Legarda welcomes approval of the BARMM Elections Postponement Bill

Three-term Senator, now Deputy Speaker, Loren Legarda today hailed the enactment of a law that called for the postponement of the first regular elections of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to 2025, amending Section 13 Article XVI of Republic Act No. 11054, also known as the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Legarda, principal author of the newly-signed Republic Act No. 11593, expressed that the postponement of the BARMM elections to synchronize it with the 2025 national elections would allow for the strengthening of the BARMM’s foundations for a stronger regional government and economy while also providing an adequate amount of time for the full transition of the BARMM to transpire.

Legarda also stressed that the law will also allow the Bangsamoro Government to attend to more urgent needs of the people especially during this time of the pandemic.

“The pandemic has brought about significant challenges to socio-economic needs of our people. We have to provide quick response and quality service as we tread the path towards recovery. The approval of the measure will allow the Bangsamoro government to focus on programs and services that would usher in community development for the people of the BARMM and would ensure a more effective implementation of the programs and operations under the Bangsamoro Transition Authority,” Legarda concluded.

Aside from authoring both RA No. 11054 and RA No. 11593, Legarda has long contributed to the peace efforts in Mindanao and has initiated laws aiming for economic social development for the region. She also co-authored RA No. 9996, creating the Mindanao Development Authority, a permanent body that will integrate and harmonize all peace and development efforts in Mindanao, and allow it to catch up to mainstream national development; and, RA No. 9177, or the Eid’l Fitr Law, which decreed that the first day of Shawwal as a national holiday for the observance of Eid’l Fitr. She also principally authored RA No. 9849 that further decreed the tenth day of Zhul Hijja as a national holiday for the observance of Eid’l Adha.

The former Senator also initiated projects and supported programs for the benefit of Muslim communities in Mindanao such as the Marawi City Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program, establishment of the Meranaw Cultural Heritage Center under the Mindanao State University, the Yakan Village in Zamboanga, and Lake Sebu in South Cotabato, among others.

For her outstanding work for the cause of Muslims, Deputy Speaker Legarda was bestowed the title of Bai a labi(Honorary Muslim Princess) by the Marawi Sultanate league, and as a sign of gratitude for advancing IP concerns, the cultural communities of Mindanao adopted then Senator Legarda as “Bae Matumpis,” which means “The one who takes care”.***