The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) took a significant step towards strengthening the protection of internally displaced persons (IDPs) with the Ceremonial Signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for Bangsamoro Autonomous Act No. 62 (BAA No. 62), also known as the Rights of the Internally Displaced Persons of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region Act of 2024. The event held at SKCC, Bangsamoro Government Center, on March 5, 2025, brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, civil society representatives, IDP communities, project partners, and international non-government organizations, to celebrate this landmark achievement.
The signing ceremony marked the culmination of months of collaborative efforts, including consultations with diverse stakeholders, technical workshops, and legal review, to ensure that the IRR effectively translates the law’s provisions into actionable guidelines for protecting and supporting IDPs.
Atty. Raissa H. Jajurie, Minister of the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), emphasized that the “Bangsamoro Autonomous Act No. 62 is not just a promise on paper but a promise in action. We are now promulgating the Implementing Rules and Regulations, which provide additional details and clarity on some of the provisions of the law. By this, we are paving the way to durable solutions for those who have long been affected by displacement both within and even those outside of the Bangsamoro region. Having the IDP Rights Law and its IRR has provided us with the platform on which we can anchor programs to cover the eight (8) criteria for durable solutions. We are aware that achieving durable solutions is an arduous and complex process and that it would require a lot of collaboration and cooperation between and among Bangsamoro ministries, offices, and agencies (BMOAs) and the local governments in different levels, even national agencies. The mechanisms for such collaboration are now provided by the Law and the IRR with the participation of CSOs and the IDPs themselves. The unique and notable way we are exercising moral government, upholding human rights, and finding responsive laws and policies for IDPs in the BARMM as part of our exercise of the rights of self-determination, which has been and still is the driving force of the Bangsamoro government.”
The BAA No.62 is an act that protects and promotes the rights of IDPs from and within the Bangsamoro region consistent with the principles enshrined in the 1987 constitution. The standards set by the international laws, treaties, and conventions are adhered to by the Philippines and the provisions prescribed by the Bangsamoro Organic Law, or BOL.
“As we convene, it marks the historic milestone in our collective push towards justice, dignity, and protection of all internally displaced individuals in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). I was delighted that this IDP Act of the Bangsamoro was the first legislative measure for the IDPs in Southeast Asia. In the design of the IRR of the Rights of Internally Displaced Persons Act, we reaffirm our commitment to upholding the rights and well-being of those who have been forced to leave their homes due to conflict, disasters, and crises. This law is a promise of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) to acknowledge the historical injustice committed to all people and that no Bangsamoro will be left behind. A promise that those who have suffered the pain of displacement will not be forgotten. A promise that the Bangsamoro government shall and will always stand as their protector, advocate, and bridge towards a secure and safe future. The Bangsamoro government will continue to stand with the IDPs and with every Bangsamoro family finds a place to call a home again,” said Ahod B. Ibrahim, Al Hadj, Chief Minister, BARMM
The ceremonial signing gathered messages of support from key stakeholders, highlighting the importance of the Bangsamoro IDP Law and its IRR in addressing the challenges faced by IDPs in the region.
Arnaud Peral, UN Resident Coordinator in the Philippines, said, “The very first rights-based and solution-oriented law for the IDPs in Southeast Asia and the Philippines. The achievements are not only a testament to the dedication of the Bangsamoro government and all the stakeholders but, importantly, a promise of hope and collective actions for the individuals and families who have been forced to leave their homes due to conflict, disaster, and other crises. With the enactment of the Bangsamoro IDP Law and now the issuance of its IRR, the Bangsamoro government is making a critical step forward to institutionalize protection, uphold the rights, and pursue durable solutions for and with the IDPs. The United Nations in the Philippines, particularly UNDP, IOM, and the UNHCR, has been collaborating with the UN Secretary General Peace Building Fund with the joint program for sustainable and empowering displacement solutions for Peace (SEEDS for Peace). With our combined efforts and the effective implementation of these comprehensive rules and regulations, the aspiration of a life lived in safety and dignity will finally become a reality for IDPs. Moving forward, the UN will remain committed to supporting BARMM’s journey towards lasting peace, inclusive development, and the protection and proceeds of solutions for and with IDPs towards a world where no one is left behind.
Guiamel M. Alim, Chairperson, CBCS, said, “Without doubt, the passage of the IDP bill into law and today’s ceremonial signing of the IRR are big leaps forward to protecting the rights of the IDPs. Let it be noted, however, that the law is not the end-all measure to protecting the rights of the IDPs but a big contribution to providing them with more durable solutions to their problems. Lasting solutions can take place if we can prevent the roots of displacement from happening. That is why the problem of internal displacement requires the whole of the nation approach, not only in the BARMM but the whole country. The next big step is the implementation of the law. Laws do not make sense if they are not enforced. This law may not be perfect, and there are no perfect laws in the world. They say laws are not written on stone and can be amended when need arises. The biggest challenge ahead is to empower the IDPs as frontline actors in the enforcement of the law. Our role as stakeholders is to support and ensure that the law shall be implemented in its letter and spirit. “
The signing ceremony was followed by a press conference wherein media partners could freely ask questions about the importance and uniqueness of BAA No. 62 and its IRR, among other laws, and the role of civil society organizations and other stakeholders in ensuring that the Bangsamoro IDP Law and the IRR are effectively implemented, creating a more just and protective environment for the IDPs in the region.
The ceremonial signing of the IRR for BAA No. 62 marks a significant milestone in the BARMM’s efforts to address the challenges of displacement and to ensure that IDPs are protected and supported. It is a testament to the BARMM government’s and its partners’ commitment to creating a more peaceful and just future for all.
By: JAMAHERIA G. COMPANIA
Communications and Advocacy Officer
IDP Project
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