BARMM administrative map showing Sulu in Region IX. Image Source: Minda News

With this new chapter, questions surrounding the legal, political, and social implications of this transition arise. Sulu residents are looking to its governor to see how representation and services will be reshaped and adapted within Region IX, and how regional autonomy will be addressed.

Sulu has been officially moved to Zamboanga Peninsula Region IX, after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed the Executive Order 91 on July 30, 2025. This step followed a Supreme Court decision, after Sulu was incorporated into BARMM in 2019, although the majority voted "no" in the plebiscite. Sulu now is officially no longer part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). President Marcos stressed the need to implement the upcoming changes effectively, "while continuing to ensure the uninterrupted governmental operations and delivery of essential government projects, programs, and activities within Sulu." Bangsamoro Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua called the development "deeply emotional" for the Bangsamoro region, saying "We have and will continue working closely with the national government and the concerned agencies to facilitate a smooth, orderly, and respectful transition that does not disrupt essential public services. Education, healthcare, social assistance, and all other government support must continue without interruption for the people of Sulu.''

"Education, healthcare, social assistance, and all other government support must continue without interruption for the people of Sulu." Source: Minda News

Public Services and the Technical Working Group (TWG)

The people of Sulu are worried what legal implications these new changes will have. To ensure a smooth transition, the Executive Order No. 91 lays down the establishment of a technical working group (TWG), chaired by the Department of Budget and Management, with national government agencies, agencies of the BARMM government, and the governor of Sulu as members. The TWG is tasked to oversee the implementation of the transition of functions, programs, projects, assets and also create rules for these processes. The TWG will direct the transition, deal with concerns or possible arising issues or other functions which might be directed by the President or Executive Secretary and send annual reports on the implementation. Part of this will be the allocation of funding that the BARMM region received, but also establishing ways of how Sulu will receive funding not through the regional mechanism but national structure. Following the signing of Executive Order 90 on July 30, 2025, the TWG has sixty days to release a transition plan.

Following the signing of Executive Order 90 on July 30, 2025, the TWG has sixty days to release a transition plan.

The remainder of the Fiscal Year 2025 (until 31 December, 2025) has been named the interim period, during which according to Marcos "the Provincial Government of Sulu, along with its component LGUs (local government units), and relevant National Government Agencies (NGAs), shall make all reasonable efforts to facilitate a phased and seamless transition." Further, it was addressed that these governmental bodies should make arrangements to ensure the implementation and financing of Programs, Activities, and Projects (PAPs). With the new Fiscal Year starting in 2026, all PAPs shall be implemented by the NGAs and the Provincial Government of Sulu in accordance with the Local Government Code of 1991, focusing on empowering local government units.

BARMM employees in Sulu were worried about what the new ruling would mean for them and their employment, but were assured that their salary would be paid until the end of 2025. They were also given the option to apply to positions under the BARMM government or transition to LGUs, with equivalent rank, level or salary. An incentive to opt for retirement was given, but that only applies for personnel who have already worked for the government for a minimum of five years.

KAPYANAN Chief Engineer Anwarodin Tumagantang hands over the symbolic key on Monday, August 18, 2025. Image Source: Bangsamoro Government

Old Funding and New Partnerships

Several sectors are already adapting and projects that have already been in place are continued. The province of Sulu recently opened its first hemodialysis unit, medical aid and equipment still financed from the BARMM administration. At the Sulu Provincial Hospital in Jolo, 110 villagers without financial means underwent free surgical procedures between August 11 to 15, 2025, which was conducted by a team from the Bangsamoro regional government. Meanwhile, in Barangay Tubig Dakulah, 50 homes are now ready for indigent families to move into. This initiative is financed by BARMM, under the umbrella of the KAPYANAN program, which "seeks to provide decent and dignified housing for the poorest of the poor." One of the new home owners thanked BARMM and KAPYANAN, saying "On behalf of the 50 families who are benefiting from this project, we can now say that we are more secure to have a clean living for our family."

"On behalf of the 50 families who are benefiting from this project, we can now say that we are more secure to have a clean living for our family."

