63 North Cotabato villages officially now part of BARMM

COTABATO CITY - Officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) led by Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim officially received from North Cotabato acting Governor Emmylou Mendoza the key of responsibilities 63 barangays whose residents opted to join the expanded Bangsamoro region during a plebiscite conducted last February 26, 2019. 

Accompanying Menodza were provincial officials who trooped to the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Center here while Ebrahim was joined by members of Bangsamoro Parliament.   

The 63 barangays were from the towns of Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pikit and Pigcawayan.

According to Minister Naguib Sinarimbo of Interior and Local Government of Bangsamoro region, the 63 barangays will be constituted to a special geographic area where it will be administered by an administrator and will continue to receive Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).

Sinarimbo in an opening statement said that the hand over does not mean a separation but instead a reunification from the former Cotabato empire.

The Cotabato empire province which was a "historical province" of the Philippines established in 1914 that existed until its dissolution in 1973 through a Presidential Decree 341 by then President Ferdinand Marcos.

The empire province was then divided into the provinces of Maguindanao, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, (North) Cotabato.

Sinarimbo said that after 43 years they felt they are reunited again with the mother province but pointed it out that this is not about separation instead it is about joining together.

“This an opportunity not just to connect with the new Bangsamoro region but more importantly to see yourself as a connector to your neighbors in North Cotabato, this is the very reason why that during the recent earthquake in North Cotabato we did not have second thought to immediately bring our rescue team,” Sinarimbo said in his opening statement during the ceremony.

“Today all of us who are present here are honored to be part of this history to partake with you our common struggle for everlasting peace, this event is a continuing reminder of our unified cooperation and love for Mindanao,” said Cotabato Province Acting Governor Emmylou Talino-Mendoza.

Bangsamoro Region Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim warmly welcomed the 63 barangays addressing to their Barangay Chairpersons and Mayors who graced the ceremonial turn over wherein the branding of “Serbisyong Totoo” will be enforced with a “Moral Governance” of the BARMM in the delivery of Services to the people.

He thanked them for the unwavering support and trust.

“Aasahan nyo po na gagawin naming ang lahat upang hindi mapabayaan ang inyong mga constituents at maipakita sa kanila ang serbisyong inyong naipamahagi, ang inyong Serbisyong Totoo at ang aming Moral governance,” Ebrahim assured during his acceptance speech.