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A proposed measure in the Bangsamoro Parliament aims to establish a unified regulatory framework for transportation and communications across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
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Proposal consolidates land, maritime, aviation, and telecom oversight under one code
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Ministry of Transportation and Communications to gain expanded regulatory and quasi-judicial powers
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Introduces fiscal autonomy for sectoral agencies to fund operations and modernization
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Includes digital systems for licensing, inspections, and maritime data management
A proposed measure in the Bangsamoro Parliament aims to establish a unified regulatory framework for transportation and communications across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), consolidating oversight of land, maritime, aviation, and telecommunications services under a single code.
Parliament Bill No. 447 – jointly authored by Members of Parliament Romeo Sema, Zulfikar-Ali Bayam, Abdulkarim Misuari, Randolph Parcasio, Saripuddin Jikiri, Nurredha Misuari, John Anthony Lim, Nabil Tan, and Jose Lorena – proposes the Bangsamoro Transportation and Communications Code.
The 40-page framework, according to a news release from the BARMM Parliament, amends Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 13 and repositions the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) as the region’s central regulatory authority across all transport modes and digital communications.
Under the bill, the MOTC would be empowered to issue licenses, franchises, and permits for services operating exclusively within BARMM, and would exercise quasi-judicial authority over sectoral violations and disputes.
The ministry would also be mandated to produce a Bangsamoro Transportation and Communications Master Plan to steer long-term infrastructure development and service delivery across the region.
A key feature of the proposal is fiscal autonomy for the MOTC and its attached agencies, which would be permitted to retain portions of their revenues to fund regulatory operations, safety inspections, and modernization programs — subject to Bangsamoro budgeting and auditing rules.
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The bill also charts a course toward digital governance, introducing electronic licensing systems, inspection databases, and an Integrated Digital Shipping Information System or IDSIS for maritime operations.
To address the realities of underserved areas, the measure authorizes special regulatory arrangements, including subsidized routes, flexible compliance standards, and transitional programs.
It also grants the MOTC emergency powers to coordinate and direct transportation services during disasters, public emergencies, or security situations, ensuring mobility for evacuation and relief operations.
The code formally recognizes and strengthens five sectoral bodies: the Bangsamoro Land Transportation Office, Maritime Industry Authority, Ports Management Authority, Civil Aviation Authority of the Bangsamoro, and Bangsamoro Telecommunications Commission.
In their explanatory note, the authors said the measure is designed to address the fragmented regulatory authority that has hampered efficient service delivery in the region, stressing that transportation and communications are foundational to economic development and connectivity, particularly for island and remote communities across BARMM.
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