President Ferdinand Marcos Jr declared September 14, a special non-working day in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to allow residents to participate in the region’s first regular parliamentary elections.

The declaration was based on Proclamation No. 1395 signed by Acting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto on August 18.

Based on the proclamation, the declaration aims to give voters in BARMM the opportunity to exercise their rights and take part in the electoral process.

“In order to give the people of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao the opportunity to actively and fully participate in the election and exercise their right to vote, it is but fitting and proper to declare Monday, 14 September 2026, as a special (non-working) day,” it stated.

The first BARMM parliamentary elections were reset to September 14 under Republic Act No. 12317, which amended the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

Republic Act 12317 which amended the Bangsamoro Organic Law resets the first BARMM parliamentary elections to Sept. 14. Robina Asido/PHS