BTA Bill No. 431, principally authored by Members of the Parliament Butch Malang, Tomanda Antok, Kitem Kadatuan Jr., and Naguib Sinarimbo, secured 43 affirmative votes, zero negative votes, and zero abstentions during the final voting of the measure.
Under the bill, SGADA shall function as a special administrative and development authority and not as a political subdivision, preserving the autonomy of the eight municipalities comprising the SGA-Kadayangan, Kapalawan, Ligawasan, Malidegao, Nabalawag, Old Kaabakan, Pahamuddin, and Tugunan.
The SGA is composed of former barangays in North Cotabato that voted to join the Bangsamoro region during the plebiscite but did not originally form part of conventional political subdivisions such as provinces, cities, or municipalities. Because of this unique status, the area faced challenges in accessing and coordinating municipal, provincial, and inter-local government services.
Sinarimbo said that the existing SGADA structure had limited authority, mainly serving as a coordinating mechanism despite the growing development needs of the SGA.
He said that the said the expansion of SGADA is intended to create a more responsive institution capable of addressing concerns that cross municipal boundaries while maintaining the authority and autonomy of local government units.
The bill seeks to amend the Bangsamoro Administrative Code and the Bangsamoro Local Governance Code to strengthen the authority’s role in delivering area-wide services.
To provide a unified direction for the area’s growth, the measure requires SGADA to prepare a Comprehensive Special Geographic Area Development Framework Plan, which will serve as the blueprint for the SGA’s long-term development.
Under the measure, SGADA will be responsible for planning and coordinating programs that require wider implementation beyond individual local government units, including flood control, land use planning, shelter development, health and sanitation programs, environmental protection, public safety, and disaster response.
The measure clarifies that SGADA will not become a separate political subdivision and will not replace local governments. Instead, it will coordinate with Bangsamoro ministries, offices, agencies, and local government units in implementing programs that require wider area planning and resources.
It also creates the SGADA Board, which will serve as the authority’s policy-making body. The board will include the SGADA chairperson, the ministers of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government and the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Management, the director general of the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority, and the president of the League of Mayors in the SGA.
The SGADA chairperson will be appointed by the Chief Minister and will be given Cabinet-level status. The authority will also have an executive director and deputy executive directors for finance and administration, planning, and operations.
It further grants the authority a fixed 2.5% share from the annual revenue collections of the Bangsamoro Government.
The allocation will be subject to a periodic review by the Bangsamoro Parliament every three years.
The proposed law also provides transition mechanism should the SGA become a province or another political division.
It provides for the gradual phaseout of SGADA, with its powers, assets, liabilities, and personnel to be transferred to the successor local government under a transition plan approved by the Bangsamoro Parliament.
The authority may continue to receive funding for personnel services during the transition, which must be completed within two years. (PR)
The SGA is composed of former barangays in North Cotabato that voted to join the Bangsamoro region during the plebiscite but did not originally form part of conventional political subdivisions such as provinces, cities, or municipalities. Because of this unique status, the area faced challenges in accessing and coordinating municipal, provincial, and inter-local government services.
Sinarimbo said that the existing SGADA structure had limited authority, mainly serving as a coordinating mechanism despite the growing development needs of the SGA.
He said that the said the expansion of SGADA is intended to create a more responsive institution capable of addressing concerns that cross municipal boundaries while maintaining the authority and autonomy of local government units.
The bill seeks to amend the Bangsamoro Administrative Code and the Bangsamoro Local Governance Code to strengthen the authority’s role in delivering area-wide services.
To provide a unified direction for the area’s growth, the measure requires SGADA to prepare a Comprehensive Special Geographic Area Development Framework Plan, which will serve as the blueprint for the SGA’s long-term development.
Under the measure, SGADA will be responsible for planning and coordinating programs that require wider implementation beyond individual local government units, including flood control, land use planning, shelter development, health and sanitation programs, environmental protection, public safety, and disaster response.
The measure clarifies that SGADA will not become a separate political subdivision and will not replace local governments. Instead, it will coordinate with Bangsamoro ministries, offices, agencies, and local government units in implementing programs that require wider area planning and resources.
It also creates the SGADA Board, which will serve as the authority’s policy-making body. The board will include the SGADA chairperson, the ministers of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government and the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Management, the director general of the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority, and the president of the League of Mayors in the SGA.
The SGADA chairperson will be appointed by the Chief Minister and will be given Cabinet-level status. The authority will also have an executive director and deputy executive directors for finance and administration, planning, and operations.
It further grants the authority a fixed 2.5% share from the annual revenue collections of the Bangsamoro Government.
The allocation will be subject to a periodic review by the Bangsamoro Parliament every three years.
The proposed law also provides transition mechanism should the SGA become a province or another political division.
It provides for the gradual phaseout of SGADA, with its powers, assets, liabilities, and personnel to be transferred to the successor local government under a transition plan approved by the Bangsamoro Parliament.
The authority may continue to receive funding for personnel services during the transition, which must be completed within two years. (PR)