A New Chapter Without A Roadmap

Things are moving forward in the region and everyone involved is trying to make this transition as smooth as possible for the people of Sulu. But this whole process has been a time of political uncertainty, as questions concerning identity, regional autonomy and representation arise. With the ongoing changeover and the show of willingness to make the whole process as unproblematic as possible, the opinions of political leaders are still divided. The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) stated last month that they are still in the process of trying to have Sulu reintegrated into BARMM. The MNLF sees the creation of BARMM as "a product of 22 years of peace talks", giving its symbolism beyond organizational matters. The Vice Governor Abdusakur Tan said that he is confident that Sulu will thrive, with extra support. In his view "Sulu will become a model for others to see that it can be done and nothing is impossible. We have a dream." He pointed to the unique challenges of belonging, culture and identity, saying "logic dictates that we should be close to the center of the regional government especially since we share the same cultural tradition and an overwhelming majority of the Zamboanga City residents are Bagsa Sug and Muslims. We want to make life easy for our people."

But this whole process has been a time of political uncertainty, as questions concerning identity, regional autonomy and representation arise.

Since the signing of Sulu’s transfer to Region IX, calls for unity have dominated the discourse. For that unity to take hold, it must be matched by action: a clearly communicated transition plan from the TWG, uninterrupted delivery of existing programs, and a fair redistribution of BARMM-linked funds. The Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Development Plan (2023–2028) will also need adjustment to reflect these shifts. Ultimately, the TWG’s task is to address Sulu’s unique socioeconomic challenges and lay out a roadmap for stability and progress in this new chapter.

REFERENCES

Bangsamoro Information Office. (2025, August 18). Sulu opens first hemodialysis unit; gets P33-M medical aid, 5 dialysis machines from BARMM. Bangsamoro Information Office. https://bangsamoro.gov.ph/

Bangsamoro Information Office. (2025, August 20). 50 indigent families in Sulu village find security with new homes from BARMM. Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. https://bangsamoro.gov.ph/

DOST-IX. (2025, August 21).DOST-IX Attends Coordination Meeting on the Transition of Sulu Province to Region IX. Patikul, Sulu - August 20, 2025. Facebook. https://www.google.com/

GOVPH. Marcos, F. R. (2025). Executive Order No. 91, s. 2025: Further ensuring the continuity of governmental operations and uninterrupted delivery of critical public services in the Province of Sulu, declaring the Province of Sulu as part of Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula), and for other purposes. The Official Gazette. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/

GMA Integrated News. (2025, August 2). Marcos transfers Sulu to Region IX after SC decision on BARMM. MSN. https://www.msn.com/

Know Sulu. (2025, August 20). Sulu Inaugurates First Hemodialysis Unit amid Ongoing Administrative Transition to Zomboanga Region IX. KnowSulu. https://www.knowsulu.ph/

Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU). (2024, December 12). IGRB bats for creation of technical working group to ensure Sulu’s smooth transition from Bangsamoro to nat’l government. https://peace.gov.ph/

MindaNews. (2025, August 3). BARMM to Sulu: "Our doors will never close". MindaNews. https://mindanews.com/

National Economic and Development Authority Region 9. (2025). Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Development Report CY 2024 (RDC-9-RDR-2024). Socioeconomic Research Portal for the Philippines. https://serp-p.pids.gov.ph/

Philippine Laws and Jurisprudence. (1991). Republic Act No. 7160: Local Government Code of 1991. The Lawphil Project. https://lawphil.net/

Philippine News Agency. (2025, August 3). Sulu province now under Zamboanga region. Inquirer.net. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/

Presidential Communications Office. (2025, August 3).PBBM declares Sulu part of Zamboanga Peninsula; orders uninterrupted govt services. https://pco.gov.ph/

Unson, J. (2025, July 6). MNLF against transfer of Sulu BARMM parliamentary districts. Philstar.com. https://www.philstar.com/

Unson, J. (2025, August 20). 110 poor Sulu villagers undergo free surgical procedures. Philstar.com. https://www.philstar.com/