Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was a former administrative territory in the southern Philippines that brought together five provinces under one regional government. Cotabato City served as the administrative center for this territory, which spread across several large and small islands.

The territory came into being in 1989 through a national law that aimed to grant Muslim communities greater self-rule. After three decades of operation, it was replaced in 2019 by a new arrangement with expanded powers.

The region integrated multiple ethnic groups speaking different languages, including Banguingui, Maguindanaon, Maranao, and Tausug, reflecting the diversity of Muslim communities.

The former territory covered coastal areas, island groups and inland zones that could only be reached by boat or long overland journeys. Travelers interested in the administrative past can find traces of the old structure in public buildings and archives across the provinces that once formed part of it.

The territory operated with two parallel legal systems, applying Islamic law in family and personal matters alongside national legislation. This dual legal framework was an attempt to combine religious traditions with modern state administration.

Inception: 1989

Capital city: Cotabato City

Website: http://armm.gov.ph

GPS coordinates: 7.21667,124.25000

Latest update: December 12, 2025 21:18