The Bangsamoro Governement, through the Office of the Cabinet Secretariat and the Bangsamoro Information Office, discusses the Halalang Bangsamoro campaign with mainstream/national media in Quezon City on September 24, 2024. (Hamdan Badrudin/BIO)
QUEZON CITY—The Bangsamoro Government, through the Office of the Cabinet Secretary (OCS) and the Bangsamoro Information Office (BIO), is bolstering its Halalang Bangsamoro campaign through a series of coordination efforts with national media partners.
Bangsamoro Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Mohd Asnin Pendatun said the ongoing, extensive information, education, and communication campaign with stakeholders—including voters—urging participation and an understanding of the unique features of the upcoming parliamentary elections, in contrast to previous national and local polls.
“Among the key reasons for our weeklong endeavors in Metro Manila is the launch of the Halalang Bangsamoro campaign and the continued collaboration with our partners, who are eager and supportive to have a successful parliamentary election next year,” Pendatun said during his interview on Salaam Radio on Sept 24.
On Sept. 22-23, the OCS and BIO held meetings with several national partners to discuss the mainstreaming of Halalang Bangsamoro—a campaign focused on raising awareness of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code (BEC) for next year’s elections.
Jorjani Sinsuat, leading BIO’s New Media Section, explained that the campaign’s initial target areas include Metro Maguindanao, the Special Geographic Areas (SGA), Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, and Cotabato City. Eventually, information dissemination will extend to Lanao del Sur (LDS), Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi.
Sinsuat also highlighted the ongoing partnership with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to further amplify the Halalang Bangsamoro efforts.
In November 2023, the BIO and various civil society organizations (CSOs), with support from The Asia Foundation, worked closely with COMELEC to align and synchronize efforts for the campaign.
On July 9 this year, the COMELEC announced the launch of Micro Summits aimed at ‘synergizing’ efforts to ensure a well-informed electorate in the region, starting in September.
Additionally, another round of the Speakers’ Bureau will take place, following the initial run in July, to educate political parties on ensuring accountable, transparent, and inclusive elections in BARMM.
Spokesperson Pendatun emphasized that one of the primary goals of the Halalang Bangsamoro initiative is to empower voters to exercise their right to vote freely, without fear or intimidation.
Sinsuat also encouraged Bangsamoro voters to engage in the process, stating, “Ang pangalan ng ating kampanya ay Halalang Bangsamoro dahil mas marapat na Halal at iyon po ang ating ihahalal ngayong 2025.”
[Our campaign is named Halalang Bangsamoro because it is only fitting that what we elect in 2025 is truly Halal.] (Johamin Inok/BIO)
