against the barangays' inclusion. Barangay Baltican in Pikit rejected their inclusion, while the rest of Pikit consented to the barangay's inclusion and would have been part of the new autonomous region if Baltican voters also voted for their inclusion. [5]
Upon the effective foundation of the new Bangsamoro autonomous region, the barangays remained part of their parent municipalities. Their residents voted for municipal officials of their parent municipalities and Cotabato provincial officials in the 2019 Philippine general election. [6] The barangays could be reorganized into one or more municipalities or merged with any of the neighboring municipalities in Maguindanao. [7]
The full transfer of jurisdiction of the Cotabato barangays to the Bangsamoro autonomous government was ordered by Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Eduardo Año following a meeting with Bangsamoro Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim on July 8, 2019. [8]
These barangays were still not under the effective control of Bangsamoro as of July 2019 since they were not yet officially turned over to the Bangsamoro regional government, which was initially set to occur once a local government code was passed by the Bangsamoro Parliament. [9]
With the local government code still pending, the official turnover took place on November 20, 2019. [10] [11] The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cotabato has passed a resolution concerning the transfer. Amidst budgetary concerns, the barangays were assured that they will still receive their internal revenue allocation directly from the Department of Budget and Management after the transfer takes place. [12]
By March 2020, the 63 barangays had already been grouped into a special geographic area of the Bangsamoro region. [13]
Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim issued an executive order establishing a Development Coordinating Office (DCO) led by an administrator and eight area coordinators to manage affairs in the 63 barangays in Cotabato. Mohammad Kelie Antao was appointed administrator on June 30, 2020. Jimmy Adil, Jabib Guiabar, Esmael Maguid, Duma Mascud, Ibrahim Rahman, Abdulatip Tiago, and Nayang Timan were appointed as area coordinators on the same date. [14]
A second ceremony was held on December 15, 2020, to mark the symbolic assumption of the Bangsamoro regional government over the 63 Cotabato barangays along with Cotabato City. [15]
The special geographic area of Bangsamoro consists of barangays that are part of Cotabato province, which is not part of the autonomous region, despite the barangays themselves being part of Bangsamoro. For the Bangsamoro region to govern the barangays, these were constituted into a single administrative area under the direct supervision of the Bangsamoro chief minister through the region's Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG). The MILG deals with the affairs of the area through the Special Geographic Area Development Authority, which is headed by an administrator appointed by the chief minister. [1]
The 63 barangays in the special geographic area of Bangsamoro is grouped into eight area clusters. [16] Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.
Cluster | Population (2020) [17] |
---|---|
Carmen | 28,463 |
Kabacan | 16,658 |
Midsayap I | 25,573 |
Midsayap II | 22,438 |
Pigcawayan | 19,627 |
Pikit I | 38,795 |
Pikit II | 34,341 |
Pikit III | 29,538 |
Total: Eight clusters | 215,433 |
Barangay | Municipality | Cluster | Population (2020) [2] |
---|---|---|---|
Balacayon | Pigcawayan | Pigcawayan | 1,306 |
Bago-inged | Pikit | Pikit II | 3,080 |
Barungis | Pikit | Pikit II | 3,367 |
Batulawan | Pikit | Pikit I | 6,306 |
Bualan | Pikit | Pikit III | 2,177 |
Buliok | Pikit | Pikit II | 4,624 |
Bulol | Pikit | Pikit II | 5,145 |
Buluan | Kabacan | Kabacan | 1,418 |
Buricain | Pigcawayan | Pigcawayan | 1,626 |
Central Labas | Midsayap | Midsayap I | 1997 |
Damatulan | Midsayap | Midsayap II | 4,570 |
Datu Binasing | Pigcawayan | Pigcawayan | 1,650 |
Datu Mantil | Pigcawayan | Pigcawayan | 1,220 |
Dunguan | Aleosan | Pikit III | 3,285 |
Fort Pikit | Pikit | Pikit I | 7,476 |
