September 14: BARMM’s First Parliamentary Election
After roughly seven years of transition, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will hold its first parliamentary election on September 14, 2026, leading to the launch of a formal autonomous government chosen by its residents. Ahead of this milestone, JICA continues to support the transitional Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) in strengthening its administrative and fiscal foundations.
January: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) for Young People
With only a handful of psychiatrists serving the entire BARMM region, JICA carried out two pilot MHPSS (mental health and psychosocial support) activities incorporating psychoeducation and peer support, aimed at preventing youth isolation and strengthening social participation and self-efficacy. The initiatives were run in partnership with the local NGOs World Vision and Community and Family Services International.
March: Road Network Improvement and Yen Loans Including Subway Development
• March 12: JICA began supporting the improvement and maintenance of BARMM’s road network
• March 27: A yen loan agreement was signed, alongside the Manila subway project, for the development of a high-standard road network in Mindanao, aimed at easing congestion and boosting economic activity through stronger urban connectivity
April: Showcasing the Results of Human Resource Development
Under the theme “Learning Connects Bangsamoro’s Future,” JICA published the stories of two trainees from its human resource development program as a featured topic (April 24).
June: Continuing to Strengthen Public Finance and Administrative Capacity — and What It Means
In a blog post published on June 22, staff of the JICA Philippines Office explained that, with the September parliamentary election and the launch of the autonomous government approaching, support continues to rest on three pillars: (1) strengthening the BTA’s public finance management and administrative capacity, (2) building mechanisms for dialogue and trust between residents, the BTA, and the Philippine national government, and (3) developing infrastructure, such as roads, to underpin economic activity. Photos were also released showing a public finance management training session for BTA staff and a road construction site.
Overall, JICA has consistently supported the groundwork for the formal launch of the autonomous government in September, built on three pillars: promoting dialogue, strengthening administrative and fiscal capacity, and developing infrastructure. It notes that a region once marked by more than 50 years of conflict could, in time, become a source of experience to share with other regions — much as Cambodia’s landmine clearance efforts have been shared with places like Africa and Ukraine.
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