Equitable districts in Maguindanao del Sur guaranteed

MAGUINDANO DEL SUR - Presiding Officer Abdullah Hashim emphasized the Bangsamoro Parliament’s commitment to ensuring a fair and impartial distribution of parliamentary seats in the upcoming 2025 Bangsamoro election.

At a public consultation here held recently, Hashim clarified that the division of parliamentary districts is grounded in the Bangsamoro Organic Law. He highlighted the need for each district to be compact, contiguous, and have a population of at least 100,000.

These criteria, he explained, are essential to establishing a democratic and representative electoral system in Maguindanao del Sur.

During the consultation, provincial and local government units from the 24 municipalities in the newly established Maguindanao del Sur expressed their support for the Parliament’s ongoing efforts to enact laws for the region’s betterment.

However, they also called for reconsideration of the configuration of municipalities in each proposed district.

Mamasapano Vice Mayor Tahirodin Benzar Ampatuan expressed support for the bill but proposed realigning towns based on their geographical location.

In his position paper, South Upi Mayor Reynalbert proposed to have a proportional representation system that would ensure the interests and concerns of each municipality are considered and addressed immediately, resulting in a more responsive governance structure.

Four parliamentary districts in Maguindanao del Sur will be established once Parliament Bill No. 267, or the Parliamentary Districts Act of 2023, is approved.

The first district will be composed of South Upi, Talayan, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Guindulungan, Datu Unsay, and Datu Hoffer Ampatuan.

The municipalities of Datu Saudi-ampatuan, Datu Salibo, Datu Piang, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Mamasapano, Shariff Aguak, and Ampatuan will be included in district two.

District three will include Datu Abdullah Sangki, Rajah Buayan, Sultan sa Barungis, Pagagawan, Pagalungan, and Gen. S.K. Pendatun.

Paglat, Pandag, Buluan, Datu Paglas, and Mangudadatu will comprise the fourth district.

Maguindanao del Sur, according to the 2020 census by the Philippine Statistics Authority, ranks third in population within the Bangsamoro region with 723,758 residents.

Presiding Officer Hashim assured stakeholders that their comments and recommendations would be carefully considered. A report, incorporating these inputs, will be crafted and deliberated upon when the regular session resumes next month. (LTAIS-PUBLIC Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)