Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim leads the culmination program of Special Geographic Area’s 5th founding anniversary held in Libungan Toreta, Pahamuddin, SGA on Feb. 14, 2024. (Benyamen Cabuntalan/BIO)
SPECIAL GEOGRAPHIC AREA—Despite being geographically challenged, the people of the Special Geographic Area (SGA) exemplified a display of unity during its 5th founding anniversary commemoration on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024 in Barangay Libungan Toretta of Pigcawayan Cluster.
Established through a lawful plebiscite in 2019, SGA is a territory of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) scattered in different municipalities of Cotabato Province. Comprising 63 barangays from the municipalities of Carmen, Kabacan, Pikit, Midsayap, and Pigcawayan, these areas were later clustered into eight as part of their preparations to become local government units.
In yesterday’s event, top leaders from BARMM could not help themselves but reckon their collective sacrifices with the residents before SGA’s establishment. Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, in his keynote message, cited that the gathering symbolized the collective sacrifices in pursuing SGA’s inclusion into BARMM.
“We originally planned to include other Bangsamoro communities adjacent to our region but unfortunately only SGA had voted for ‘yes’,” Ebrahim said.
The culmination of the anniversary celebration demonstrated a strong sense of solidarity among residents in a motorcade that started from the Carmen Cluster and culminated in the Pigcawayan Cluster creating a long vehicle queue in the remote village.
In an exclusive interview with SGADA Administrator Butch Malang, whose team has been on the road day and night to ensure the success of the celebration, he shared that since the inclusion of SGA to BARMM, they have seen remarkable changes in the community.
“If we look at the development of our community, we can say that we have gone really far,” Malang said.
According to Malang, the Bangsamoro Government, through different ministries, offices, and agencies, is continuously infusing various programs ranging from social, economic, and infrastructure innitiatives that essentially contributed to a more progressive SGA.
Interior and Local Government Minister Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba commended the unity displayed by SGA residents from their separation from their former province to their integration into BARMM.
Lawyer Alba, who also oversees the operation of the MILG-attached SGA Development Agency (SGADA) which spearheaded the celebration, emphasized that there would be more challenges ahead but through unity and cooperation, SGA would be able to surpass it.
“There were challenges, and for sure there would be more challenges ahead but through our cooperation, we would be able to surpass them,” Alba said.
BARMM leaders signify continued support and plans for SGA
Chief Minister Ebrahim announced that his leadership is eyeing SGA to become a province through legislation in the Bangsamoro Parliament. He said that after the constitution of the clustered barangay into municipalities, it would be possible that a province could be created.
“What will happen is once we have created the municipalities, we will see the possibility of constituting them into a province,” the Chief Minister said drawing applause from the residents.
The Bangsamoro Government, through the 80-seat Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament, is capable of enacting various laws to a certain extent for the welfare of the Bangsamoro people. As of this writing, BTA has already approved the law that will enable the creation of municipalities in SGA.
Alba confirmed in her speech that a related plebiscite is slated on April 13 this year and has encouraged the residents to go out and vote.
“Let’s work hard for the success of the plebiscite so that the 63 barangays in SGA will finally be constituted into municipalities,” Alba said.
Under the said law, there will be eight new municipalities across SGA once the result of the plebiscite favors their creation.
Several members of the parliament have also signified their continued support to SGA. Maguindanao del Norte appointed governor Abdulrauf Macacua was also present yesterday along with other distinguished guests. (Abdullah Matucan/BIO)
