Nabalawag Explained

Flag Size:120x80px
Seal Size:100x80px
Pushpin Map:Philippines
Pushpin Label Position:left
Settlement Type:Municipality
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Philippines
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Bangsamoro
Subdivision Type2:Province
Subdivision Name2:Cotabato
Subdivision Type3:District
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:April 13, 2024
Parts Type:Barangays
Parts Style:p
Leader Name:Anwar Zumbaga Saluwang (OIC)
Leader Title1:Vice Mayor
Leader Name1:Zaid Utto Pakiladatu (OIC)
Area Total Km2:86.05
Population Total:28,239
Population As Of:2020
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:PST
Utc Offset:+8
Demographics1 Title5:Assets
Demographics1 Title6:Assets rank
Demographics1 Title7:IRA
Demographics1 Title8:IRA rank
Demographics1 Title9:Expenditure
Demographics1 Title10:Liabilities
Demographics2 Title2:Water
Demographics2 Title3:Telecommunications
Demographics2 Title4:Cable TV
Blank1 Name Sec1:Native languages
Blank2 Name Sec1:Crime index

Nabalawag, officially the Municipality of Nabalawag (Maguindanaon: Inged nu Nabalawag, Jawi: ; Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Nabalawag; Cebuano: Lungsod sa Nabalawag; Tagalog: Bayan ng Nabalawag), is a municipality in the province of Cotabato, Philippines. The municipality is part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao despite Cotabato being part of Soccsksargen.

History

When the Bangsamoro was created in 2019 to supplant the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, 63 barangays in the province of Cotabato were grouped with the newer autonomous region in the second part of the plebiscite held in February 6.[1] The mother municipalities and Cotabato province remained part of Soccsksargen.[2]

By March 2020, these barangays were designated as a Special Geographic Area (SGA) of the Bangsamoro region.[3]

On August 17, 2023, the bills consolidating the SGA barangays into eight municipalities were approved by the Bangsamoro Parliament,[4] The particular bill creating Nabalawag was Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 131.[5] The town was originally proposed to be named as Kabalukan.[6]

A plebiscite was held on April 13, 2024, and voters approved all eight bills reconstituting the SGA barangays to eight municipalities including Nabalawag, where 7,442 voted in favor of its creation while 14 voted against. The Bangsamoro regional government will provide P2.5 million in funding for the municipal government until it gets its share of income from the National Tax Allotment.[7] Nabalawag was created from six barangays of Midsayap and a single barangay from Aleosan.[5]

Geography

Barangays

Nabalawag is politically subdivided into seven barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

Government

Officers-in-charge (OIC) was selected by BARMM Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim to fill positions in the municipal government pending regular elections in 2025. The municipality remains under the jurisdiction of the Special Geographic Area pending the creation of a new province.[8] [9]

Anwar Zumbaga Saluwang is the OIC mayor of Nabalawag since July 9, 2024,[10]

Notes and References

  1. News: Santos . Tina . February 15, 2019 . 63 Cotabato barangays now part of BARMM . . May 22, 2019.
  2. News: Layug . Margaret Claire . February 8, 2019 . What happens to Cotabato barangays not part of new Bangsamoro region? . en, tl . . May 22, 2019.
  3. News: Fernandez . Edwin . March 21, 2020 . BARMM records 2 Covid-19 deaths, 2 infected . June 30, 2020.
  4. News: BARMM approves creation of 8 new towns . 19 August 2023 . Manila Bulletin . en.
  5. News: Bills creating 8 municipalities in SGA-BARMM approved by BTA Parliament . 25 August 2023 . Luwaran . 20 August 2023.
  6. Web site: Parliament Bill No. 131 - An Act Creating the Municipality of Kabalukan, Appropriating Funds Therefor, and for Other Purposes . 13 April 2024 . 14 December 2022.
  7. News: Bolledo . Jairo . BARMM residents approve creation of 8 more towns . 13 April 2024 . Rappler . 13 April 2024.
  8. News: 81% voter turnout on BARMM special geographic area plebiscite . 14 April 2024 . Daily Tribune . 14 April 2024 .
  9. News: BARMM eyes new province for eight newly created towns . 16 April 2024 . Rappler . 16 April 2024 .
  10. News: CM Ebrahim names OIC local officials in new eight SGA towns - BARMM Official Website . 27 July 2024 . Bangsamoro Information Office . 9 July 2024.