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AGUSAN DEL SUR, Northern Mindanao — Displaying his hands-on leadership once more, Bangsamoro Chief Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” A. Macacua has personally visited the billeting area of the Bangsamoro delegation at Bayugan West Central Elementary School here as he checked on the condition and welfare of athletes competing in the Palarong Pambansa 2026.
Highlighting his dual role as the concurrent Minister of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), Macacua’s presence at the national sporting event signals a stronger, more focused push for sports and youth development under his leadership.
He was accompanied by Members of the Parliament (MP) Rasul Esmael and Jafaar Matalam, who likewise extended full support and encouragement to the athletes, coaches, and officials of the delegation from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The visit underscored the regional government’s continuing commitment to strengthening sports development programs and uplifting Bangsamoro athletes in national competitions.
In his message to the athletes, Macacua urged discipline, determination, and perseverance in their respective events. He emphasized the importance of sportsmanship and challenged the athletes to give their best performance to bring honor and gold medals for the Bangsamoro region.
Beyond his visit, Macacua also hosted a “send-off” dinner with the athletes, expressing his personal encouragement and solidarity with the delegation as they prepared for their respective events. The gesture further underscored the administration’s hands-on support and morale-boosting efforts for Bangsamoro athletes.
Macacua likewise presented his broader vision for expanding and upgrading sports facilities across the BARMM. He stressed the need for improved training grounds and modern facilities to further develop young Bangsamoro talents and produce more competitive athletes in future tournaments.
The Chief Minister’s visit and send-off dinner are seen as strong early statements of intent for his sports and education agenda, reinforcing the government’s commitment to holistic youth development through education and athletics.
Established in 2018 by the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to implement the 2014 CAB, the Bangsamoro region is made up of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, and Tawi-Tawi, the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi, and the the Special Geographic Area’s (SGA) with eight municipalities in North Cotabato but 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. (✓)