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Local Government
BillSBN-182320th Congress

Resetting the First Regular Elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

Enacted into law Filed Feb 10, 2026
◷ Where it standsIn Enacted
FiledCommittee2nd Reading3rd ReadingBicamEnacted

Filed on February 10, 2026, and approved by the President of the Philippines on April 6, 2026. It has moved through the legislative process, including approval on second and third readings in the Senate and House, and has been signed into law as Republic Act No. 12317.

Should you care?
Relevance to you
Moderate

This bill is significant for the governance structure in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, affecting electoral processes and political representation.

Voters in BangsamoroBangsamoro Transition Authority membersCommission on Elections staffPolitical candidates in BARMM
Timeliness
Timely

The bill addresses the need for a clear electoral timeline in the Bangsamoro region, which is essential for political stability and governance.

Affects you ifBangsamoro votersBangsamoro government officialsElection administratorsPolitical parties in BARMM
Impact assessment
AI read — verify with source
Overall impact
6.3/ 10
Long title

Resetting the First Regular Elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

Plain-language summary
✦AI Summary

This bill resets the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to September 12, 2026, and establishes a new schedule for future elections.

What this bill actually requires
RequiresThe first regular elections for the Bangsamoro Government shall be held on the second Monday of September 2026.
RequiresThe term of office for the officials first elected shall start at noon on October 30, 2026, and end at noon on June 11, 2031.
RequiresRegular elections for the Bangsamoro Government shall be held every three years thereafter, starting May 2031.
FundsThe amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) or any available appropriations identified by the Department of Budget and Management.
ⓘ AI-generated — verify with the source.↗ Official Senate PDF
What changes from current law

Compared with current law:

Today

Elections are synchronized with national elections.

This bill

Elections are now set for September 12, 2026.

Today

Elected officials assume office after elections.

This bill

Elected officials will assume office on October 30, 2026.

Today

Regular elections occur every three years.

This bill

Regular elections will now be held every three years starting May 2031.

ⓘ AI-generated comparison — verify against the bill and the cited law.
Ask this bill

The first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao are now scheduled for September 12, 2026.

Source · full text
Issue areas
Local GovernmentCommission on ElectionsBangsamoro electionsBARMM governanceBangsamoro Transition Authority

✦ Dashed tags are AI-suggested nuance; solid tags follow the committee taxonomy.

