Bill rescheduling BARMM polls to August 2025 reached Senate plenary

MANILA, Philippines — A bill seeking to reset the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to August 11, 2025 has reached the Senate plenary on Wednesday.

At the Senate’s regular session, Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito stood to sponsor Senate Bill No. 2942.

The proposed bill amends Article XVI, Section 13 of Republic Act No. 11054, also known as the Bangsamoro Organic Law, to synchronize future elections with the 2028 national polls and every three years thereafter.

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“After careful deliberation and consultations with all stakeholders, we have crafted a committee report that is both inclusive and acceptable,” Ejercito said in his sponsorship speech.

“This bill does not seek to deny anyone their right to vote. Instead, it proposes a reasonable adjustment to give the Commission on Elections significant time to prepare and the current Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to wind up their transactions,” he added.

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Under the measure, the BTA members will serve until their successors are elected and sworn into office.

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According to the lawmaker, the proposed extension would also address uncertainties regarding the status and salaries of BTA employees.

The bill, which is principally authored by Senate President Francis Escudero, will automatically consider candidates who filed for the 2024 elections as nominees for the 2025 polls.

Once enacted, the measure aims to streamline nationwide electoral processes and provide the Bangsamoro region a steady and effective path toward self-governance.

“I hope this measure reflects the collective aspirations of our Filipino Muslim brothers and sisters,” Ejercito concluded.