Gli-Gli | Pikit | Pikit II | 3,861 |
Gokotan | Pikit | Pikit I | 5,494 |
Kabalasan | Pikit | Pikit II | 7,591 |
Kadigasan | Midsayap | Midsayap II | 5,441 |
Kadingilan | Midsayap | Midsayap II | 2,414 |
Kadingilan | Pigcawayan | Pigcawayan | 1,683 |
Kapinpilin | Midsayap | Midsayap I | 4,593 |
Kibayao | Carmen | Carmen | 7,146 |
Kitulaan | Carmen | Carmen | 6,079 |
Kudangaran | Midsayap | Midsayap II | 3,218 |
Lagunde | Pikit | Pikit III | 5,332 |
Langogan | Carmen | Carmen | 2,082 |
Libungan Torreta | Pigcawayan | Pigcawayan | 2,290 |
Lower Baguer | Pigcawayan | Pigcawayan | 1,208 |
Lower Pangangkalan | Pigcawayan | Pigcawayan | 1,129 |
Macabual | Pikit | Pikit II | 4,557 |
Macasendeg | Pikit | Pikit III | 2,516 |
Malingao | Midsayap | Midsayap I | 4,456 |
Manaulanan | Pikit | Pikit III | 7,632 |
Manarapan | Carmen | Carmen | 4,355 |
Matilac | Pigcawayan | Pigcawayan | 1,817 |
Mudseng | Midsayap | Midsayap I | 2,831 |
Nabalawag | Midsayap | Midsayap II | 3,093 |
Nabundas | Pikit | Pikit I | 4,996 |
Nalapaan | Pikit | Pikit I | 2,323 |
Nanga-an | Kabacan | Kabacan | 3,715 |
Nunguan | Pikit | Pikit I | 5,380 |
Nasapian | Carmen | Carmen | 4,423 |
Olandang | Midsayap | Midsayap II | 3,702 |
Panicupan | Pikit | Pikit I | 2,357 |
Patot | Pigcawayan | Pigcawayan | 2,287 |
Pebpoluan | Carmen | Carmen | 1,038 |
Pedtad | Kabacan | Kabacan | 4,593 |
Pamalian | Pikit | Pikit III | 3,256 |
Rajah Muda | Pikit | Pikit II | 2,116 |
S. Balong | Pikit | Pikit III | 3,573 |
S. Balongis | Pikit | Pikit I | 4,463 |
Sambulawan | Midsayap | Midsayap I | 3,599 |
Sanggadong | Kabacan | Kabacan | 869 |
Simbuhay | Kabacan | Kabacan | 1,871 |
Simone | Kabacan | Kabacan | 2,652 |
Simsiman | Pigcawayan | Pigcawayan | 2,506 |
Tamped | Kabacan | Kabacan | 1,540 |
Tapodoc | Aleosan | Pikit III | 1,767 |
Tugal | Midsayap | Midsayap I | 4,665 |
Tumbras | Midsayap | Midsayap I | 3,432 |
Tupig | Carmen | Carmen | 3,340 |
Upper Pangankalan | Pigcawayan | Pigcawayan | 905 |
Total population | 215,433 |
Municipality | No of barangays |
---|---|
Aleosan | 2 |
Carmen | 7 |
Kabacan | 7 |
Midsayap | 13 |
Pigcawayan | 12 |
Pikit | 22 |
Total: Six municipalities | 63 |
In September 2019, there was a reported proposal to reorganize the Cotabato barangays into four municipalities through regional legislation and possibly annex them to the neighboring Maguindanao province. Pending the passage of the regional law, there is a plan by Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim to issue an executive order to group the barangays into eight clusters. [19] However, such a plan to form towns from the barangays was temporarily set aside, and it was decided that an administrative body be formed to oversee the barangays' affairs. [20]
Another proposal was to group the barangays into three municipalities instead of four. One of the proposed municipalities is Sultan Tambilawan, which is planned to consist of Midsayap's 13 barangays. [21]
The regional government will wait for the results of the 2020 census to determine the exact barangays that will be reorganized into new towns. [22]
On December 21, 2022, a proposal was made to group the barangays into eight municipalities. The proposed municipalities are Pahamudin, Kadayangan, Kabalukan, Northern Kabacan, Kapalawan, Malmar, Tugunan, and Ligawasan. [23] [24]
Municipality | Barangays | Parliament Bill No. | |
---|---|---|---|
Seat of government | Other barangays | ||
Pahamudin | Libungan Torreta |
| 129 |
Kadayangan | Kapinpilan |
| 130 |
Kabalukan | Nabalawag |
| 131 |
Northern Kabacan (or Laya [25] ) | Pedtad or Nangaan |
| 132 |
Kapalawan | Kitulaan |
| 133 |
Malmar (or Madridagao [25] ) | Gokotan |
| 134 |
Tugunan | Manaulanan |
| 135 |
Ligawasan | Bagoinged |
| 136 |
Maguindanao was a province of the Philippines located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). From 2014 to 2022, its provincial capital was Buluan, but the legislative branch of government, the Maguindanao Provincial Board, convened at the old provincial capitol in Sultan Kudarat. It bordered Lanao del Sur to the north, Cotabato to the east, Sultan Kudarat to the south, and Illana Bay to the west.
