COTABATO CITY -- As part of its efforts in establishing the new Parliament, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) approved the adoption of the new logo of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Thursday afternoon, August 29. The approval of the logo followed after the adoption of the new BARMM flag on Wednesday.
Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, BTA spokesperson and Minister for Interior and Local Government, said that Interim Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim sponsored the bill for the new logo.
February this year, the BTA called for entries from the public for BARMM's flag, logo, and hymn.
Minister Sinarimbo said this was to encourage the people to participate.
From the submissions, the cabinet chose and decided on the final BARMM logo and flag.
The rope on the new logo signifies unity in the newly-established Region, while the crescent represents BARMM’s heritage. The star on the center symbolizes BARMM’s territory.
Minister Sinarimbo said this follows “the logic of enumeration” of the five provinces of BARMM: one newly-included city, Cotabato City, and the 63 new barangays from North Cotabato considered as one geographic area.
Minister Sinarimbo clarified that constitutionality was not the reason why the BARMM flag was not adapted earlier, but because of matters of attempts for the equal representation of groups and tribes in the Region sought by the said assemblies.
The next item to be adapted is the Region’s new hymn, which would be essential in flag-raising ceremonies from the BARMM flag, said Minister Sinarimbo.
Part of the matters to deliberate about the hymn is for it to be translated into several languages and dialects. Its current draft is written in English and is still being debated on.
Under the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the Parliament is permitted to adopt its own seal and symbol.