JOLO, Sulu – In a bid to ensure public involvement in crafting the Parliament Bill No. 267 or the “Parliamentary Districts Act of 2023,” the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) conducted a two-day public consultation in two (2) districts of Sulu Province on Jan. 29-30.
PB No. 267 is an act providing for the creation of parliamentary districts in the BARMM. BTA Deputy Speaker Atty. Nabil Tan stressed that the main objective of the said bill is “to ensure representation among the 4.9 million of the population including the Special Geographic Areas (SGAs) based on the 2020 census.”
Member of Parliament Benjamin Loong, highlighted that the purpose of the consultation is to convene different stakeholders representing different sectors to ensure that public opinion and insights are properly acknowledged.
“Yari kami magpahati kaniyu. Dumungug kami iban mangayu dasab kami pikilan dayng kaniyu,” Loong said.
[We are here to listen to you and ask ideas from you.]
Remarkably, under the Parliamentary Districts Act of 2023, the BARMM provinces will be redistricted as follows:
- Province of Sulu – seven (7) districts
- Province of Basilan – three (3) districts
- Province of Tawi-Tawi – three (3) districts
- Province of Lanao del Sur – eight (8) districts
- Province of Maguindanao del Norte – four (4) districts
- Province of Maguindanao del Sur – four (4) districts
- City of Cotabato – two (2) districts
- Special Geographic Areas (SGAs) – One (1) district
In Sulu, its districts will be composed of District 1: Jolo, Hadji Panglima Tahil, and Pangutaran; District 2: Indanan and Parang; District 3: Maimbung and Talipao; District 4: Old Panamao and Patikul; District 5: Pata, Tapul, Panglima Estino (New Panamao), and Lugus; District 6: Kalingalan Caluang, Luuk, Omar, and Tongkil ; and District 7: Siasi and Pandami.
Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan stressed during his remarks that a profound discussion on the bill has to be made as it could potentially cause confusion among constituents.
“Maganda ‘yang naisip niyong i-redistrict ang Sulu, matagal na dapat ‘yan pero dapat pag-usap-usapan ‘yan dahil sa tingin ko, this may change the political landscape in the different provinces,” Tan said.
[Redistricting is good, it should have been done before. However, it must undergo a thorough discussion because I think, this may change the political landscape in the different provinces.]
Meanwhile, Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC) Sulu Commissioner Nurunnihar Mohammad said as a concerned citizen in behalf of women sector that “the decisions made and policies formulated in these consultations will shape our path towards a democratic, inclusive and a unified society.”
The consultation, facilitated by the BTA Committee on Rules, established a well-organized and interactive discussion between stakeholders and MPs. This new bill is poised to become a stepping stone towards inclusive representation of different sectors in the parliament. (Alline Jamar Undikan/BIO)
