President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday designated Abdulraof A. Macacua and Bai Mariam S. Mangudadatu as officers-in-charge of the newly created provinces of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, respectively.
Macacua was sworn in as Maguindanao del Norte OIC this morning by the President.
President Marcos chose Mr. Macacua to lead Maguindanao del Norte as OIC as it organizes itself into a newly created province of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
As OIC, Macacua is tasked by the President to maintain peace and stability in the region, a prerequisite for the development of the area and its people.
With the appointment of an OIC in Maguindanao del Norte, the Marcos administration expressed assurance that the province has an able and competent leader while still under the chief executive’s administration and guidance.
Prior to his appointment as OIC Governor, Macacua served as Senior Minister for the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.
Macacua’s appointment is seen as a demonstration of this administration’s commitment to the mainstreaming of the peace process, as well as the continued engagement of the Bangsamoro community to ensure the gains of democracy, peace, and development in the region.
Apart from Macacua and Mangudadatu’s appointments, the President also chose Bai Fatima Ainee Limbona Sinsuat as OIC of the Office of the Vice-Governor of Maguindanao del Norte, and Datu Nathaniel Sangacala Midtimbang as OIC of the Office of the Vice Governor of Manguindanao del Sur.
Local chief executives in Maguindanao del Norte have previously called on President Marcos to appoint an OIC in the newly created province to put an end to the ongoing crisis that they said created confusion among provincial employees and residents.
Installing an OIC or an acting governor, they said, would end the confusion among local leaders and residents who wondered who to take orders from and whom to report to a few months after conducting the plebiscite.
In May 2021, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed into law a bill seeking to divide Maguindanao, part of BARMM, into two provinces.
Republic Act No. (RA) 11550, signed by Duterte, divided the province of Maguindanao into two distinct and independent provinces known as Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.
Maguindanao del Norte is composed of the municipalities of Barira, Buldon, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Northern Kabuntalan, Parang, North Upi, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, and Talitay. Datu Odin Sinsuat is Maguindanao del Norte’s seat of government.
The municipalitites of Ampatuan, Buluan, Datu Abdulla Sangki, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Datu Montawal, Datu Paglas, Datu Piang, Datu Salibo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Unsay, Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Guindulungan, Mamasapano, Mangudadatu, Pagalungan, Paglat, Pandag, Rajah Buayan, Sharif Aguak, Sharif Saydona Mustafa, Sultan sa Barongis, Talayan, and South Upi comprise Maguindanao del Sur. Its seat of government is Buluan.
The capital towns and seats of government of the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur shall be the municipalities of Datu Odin Sinsuat and Buluan, respectively.
Both provinces will have corporate powers and general powers that include having a common seal and having the power to create its sources of revenue and to levy taxes, fees, and charges among others.
According to the 2015 census, Maguindanao has a population of 1,173,933.#
