BTA parliament bats for Marcos aide to co-chair InterGovernmental Relations Body

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Philstar.com

December 21, 2025 | 11:58am

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Legislators of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) has adopted a resolution formally requesting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to appoint Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Antonio Lagdameo Jr. as the national government co-chairperson of the InterGovernmental Relations Body (IGRB).

The resolution seeks continuity in high-level engagement between the national government and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).  

Under Resolution No. 775, adopted on December 17, the 80-member transition parliament endorsed Lagdameo to replace Amenah Pangandaman, whose resignation left the position vacant.

The IGRB was established under Section 2, Article VI of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to coordinate and resolve intergovernmental relations issues between BARMM and the Philippine national government through consultation and continuing negotiation in a non-adversarial manner. It is mandated to exhaust all means to address disputes, escalating unresolved matters to the President through the BARMM chief minister.

Since its creation in 2019, the IGRB has served as a principal institutional mechanism for inter-governmental dialogue, particularly on governance, fiscal policy, infrastructure, and socio-economic cooperation. It has convened multiple meetings between national and BARMM representatives to steer key policy coordination.

A significant development in the IGRB’s operationalization was the activation of its seven mechanisms in November 2023, including the Philippine Congress-Bangsamoro Parliament Forum, Intergovernmental Fiscal Policy Board, and the Intergovernmental Infrastructure Development Board, among others. These mechanisms provide specialized forums for negotiating legislative, fiscal, infrastructure, energy, and development issues affecting both governments.

Officials from both sides have underscored the importance of the IGRB in advancing peace and development. For example, in 2024 the body expressed appreciation for the national government’s continued support to BARMM’s peace and development goals, highlighting regular consultations as essential to sustainable progress.  

In recent years, the IGRB has also facilitated concrete agreements, such as establishing a Professional Regulation Commission regional office in BARMM and reviving a Department of Foreign Affairs consular presence in Cotabato City—items prioritized during bilateral meetings to improve service delivery and regulatory integration.  

The current request by the Bangsamoro Parliament comes at a pivotal time. BARMM is in transition toward its first fully elective parliamentary government after years under the BTA. Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, appointed by President Marcos in March 2025, is steering the region through preparations for its inaugural elections.

Parliament members say appointing Lagdameo, a senior presidential adviser, could help maintain high-level focus on BARMM-national government cooperation, particularly as the region navigates electoral, fiscal, and administrative challenges. They argue that continuity in IGRB leadership is necessary to support dialogue and anticipate issues as BARMM’s governance structures evolve.