Marcos declares Sept. 14 special non-working day in BARMM for parliamentary polls

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has issued a proclamation declaring September 14, 2026 a special non-working day in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in light of its first regular parliamentary elections.

Under Proclamation No. 1395, the date was set as a special non-working day to give BARMM residents “the opportunity to actively and fully participate in the election and exercise their right to vote.”

The proclamation was signed on August 18 by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, by the authority of the President.

The first BARMM parliamentary elections were reset to September 14, under Republic Act No. 12317, which amended the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) postponed the BARMM polls, originally scheduled for March, after the Supreme Court ruled that Sulu is no longer part of the autonomous region, citing insufficient time to prepare for the polls.

Marcos earlier said he is determined to ensure the successful conduct of the BARMM polls.

"We are determined that we will push through with the second Monday of September—in the coming September—and to finally achieve our dream, our goal of being able to say that we have a duly elected parliament in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao," the President said last month.

Both the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Army have started deploying more personnel to secure the upcoming elections in the region. — RSJ, GMA News