Bangsamoro Autonomous Region creation plebiscite, 2019

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region creation plebiscite, 2018
Location Mindanao, Philippines
Date January 21, 2019
Results by Locality
  Yes     No

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region creation plebiscite, 2019 is an upcoming plebiscite to decide on the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in the Philippines to be held on January 21, 2019.[1] Under the BOL, the government will have to hold the plebiscite not more than 150 days from the signing of the BOL into law (July 26, 2018) but not earlier than 90 days from the law's signing.[2]

If the BOL is ratified, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will be deemed abolished and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region will be formally established.

Scope

Registered voters in localities covered by the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region will vote in the plebiscite which includes:

Voters in the whole provinces of Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato will also have to vote if they consent the localities secession from their parent province to join the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

Preparations

Voters' registration

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has conducted a three-day satellite voter registration in select venues in the constituent provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as well as in the provinces of Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato, and in the cities of Cotabato and Isabela, Basilan from September 11 to 13, 2018. Alongside with voter's registration, residents were able to transfer, reactivate, or correct their registration, as well as have their records included or reinstated. Those who have registered for the most recent barangay and Sanggunian Kabataan elections were not required to undergo the registration process.[1] 15 satellites centers were set by the COMELEC, one of which was in a camp by the rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who played a major part in the conception of the BOL. MILF members were also among those who registered for the plebiscite with some of them lacking government-issued IDs such as birth certificates. However their own identification documents issued by their group was accepted as valid IDs for the purpose of registration[3]

Campaign and plebiscite period

The campaign period for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region creation plebiscite is set from December 7, 2018 to January 19, 2019 while the plebiscite period is scheduled to cover December 7, 2018 to February 5, 2019. The voting for the plebiscite will take place on January 21, 2019 as per an en banc decision by the Commission on Elections.[4]

Question

The crafting of the questions to be use in the plebiscite by the Comelec is already being finalized by mid-September 2018.[5]

Budget

It is estimated that the plebiscite would require a ₱857 million pesos. As of mid-September 2018, the proposed national budget for 2019 still does not include the budget for the January 2019 plebiscite.[6]

In an event that the Congress fails to appropriate part of the 2019 national budget for the holding of the plebiscite, it was proposed that funds acquired by Comelec in the 2018 barangay elections be used to partially satisfy the financial needs of the plebiscite.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 "Special registrations start for Bangsamoro plebiscite". Manila Times. 13 September 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  2. ↑ Legaspi, Amita (27 July 2018). "Now that BOL is signed, 'the more difficult part begins,' says Zubiri". GMA News. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  3. ↑ "Thousands show up for voters' listing inside MILF camp in Maguindanao". Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Phnom Penh Post, Asia News Network. 13 September 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  4. ↑ Esmaquel, Paterno II (5 September 2018). "Plebiscite on Bangsamoro Organic Law set for January 2019". Rappler. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  5. ↑ "Comelec finalizing questions for Bangsamoro law plebiscite". ABS-CBN News. 18 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  6. 1 2 Cruz, Maricel (21 September 2018). "Solons worried over lack of budget for BOL plebiscite". Manila Standard. Retrieved 22 September 2018.

See also

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