Seen in the photo are Governor Mendoza, her executive assistant Jessie Francisco Enid Jr. at the center, and Chief Minister Macacua on the right, taken after their peace and development dialogue on Thursday. (Contributed Photo)
COTABATO CITY, Philippines โ Governor Emmylou Taliรฑo Mendoza and Bangsamoro Chief Minister Abdulrauf Macacua met to strengthen cooperation aimed at sustaining peace and advancing development in Moro communities in Cotabato province.
Mendoza also chairs the multi-sectoral, inter-agency Regional Development Council 12. The council covers Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and Sarangani, as well as the cities of Kidapawan, Tacurong, Koronadal, and General Santos.
Cotabato province hosts strongholds of both the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Both groups have separate peace agreements with Malacaรฑang. They have representatives in the 80-seat parliament of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM(.
Ahead of her meeting with Macacua, Mendoza โ who also chairs the Cotabato Provincial Peace and Order Council โ reaffirmed her support for coordinated peace and security efforts tied to the regionโs first parliamentary elections on September 14, 2026. These include initiatives by police units in Region 12 and BARMM, the 602nd Infantry Brigade, the 6th Infantry Division, and the Commission on Elections.
While Cotabato province is not directly participating in the electoral exercise, Mendoza reiterated the provincial government’s commitment to helping ensure peaceful and credible polls, particularly in the Special Geographic Area (SGA). The area is an emerging investment destination for industry and agriculture, with the goal of generating jobs for Moro residents and increasing revenues for local governments.
The September 14 elections will include eight predominantly Moro municipalities in the SGA. Although these areas are no longer under Cotabatoโs administrative jurisdiction, the provincial government continues to provide basic services to residents in these newly formed towns.
During their dialogue, Mendoza reiterated to Macacua โ who also serves as chief of the MILFโs Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) โ her administrationโs commitment to sustaining public services for residents across the eight SGA municipalities, which comprise 63 barangays formerly under Cotabato province.
Mendoza and the BARMM government have long collaborated on initiatives promoting religious and cultural solidarity among Muslim, Christian, and indigenous non-Moro communities in the province.
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