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COTABATO CITY (SDN) — Surprise, or not, four municipalities of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have been recognized as among the Philippines’ “Most Improved Local Government Unit”.
The recognition is from the 2023 Philippine Creative Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Congress (PCCMCC) rankings bestowed in September.
Below are the BARMM LGUs in the PCCMCC Competitiveness Ranking for this year:
- 5th to 6th Class Municipalities (Top 2)
Municipal Government of Butig - 3rd to 4th Class Municipalities (Top 1)
Municipality of Lantawan - 1st to 2nd Class Municipalities
Jolo Municipal Government (Top 1)
Local Government of Sumisip (Top 3)
The Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG), one of the 15 primary ministries of the Bangsamoro government, acknowledged the four LGUs, congratulating them for their achievements.
MILG Interior Minister Naguib G. Sinarimbo said:
The Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) extends warmest congratulations to the…BARMM local government units for bagging recognition as Most Improved Local Government Units in the 2023 Philippine Creative Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Congress (PCCMCC),” he said.
The Bangsamoro region, established in 2018 by the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to implement the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), is made up of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi, as well as the Special Geographic Area’s (SGA) 63 barangays or villages that voted “Yes” in a plebiscite in February 2019 to be under the BARMM jurisdiction.
According to the Philippine Atlas BARMM has 4,404,288 people. It has 116 municipalities: Basilan, 11 municipalities; Lanao del Sur, 39; undivided Maguindanao, 36; Sulu, 19; and Tawi-Tawi, 11. Its component cities are Cotabato (the regional center and capital) in Maguindanao; Lamitan in Basilan; and Marawi in Lanao del Sur.
The Bangsamoro government also has its recognition awards for its LGUs, the Salamat Excellence Award for Leadership or SEAL, bestowed in honor of Dr. Salamat Hashim, the late founder and chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Organizers of the PCCMCC also congratulated all the winners this year, such as “LGUs, Provincial Local Government Units (PLGUs), and Regional Competitiveness Committees (RCCs) that have shown dedication and determination in achieving this year’s remarkable competitiveness ranking!
Your unwavering commitment to excellence is truly commendable, and your collective efforts have not only elevated your respective regions but have also contributed to the overall progress and development of our nation. Keep up the outstanding work, and may your continued dedication pave the way for even greater achievements in the future. Together, we are building a brighter, more competitive, and creative future for all.”
In the case of the BARMM, winners this year will be awarded in 2024 during the Foundation Day of the regional autonomy in January. — EDD K. Usman (✓)