COTABATO CITY – On December 20, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) approved legislations that will establish three new municipalities in Maguindanao del Norte, namely Nuling, Sheikh Abas Hamza, and Datu Sinsuat Balabaran.
Parliament Bill Nos. 190 and 191, authored by Deputy Speaker Atty. Lanang Ali Jr., aimed to create Datu Sinsuat Balabaran and Sheikh Abas Hamza, respectively. PB 190 received 32 affirmative votes, one negative vote, and 2 abstentions, while Sheikh Abas Hamza obtained 40-1-0 votes.
Datu Sinsuat Balabaran will comprise 13 barangays of Awang, Badak, Capiton, Dinaig Proper, Dulangan, Kusiong, Linek, Tamontaka (seat of government), Mompong, Semba, Tambak, Tanuel, and Tapian. On the other hand, Sheikh Abas Hamza will be composed of 10 barangays of Baka, Bitu, Bugawas (seat of government), Kurintem, Labungan, Margues, Makir, Sapalan, Sifaran, and Taviran.
These barangays will be carved out from Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipality.
Meanwhile, MP Baileng Mantawil authored PB No. 223, seeking to establish the municipality of Nuling, which received 36 yes votes, two abstentions, and three no votes
Nineteen barangays from Sultan Kudarat, namely Alamada, Banatin, Bulibod, Damaniog, Ibotegen, Kabuntalan, Kakar, Kapimpilan, Katamlangan, Katidtuan, Ladia, Maidapa, Matengen, Nalinan, Nara, Panatan, Pigcalagan, Pinaring (seat of government), and Raguisi, will compose the municipality of Nuling.
The approved bills will prompt a plebiscite, scheduled to be conducted by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), through the Bangsamoro Electoral Office, within 120 days from the date of the laws’ effectivity. The plebiscite will allow qualified voters to express their approval or disapproval of the proposed municipalities.
If approved, the BARMM Chief Minister will appoint the mayor, vice mayor, and eight members of the Sangguniang Bayan for each municipality.
Before the bills reached the plenary, the Committee on Local Government (CLG) undertook a thorough consultation process, engaging various stakeholders and experts. This comprehensive effort was geared towards ensuring conformity with legal frameworks and faithfully representing the sentiments of the constituents.
The proposed measures align with the provisions of the Bangsamoro Local Governance Code, which stipulates that the establishment, division, merger, abolition, or significant alteration of municipalities or barangays must be formally enacted through legislation by the Parliament.
Atty. Raissa Jajurie, BTA Deputy Floor Leader and CLG Chair, emphasized that the creation of these municipalities adheres to specific criteria, including annual income, total population, and total land area.
Jajurie noted that resource persons from relevant offices confirmed certifications for the criteria needed in the creation of municipalities. Upon establishment, each municipality will be entitled to its appropriate share of national taxes, contributing to sustainable development.
The Bangsamoro Government will provide P2.5 million monthly financial assistance for the administration and operation of the newly created municipalities until they receive their share in the revenue allotment. (Myrna S. Tepadan/BIO with reports from BTA).
