MANILA — The Senate on Monday unanimously approved Senate Bill No. 1823, which moves the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to September 2026. The bill, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, aims to extend the transition period of the Bangsamoro government.

 

Under the approved measure, the first regular elections in BARMM will now be held on the second Monday of September 2026, with subsequent elections scheduled every three years thereafter. This extension allows the ongoing Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to serve as the interim government throughout the extended transition, unless its members are replaced by the President or their terms are shortened through election to other offices.

 

The bill also stipulates that the upcoming BARMM parliamentary election will utilize the same automated election system that was employed in the national and local elections held on May 12, 2025. Qualified voters registered within the region, based on the latest Election Registration Board hearing, will be eligible to participate.

 

Elected officials from the first BARMM parliamentary election are set to assume office at noon on October 30, following successful elections.

 

Funding for the elections will be sourced from the current year’s appropriations of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) or any available funds identified by the Department of Budget and Management, with subsequent budget allocations to be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

 

In his explanation of vote, Senator Joel Villanueva expressed support for the measure, emphasizing its role in strengthening Philippine democracy. “This measure is not about delaying democracy, rather, it is about strengthening it. Let us view this reset as a commitment to genuine democracy, one where the people of BARMM are able to participate fully, fairly, and confidently in choosing their leaders,” Villanueva said.

 

The approval marks a significant step in the ongoing effort to establish a stable and autonomous governance structure in BARMM, giving the region more time to prepare for fully autonomous elections and governance.