Featured image above shows BARMM Parliament Speaker Mohammad S. Yacob, Ph.D. (center) with European Union Ambassador Massimo Santoro and Spain Ambassador Miguel Utray Delgado. (Credit: Office of the Speaker)
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COTABATO CITY — Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament Speaker Mohammad S. Yacob, Ph.D., has welcomed officials from the European Union (EU) and the Kingdom of Spain as they discussed various subject matters relevant to the region.
The EU and Spanish officials paid a courtesy visit on the Speaker just after the unveiling on May 25, 2026, of the renovated Parliament Lobby, BTA Building, Bangsamoro Government Center (BGC) in the city, capital of the region.
In the two parties’ meeting were EU Delegation Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro, Spain Ambassador to the Philippines Miguel Utray Delgado, and EU Program Manager Emily Mercado.
During the meeting, discussions focused on the forthcoming first-ever parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on September 14, 2026, the ongoing normalization efforts under the Bangsamoro peace process with the Philippine Government, and opportunities to strengthen economic cooperation and international partnerships in the region.
Speaker Yacob underscored the significance of the approaching BARMM parliamentary elections, describing it as a historic political milestone for the region and the country.
Ambassador Santoro expressed the EU’s readiness to continue supporting the Bangsamoro Government, particularly in relation to the electoral process and the ongoing normalization initiatives aimed at sustaining peace and development in the region.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Delgado highlighted initiatives being spearheaded through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support the electoral process and strengthen democratic institutions in the Bangsamoro.
The meeting also explored opportunities for economic growth and trade cooperation. Discussions emphasized that entering into free trade agreements could help position BARMM as a viable and attractive destination for international business and foreign partners.
In closing, Speaker Yacob expressed gratitude to the BARMM’s international partners, including UNOPS and the SUBATRA Programme, for their continued support to the Bangsamoro Parliament and its development initiatives.
The Bangsamoro region, established in 2018 by the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to implement the 2014 CAB, 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, as well as the Special Geographic Area’s (SGA) composed of eight municipalities in North Cotabato 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. (✓)