Speech by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the 1st Session of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliament
Please allow me to greet some of the distinguished guests who are here with us this afternoon. [Please be seated.]
The Ambassador of the Republic of Turkiye to the Philippines, His Excellency Kaan Esener; Special Assistant to the President, Secretary Anton Lagdameo, Jr.; Mindanao Development Authority, Secretary Leo Magno; National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Secretary Sabuddin Abdurahim; Presidential Adviser on Peace Reconciliation and Unity, Secretary Mel Sarmiento; the Wāli of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Sheikh Muslim Guiamaden; honorable members of the Bangsamoro Parliament, you cannot imagine how much joy it brings me to be able to address the members of an elected Bangsamoro Parliament [Applause]; the other local government officials present; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.
Good afternoon to everyone.
Assalamu alaikum.
Brothers and sisters, after decades of struggle, we have reached this monumental day.
Alhamdulillah. Praise be to God.
For decades, generations wondered if this day would ever come. Today, we welcome the inaugural session of the first elected Bangsamoro Parliament. [Applause]
This formally ends the seven-year transition under the Bangsamoro Transition Authority and marks the beginning of the region’s first regular parliamentary government.
Truly, this is a victory for our Bangsamoro brethren. It is a victory for Mindanao. It is a victory for the entire Filipino nation. [Applause]
“Assalamu alaikum.” Peace be upon you.
I am always humbled by these words. They remind me that, despite our differences, peace is what we can offer to one another.
And few have worked harder for peace than the Bangsamoro people, even in the hardest years.
You chose peace guided by your faith and your trust in God.
Brothers and sisters, the path leading up to this day was long and painful.
We remember the families who suffered and lost loved ones during years of conflict. We honor them today.
We also honor the leaders from every side of the table who listened to one another. Because their efforts paved the way for the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the Bangsamoro Organic Law, and the establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.
This day is a milestone in the peace process between the National Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, marking the transition from armed struggle to peaceful democratic governance.
To everyone who has contributed to the story of Bangsamoro, thank you for never giving up on peace. [Applause]
My friends, let us be optimistic and realistic about what comes next.
Winning the right to govern was a significant achievement. The successful conduct of the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections was another historic step forward.
Now comes the hard part, the operationalization of an effective parliamentary government that will sustain the gains of peace and guide the Bangsamoro’s development in the years to come.
But this starts today. Today, The Parliament will begin its first session. Eighty elected Members of Parliament will begin the work of organizing the first regular Bangsamoro Parliament.
The members will elect the Chief Minister and Speaker, who will lead the executive branch and the Cabinet alongside two Deputy Chief Ministers. With this, you will have the foundation of your own government.
I do not want to preempt the formal proceedings of Parliament, but I am glad to see that the majority has already been established, and the leaders of this parliament have already been agreed upon.
This achievement belongs to all who have been involved, from the organization of the political parties, to the peaceful and transparent conduct of the elections to this day, the first session of the first duly elected Bangsamoro Parliament.
I salute you! [Applause]
Today’s session also launches a new phase of parliamentary governance, working within our broader presidential system.
The new coalition must uphold unity, statesmanship, and cooperation to build a more peaceful and progressive BARMM.
So, what does all this mean to the people of BARMM?
A stable government means enacting laws and delivering programs and services responsive to the needs of the Bangsamoro people.
It also means using public resources efficiently and transparently to create economic opportunities and strengthen regional development.
Above all, it means ensuring that the dividends of peace are felt in the daily lives of every Bangsamoro family.
To the Members of this Parliament: Never forget the struggle that people have endured. Serve with humility. Carry the hopes of many generations and honor their sacrifices through good governance.
On the part of the National Government, we will continue to expand economic opportunities for Mindanao as the Bangsamoro enters this new important chapter.
I reaffirm the National Government’s support for Bangsamoro autonomy and democratic institutions. We stand ready to work with the government formally constituted by this newly elected Parliament. [Applause]
To the people of the Bangsamoro: the National Government stands with you. Your success is the success of the country.
Hinding-hindi namin kayo pababayaan.
Brothers and sisters, I come before you as your President and a man of a different faith.
We may call upon God in different ways, yet we all ask for the same mercy, the same peace, and the same strength to do what is right.
So, let us walk forward, trusting in God and in one another, toward a Bangsamoro that is peaceful and prosperous.
Insha’Allah, God willing, the children of this land will one day look back at this day and say this is where a new and better chapter began.
May the Almighty bless the Bangsamoro, guide the Members of this Parliament, and keep our nation united in peace.
Assalamu alaikum.
Maraming salamat po.
Mabuhay ang Bangsamoro. [Applause]
Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas.
—END—