THE LAW resetting the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) into the second Monday of September 2026 was signed into law on Wednesday.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed into law Republic Act No. 12317, which resets the first regular elections in the BARMM and amends Section 13, Article XVI of Republic Act No. 11054, or the “Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.”
The law provides a transition process from the current Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to a democratically elected Parliament.
RA 12317 provides that the first regular election for the Bangsamoro Government under the Organic Law shall be held on the second Monday of September 2026.
The regular elections for the Bangsamoro Government will be held on the second Monday of May 2031 and every three years thereafter, to synchronize the BARMM Parliamentary Elections with the national and local elections.
The law provided that the transition period has been extended to allow the interim Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to continue governing unless replaced by the President, elected to a different office, or replaced by elected officials.
The first parliamentary election will employ the automated election system used in the May 2025 national and local elections.
Officials elected in the parliamentary elections will start their term of office at noon on October 30, 2026, and end on June 30, 2031.
Meanwhile, in 2031, the elected officials will assume office at noon on June 30 following their election.
Atty. Naquib Sinarimbo, Bangsamoro Transition Authority floor leader, welcomed the law, reaffirming that the law ensures elections in the BARMM will proceed as planned.
“Ang paglagda sa batas na ito ay nagsisiguro na tuloy na tuloy na ang halalan sa BARMM at magbibigay ng kapangyarihan sa mamamayan na pumili ng kanilang mga kinatawan sa Parliament,” Sinarimbo said in a statement
Photo: BARMM PARLIAMENT
