MANILA -- The Philippine Senate on Tuesday ratified the bicameral conference committee report  finalizing the bill resetting the May 2025 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Regional Elections to October 13, 2025.

Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito, principal sponsor of the Senate's version, gave his colleagues an overview of the final version of the bill produced by the bicameral conference committee.

"Under the reconciled version, the conferees came to an agreement to set the first regular election of the BARMM on October 13, 2025, and that the next election shall be held and synchronized with the 2028 National Elections and every three years thereafter," said Ejercito.

"Furthermore, the conference committee members agreed to adopt provision in the Senate version for the present Bangsamoro Transition Authority to continue as the interim government in the BARMM until their successors are elected and qualified," he added.

READ: Senate approves BARMM election postponement

The reconciled bill also mandated the BARMM government to disburse the share of the Province of Sulu in the annual block grant in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Department of Budget and Management.

It was also agreed that the Commission on Elections will no longer open the filling of new certificates of candidacies or accept manifestations of intent to participate with a list of nominees, except for the seats allocated to the province of Sulu.

"The candidates who have already filed their certificate of candidacies and the nominees for party representatives included in the certificate of nomination and acceptance of the political parties from November 4 to 9, 2024, shall be automatically considered candidates and nominees," said Ejercito.