Hopes high for compliant BARMM polls after talks on districting bills

Philstar.com

December 12, 2025 | 4:00pm

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Transition officials of the Bangsamoro region here appeared confident that the results of the open and inclusive public consultations on districting bills would pave the way for a “constitutionally compliant” parliamentary polls next year.

Member of Parliament Naguib Sinarimbo said that the public discussions being conducted by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority on at least six districting bills would ensure compliance with the legal requirements for holding the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao March 2026 elections.

Sinarimbo, a lawyer and the transition parliament’s local government committee chair, said the districting bills got rigorous scrutiny from a huge crowd of attendees, whose suggestions include the changes in the configurations of town clusters in Tawi-Tawi and Basilan and in contested areas in Lanao del Sur.

Public talks on Bangsamoro districting bills have started as early as November in Tawi-Tawi, Basilan and the Special Geographic Area; and proceeded in Lanao del Sur on December 7; Cotabato City on December 8; Maguindanao del Sur on December 10; and will end today, December 12, in Maguindanao del Norte.

BTA officials have reported that public consultations on the proposed Bangsamoro districting bills have drawn unusually large and diverse crowds across the region, reinforcing claims that the measure is being shaped through a genuinely open and participatory democratic process.

Sinarimbo has also reported attendance levels that have exceeded the organizers’ expectations, marking one of the most widely attended public consultation efforts undertaken during the Bangsamoro transition period.

Participants have reportedly engaged lawmakers in extended discussions on proposed district boundaries, population representation, and seat allocation under the future parliamentary setup.

Stakeholders have also raised concerns on protecting minority representation, ensuring geographic contiguity, and aligning districts with social and economic realities on the ground.

Resource speakers and members of parliamentary committees have assured attendees that all inputs, both written and oral, were formally recorded and would be considered in refining the bills.

BTA officials stressed that the public consultations were not procedural formalities but a critical step in strengthening the legal and democratic legitimacy of the districting law.

The process comes amid time pressure to pass the districting measure ahead of election-related preparations, following earlier advisories from election authorities on compliance with electoral timelines.

Despite the shortened window, transition lawmakers maintained that broad participation would not be sacrificed, underscoring transparency and inclusivity as guiding principles.

The consultation series will be concluded today, December 12, with a final public hearing in Maguindanao del Norte where additional sectoral groups are anticipated to present their positions.

Observers have noted that the scale and intensity of the consultations reflect growing public awareness of the Bangsamoro parliamentary system as it moves closer to regular elections. 

Sinarimbo said that the outcome of the consultations would help ensure that the final district configuration fairly represents the region’s diverse communities.