Cotabato City – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is providing periodic subsidies to the eight newly established municipalities in what is now as the Special Geographic Area (SGA), ensuring their operational capacity and enabling them to implement public service initiatives.

This announcement was made by Bangsamoro Local Government Minister Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba during a press briefing on Tuesday. 

The eight towns – Pahamuddin, Kadayangan, Nabalawag, Old Kaabakan, Kapalawan, Malidegao, Tugunan, and Ligawasan – were created earlier this year through separate enabling measures passed by the Bangsamoro Parliament. They encompass 63 barangays in various areas of Cotabato province, whose residents voted to join BARMM during the 2019 plebiscite.

 

Dumama-Alba emphasized that the regional government is committed to supporting these new local government units (LGUs) in their governance and community development endeavors.

 

"Aside from the funds we are providing, the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government-BARMM is also offering technical interventions to capacitate these LGUs on governance, public security, and domestic peacebuilding," she said.

 

Furthermore, each municipality now has its own police force, operating under the Maguindanao del Norte Provincial Police Office. This deployment of police personnel aims to strengthen security and maintain peace in these newly established areas.

 

The creation and support of these eight municipalities demonstrate the BARMM's commitment to inclusive governance and the development of all areas within its jurisdiction