Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. called on the Bangsamoro people on Wednesday, Jan. 21, to protect the gains of the peace process as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) marked its seventh anniversary.

Galvez said the creation of BARMM seven years ago reshaped the pursuit of peace in Mindanao, and he credited the resilience and resolve of the Bangsamoro people for sustaining the transition.

“Seven years ago, we embarked on a historic journey that redefined the landscape of peace in Mindanao. As we celebrate the 7th anniversary of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, I join the entire nation in honoring the resilience, courage, and unwavering spirit of the Bangsamoro people,” he said.

However, Galvez urged Bangsamoro communities to remain vigilant in preserving the gains of the transition as he warned that progress could be reversed if left unprotected.

“I call upon our Bangsamoro brothers and sisters to remain steadfast in sustaining the gains of the peace process. The journey of transition is often complex, but the progress we have made in governance, economic stability, and social healing is far too precious to lose,” he noted.

The BARMM transition has encountered several challenges in recent months, among them the postponement of the region’s first parliamentary elections, initially set for 2025, when the Supreme Court struck down key districting laws.

The court ruled that a proper districting framework must be in place before the elections can take place. The high court set a deadline of March 31, 2026, for holding the polls.

But in a special session on Jan. 12, the BARMM approved the Bangsamoro Districting Law which provides the legal framework for the creation of parliamentary districts in BARMM to ensure fair and proportional representation of the region’s population in the Bangsamoro Parliament.

Galvez cited the recent passage of the law as a step toward stronger local representation.

“This development is a crucial step toward strengthening grassroots representation and bringing the government closer to the people,” the OPAPRU chief explained.

Clan rivalries and localized conflicts also erupt occasionally, causing casualties and displacing residents. 

The MILF has also raised concerns over several issues in the BARMM transition, creating tensions with the national government. The group opposed changes in the leadership of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) earlier in 2025, noting that only 35 of its 41 nominees were appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the interim governing body.

The group’s worries extended to the decommissioning of its fighters. MILF halted participation in the fourth and final phase of decommissioning, citing the government’s failure to deliver promised socio-economic support for former combatants. 

Education and human development also remain critical issues as surveys indicate that BARMM still faces high illiteracy rates and lags behind other regions in educational achievements.

According to the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education of BARMM, a Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) report in 2025 showed that the region remains at the forefront of the country’s struggle with functional illiteracy.

It said that across its nine provinces, “many children can read and write but still lack the ability to comprehend and apply what they read in real-life situations,” proving a “crucial gap in learning that hinders opportunities and deepens poverty.”

In response, Galvez said the OPAPRU will continue to support the region through various development programs.