Region XIV, formerly known as the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Now the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Philippines. Represents the political, cultural, and historical heartland of the Bangsamoro people in the southern Philippines. Established to address centuries of conflict, marginalization, and the aspiration for self-governance, ARMM evolved through peace agreements into today’s Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The area showcases a blend of Islamic heritage, indigenous customs, and a distinctive autonomous governance system. That sets it apart from other regions in the Philippines.
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Overview: Region XIV, Cities, Towns, and Barangays
Region XIV historically comprised:
- Provinces: Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi
- Cities: Cotabato City (administrative center), Marawi City, Lamitan City
- Municipalities & Barangays: Hundreds of local government units form the grassroots of Bangsamoro political life, where barangays play a crucial role in customary law (adat), dispute resolution, and community leadership.
Historical Background: Region XIV
The roots of Region XIV trace back to pre-colonial Islamic sultanates—notably the Sultanate of Sulu and Sultanate of Maguindanao—which predated Spanish rule. Resistance to colonization forged a strong Moro identity, later intensified by American and post-independence Philippine state integration policies.
Precursors to Autonomy
- Armed struggle led by the Moro movements (MNLF, later MILF)
- Marginalization of Muslim communities
- Land dispossession and demographic shifts
- Calls for self-determination grounded in historical sovereignty
Region XIV: Establishment of ARMM
The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was formally created in 1989 under Republic Act No. 6734, following the 1987 Philippine Constitution’s mandate for Muslim autonomy.
ARMM Set-Up
- Regional Governor
- Regional Legislative Assembly
- Autonomous administrative departments
- Jurisdiction over education, culture, Shari’ah courts, and regional development
2001 ARMM Expansion: Region XIV
In 2001, a plebiscite expanded ARMM to include:
- Basilan (excluding Isabela City)
- Marawi City
This expansion strengthened regional cohesion and political legitimacy.
Creation and Dissolution of Shariff Kabunsuan
- Created in 2006 from Maguindanao through ARMM legislation
- Dissolved in 2008 by a Supreme Court ruling
This episode highlighted the constitutional limits of ARMM’s legislative power and the need for deeper political reform.
Ancestral Domain & Memorandum of Agreement (MOA-AD)
The MOA-AD (2008) aimed to recognize Bangsamoro ancestral lands but was struck down by the Supreme Court, becoming a turning point that reshaped peace negotiations toward a more constitutionally grounded solution.
From ARMM to the Bangsamoro State
The signing of:
- Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (2014)
- Bangsamoro Organic Law (2018)
led to the abolition of ARMM and the creation of BARMM in 2019, marking the most significant political transformation in Mindanao’s modern history.
Bangsa Moro and Bangsa Sug
- Bangsa Moro: Collective identity of Muslim ethnolinguistic groups in Mindanao
- Bangsa Sug: People of the Sulu archipelago, culturally and historically distinct but integral to the Bangsamoro narrative
Administrative Division (BARMM Today)
- Provinces: Maguindanao del Norte & del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi
- Cities: Cotabato City, Lamitan City, Marawi City
- Special Geographic Areas: Former Maguindanao barangays in North Cotabato
ARMM Organizational Structure (Historical)
- Regional Governor
- Executive Council
- Regional Assembly
- Shari’ah Judicial System
- Line ministries (Education, Public Works, Social Services)
Power and Basic Principles of ARMM
- Autonomy within Philippine sovereignty
- Recognition of Islamic law for Muslims
- Local legislative authority
- Cultural preservation
- Peace and reconciliation as governance foundations
Cultural Heritage: Region XIV
Region XIV is rich in:
- Islamic architecture (mosques, torogans)
- Traditional textiles (inaul, pis syabit)
- Oral epics and kulintang music
- Customary law (adat)
This heritage remains central to Bangsamoro identity and governance.
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