The Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP) has issued a renewed and urgent appeal for the immediate passage of the Bangsamoro parliamentary districting law. This critical legislation is needed to give the Commission on Elections (Comelec) sufficient time to organize the region's inaugural parliamentary elections, which are scheduled for March 30, 2026.
Legal Void and Postponed Elections
In a statement released on Monday, December 15, 2025, Special Assistant to the President Antonio F. Lagdameo Jr. stressed that a legally sound districting act is fundamental to a credible and orderly electoral process in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The call comes after the Supreme Court invalidated previous districting laws, including Bangsamoro Autonomy Acts Nos. 58 and 77, due to constitutional and procedural flaws.
This legal setback left the region without a valid framework for elections originally planned for October 13, 2025. Consequently, the polls were postponed, with the Comelec directed to schedule them no later than March 31, 2026.
Public Engagement and Legislative Push
Extensive public consultations have been held on several proposed bills, such as Parliament Bill Nos. 403, 407, 408, 411, 415, and 416. Lagdameo highlighted the strong turnout at these sessions as proof that Bangsamoro citizens are eager to vote and that their voices must be heard through fair representation.
"The passage of a Parliamentary Districting Act is not just a technical requirement but the final key to unlocking the ballot box," Lagdameo stated. He urged the Senate to act with urgency, emphasizing that the law will guarantee every community is fairly represented when people cast their votes next year.
Pathway to an Elected Government
Lagdameo commended the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) for its transparent and inclusive approach in the preparatory phase. He called on residents to sustain their civic engagement, stating, "Your active involvement is the strongest defense of your autonomy."
He connected the Bangsamoro's democratic journey to the broader vision of the Marcos administration for a Bagong Pilipinas, where empowerment comes through processes that respect autonomy and ensure leader accountability.
Under the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), the future regional parliament will be composed of 80 members:
- 32 district representatives
- 40 party-list representatives
- 8 sectoral representatives
This composition, however, is contingent on the passage of the districting bill and the successful holding of elections. With the official Comelec calendar now setting the election date for March 30, 2026, and outlining key deadlines for candidacy and campaigning, the pressure is on lawmakers to finalize the districting framework without further delay to ensure a historic and smooth transition to a fully elected BARMM government.