Legislative history
Feb 10, 2026Senate
AN ACT RESETTING THE FIRST REGULAR ELECTIONS IN THE BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 13, ARTICLE XVI OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11054, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ORGANIC LAW FOR THE BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO
Feb 10, 2026Senate
Prepared and submitted jointly by the Committee on LOCAL GOVERNMENT (Upon the recommendation of the Subcommittee on SBN-1587) joint with the Committees on ELECTORAL REFORMS AND PEOPLES PARTICIPATION and FINANCE with Senators JUAN MIGUEL "MIGZ" F. ZUBIRI, JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA and IMEE R. MARCOS as authors per Committee Report No. 29, recommending its approval in Substitution of S. No. 1587;
Feb 10, 2026Senate
Committee Report Calendared for Ordinary Business;
Feb 10, 2026Senate
Sponsor: Senator JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI;
Feb 10, 2026Senate
Transferred from the Calendar for Ordinary Business to the Calendar for Special Order;
Feb 10, 2026Senate
Sponsorship speech delivered by Senator JUAN MIGUEL "MIGZ" F. ZUBIRI;
Feb 10, 2026Senate
Co-sponsorship of Senators JV EJERCITO, ROBINHOOD PADILLA, LOREN B. LEGARDA, JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA, ERWIN T. TULFO and CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO;
Feb 10, 2026Senate
Remarks/Manifestation of Senators WIN T. GATCHALIAN and JOEL VILLANUEVA;
Feb 10, 2026Senate
Senators JV EJERCITO, ROBINHOOD PADILLA, LOREN B. LEGARDA, ERWIN T. TULFO, CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO, WIN T. GATCHALIAN and JOEL VILLANUEVA were made co-authors;
Feb 10, 2026Senate
Senators WIN T. GATCHALIAN and JOEL VILLANUEVA were made co-sponsors;
Feb 23, 2026Senate
Interpellation of Senators RODANTE D. MARCOLETA and PANFILO M. LACSON;
Feb 24, 2026Senate
Period of interpellation closed;
Feb 24, 2026Senate
Period of individual amendments;
Feb 24, 2026Senate
Period of individual amendments closed;
Feb 24, 2026Senate
Approved on Second Reading with Amendments;
Feb 25, 2026Senate
Reconsideration of the approval on Second Reading;
Feb 25, 2026Senate
Period of individual amendments;
Feb 25, 2026Senate
Period of individual amendments closed;
Feb 25, 2026Senate
Approved on Second Reading with Amendments;
Feb 26, 2026Senate
Copy of the bill was electronically distributed to the Senators;
Mar 2, 2026Senate
Approved on Third Reading;
Mar 2, 2026Senate
In favor: (21) Senators BAM AQUINO, PIA S. CAYETANO, JV EJERCITO, JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA, FRANCIS "CHIZ" G. ESCUDERO, WIN T. GATCHALIAN, CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO, RISA HONTIVEROS, PANFILO M. LACSON, MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID, RODANTE D. MARCOLETA, IMEE R. MARCOS, ROBINHOOD PADILLA, FRANCIS "KIKO" N. PANGILINAN, VICENTE C. SOTTO III, ERWIN T. TULFO, RAFFY T. TULFO, JOEL VILLANUEVA, CAMILLE A. VILLAR, MARK A. VILLAR and JUAN MIGUEL "MIGZ" F. ZUBIRI;
Mar 2, 2026Senate
Against: (None) ;
Mar 2, 2026Senate
Abstention: (None) ;
Mar 3, 2026Senate
Sent to the House of Representatives requesting for concurrence;
Mar 11, 2026Senate
House of Representatives designated Representatives Adiong, Balindong, Suan, Mangudadatu, Mastura and Abalos as conferees to the Bicameral Conference Committee on the disagreeing provisions of HBN-8220 and SBN-1823 on March 10, 2026;
Mar 11, 2026Senate
Senate designated Senators Zubiri, JV Ejercito and Estrada as conferees to the Bicameral Conference Committee on the disagreeing provisions of SBN-1823 and HBN-8220;
Mar 16, 2026Senate
Conference Committee Report on the disagreeing provisions of SBN-1823 and HBN-8220, submitted to the Senate, recommending that SBN-1823, in consolidation with HBN-8220, be approved in accordance with the attached copy of the bill as reconciled and approved by the conferees;
Mar 17, 2026Senate
Sponsorship speech of Senator JUAN MIGUEL "MIGZ" F. ZUBIRI on the conference committee report;
Mar 17, 2026Senate
Conference Committee Report Approved by the Senate;
Mar 18, 2026Senate
Conference Committee Report Approved by the House of Representatives on March 17, 2026;
Mar 24, 2026Senate
Letter from Senate Secretary Mark Llandro "Dong" L. Mendoza, transmitting nine (9) enrolled copies of the consolidated version of SBN-1823 and HBN-8220, for the signature of Speaker Faustino "Bojie" G. Dy III and Secretary General Atty. Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil, MNSA;
Mar 24, 2026Senate
Letter for Senate Secretary Mark Llandro "Dong" L. Mendoza, returning eight (8) enrolled copies of the consolidated version of SBN-1823 and HBN-8220, which were signed by Speaker Faustino "Bojie" G. Dy III and Secretary General Atty. Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil, MNSA;
Mar 24, 2026Senate
Enrolled copies of the consolidated version of SBN-1823 and HBN-8220, sent to the Office of the President for the signature of the President of the Philippines, His Excellency, President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.;
Apr 6, 2026Senate
Approved and signed into law by the President of the Philippines, His Excellency, President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. on March 25, 2026 and became
Apr 6, 2026Senate
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 12317.
Apr 16, 2026Senate
(Transmitted to the Legislative Records and Archives Service for safekeeping and preservation on April 16, 2026)
✦ AI insight

Fast-tracked: the bill was filed and approved on third reading in the Senate within 21 days, with significant actions occurring on February 10, 2026, and culminating in approval on March 2, 2026. It was then sent to the House, where it was reconciled and approved by March 18, 2026.

