Government moving 'full speed' for BARMM polls — Marcos

Philstar.com

May 7, 2026 | 9:03pm

CEBU CITY, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Wednesday that the national government is now moving “full speed” toward the conduct of the first regular parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on September 14. 

This, according to Marcos, signals Malacañang’s confidence that all remaining legal issues would ultimately be resolved in time for the historic polls.

Speaking during the 16th Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit and related ASEAN meetings here, the president underscored the importance of sustaining political stability, democratic transition, and economic development in the Bangsamoro region.

Marcos’ statements came amid pending matters before the Supreme Court involving BARMM territorial and electoral concerns, although preparations by the Commission on Elections, security agencies and Bangsamoro institutions have continued simultaneously.

Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo, Jr.  said Marcos’ remarks reflected a “whole-of-government” approach to ensuring the successful holding of the parliamentary elections as mandated under the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

“The government continues preparing on all fronts. The direction is to move forward and ensure readiness for the September 14 elections,” stressed Lagdameo.

During the summit, Marcos emphasized that BARMM occupies a strategic position within the BIMP-EAGA growth corridor and should become a major center for trade, halal industries, fisheries, tourism, and maritime connectivity in the southern Philippines.

He stressed that economic development in BARMM is directly tied to peace and institutional stability, saying investments and regional cooperation are essential in preserving gains achieved under the Bangsamoro peace process.

The president also highlighted the need for “people-centered development,” emphasizing that government programs must produce tangible benefits for communities in historically underserved and conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.

Marcos’ repeated emphasis on continuity, stability, and regional integration was reportedly viewed as an indirect affirmation that Malacañang remains optimistic the BARMM parliamentary elections will push through as scheduled despite unresolved legal questions.

Apart from the Bangsamoro elections, Marcos also pushed broader ASEAN and BIMP-EAGA priorities, including food security, digital transformation, infrastructure modernization, maritime sustainability, and energy cooperation among Southeast Asian economies.

He particularly cited the importance of improving transport and logistics links connecting Mindanao, Palawan, Sabah, Brunei, and eastern Indonesia to accelerate trade, tourism, and investments across the subregional bloc.

Marcos likewise reiterated the Philippines’ commitment to strengthening ASEAN centrality amid global economic and geopolitical uncertainties, stressing that regional cooperation remains vital to maintaining economic resilience and stability.

He also called for stronger collaboration in the digital economy and interconnectivity projects aimed at narrowing development gaps within the ASEAN growth corridor.

The September 14 BARMM parliamentary elections will be the first regular polls conducted under the Bangsamoro Organic Law and are widely regarded as a crucial phase in the transition toward a permanent parliamentary government in the Bangsamoro region following decades of armed conflict in southern Philippines. (Contributed story)