MARAWI CITY/LAMITAN CITY – As the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) gears up for its first regular elections in October 2025, local officials and community leaders in Lanao del Sur and Basilan are actively lobbying for stronger and fairer representation in the Bangsamoro Parliament. 

These calls emerged during recent public consultations on two pivotal redistricting bills, part of a region-wide series of hearings spearheaded by the Bangsamoro Parliament's Committees on Local Government (CLG) and on Amendments, Revision, and Codification of Laws (CARCL).

The committees concluded their latest round of consultations in Marawi and Lamitan cities, gathering invaluable grassroots feedback on how the 32 district seats in the Parliament should be apportioned. The ongoing redistricting efforts follow a Supreme Court ruling that excluded Sulu from BARMM, necessitating a reallocation of seven parliamentary seats and adjustments to existing district boundaries.

In Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, discussions primarily revolved around whether the province should be allocated nine or ten seats, as proposed in BTA Bill No. 351 (authored by the Government of the Day) and BTA Bill No. 347 (authored by several lawmakers), respectively. 

Marawi City Administrator Ombra Gandamra voiced the city's preference to maintain its status as a single parliamentary district. Gandamra argued that this configuration would prevent political fragmentation and accelerate crucial post-conflict recovery efforts.

This sentiment was echoed by the Liga ng mga Barangay, which submitted a formal position paper emphasizing that dividing the city could exacerbate competition over already limited resources – a significant concern for Marawi's reconstruction and sustainable development. Meanwhile, officials from the municipalities of Kapai and Tagoloan II made a joint appeal to remain within the same district, citing their deep-rooted shared cultural and historical ties. Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr., through his legal counsel Nassif Mangandang, affirmed the provincial government's trust in the Parliament's wisdom to craft a truly representative measure.

Further south, in Lamitan City, Basilan, stakeholders convened for a similar consultation, where a widespread desire for increased provincial representation was evident. While both BTA Bill No. 351 and BTA Bill No. 347 currently allocate four seats to Basilan, local officials are advocating for five, including a dedicated seat for Lamitan City.

A joint position paper from Basilan's 11 municipal mayors underscored the province's growing population and its unique island geography as justifications for enhanced representation. They highlighted how the significant physical distance from Cotabato City, the BARMM regional center, impedes service delivery, making equitable redistricting a critical need. Lamitan City's local government reinforced this call, submitting its own paper that emphasized the city's role as a vital commercial, educational, and infrastructural hub within the province. 

Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission Basilan Director Alman-Najar Namla further stressed that greater representation for Basilan would be instrumental in addressing long-standing disparities in healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

These public consultations are a crucial step in ensuring that the voice of the Bangsamoro people is heard in shaping their future political landscape. 

Lawmakers have already conducted similar hearings in Cotabato City, the Special Geographic Area, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, and Tawi-Tawi. The consultation series is set to continue on Saturday, June 28, with a vital session involving representatives from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), key stakeholders in the region's peace process and governance.