The Philippine House of Representatives has officially approved a bill that delays the inaugural regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to October 2025. This decision was made during a plenary session where the differences between House Bill 11144 and Senate Bill 2942 were reconciled in a bicameral conference committee report.
The new schedule shifts the BARMM elections from May 12, 2025, to October 13, 2025. Future elections will be synchronized with the national elections in 2028 and will occur every three years following that. The current Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) will remain in power until the newly elected officials take office.
The legislation also requires the BARMM government to distribute Sulu’s portion of the annual block grant according to guidelines set by the Department of Budget and Management. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will not accept new certificates of candidacy or nominations for the October elections, except for those allocated to Sulu. Candidates and party representatives who filed between November 4 and 9, 2024, will automatically remain as candidates and nominees.
The bill is now set to be forwarded to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for his signature, following the Senate’s ratification of the report on the previous day. President Marcos had previously declared the bill as urgent.
Carlito Galvez Jr., Secretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU), expressed gratitude for the bill’s passage, emphasizing its significance in bolstering the Bangsamoro peace process. He noted that the delay would allow the BARMM government to tackle pressing issues before the elections.
The decision to postpone the elections follows extensive consultations by OPAPRU with stakeholders nationwide. Galvez stressed the importance of taking the right actions over hastening the elections, which could negatively impact the peace process. The five-month delay is intended to provide both the national and BARMM governments with the time needed to meet obligations under peace agreements and to amend crucial legislation, such as the Bangsamoro Electoral and Local Government Codes.
These amendments are deemed essential to align with the Supreme Court’s ruling to exclude Sulu from the BARMM and to lessen the impact of this decision on the province. Galvez believes that rescheduling the election will enable the Bangsamoro government to address all potential legal issues, ensuring that the October 2025 elections are conducted smoothly, peacefully, and credibly.