ARTICLE III

TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION

Section 1. Territorial Jurisdiction. Territorial jurisdiction is the land mass as well as the waters over which the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region has jurisdiction, which shall always be an integral, indivisible, and inseparable part of the national territory of the Republic of the Philippines as defined by the Constitution and existing laws.

Section 2. Composition. The territorial jurisdiction of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, subject to the plebiscite as provided in Section 3, Article XV of this Organic Law Shall be composed of:

(a) The present geographical area known as the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao created under Republic Act No. 6743, as amended by Republic Act No. 9054, which shall subsist as such until Organic Law is ratified through a plebiscite;

(b) The municipalities of Baloi, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan, and Tangkal in the Province of Lanao del Norte that voted for inclusion in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao during the 2001 plebiscite;

(c) The following thirty-nine (39) barangays in the municipalities of Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pigkawayan, and Pikit in the Province of North Cotabato that voted for inclusion in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao during the 2001 plebiscite:

(1) Dunguan, Lower Mingading, and Tapodoc in the Municipality of Aleosan (3);

(2) Manarapan and Nasapian in Municipality of Carmen (2);

(3) Nanga-an, Simbuhay, and Sanggadong in the Municipality of Kabacan (3);

(4) Damatulan, Kadigasan, Kadingilan, Kapinpilan, Kudarangan, Central Labas, Malingao, Mudseng, Nabalawag, Olandang, Sambulawan, and Tugal in the Municipality of Midsayap (12);

(5) Lower Baguer, Balacayon, Buricain, Datu Binasing, Kadingilan, Matilac, Patot, and Lower Pangangkalan in the Municipality of Pigkawayan (8); and

(6) Bagoinged, Balatican, S. Balong, S. Balongis, Batulawan, Buliok, Gokotan, Kabasalan, Lagunde, Macabual, and Macasendeg in the Municipality of Pikit (11);

(d) The City of Cotabato;

(e) The City of Isabela in the Province of Basilan; and

(f) All other contiguous areas where a resolution of the local government unit or a petition of at least ten percent (10%) of the registered voters in the area seeks for their inclusion at least two (2) months prior to the conduct of the ratification if this Organic Law.

The establishment of the territorial jurisdiction of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region shall take effect upon ratification of this Organic Law by majority of the votes cast in the abovementioned territorial jurisdiction in a plebiscite conducted for the purpose: Provided, That in all cases, the political units directly affected shall vote favorably in the plebiscite, as provided in Section 3, Article XV of this Organic Law.

Section 3. Inland Waters. All inland waters such as lakes, rivers, river systems, and streams within its territorial jurisdiction shall form part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region inland waters. The preservation and management of the inland waters shall be under the Bangsamoro Government as provided for in Section 22, Article XIII of this Organic Law.

Section 4. Bangsamoro Municipal Regional Waters. – The municipal regional waters of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region shall extend up to fifteen (15) kilometers and nineteen (19) kilometers, respectively, from the low-water mark of the coasts that are part of the Bangsamoro territorial jurisdiction.

Where a constituent local government unit of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and an adjoining local government unit are so situated on opposite shores such that there is thirty (30) kilometers of waters or less between them, a line equally distant from the opposite shores shall be drawn to demarcate the Bangsamoro waters and the municipal waters of the adjoining local government unit.

In case the constituent local government unit of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and an adjoining local government unit are so situated in opposite shores that there is more than thirty (30) kilometers but less than thirty-four (34) kilometers of waters between them, a line shall be drawn at the edge of the fifteen-kilometer municipal waters of the adjoining local government unit to demarcate it from the Bangsamoro waters.

Section 5. Constituent Units. – The constituent units of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region are provinces, cities, municipalities, barangays, and geographical areas within its territorial jurisdiction.