President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assured the public that the government is fully prepared to conduct the historic first regular parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The assurance came as the official campaign period opens on Thursday, marking a major milestone in the region’s transition toward a democratically elected regional government.

Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo said the President's statement followed an announcement by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) regarding the completion of approximately 2.3 million official ballots for the 14 September BARMM elections.

The milestone allows election preparations to advance to ballot verification, deployment, and logistics.

Lagdameo cited Comelec reports indicating that the successful printing adhered to the poll body's timetable, despite schedule adjustments caused by the legislative postponement of the BARMM polls from March to September.

The elections were rescheduled under Republic Act No. 12317, signed by President Marcos in March. The law provides adequate time to implement a new parliamentary district configuration following the exclusion of Sulu from the autonomous region.

As candidates began campaigning across the region, government agencies reiterated their commitment to ensuring peaceful, orderly, and credible elections through close coordination among the Comelec, security forces, and the BARMM government.

Political analysts consider the election a defining moment in the Bangsamoro peace process.

For the first time, voters will directly elect members of the Bangsamoro Parliament, replacing the appointed Bangsamoro Transition Authority that has governed the region since its creation in 2019.

Political observers expect campaigns to focus on governance, economic development, peace and security, infrastructure, education, and the continued implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

Competing parties are vying to convince voters of their readiness to lead the region's next phase of institution-building.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said the completed ballots will undergo strict verification procedures before delivery to voting centers to ensure compatibility with the automated election system and minimize technical issues on election day.

Security preparations have also intensified, with authorities enforcing election-related measures to prevent violence and maintain public order throughout the campaign and election periods.

Officials stressed that successful parliamentary elections are essential to strengthening democratic institutions in the Bangsamoro and sustaining the gains of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

The September polls are envisioned as a cornerstone of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and the broader peace agreement between the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), paving the way for a fully elected regional parliament.