Decentralization/Federalism – 2021
2021
With the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law in January 2019 and the establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) sworn in February 2019, the BARMM is functioning as an autonomous region. The BTA chief and MILF leader Murad Ebrahim asked for more time to implement the BBL for delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The BTA had priority legislation, including the administrative, revenue, electoral, local government, education, civil service, and Indigenous Peoples Codes. The BTA passed only the administrative, civil service, and education codes.[1] Therefore, the initially scheduled election was postponed until 2025 after the Philippine president signed Republic Act No. 11593 on October 29, 2021.[2]
[1] “BARMM starts consultations on draft local governance code,” Philippine News Agency, February 9, 2022. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1167423
[2] “Duterte resets BARMM elections to 2025,” Philippine News Agency, October 29, 2021. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1158190