Cotabato City

(First Regular Session)

Begun and held in Cotabato City, on Monday, the twenty-fourth day of October, two thousand five.

Hadji Imam Bidin, Nunukan, Ligayan, Datu Amilhamja Jaafar, Ambutong Sapal, Tongsibalo, Sheik Makdum, Tandu Banak, Taungoh, Tongehat, Hadji Muktar Sulayman, Ungus-Ungus, and Mohammad Gaya are hereby separated from the Municipality of Sitangkai in the Province of Tawi-Tawi and constituted into a distinct and independent municipality in the same province to be known as the Municipality of Sibutu..

SEC. 2. - The seat of government of the Municipality of Sibutu shall be in Barangay Hadji Imam Bidin, which shall be known as the Poblacion.

SEC. 3. - The metes and bounds described as follows shall more or less identify the territorial jurisdiction of the Municipality of Sibutu, which is composed of more than two (2) islands and exempt by law from land area requirement:

Line	Bearings	Distances
1-2	N 10000’ W	7.80 km.
2-3	Due North	16.20 km.
3-4	N 89015’ E	15.80 km.

4-5	S 19010’ E	31.40 km.
5-6	Due South	39.40 km.
6-7	Due West	25.60 km.
7-8	N 00020’ W	16.00 km.
8-9	N 05020’ W	23.90 km.
9-1	N 10000’ W	5.40 km.

SEC. 4. The Municipality is a corporate entity with jurisdiction in all matters provided by Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 25 and other pertinent existing laws.

SEC 5. The municipal government shall be composed of a Municipal Mayor, Municipal Vice-Mayor, and eight (8) members of the Sangguniang Bayan who shall be appointed by the Regional Governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao immediately after the ratification of this Act in a plebiscite. They shall continue to hold office until their successors shall have been elected and qualified in the next regular local elections.

The Presidents of the Municipal Federation of Barangay Chairmen and Federation of Sangguiniang Kabataan are ex-officio members of the Sangguniang Bayan, who shall be elected in accordance with the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Local Government Code of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

SEC.6. The appointive municipal officials provided in the Local Government Code of the Autonomous Region shall be appointed by the Municipal Mayor with the concurrence of the majority of all the members of the Sangguniang Bayan: Provided, That appointment to positions in the career service shall be governed by the Civil Service Rules and Regulations.

SEC 7. The Municipality of Sitangkai shall provide financial assistance for the initial operation of the new Municipality of Sibutu until its own share from the Internal Revenue Allotment shall have been determined and released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

SEC. 8. The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) shall conduct and supervise the plebiscite, which shall be held within one hundred twenty (120) days after the approval of this Act, in the affected areas.

SEC. 9. The expenses necessary in holding the plebiscite for the purpose shall be appropriated out of any available funds in the treasury of the Municipality of Sitangkai and/or the treasury of the Province of Tawi-Tawi.

SEC 10. The creation of the Municipality of Sibutu shall take effect when ratified by a majority of the votes cast in the plebiscite called for the purpose in the affected areas.

SEC 11. All laws, orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect upon its publication in a newspaper of regional circulation.

Speaker