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Floor activity

Plenary deliberations (interpellation, amendments, sponsorship) will appear here as they are recorded.

Full text
SBN-1823 — verbatim textAs filed

CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES TWENTIETH CONGRESS First Regular Session SENATE S. No. 1823 PREPARED AND SUBMITTED JOINTLY BY THE COMMITTEES ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT; ELECTORAL REFORMS AND PEOPLE'S PARTICIPATION; AND FINANCE WITH SENATORS ZUBIRI, ESTRADA, MARCOS, EJERCITO, PADILLA, LEGARDA, TULFO (E.), GO, GATCHALIAN, AND VILLANUEVA AS AUTHORS THEREOF AN ACT RESETTING THE FIRST REGULAR ELECTIONS IN THE BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 13, ARTICLE XVI OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11054, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "ORGANIC LAW FOR THE BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO" Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 13, Article XVI, of Republic Act

No. 11054, or the "Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao", as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows: "SEC. 13. First Regular ElectionS. - The first regular electionS for the Bangsamoro

Government under this Organic Law shall be held [and synchronized with the 2022 national elections] ON THE SECOND MONDAY OF SEPTEMBER 2026. THE TERM OF OFFICE OF THE OFFICIALS FIRST ELECTED SHALL START AT NOON ON THE 30TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2026 AND END AT NOON ON THE 11TH DAY OF JUNE 2031. OF FOR THE PURPOSE SYNCHRONIZING THE BARMM PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS WITH THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS, THE REGULAR ELECTIONS FOR THE BANGSAMORO GOVERNMENT SHALL BE HELD ON THE SECOND MONDAY OF MAY 2031 AND EVERY THREE (3) YEARS THEREAFTER. BEGINNING 2031, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS SHALL ASSUME DAY OFFICE AT NOON OF THE 30TH

FOLLOWING THE DATE OF THEIR ELECTION. The Commission on Elections, through the Bangsamoro Electoral shall Office,] promulgate rules and regulations for the conduct of the elections, enforce, and administer them pursuant to national laws, this Organic Law, and the Bangsamoro Electoral Code."

SEC. 2. Holdover. - During the extension of the

Transition Period, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) shall continue as the interim government in the 13 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), unless such interim members are replaced by the President or their tenure is shortened by their election to a different office. The interim members of the BTA shall serve until their successors shall have been elected and qualified in an automated election.

SEC. 3. Use of Automated Election System. - Pursuant

to this Act, the automated election system employed during

the 12 May 2025 National and Local Elections shall 2 likewise be employed for the conduct of the first BARMM 3 Parliamentary Elections. This includes all machines, 4 devices, equipment, and supplies used, as well as the and service providers involved in their operation maintenance.

SEC. 4. Qualified Voters. - All qualified voters

registered in the permanent list in a precinct of the city or municipality within the BARMM based on the latest Election Registration Board hearing shall be entitled to vote in the BARMM Parliamentary Elections.

SEC. 5. Appropriations. - Any amount obligated prior

to the resetting of the BARMM Parliamentary Elections shall remain valid. The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the COMELEC or any available appropriations as may be identified by the Department of Budget and Management, subject to existing budgeting, accounting, and auditing rules and

regulations. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for 2 its continued implementation shall be included in the 3 annual General Appropriations Act, subject to the usual 4 budget preparation process.

SEC. 6. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision

6 of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder thereof not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 12123 is

hereby repealed. All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or portions thereof that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect

immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,

Reproduced from the Senate document. The official PDF is the authoritative version.