Parliamentary districts of Bangsamoro

Parliamentary districts of Bangsamoro
Map
CategoryElectoral district (unused)
LocationPhilippines
Created
  • February 28, 2024
Number32[a] (as of 2025)
Populations101,178–259,993
Government

Parliamentary districts of Bangsamoro refers to the electoral districts or constituencies in which the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao of the Philippines is divided for the purpose of electing 32 out of 80 members of the Bangsamoro Parliament.

The districts were created on February 28, 2024. The current members however are appointed on an interim basis by the President of the Philippines while the inaugural district parliament members are to determined in the upcoming election to be held not after March 31, 2026.

Background

The Bangsamoro Organic Law mandates the establishment of the a legislature for the Bangsamoro autonomous region. Thirty-two out of 80 members of the Bangsamoro Parliament are to come from parliamentary districts, which is distinct from the legislative districts of the national Philippine Congress.

The first attempt to establish parliamentary districts was through Parliament Bill No. 6.[1]

Parliament Bill No. 297[2] was filed on December 18, 2023 during the second Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament.[3][4]

The first public consultations on the bill started on January 15, 2024. There was debates on how the districts should be allocated. This includes advocacy for more districts for some localities than what is proposed on the bill.[5][6][7]

On February 28, 2024 the Bangsamoro Parliament approved the bill proposing the creation of the parliamentary districts which became Bangsamoro Act No. 58. The bill was signed by Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim.[8]

The exclusion of Sulu from the Bangsamoro due to a Supreme Court decision meant that the province will not be part of the inaugural 2025 regional elections.[9] If the seven Sulu districts are not reallocated in time for the 2025 elections, the Sulu seats could remain unfilled.[10] Parliament Bill No. 351 was filed to redistribute the seats. An additional district is proposed for each of the remaining five provinces, Cotabato City and the Special Geographic Area.[11][12] Muslimin Sema, speaking as chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front opposes the reallocation insisting that the national Congress could work on Sulu's reintegration to the autonomous region.[13] The Parliament failed to reallocate the seven parliamentary districts on time, rendering only 25 seats to be contested for the elections out of the allotted 32.[14]

Parliament Bill No. 351 was approved nevertheless on August 19, 2025.[15][16] The bill which became Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 77 was signed by Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua on August 28, 2025.[17]

Both Acts No. 58 and 77 were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court which also ordered the parliament to make a new law determining the districts by October 31, 2025.[18]

The replacement law, Parliament Bill 415 was passed on January 13, 2026.[19][20] Macacua signed the bill into law on January 20, 2026 becoming Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 86.[21]

List

The following are the parliamentary districts as defined by Bangsamoro Act No. 86.[22]

District Scope Population (2024)
Basilan's 1st 116,652
Basilan's 2nd 153,796
Basilan's 3rd 125,783
Basilan's 4th 145,716
Cotabato City's 1st
  • Poblacion IV
  • Poblacion VIII
  • Rosary Heights Mother
  • Rosary Heights I
  • Rosary Heights II
  • Rosary Heights III
  • Rosary Heights IV
  • Rosary Heights V
  • Rosary Heights VI
  • Rosary Heights VII
  • Rosary Heights IX
103,883
Cotabato City's 2nd
  • Bagua Mother
  • Bagua I
  • Bagua II
  • Bagua III
  • Kalanganan Mother
  • Kalanganan I
  • Kalanganan II
  • Poblacion V
  • Rosary Heights X
  • Rosary Heights XI
  • Rosary Heights XII
  • Rosary Heights XIII
154,883
Cotabato City's 3rd
  • Poblacion Mother
  • Poblacion II
  • Poblacion III
  • Poblacion IX
  • Rosary Heights VIII
  • Tamontaka Mother
  • Tamontaka I
  • Tamontaka II
  • Tamontaka III
  • Tamontaka IV
  • Tamontaka V
101,178
Lanao del Sur's 1st 259,993
Lanao del Sur's 2nd 137,228
Lanao del Sur's 3rd 129,069
Lanao del Sur's 4th 160,017
Lanao del Sur's 5th 144,765
Lanao del Sur's 6th 124,834
Lanao del Sur's 7th 145,641
Lanao del Sur's 8th 149,713
Lanao del Sur's 9th 116,877
Maguindanao del Norte's 1st 130,123
Maguindanao del Norte's 2nd 123,309
Maguindanao del Norte's 3rd
113,847
Maguindanao del Norte's 4th 250,358
Maguindanao del Norte's 5th
  • Parts of Sultan Kudarat
    • Alamada
    • Banatin
    • Banubo
    • Bulalo
    • Calsada
    • Crossing Simuay
    • Dalumangcob
    • Damaniog
    • Darapanan
    • Gang
    • Inawan
    • Kakar
    • Katidtuan
    • Katuli
    • Ladia
    • Limbo
    • Maidapa
    • Makaguiling
    • Matengen
    • Mulaug
    • Nara
    • Nekitan
    • Olas
    • Panatan
    • Pigcalagan
    • Pigkelegan
    • Pinaring
    • Pingping
    • Raguisi
    • Rebuken
    • Salimbao
    • Sambolawan
    • Senditan
    • Ungap
  • Sultan Mastura
147,330
Maguindanao del Sur's 1st 180,592
Maguindanao del Sur's 2nd 132,625
Maguindanao del Sur's 3rd 137,102
Maguindanao del Sur's 4th 157,132
Maguindanao del Sur's 5th 205,792
Special Geographic Area's 1st 104,582
Special Geographic Area's 2nd 110,121
Tawi-Tawi's 1st 131,887
Tawi-Tawi's 2nd 126,186
Tawi-Tawi's 3rd 107,447
Tawi-Tawi's 4th 117,125

