Ligawasan

Ligawasan is a municipality in the province of Cotabato in the Philippines. Although Cotabato province is generally part of the Soccsksargen region, Ligawasan belongs to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao through the Special Geographic Area arrangement. The municipality was created from seven barangays formerly administered by the municipality of Pikit. Its formation is part of the post-2019 territorial reorganization associated with the Bangsamoro peace process. When the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region replaced the former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, 63 Cotabato barangays voted to join the new autonomous region during the second phase of the February 6, 2019 plebiscite. The parent municipalities and Cotabato province remained outside Bangsamoro, while the participating barangays were subsequently administered as a Special Geographic Area, commonly abbreviated SGA, beginning in March 2020. In 2023, the Bangsamoro Parliament approved legislation consolidating the SGA barangays into eight new municipalities. The measure establishing Ligawasan was Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 136, approved on August 17, 2023. A plebiscite on April 13, 2024 approved the creation of Ligawasan by a vote of 11,788 in favor and none against. The municipality is politically divided into seven barangays, with each barangay further organized into puroks and, in some cases, sitios. Ligawasan's administrative position is transitional. It remains associated with the Special Geographic Area while arrangements for a new province are developed. The Bangsamoro regional government committed initial financial support of PHP 2.5 million for the municipal government until Ligawasan receives its share of the National Tax Allotment. Officers-in-charge were appointed to establish the local government before regular elections. Ismael Sultan Mama served first as officer-in-charge and became mayor on June 30, 2025, according to the referenced account. The name should be understood as referring to this Philippine local-government unit, not to a commercial brand or a separate corporation. Publicly documented information about its population, economy, municipal facilities, budget, and service portfolio is limited in the supplied reference material. Its principal institutional role is local administration for the seven constituent barangays and representation within the Bangsamoro governance framework.

Ligawasan emerged from the territorial and administrative changes connected with the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. In the February 6, 2019 plebiscite, 63 barangays in Cotabato province voted to join the new autonomous region. Cotabato province and the municipalities from which those barangays came remained part of Soccsksargen, creating a geographically distinct arrangement in which the participating barangays were administered by Bangsamoro despite their parent local governments remaining outside the region. By March 2020, the participating barangays had been designated as the Special Geographic Area of Bangsamoro. The SGA was an interim administrative framework for communities that had voted for inclusion in Bangsamoro but were not immediately incorporated into an existing Bangsamoro province or municipality. Subsequent legislation sought to give these communities formal municipal institutions. On August 17, 2023, the Bangsamoro Parliament approved a package of measures establishing eight municipalities from the SGA barangays. Ligawasan was created under Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 136 from seven barangays that had previously been part of Pikit. The municipal proposal was submitted to voters in a plebiscite held on April 13, 2024. The result was unanimous among the reported votes: 11,788 voters supported the municipality's creation and none voted against it. Following approval, Ligawasan became a functioning municipality while remaining within the transitional Special Geographic Area arrangement. The regional government provided PHP 2.5 million in initial funding until the municipality could receive its share of the National Tax Allotment. Officers-in-charge were selected by Bangsamoro Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim to organize the municipal government ahead of regular local elections. Ismael Sultan Mama initially served as officer-in-charge and was identified as mayor from June 30, 2025. The municipality is divided into seven barangays. Its longer-term administrative setting is linked to the planned creation of a new province for the SGA area, so its institutional structure may continue to evolve. The supplied reference does not provide detailed information on population, municipal income, major infrastructure, economic sectors, or public-service programs. Ligawasan is therefore best documented as a recently established local-government unit rather than as a conventional consumer brand or commercial organization.

• 2025

  Ismael Sultan Mama becomes mayor

  [1]Ligawasanen.wikipedia.org

  Ismael Sultan Mama was identified as mayor beginning June 30, 2025, after serving as officer-in-charge during the municipality's establishment phase.

• 2024

  Municipal creation approved by plebiscite

  [1]Ligawasanen.wikipedia.org

  Voters approved the creation of Ligawasan on April 13, 2024, with 11,788 votes in favor and no reported votes against.

• 2023

  Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 136 approved

  [1]Ligawasanen.wikipedia.org

  The Bangsamoro Parliament approved the measure establishing Ligawasan from seven former Pikit barangays.

• 2020

  Special Geographic Area designation

  [1]Ligawasanen.wikipedia.org

  The participating Cotabato barangays were designated as Bangsamoro's Special Geographic Area, creating an interim administrative framework.

• 2019

  Cotabato barangays vote to join Bangsamoro

  [1]Ligawasanen.wikipedia.org

  Sixty-three barangays in Cotabato were grouped with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region following the second phase of the February 6 plebiscite, while Cotabato province and the parent municipalities remained in Soccsksargen.

A newly constituted local-government municipality serving seven barangays in Cotabato within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region's Special Geographic Area framework.

• 2024

  Approval of municipal creation through plebisciteOther

  Background

  The proposed municipality required voter approval before becoming a separate local-government unit.

  Action taken

  A plebiscite held on April 13, 2024 recorded 11,788 votes supporting creation and none opposing it.

  Aftermath

  Ligawasan proceeded as a municipality with transitional administration and regional financial support.

  Source

• 2023

  Creation of a separate municipality from SGA barangaysStrategy

  Background

  The Bangsamoro Parliament sought to replace the interim Special Geographic Area arrangement with formal municipalities for the participating Cotabato barangays.

  Action taken

  Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 136 established Ligawasan from seven barangays previously administered by Pikit.

  Aftermath

  The measure was submitted to a plebiscite, where voters approved Ligawasan's creation in April 2024.

  Source

1. 1Ligawasanen.wikipedia.org