COTABATO CITY — A new measure proposing the creation of “Moro Province” in the Special Geographic Area (SGA) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has been formally filed in the House of Representatives.
House Bill No. 3299, introduced during the 1st Regular Session of the 20th Congress on August 6, 2025, aims to grant the SGA its own provincial government. The bill is authored by TUCP Party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza, Cotabato 3rd District Rep. Ma. Alana Samantha Taliño Santos, and Cotabato 1st District Rep. Edwin Cruzado.
Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Member of Parliament (MP) Mohammad Kelie Antao, who has long advocated for the province’s creation, expressed deep gratitude to the authors of the measure. He also extended thanks to North Cotabato Governor Emmylou “Lala” Taliño Mendoza for her continued concern and support for SGA residents, noting that even after the SGA’s transition to BARMM jurisdiction, the provincial government of North Cotabato never neglected their needs.
MP Antao emphasized that the people of the SGA — composed of eight municipalities that voted to join BARMM in the 2019 plebiscite — are eager to have their own provincial administration. He also lauded the BARMM Government, through the BTA Parliament, for passing a resolution urging Congress to expedite the creation of the new province.
“The establishment of Moro Province is another collective challenge we will face together — the challenge of securing our own province and parliamentary districts in the SGA,” Antao said. “With the filing of House Bill No. 3299, our long-standing dream is closer to reality.”
Importance of Establishing Moro Province
The creation of Moro Province is seen as a crucial step in improving governance, service delivery, and representation for the SGA’s predominantly Moro population. Having its own provincial government would:
- Ensure localized decision-making — allowing policies and development programs to be tailored to the SGA’s specific needs.
- Strengthen political representation — through dedicated provincial and parliamentary districts that can better voice the concerns of the SGA in both the BARMM and the national government.
- Improve delivery of basic services — such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure, by bringing administrative offices closer to the people.
- Promote economic growth — by enabling targeted investments, agricultural development, and livelihood support programs.
- Preserve cultural identity — by empowering Moro leaders to safeguard traditions, languages, and heritage within a formal provincial framework.
For many residents, the creation of Moro Province is not just an administrative change but a milestone in their struggle for self-determination and equitable development within BARMM.