Business leaders in the Bangsamoro region celebrated the relocation of the Basilan office of the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE) to Lamitan City.
Lamitan City, home to 45 barangays, is emerging as Basilanโs new investment hub, alongside its 11 towns and Isabela City.ย The transfer of the office from Isabela City to Barangay Limook, Lamitan City, involved close collaboration among key leaders.
Mayor Roderick Furigay, Gov. Hadjiman Salliman, and Labor Minister Muslimin Sema worked together to facilitate the transition.
โThis supports BARMMโs efforts to improve Lamitanโs investment climate, especially for large-scale agricultural projects,โ said lawyer-entrepreneur Ronald Hallid Torres.
BARMM Composition
BARMMย is an autonomous political entity in the southern Philippines, established in 2019. It was formed through the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and replaced the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The creation of BARMM sought to address historical grievances, foster self-governance, and promote peace and development in a region that has long faced poverty, armed conflict, and political instability.
The Bangsamoro Government, which includes a Chief Minister and a Parliament, governed the BARMM. The region comprises five provinces: Basilan (excluding Isabela City), Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, as well as the cities of Marawi and Cotabato, and 63 barangays in North Cotabato.
Sulu, however, is no longer part of the Bangsamoro region.ย In September 2024, the Supreme Court of the Philippines ruled that Sulu should not be part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
This decision was based on the 2019 plebiscite results, where a majority of Sulu’s voters rejected the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). The Court ruled that the inclusion of Sulu in BARMM violated the 1987 Constitution.
Only provinces and areas voting favorably in such a plebiscite should be included in the autonomous region, the high court said.
Relocation to Lamitan City Strengthens MOLE Services
The labor officeโs new location aims to empower workers and combat child labor through collaborative programs with local officials.
Former Abu Sayyaf members who transitioned to farming and fishing will also benefit from these pro-labor initiatives.
โWeโre pleased with this move,โ said Mohammad Omar Pasigan, noting Lamitanโs seven Seal of Good Local Governance Awards.
Leaders believe the move aligns with efforts to transform Lamitan into a model city for economic and social development.
