NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Third Regular Session
25 IAN 14
P3 :07
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 2915
' r.C,:; - -
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE INCLUSION OF THE PROVINCE OF SULU IN THE 
BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO AS 
PROVIDED FOR IN REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11054 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE "BANGSAMORO ORGANIC LAW" SETTING THE PLEBISCITE FOR 
THIS PURPOSE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Following the signing of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) on 26 July 
2018, which consequently abolished the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao 
(ARMM) and created in its place the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim 
Mindanao (BARMM), a plebiscite was heid in ali political units affected by the new 
iaw's enactment. One of the areas affected is the Province of Sulu, a political unit 
that has been part of the ARMM since the autonomous region's inception in 
1989.
In the piebiscite to ratify the BOL heid on 21 January 2019, the Province of 
Sulu rejected the measure, with oniy 137,630 voting "yes" and 163,526 voting 
"no." The result of this exercise became the basis of the decision promuigated by 
the Supreme Court (SC) on 9 September 2024, which states: "In considering the 
ARMM as one geographical area, the Bangsamoro Organic Law transgressed the 
Constitution and disregarded the autonomy of each constituent unit of what used 
to comprise the ARMM."
The SC decision has affected not only the people of the province, but the 
whoie of BARMM as well. It has called into question the seven aliocated seats in 
the Bangsamoro Parliament, which wiil be having its first election on 12 May 
2025. It has also affected the delivery of government services, with its abrupt 
transfer from the regionai government to the national government.
Six years after the law's enactment, the BARMM is reaping the benefits of 
the peace and order now being enjoyed by the area. It has become one of the 
fastest growing regions in the country, seeing remarkable economic growth 
particularly in agriculture. According to the PSA report released in August 2024, 
the region posted a 23.5-percent poverty incidence in 2023, a huge improvement 
from the 52.6-percent poverty incidence it posted in 2018.


This bill seeks to provide for the inclusion of the Province of Sulu in the 
BARMM, setting the plebiscite for this purpose and allowing its constituents to 
once again vote on Sulu's inclusion, now guided by the positive experiences that 
they have enjoyed over the past six years under the Bangsamoro Government. 
With this, we hope to honor the constitutional provision allowing for the creation 
of autonomous regions that share common and distinctive historical and cultural 
heritage, and pave the way for a plebiscite that would reflect the sentiments and 
aspirations of an overwhelming majority of the constituents of the Province of 
Sulu.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
)
)
)
25 ,IAN 14 P3:07
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 2915
PPCF!'
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22 
23
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE INCLUSION OF THE PROVINCE OF SULU IN THE 
BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO AS PROVIDED 
FOR IN REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11054 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"BANGSAMORO ORGANIC LAW" SETTING THE PLEBISCITE FOR THIS 
PURPOSE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in Congress 
assembied:
SECTION 1. Composition. - Pursuant to Section 2, Article 
III of Republic Act No. 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the Bangsamoro 
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) shall, subject to the conduct of a 
plebiscite, be composed of the enumerated constituent units, including the Province of 
Sulu.
SEC. 2. Plebiscite. - Within 120 days from the effectivity of this Act, a 
plebiscite shall be conducted in the Province of Sulu to ratify its inclusion in the 
BARMM.
Sec. 3. Plebiscite Question. - The question to be asked of the voters in 
the plebiscite shall be determined by the Commission on Elections.
Sec. 4. Qualified Voters. - All registered voters in the Province of Sulu 
shall be qualified to participate in the plebiscite. The Commission on Elections may 
conduct a Special Voters Registration for this purpose as it may deem necessary.
SEC. 5. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the conduct of the 
plebiscite shall be sourced from the budget of the Commission on Elections.
Sec. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,