Sulu’s Provincial Capitol building (File photo)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed Executive Order No. 91, officially reassigning the province of Sulu to the Zamboanga Peninsula region. The move follows a Supreme Court decision excluding Sulu from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), marking a pivotal shift in the region’s political and administrative landscape.
Signed on July 30, EO 91 aims to ensure the seamless continuation of government operations and delivery of essential services during the province’s transition to its new regional home.
Under the order, national government agencies and Sulu’s local government units (LGUs) are mandated to begin an organized and phased transition throughout fiscal year 2025. The directive also allows for cooperation between the Bangsamoro government and Sulu’s officials to maintain ongoing programs and projects without disruption.
To oversee this transition, a technical working group (TWG) has been formed. Headed by the Budget Secretary and co-chaired by the Bangsamoro Interior Minister and the Local Government Secretary, the TWG will craft a transition plan, resolve potential challenges, and submit an annual progress report to the Office of the President.
The TWG will include representatives from national agencies, the Bangsamoro government, and the provincial government of Sulu.
Government employees with permanent positions affected by the shift will have several options: they can request a transfer to equivalent roles within the executive branch, BARMM, or other LGUs, or choose to retire or separate with corresponding benefits. However, those who retire or leave the service will be barred from reemployment in any executive branch agency for five years—though this does not extend to other branches or local governments.
Funding for existing and transferred projects in Sulu will be covered by the 2024 General Appropriations Act and by relevant agency budgets. These programs will remain in place through the end of 2025 or until their allocated budgets are fully utilized.
Executive Order 91 takes effect immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette or in a widely circulated newspaper.
The decision to reassign Sulu to the Zamboanga Peninsula marks a historic administrative change, one that aims to bring stability and sustained development to the province while respecting the Supreme Court’s ruling.