The Bangsamoro Government will seek congressional approval for the creation of a Moro Province, which would encompass eight municipalities formed by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua and Speaker Ali Pangalian Balindong, the Bangsamoro Parliament is moving towards passing a resolution that would urge both Houses of Congress to legislate the establishment of a new Moro Province.
Member of Parliament Naguib Sinarimbo said the proposed province would include the eight municipalities created last year by the Parliament: Pahamuddin, Kadayangan, Nabalawag, Old Kaabakan, Kapalawan, Malidegao, Tugunan, and Ligawasan.
These municipalities were formed from the 63 barangays collectively known as the Special Geographic Area (SGA) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which joined the region through a plebiscite in February 2020.
Sinarimbo, who chairs the BTA Parliament’s Committee on Local Governments, explained that while the Bangsamoro Organic Law (Republic Act 11054) empowered the defunct Regional Legislative Assembly to create municipalities and provinces, the Supreme Court ruling in Sema vs. Dilangalen (2006) clarified that only Congress can create a province.
This is because each province is entitled to at least one congressional district seat in the House of Representatives, a national legislative unit that only Congress can establish.
Sinarimbo noted that his committee is reviewing whether the proposed Moro Province meets statutory requirements, including population and voter counts.
Nonetheless, he said Congress may act to ensure the eight new municipalities receive the benefits and representation of a province-level local government unit.
The idea of a Moro Province dates back to 1901, when the U.S. colonial administration first created it before it was later replaced by the Department of Mindanao and Sulu during the Philippine Commonwealth era.
Meanwhile, Sinarimbo stressed the need to establish a clear “demarcation line” in budgetary policies to avoid depleting regional funds.
Under the Local Government Code (RA 7160), the operational costs of devolved agencies are covered by the Internal Revenue Allotments (IRA) for provinces, cities, and municipalities.
Other expenditures must be funded by the regional government through the Block Grant provided under the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
Without clearly defined spending responsibilities, regional funds risk being stretched too thin, according to Sinarimbo.
