LANAO DEL SUR: Eleven municipalities in the Bangasamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will receive their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) shares. Abdullah Cusain, assistant executive secretary of the Office of the Chief Minister, announced this during the “Kapihan sa Bangsamoro” held last Tuesday in Cotabato City. The 11 municipalities are Datu Salibo, Datu Hoffer, Mangudadatu, Pandag, Northern Kabuntalan, Datu Blah Sinsuat and Datu Anggal Midtimbang in Maguindanao; and Akbar, Al-Barka, Hadji Muhtamad and Mohammad Ajul in Basilan. The municipalities had previously failed to meet the requirements needed in receiving IRA during the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Article VI, Section 10 of the Bangsamoro Organic Law states that “the municipalities or barangay (villages) created, divided, merged or whose boundaries are substantially altered, shall be entitled to their appropriate share in the national taxes or Internal Revenue Allotment: Provided that it shall be approved by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite in the political units directly affected.”

Source: Manila Times February 18, 2020 20:26 UTC