Previous apportionments

Bangsamoro Act No. 58

The following are the parliamentary districts as defined by Bangsamoro Act No. 58.[23]

District[2][8][24] Scope Population[2] (2020)
Basilan's 1st 147,873
Basilan's 2nd 145,415
Basilan's 3rd 132,964
Lanao del Sur's 1st 127,790
Lanao del Sur's 2nd 161,957
Lanao del Sur's 3rd 189,755
Lanao del Sur's 4th 115,388
Lanao del Sur's 5th 133,341
Lanao del Sur's 6th 143,543
Lanao del Sur's 7th 116,743
Lanao del Sur's 8th 207,010
Maguindanao del Norte's 1st 111,861
Maguindanao del Norte's 2nd 128,245
Maguindanao del Norte's 3rd 174,300
Maguindanao del Norte's 4th 204,015
Maguindanao del Sur's 1st 170,060
Maguindanao del Sur's 2nd 194,045
Maguindanao del Sur's 3rd 197,279
Maguindanao del Sur's 4th 162,374
Sulu's 1st 181,546
Sulu's 2nd 164,663
Sulu's 3rd 159,685
Sulu's 4th 129,413
Sulu's 5th 108,827
Sulu's 6th 141,108
Sulu's 7th 114,866
Tawi Tawi's 1st 151,839
Tawi Tawi's 2nd 134,575
Tawi Tawi's 3rd 153,862
Cotabato City's 1st
  • Poblacion
  • Poblacion I
  • Poblacion II
  • Poblacion III
  • Poblacion IV
  • Poblacion VIII
  • Poblacion IX
  • Rosary Heights II
  • Rosary Heights III
  • Rosary Heights IV
  • Rosary Heights IV
  • Rosary Heights IVI
  • Rosary Heights VII
  • Rosary Heights VIII
  • Rosary Heights XI
  • Tamontaka I
  • Tamontaka II
  • Tamontaka III
  • Tamontaka IV
  • Tamontaka V
144,117
Cotabato City's 2nd
  • Poblacion V
  • Poblacion VI
  • Poblacion VII
  • Bagua
  • Bagua I
  • Bagua II
  • Bagua III
  • Kalanganan
  • Kalanganan I
  • Kalanganan II
  • Rosary Heights
  • Rosary Heights I
  • Rosary Heights X
  • Rosary Heights XI
  • Rosary Heights XII
  • Rosary Heights XIII
  • Tamontaka
180,962
Special Geographic Area's 1st 215,433

Number of districts by province

Province No. of districts
Basilan 3
Lanao del Sur 8
Maguindanao del Norte 4
Maguindanao del Sur 4
Sulu 7[a]
Tawi Tawi 3
Cotabato City[b] 2
Special Geographic Area[c] 1
Total 32

Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 77

The following are the parliamentary districts as defined by Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 77.[17]

