First Bangsamoro Elections to be Held, Philippines Declares Special National Holiday
The Philippine government has designated Monday, 14 September, as a special holiday in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to support the implementation of the region’s first parliamentary elections.
The decision was announced through Proclamation Number 1395, signed by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto on 18 August under the authority of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. The policy aims to provide all Bangsamoro citizens the opportunity to exercise their right to vote in this historic poll.
“Malacañang has set 14 September 2026 as a special holiday in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to ensure full participation of citizens in the region’s first parliamentary elections,” the proclamation stated, as reported by the Philippine News Agency on Monday.
The proclamation noted that the holiday was deemed essential to allow the community to participate to the fullest extent in the election.
“To provide the people of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao the opportunity to participate actively and fully in the election and to use their right to vote, it is appropriate and fitting to declare Monday, 14 September 2026, as a special holiday (non-working day),” the proclamation added.
A New Milestone for Bangsamoro Autonomy
BARMM encompasses five provinces in the southwestern region of Mindanao, the second-largest island in the Philippines. This autonomous region was officially established in 2019 as part of the transition process from an interim government to an autonomous government directly elected by the people.
With a population of approximately 4.5 million, the name ‘Bangsamoro’ is a combination of the Malay word ‘Bangsa’ (nation) and ‘Moro’, a term used by the Spanish for the Muslim communities in the Philippines.
Approximately 2.4 million voters are expected to participate in the vote to elect the first 80 members of the BARMM parliament. The parliament will consist of party-list representatives, district representatives, and sectoral seats, and will eventually be responsible for electing the regional Chief Minister.
For many young voters casting their ballots for the first time, this election serves as a symbol of hope for the future of Bangsamoro.
“I believe this parliamentary election will help us find leaders who are truly committed,” said Nadah Edris, a 20-year-old student leader in Cotabato City.
“I hope this election will provide us with opportunities. This election is proof that we have succeeded and have achieved what we fought for, namely peace and development,” she continued.
This inaugural parliamentary election marks the latest chapter in the long struggle of the Bangsamoro people for the right to self-determination.
The modern Bangsamoro movement gained strength from the late 1960s to the early 1970s, when issues regarding land disputes, political marginalisation, and the treatment of Muslim communities triggered the uprising of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
Initially, the MNLF fought for full independence. However, the 1976 Tripoli Agreement, mediated by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and Libya, led to a process towards granting autonomy within the Philippine state.
Differing views subsequently led to the emergence of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which became the primary rebel group in the region.
The conflict, which lasted for decades, involved various shifting and splintering armed factions. Its impact is estimated to have killed around 150,000 people and displaced approximately one million citizens internally.
Following a series of lengthy negotiations involving Indonesia, Malaysia, and several Middle Eastern nations, the peace process finally resulted in the creation of BARMM, an autonomous region now entering a new era through its first parliamentary elections.