A plebiscite that seeks to create eight towns from the 63 barangays in North Cotabato under the Special Geographic Area of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (SGA-BARMM) is set on April 13, 2024.

The Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament has approved the bill that would allow the creation of eight towns.

The 63 barangays in the towns of Midsayap, Carmen, Pikit, Kabacan, and Pigcawayan are under the SGA-BARMM. Residents in these areas are urged to participate in the plebiscite.

According to the BARMM government, the eight towns that will be created will be named Pahamuddin, Kadayangan, Nabalawag, Old Kaabakan, Kapalawan, Malidegao, Tugunan, and Ligawasan.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said once the result of the plebiscite is favorable to the creation of the eight towns, a new province will likely be created depending on the decision of the Congress or the BARMM government.

"kung sakaling ang boto nila ay yes, therefore maging part na po talaga siya ng bangsmoro At maghihintay naman tayo ngayon na mag create ng ating congreso ng isang probinsya o isasama sya doon sa existing province ng Maguindanao. Antabayan natin kung ano ang gagawin ng bangsamoro. Ang importante lang for the meantime ma create lang ang mga municipalities,” Comelec Chairman, Atty. George Erwin Garcia, said.

The poll body added that the plebiscite is also significant for the upcoming 2025 midterm elections as this will guide the more than 80,000 registered voters in the 63 barangays where to vote.

"Therefore maging maayos, maging maliwanag sa amin kung may separate na municipalities at kung saan boboto ang kababayan natin, saaan sila kabilang yun ang hihintayin natin sana nga makaabot hanggang bago mag october. Yong kasing 2022 election hindi sila nakaboto kagit governor at saka sa vice gov at dahil nga ang problem kasi hindi naman sila part ng north Cotabato. Hindi na dapat mangyari yan sa darating na national and loc election,” Garcia added.