President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has officially declared Sulu part of Region IX, also known as the Zamboanga Peninsula, following a Supreme Court ruling that excluded the province from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The directive was made through Executive Order No. 91, signed on July 31, aimed at ensuring that government services and operations in Sulu continue without disruption during the transition.
“There exists an urgent need to effectively implement and address the impacts of the Supreme Court Decision and Resolution… while continuing to ensure the uninterrupted government operations and delivery of essential government projects, programs, and activities within Sulu,” the President stated in the EO.
The move comes in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in the case Province of Sulu v. the Executive Secretary, et al, which removed Sulu from the jurisdiction of BARMM. As part of the transition for fiscal year 2025, Sulu’s provincial government, its local government units, and concerned national agencies have been instructed to facilitate a “phased and seamless” shift into Region IX’s administrative framework.
