Stakeholders want Bangsamoro Government Center transfer to Maguindanao del Norte

COTABATO CITY ― Relocating the administrative capital of the Bangsamoro regional government from Cotabato City to Parang town in Maguindanao del Norte will pave the way for economic growth and development in the region, according to stakeholders.

Parang Mayor Cahar Ibay explained that the municipality is “ideally best for establishing the development and implementation of the master plan for the new seat of capital of the Bangsamoro government.”

The municipality of Parang, according to Mayor Ibay, fully backs BTA Bill No. 43, as it has much to offer.

Mayor Ibay and other stakeholders also appealed to the Bangsamoro Parliament to immediately pass the proposed measure that would make Parang the new seat of the Bangsamoro Government.

The Bangsamoro Parliament’s Rules Committee, chaired by Floor Leader Atty. Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba, recently held a public consultation for BTA Bill No. 43, and was attended by officials and representatives from the BARMM’s ministries, offices, and agencies, as well as from the national agencies and provincial, municipal, and local governments, financial and educational institutions, transportation groups, nongovernment organizations, and civil society groups.

Speaking about the recently passed Bangsamoro Electoral Code, Floor leader Atty. Dumama-Alba emphasized the importance of public consultations to provide the Bangsamoro legislators with a more nuanced understanding of the implications of the proposed measure. She also guaranteed that the committee will give careful consideration to all stakeholder feedback before submitting its report to the plenary.

Deputy Floor Leader Atty. Mary Ann Arnado noted that the public consultation is a great opportunity to engage with the public and hear their voices. “It's crucial that everyone understand what is the administrative capital, what requirements should be considered to become an administrative capital, and why Parang?” she said.

Under the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the Parliament shall fix by law the permanent seat of the Bangsamoro government anywhere within the territorial jurisdiction of the region, taking into consideration accessibility and the efficiency with which its mandate may be carried out under the BOL.

The selection criteria for the new government center, according to the committee's presentation, include location and accessibility, land availability and suitability, infrastructure and utilities, economic, institutional, and social services, social and political acceptability, peace and order conditions, and the potential to enhance BARMM development.

Other locations considered were Cotabato City, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Sultan Kudarat, and Sultan Mastura. Of these municipalities, Parang scored the highest in the assessment.

The committee said that the results of the feasibility study showed not just the need to relocate the government center but also the most ideal location for it to establish a new capital, the fast-growing town of Parang.

According to the proposed measure, the Bangsamoro Government Center in Parang will be autonomous from the local government unit and will report directly to the regional government.

A committee will be formed called the Committee on the Establishment of Administrative Capital to lead and organize the preparation, development, and implementation of masterplans, strategies, processes, and timetables that will serve as the framework for the development of Parang as the new administrative center of the Bangsamoro government.

Why Parang?

Based on the data of the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality of Parang has 102,000 population, 17,000 households, and 25 villages. It also includes the seven villages of Bongo Island.

Strategically placed in Maguindanao's northwest, Parang is bordered by Matanog Municipality to the north, Barira and Buldon to the west, and Sultan Mastura to the south, all within Maguindanao del Norte Province.

The presence of the Polloc Freeport and Economic Zone creates a potential gateway to national and international direct commercial links that will provide a favorable environment for investment and trade, as well as employment opportunities that will stimulate economic growth and inclusive development. 

The regional office of the Philippine National Police is also located in the municipality which is just 31 kilometers from Cotabato City and 36 kilometers from Awang Airport.
It is also a municipality in the province that produces agricultural products, including agro-industrial and high-value commercial crops.

“We firmly believe that our locality is appropriately and capably suited as an advantageous setting for the establishment of BGC, which will offer quality services that can be easily accessed by constituents across the Bangsamoro region,” said Mayor Ibay.

Meanwhile, Cotabato City Vice Mayor Johari Abu said that he hopes the Parliament will discuss the impact of this legislation on the economic growth and activities of the city. He also stated that the 17th Sangguniang Panlungsod of Cotabato expresses its full support for the Bangsamoro government's larger actions for the betterment of its constituents.

Cotabato City is home to the Bangsamoro Government Center, formerly known as the Regional Autonomous Government in 1979, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in 1989, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in 2019.

The Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 42 was passed on September 22, 1995, with the intention of making Parang the permanent location of the regional capital until the development of necessary structures and infrastructure.

However, the move to Parang never materialized until the passage of Republic Act No. 9054 in 2001, which directed the ARMM Regional Government to construct a new permanent seat of government within its territory; Cotabato City remained the de facto location of the ARMM government.

Currently, the Bangsamoro Government Center houses the Bangsamoro Parliament along with the Office of the Chief Minister, 15 ministries, five commissions, and other agencies. According to Atty. Dumama-Alba, the committee report will be submitted to the plenary by May. (LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)