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Cotabato City, 63 villages placed under BARMM

By Edwin Fernandez

July 9, 2019, 2:33 pm

<p><strong>DILG VISIT.</strong> Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim (left) and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año during the visit of BARMM officials to the DILG central office on Monday (July 8, 2019). In the same meeting, Año ordered the turnover of Cotabato City and the 63 villages in North Cotabato province under the BARMM jurisdiction after the areas voted for inclusion to the expanded BARMM territory during plebiscite held on January 21 and February 6 this year. <em>(Photo from BPI-BARMM)</em></p>

DILG VISIT. Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim (left) and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año during the visit of BARMM officials to the DILG central office on Monday (July 8, 2019). In the same meeting, Año ordered the turnover of Cotabato City and the 63 villages in North Cotabato province under the BARMM jurisdiction after the areas voted for inclusion to the expanded BARMM territory during plebiscite held on January 21 and February 6 this year. (Photo from BPI-BARMM)

COTABATO CITY -- Secretary Eduardo Año of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has directed the turnover of Cotabato City and 63 villages in North Cotabato to the jurisdiction of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), pursuant to Republic Act 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

Año’s order came during the official visit of BARMM officials, headed by Interim Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, to the DILG office in Manila on Monday after the presentation made by Minister of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) Naguib Sinarimbo on the works being done by his office in the BARMM.

Sinarimbo, a lawyer, highlighted the significant accomplishments of the MILG as of June 30, among them the “Transparency and Accountability Measures” including the launching of the Bangsamoro Transparency Portal, and the orientation-cum-training for the newly-elected local chief executives.

Sinarimbo said the DILG Secretary also ordered the institutional arrangement for the DILG programs being implemented in Regions 9, 10, and 12.

“Pursuant to moral governance, Secretary Año was elated to learn the innovations reflective of the cultures and traditions of the Bangsamoro being introduced by the MILG,” Sinarimbo said in an interview over a local radio station Tuesday.

He said the DILG Secretary also promised to continue his support to the Bangsamoro government and the MILG, in particular, ever mindful of the autonomy granted it by the law including the powers and authority to regulate the affairs of BARMM constituent LGUs.

Ebrahim’s delegation was composed of Sinarimbo, Minister of Finance, Budget and Management Edward Guerra, Minister of Public Order and Safety Hussein Munoz, and Member of the Parliament Abdullah Macapaar, also known as Commander Bravo.

Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. accompanied the delegation.

The city of Cotabato and the 63 villages in six towns of North Cotabato voted for inclusion to the expanded autonomous region during the plebiscite held on January 21 and February 6 this year.

Other areas under BARMM are the provinces of Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur, and Basilan, and cities of Marawi and Lamitan. (PNA)

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