District[17] Scope Population (2024)
Basilan's 1st Lamitan 116,652
Basilan's 2nd 153,796
Basilan's 3rd 125,783
Basilan's 4th 145,716
Lanao del Sur's 1st 259,993
Lanao del Sur's 2nd 128,441
Lanao del Sur's 3rd 137,856
Lanao del Sur's 4th 160,017
Lanao del Sur's 5th 144,765
Lanao del Sur's 6th 124,834
Lanao del Sur's 7th 145,641
Lanao del Sur's 8th 149,713
Lanao del Sur's 9th 116,877
Maguindanao del Norte's 1st 130,123
Maguindanao del Norte's 2nd 123,209
Maguindanao del Norte's 3rd 112,773
Maguindanao del Norte's 4th 250,358
Maguindanao del Norte's 5th 124,965
Maguindanao del Sur's 1st 180,592
Maguindanao del Sur's 2nd 132,625
Maguindanao del Sur's 3rd 137,102
Maguindanao del Sur's 4th 157,132
Maguindanao del Sur's 5th 205,792
Tawi Tawi's 1st 131,887
Tawi Tawi's 2nd 126,128
Tawi Tawi's 3rd 107,447
Tawi Tawi's 4th 117,125
Cotabato City's 1st
  • Rosary Heights Mother
  • Rosary Heights I
  • Rosary Heights II
  • Rosary Heights III
  • Rosary Heights IV
  • Rosary Heights V
  • Rosary Heights VI
  • Rosary Heights VII
  • Poblacion VII
  • Poblacion VIII
104,127
Cotabato City's 2nd
  • Bagua Mother
  • Bagua I
  • Bagua II
  • Bagua III
  • Poblacion V
  • Poblacion VI
  • Kalagangan Mother
  • Kalagangan I
  • Kalagangan II
  • Rosary Heights X
  • Rosary Heights XI
  • Rosary Heights XII
  • Rosary Heights XIII
154,883
Cotabato City's 3rd
  • Tamontaka Mother
  • Tamontaka I
  • Tamontaka II
  • Tamontaka III
  • Tamontaka IV
  • Tamontaka V
  • Rosary Heights VIII
  • Rosary Heights IX
  • Poblacion Mother
  • Poblacion I
  • Poblacion II
  • Poblacion III
  • Poblacion IV
  • Poblacion IX
124,373
Special Geographic Area's 1st 104,582
Special Geographic Area's 2nd 110,121

Number of districts by province

Province No. of districts
Basilan 4
Lanao del Sur 9
Maguindanao del Norte 5
Maguindanao del Sur 5
Tawi Tawi 4
Cotabato City[b] 3
Special Geographic Area[c] 2
Total 32

Notes

  1. ^ a b Including the seven districts for Sulu. The province was later excluded from the Bangsamoro by the Supreme Court. The province was initially included in the Bangsamoro despite its vote for its exclusion from the region in the 2019 Bangsamoro autonomy plebiscite.
  2. ^ a b Independent component city, grouped with Maguindanao del Norte
  3. ^ a b Not a province. A collection of barangays in Cotabato province

References

  1. ^ "Bill No. 6" (PDF). Bangsamoro Parliament. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Bill No. 267" (PDF). Bangsamoro Parliament. Government of the Day l. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  3. ^ Dela Cruz, Sheila Mae (December 21, 2023). "Bangsamoro lawmakers push for creation of 32 districts in BARMM". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  4. ^ "Bill creating 32 BARMM districts introduced". The Manila Times. December 22, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  5. ^ "Pubcon on bill creating 32 single parliamentary districts kicks-off". NDBC News. Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation. BTA-Public Information, Publication, And Media Relations Division. January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  6. ^ "4 parliamentary districts pushed for Basilan, Tawi-tawi". GMA News. January 30, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  7. ^ Cabrera, Ferdinandh (January 17, 2024). "BARMM struggles to reach consensus on districts ahead of 2025 regional polls". Rappler. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Cabrera, Ferdinandh (February 29, 2024). "Bill creating 32 single-member parliamentary districts in the BARMM passed". MindaNews. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  9. ^ "SC: Sulu Province not part of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region". ABS-CBN News. September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  10. ^ Arguilas, Carolyn (September 12, 2024). "BARMM parliamentary polls to proceed as scheduled but what will happen to Sulu's supposed 7 district seats?". MindaNews. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  11. ^ "Parliament Bill No. 351" (PDF). Bangsamoro Parliament. April 8, 2025. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  12. ^ Unson, John. "Creation of 2 parliamentary districts in 8 BARMM towns mulled". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  13. ^ Unson, John (July 6, 2025). "MNLF against transfer of Sulu BARMM parliamentary districts". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  14. ^ Cabrera, Ferdinandh (June 26, 2025). "Comelec: only 73 of 80 parliamentary seats up for grabs in October Bangsamoro polls". MindaNews. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
  15. ^ "BARMM Parliament approves redistricting bill". August 20, 2025. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  16. ^ "Parliament Bill No. 351" (PDF). Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  17. ^ a b c "Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 77" (PDF). Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  18. ^ Gozum, Iya (October 1, 2025). "BARMM polls postponed as SC declares districting laws unconstitutional". Rappler. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
  19. ^ Bacongco, Keith (January 13, 2026). "BARMM Parliament OKs redistricting bill". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  20. ^ "BARMM Parliament okays long-delayed law, sets 32-district map for polls". Rappler. January 13, 2026. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  21. ^ Gomez, Herbie (January 20, 2026). "BARMM chief signs regional law redrawing parliamentary districts". Rappler. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  22. ^ "Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 86" (PDF). Bangsamoro Parliament. January 20, 2026.
  23. ^ "BARMM elections to proceed with 73 seats, NOTA option remains". Rappler. September 2, 2025. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  24. ^ "Know which BARMM parliamentary district you belong". NDBC News. Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation. Bangsamoro Transition Authority Media Office. March 5, 2024. Retrieved March 6, 2024.