COTABATO CITY — With just 83 days remaining before the first-ever Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is rallying civil society organizations (CSOs), media, and governance partners to take an active role in promoting voter education and ensuring a successful electoral process in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
During a consultative meeting held in Cotabato City on July 22, COMELEC Acting Director IV Atty. Frances Carolyn Aguindadao-Arabe emphasized the importance of inclusive participation in the lead-up to the October 13 polls.
“We appeal to all of you today—our regional and field election officials, our partners in governance and advocacy, and all CSOs and media/social media entities—to be ambassadors of meaningful elections for BARMM,” said Aguindadao-Arabe.
She underscored the historical significance of the upcoming elections, calling them the culmination of “decades of struggle, sacrifice, and the enduring desire of the Bangsamoro people to achieve meaningful autonomy, lasting peace, and inclusive development.”
The parliamentary elections, a first in Philippine history, mark a critical milestone in the full implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law. Aguindadao-Arabe also noted that the international community is closely monitoring the democratic journey of the region.
“Observers from across the globe are looking to our people, our institutions, and our civil society to see how democracy is nurtured, practiced, and upheld by a people that has long yearned for it,” she added.
During the event, CSOs—including the Bangsamoro Information Office (BIO)—shared ongoing and planned voter education initiatives aimed at increasing electoral awareness and participation across the region.
“For the BARMM Parliamentary Elections, we ask for your renewed commitment to help ensure that voter education reaches every corner of this region,” Aguindadao-Arabe told the attendees. “The level of voter participation will be the defining measure of how far we’ve come and how determined we are to move forward.”
COMELEC is set to conduct further consultations in the island provinces of Basilan and Tawi-Tawi as part of its preparations. These efforts will culminate in the official launch of the “Botong Bangsamoro 2025” voter education campaign on August 19 at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex in Cotabato City.
The Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections are expected to usher in a new era of self-governance in the region, with members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority stepping aside for the first set of democratically elected parliamentarians.