Bangsamoro (BARMM / Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao)

By Tim Kehres
Last Update: April 23, 2024

The Bangsamoro (the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM) is an autonomous region located on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines.  This region consists of five predominantly Muslim provinces Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. It is the only region in the Philippines that has its own government.

The Bangsamoro took the place of the ARMM as the only Muslim-majority autonomous region in the Philippines in 2019.  Currently in transition until 2025, the Bangsamoro government has been considered a testing ground for the wider debate on constitutional reform and federalism in the Philippines.

A fierce armed conflict between Muslim militia and the Philippine government went on in this region from the 1970s until recently.  In 2012 a peace accord was signed between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front or MILF, and things have been calmer since then. There are however other militia groups that have not signed on to the peace deal.  They are mostly small but well-armed and quite radical, posing a significant threat.  There have been reports of some continued violence in the region, occasionally spilling over to other regions (we have not confirmed these).

Caution is still advised prior to travel to the region.   It’s best to check with current travel advisories first.

Popular Destinations

Provinces

Basilan Province Coming soon. Popular Destinations Cities Other Basilan Province Related References Basilan Provincial Capitol.jpg - Wikipedia Commons
Lanao del Sur Province Coming soon. Popular Destinations Cities Other Lanao del Sur Province Related References Lanao Del Sur Provincial Capitol.jpg - Wikipedia Commons
Maguindanao Province Coming soon. Popular Destinations Cities Other Maguindanao Province Related References Meguyaya Festival of Upi Maguindanao.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
Sulu Province Coming soon. Popular Destinations Cities Other Sulu Province Related References Sulu Provincial Capitol alt.jpg - Wikipedia Commons
Tawi-Tawi Province This page is currently under construction.  While we work on the final content here are a few third party videos of the region.Third Party VideosSea Outcasts: How Filipino Tribes LIVE in Deadly Seas - Full Documentaryhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff4YCxYjF3c&ab_channel=AndrewFraserThis is a very well done documentary of the Tawi-Tawi area and how the people…

Cities

Cotabato City Coming soon. How to Get There Over the river and through the woods... Other Related Content References Grand Mosque of Cotabato City in 2023.jpg - Wikipedia Commons

Other Bangsamoro Related

Bangsamoro Galleries Bangsamoro Region Image Galleries - Coming Soon.

References