Arroyo bill seeks to split ARMM into two regions

To solve the problems besetting southern Philippines, former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo proposed that the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) be divided into two separate regions. In House Bill 173, Arroyo and her son, Camarines Sur Rep Diosdado Arroyo, sought the creation of Autonomous Region in Southwestern Mindanao (ARSWM) and Autonomous Region in Central Mindanao (ARCM) to replace ARMM. The Arroyos believe creating two new autonomous governments will make governing strife-torn Mindanao a lot easier as it will address the issue of geographical constraint that poses an immense challenge in governing the region. ARMM was first created on August 1, 1989 through Republic Act No. 6734 or the Organic Act and was expanded in 2001 through RA 9054. At present it is composed of the provinces of Sulu, Basilan (except Isabela City), Tawi-Tawi Lanao del Sur, and Maguindanao, and the city of Marawi City. The Arroyos noted that Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao “are landlocked by areas inhabited by other indigenous and ethnic groups," making the ARMM harder to govern. Under the proposed measure, to be included in ARSM are Sulu, Basilan, Tawi tawi, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay and the cities of Isabela, Pagadian, Dipolog, Dapitan and Zamboanga. On the other hand, to be included in ARCM are the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sarangani and cities of Cotabato, Marawi, Iligan, Kidapawan, General Santos, Koronadal, and Tacurong. A plebiscite will be conducted in each and every barangay to ask the people if they wanted to be included in the said regions, the bill stated. “The establishment or the creation of such autonomous regions shall be determined by provinces, cities, and barangays that will vote for the inclusion in the said autonomous regions," the Arroyos said. The plebiscite shall be held simultaneous with the barangay elections and the first regional elections for the elective officials of the autonomous regions shall be held on second Monday of August 2011. - KBK, GMANews.TV