Cotabato City – The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) has undergone a major reshuffle with the appointment of 77 members of the Bangsamoro Parliament, 58 of whom were reappointed from the previous Parliament and 19 new members. The new lawmakers took their oath before Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua on March 15 in Manila.

New Leadership Takes the Helm

 

The transition follows the appointment of Macacua, chief of staff of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, as the new interim chief minister by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. He replaces Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), who had served as chief minister since the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in 2019. Ebrahim, however, remains a member of Parliament.

 

Focus on Continuity and Accountability

 

Macacua, while assuring continuity in governance, emphasized the need for accountability. 

"The ministries will remain in status quo, but status quo does not mean complacency. A thorough review of performance will be undertaken,” Macacua stated.

 

Addressing Key Priorities

 

The new Parliament is expected to prioritize the passage of the Bangsamoro Revenue Code, a crucial piece of legislation needed to complete the region's foundational governance framework.

 

Macacua also stressed the need to study the status of Sulu's parliamentary seats following the province's exclusion from BARMM based on a Supreme Court decision.

 

Parliament's Commitment to Smooth Transition

 

Speaker Pangalian Balindong reaffirmed the Parliament's commitment to a smooth transition, stating, “Our goal is to finish this term strong, ensuring good governance, development, and peace for our people.”

 

National Government Supports Bangsamoro Transition

 

Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. attended the oath-taking ceremony and reiterated the national government's support for the Bangsamoro transition. 

"We are hopeful to continue all the progress we have made over the years," he said.

 

The Path Forward for the Bangsamoro

 

The new Parliament will convene for its fourth regular session on April 8th, where lawmakers will focus on passing the Bangsamoro Revenue Code and addressing other key priorities. The upcoming months will be crucial for ensuring a smooth transition towards the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections scheduled for October 2025.