BTA OK's redistricting law for BARMM elections on third, final reading

The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) approved on third and final reading a proposed redistricting law reallocating the seven parliamentary seats initially assigned to Sulu, clearing the way for the long-delayed inaugural Bangsamoro parliamentary elections.

Voting 48 affirmative, 19 negative, and four abstentions, the BTA passed proposed Parliament Bill No. 415, which will serve as the legal basis for the first-ever Bangsamoro polls, on early Tuesday at around 12:33 a.m., according to the Bangsamoro Parliament.

The approval came shortly after the Parliament approved the new redistricting measure on second reading on Monday evening.

Bangsamoro Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua earlier certified PB No. 415 as urgent, allowing the Parliament to approve it on second and third reading on the same day, rather than waiting for a three-day gap between second and third reading.

Parliamentary seats

Under the new law, parliamentary seats will be allocated as follows: nine for Lanao del Sur; five each for Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur; four each for Basilan and Tawi-Tawi; three for Cotabato City; and two for the Special Geographic Area.

Districts are apportioned based on the Bangsamoro's population of 4,545,486, with each district comprising at least 100,000 residents within contiguous, compact, and adjacent territory.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) welcomed the approval of the proposed measure but said they are now "confronted  with strong legal and operational issues" as to whether  the March 30, 2026 Bangsamoro elections will be feasible.

"We are now confronted with strong legal and operational issues as to whether  the conduct of the first bangsamoro parliamentary election is still feasible by March 30," poll chief George Erwin Garcia told GMA News Online.

"Since there is no law yet fixing the date of the election, at this point, the same is still a question mark. We, however, commend the Bangsamoro Parliament for the giant step of finally passing this important piece of legislation. Of course, it has to still be signed  by the Chief Minister and to hurdle the effectivity clause.  Overall, our hope is eternal," Garcia added.

Supreme Court

It can be recalled the Supreme Court (SC), in October 2025, ordered the postponement of the Bangsamoro elections originally scheduled on October 13 after it declared two districting laws—Bangsamoro Autonomy Acts (BAAs) 58 and 77—by the autonomous government as unconstitutional.

The BAA 77, or the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Act of 2025, amended BAA 58 and redistricted the vacant seats in light of an SC decision excluding Sulu from the autonomous region.

The SC also asked the BTA to pass a redistricting bill by October 30 and directed the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to continue its preparations and conduct the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections no later than March 31, 2026.

In November 2025, the Comelec released the calendar of activities for the 2026 Bangsamoro elections, setting the inaugural polls on March 30.

While the Comelec initially indicated it could wait until November 30 for the passage of the legislation, the deadline lapsed without a new law.

In response, the BTA said it aimed to pass the redistricting measure by the end of 2025.

The Comelec, in December 2025, postponed the filing period for COCs for the inaugural parliamentary polls, initially scheduled from January 5 to January 9, 2026. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News