COTABATO CITY – The 63 barangays in North Cotabato which petitioned and voted to be included in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) during the 2019 plebiscite will soon have their own municipalities in the region’s Special Geographic Area (SGA) as proposed in the eight newly-filed parliament bills.
Filed by the Government of the Day on Tuesday, Dec. 20, the bills will create the eight municipalities of Pahamudin, Kadayangan, Kabalukan, Northern Kabacan, Kapalawan, Malmar, Tugunan, and Ligawasan.
In the proposed bills, the 63 SGA villages –located in the towns of Pikit, Midsayap, Aleosan, Pigcawayan, Kabacan, and Carmen in North Cotabato– will be separated from their mother municipalities and constituted into a distinct and independent municipalities.
Proposed Parliament Bill (PB) No. 129 will create Pahamudin Municipality which will consist of the barangays of Balacayon, Buricain, Datu Binasing, Datu Mantil, Kadilingan, Lower Pangangkalan, Matilac, Patot, Upper Pangangkalan, Lower Baquer, Simsiman, and Libungan Torreta as its seat of government.
In PB No. 130, the municipality of Kadayangan will be established, composed of the villages of Kapinpilan (seat of government), Central Labas, Malingao, Mudseng, Sambulawan, Tugal, and Tumbras.
The municipality of Kabalukan will be created in PB No. 131 with barangay Nabalawag as its seat of government, and will consist of the villages of Damatulan, Kadigasan, Kadingilan, Kudarangan, Olandang, Macasendeg, and Dungguan.
Under PB No. 132, the barangays of Buluan, Nangaan, Sanggadong, Simbuhay, Simone, Tamped, and Pedtad (seat of government) will compose Northern Kabacan municipality.
Kapalawan Municipality will be created in PB No. 133 with its barangays including Kitulaan (seat of government), Kibayao, Langogan, Manarapan, Nasapian, Pebpoloan, and Tupig.
PB No. 134 is proposing the establishment of Malmar Municipality with the seven barangays of Balungis, Batulawan, Fort Pikit, Nabundas, Nalapaan, Nunguan, and Gokotan as the seat of government.
Through PB No. 135, the villages of Balong, Bualan, Lagunde, Macabual, Pamalian, Panicupan, and Manaulanan (seat of government) will compose the municipality of Tugunan.
Lastly, PB No. 136 will create the Municipality of Ligawasan which will be composed of the barangays of Bagoinged (seat of government), Barungis, Bulol, Buliok, Gli-Gli, Kabasalan, and Rajamuda.
As stated in the proposed bills, the eight municipalities will be created upon ratification by a majority of the votes cast by qualified voters in a plebiscite to be conducted by the barangays that compose the municipalities.
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC), through the Bangsamoro Electoral Office, shall conduct and supervise the plebiscite.
Furthermore, BARMM Chief Minister will appoint the first mayor, vice mayor, and eight members of the Sangguniang Bayan of the new municipalities. The Bangsamoro Government will also appropriate and provide financial assistance for the administration and operation of the new municipalities. (Johaira Sahidala/BIO)
