Marcos on BARMM: Much needs to be done

MORE work has to be done to spur peace and development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said, a decade after the signing of an agreement that paves the way for peace and development in the region.

In his message on the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), Marcos pledged to continue working with the Bangsamoro government for BARMM’s prosperity and progress.

The CAB, signed by the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on March 27, 2014, formed the groundwork of the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

“A decade ago, the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro lit up our hopes for peace. As a legislator, I proudly participated in drafting the Bangsamoro Basic Law,” Marcos said in a video message posted on Facebook.

“Recognizing the importance of inclusivity and respect for diverse cultures, there were certainly many challenges, but we persevered,” he added.

“We have achieved progress, and much needs to be done,” Marcos said.

The President added that there have been significant changes in the BARMM during his presidency.

“Together, we are already enacting vital legislation, ensuring fair elections in 2025, and empowering the Bangsamoro to chart your own prosperous future,” he said.

“Peace is our legacy; let us build it together,” the President added. “A stronger BARMM means a stronger Mindanao. A stronger Mindanao means a stronger Philippines.”

Established in 2019, the BARMM was created under the Bangsamoro Organic Law, replacing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. It is composed of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and 63 barangay (villages) of North Cotabato.