President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed Republic Act No. 12317, officially resetting the schedule for the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The new law also amends Section 13, Article XVI of Republic Act No. 11054, the “Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.”

Under RA 12317, the first regular elections for the Bangsamoro Government will now be held on the second Monday of September 2026. Subsequent elections will be synchronized with national and local elections, scheduled for the second Monday of May 2031 and every three years thereafter.

The law aims to provide a clear and stable electoral timeline for BARMM, ensuring proper governance and political transition in the region.

Officials said this move will help strengthen democratic processes and maintain continuity in the Bangsamoro Government while aligning regional elections with the broader Philippine electoral calendar.

The adjustment comes after previous delays in the establishment of the Bangsamoro Parliament, originally mandated under RA 11054, due to administrative, logistical, and transitional challenges.

With the new schedule, stakeholders hope for a smoother electoral process and strengthened political stability in the autonomous region.