The Senate on Monday, March 2, approved on third and final reading Senate Bill No. 1823, which resets Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao's (BARMM) first regular parliamentary elections to the second Monday of September this year.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, who sponsored the measure, said it brings BARMM closer to holding its first regular parliamentary elections, a milestone that gives real weight to the Bangsamoro people’s right to self-determination and self-governance through a clear electoral mandate.

"It is my firm belief that this not just a mere calendar adjustment, but an affirmation of the importance of the people’s voice, and a safeguard for institutions that must be accountable to the communities they serve," he said.

"For BARMM, this first regular election is historic. It is the moment when governance is strengthened by consent, not by executive appointment, and when leadership is earned through the ballot, not assumed through a prolonged transition," he added.

Zubiri said it is also a message to every Bangsamoro family that their future is built with their participation at the center.

He added that peace is not sustained by agreements alone, and it is sustained by a political process that people can believe in, where authority comes from a mandate that is expressed and renewed through elections.

"That is why this first parliamentary election matters: it keeps the peace process anchored on legitimacy, accountability and people’s participation," he said.

Senator Joel Villanueva voted in favor of the bill, describing the measure as a step toward strengthening democracy in BARMM.

Villanueva praised Zubiri for his steady leadership and dedication to advancing reforms that he called vital for the region’s future.

“Mr. President, democracy demands preparation. It requires clarity in representation and institutions that are fully equipped to carry out the will of the people. Let us view this reset as a commitment to genuine democracy, one where the people of BARMM are able to participate fully, fairly, and confidently in choosing their leader,”Villanueva explained.

-Paraluman News