Cotabato or North Cotabato, officially the Province of Cotabato, is a landlocked province in the Philippines located in the Soccsksargen region in Mindanao. Its capital is the city of Kidapawan. Some of its barangays are under the jurisdiction of the nearby Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
Soccsksargen, formerly known as Central Mindanao, is an administrative region of the Philippines, designated as Region XII. Located in south-central Mindanao, its name is an acronym that stands for the region's four provinces and one highly urbanized city. The regional center is in Koronadal, located in the province of South Cotabato, and the center of commerce and industry is General Santos, which is the most populous city in the region.
The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was an autonomous region of the Philippines, located in the Mindanao island group of the Philippines, that consisted of five predominantly Muslim provinces: Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. It was the only region that had its own government. The region's de facto seat of government was Cotabato City, although this self-governing city was outside its jurisdiction.
Cotabato City, officially the City of Cotabato, is a third class independent component city in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 325,079 people, making it as the most populated city under the independent component city status.
Pikit, officially the Municipality of Pikit is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 67,024 people.
Aleosan, officially the Municipality of Aleosan, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 36,892 people.
Carmen, officially the Municipality of Carmen, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 79,140 people.
Kabacan officially the Municipality of Kabacan, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 77,164 people.
Midsayap, officially the Municipality of Midsayap, is a 1st class municipality in the Province of Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 117,365 people.
Pigcawayan, officially the Municipality of Pigcawayan, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 52,744 people.
Pagalungan, officially the Municipality of Pagalungan, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Maguindanao del Sur, Bangsamoro, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 46,277 people.
Bangsamoro, officially the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, is an autonomous region in the Philippines, located in the southwestern portion of the island of Mindanao.
An autonomous region of the Philippines is a first-level administrative division that has the authority to control a region's culture and economy. The Constitution of the Philippines allows for two autonomous regions: in the Cordilleras and in Muslim Mindanao. Currently, Bangsamoro, which largely consists of the Muslim-majority areas of Mindanao, is the only autonomous region in the country.
The 2019 Bangsamoro autonomy plebiscite was a two-part plebiscite held in Mindanao, Philippines, that ratified the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and replaced the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), as well as the scope of the said region.
The Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, also known as the Bangsamoro Police, is the regional office of the Philippine National Police meant to cover the whole Bangsamoro autonomous region.
The transition period of the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) into the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) began when the Bangsamoro Organic Law was ratified in a two-part plebiscite held in January and February 2019. It is set to end after the first set of regular officials are elected in 2025.
Fort Pikit is a historic fortification in Pikit, Cotabato, Philippines.
The COVID-19 pandemic in Bangsamoro is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The virus reached the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on March 11, 2020, when the first case of the disease was confirmed in Lanao del Sur. Cases has been confirmed in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, and the independent city of Cotabato.
Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi is a Filipino politician who was mayor of Cotabato City from 2019 to 2022.