BTA Office of Deputy Floor Leader Atty. Raissa H. Jajurie

24/08/2026

Meet Atty. Raissa H. Jajurie 💚

13th Nominee of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP)

Meet Atty. Raissa H. Jajurie, a veteran human rights lawyer, peace advocate, and proud Moro Tausug whose life has been devoted to justice, women’s empowerment, human rights, and the Bangsamoro peace process. She made history in 2011 as the first woman to join the M**F peace negotiations as a consultant, later becoming the first female member of the M**F Peace Panel. She contributed to the formulation of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and its Annexes, including work on wealth-sharing provisions, and helped advance the incorporation of gender provisions in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

From 2013 to 2019, Atty. Jajurie served as a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), which formulated the initial draft of what became Republic Act No. 11054, or the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). With the creation of the BARMM in 2019, she became a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament and concurrently served as Minister of Social Services and Development (MSSD). A human rights lawyer from Jolo, Sulu, she has served with SALIGAN and co-founded Nisa Ul-Haqq Fi Bangsamoro (Women for Justice in the Bangsamoro). Her work has earned her the Inquirer Women of Power Award (2024) and the Government Service Award from Ateneo de Manila University.

Atty. Jajurie’s journey represents the power of principled leadership, courage, and service. She has spent decades opening doors for women and girls, protecting the rights of workers and children, and helping shape the peace and governance structures of the Bangsamoro. As the 13th Nominee of UBJP, she carries forward a vision of governance where integrity is at the heart of public service, women are empowered, communities are heard, and peace creates opportunities for all. 💚

🗳️ Vote UBJP No. 13 sa Balota

One Bangsamoro. One Party. One Future.

24/08/2026

Our UBJP Nominees

21/08/2026

LIVE NOW:

BANGSAMORO MUNA: MSSD AT YOUR SERVICE | Episode 16| 22 August 2026

TOPIC: Mga Bayani sa Likod ng Serbisyo: Kuwento
ng Paglilingkod

GUESTS:
ANGELIKA O. KUSA, RSW, MSSW
Social Welfare Officer I
Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao del Norte

ELENA G. TORIBIO, RSW, MTSW
Municipal Social Welfare Officer
Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao del Norte

Makinig! Manood! Matuto!

Sama-sama nating hubugin ang masigla at matalinong henerasyon sa Bangsamoro!

20/08/2026

United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) Nominees:

✅9th Nominee- Atty. Jet Lim
✅10th Nominee- Haber Asarul
✅11th Nominee- Atty. Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba
✅12th Nominees- Dr. Nordjiana Lucman Dipatuan-Ducol
✅13th Nominee- Atty. Raissa Jajurie

UBJP, Number 13 sa Balota✅

Political Advertisement Paid for by Friends and Supporters of UBJP

20/08/2026

DAVAO CITY | The proposed free marriage counseling program in the Bangsamoro may still need further refinements as lawmakers weigh its implementation against the region’s diverse legal, religious and customary marriage practices.

The Committee on Social Services and Development agreed to further examine BTA Bill No. 256, or the Bangsamoro Free Marriage Counseling Program Act of 2023, after completing its public hearings and consultations with concerned government agencies, experts and stakeholders.

The bill seeks to institutionalize free counseling services for couples, including those preparing for marriage, married couples seeking to strengthen their relationships, and couples facing marital conflicts.

Lawmakers recognized the Bangsamoro’s distinct cultural and religious traditions, particularly the marriage practices of Muslim communities that may, in appropriate cases, be governed by the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines, as well as customary marriage practices observed by non-Moro Indigenous Peoples’ communities.

The committee said the measure must be consistent with existing laws and responsive to the Bangsamoro’s distinct religious and cultural setting.

Committee Chair Nurredha Misuari said the panel will check its calendar for a possible continuation of the deliberations, but will first study the concerns and recommendations already raised.

With the Sept. 14 parliamentary elections only weeks away, the committee has completed its hearings and consultations, providing the incoming regular Parliament with a body of recommendations and stakeholder inputs that may serve as a reference should it pursue further action on the measure. (LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)

19/08/2026

DAVAO CITY | The Committee on Social Services and Development is looking at ways to strengthen a proposed measure that would provide free marriage counseling across the Bangsamoro, consulting government agencies on how it can work within the region’s existing system.

The committee invited the Policy Research and Legal Services for its legal opinion and recommendations, along with the Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), Bangsamoro Darul Ifta, and a representative from the academe to discuss Parliament Bill No. 256, or the Bangsamoro Free Marriage Counseling Program Act of 2023.

The bill seeks to establish free and accessible counseling covering pre-marriage counseling, marriage enrichment and marital crisis counseling, supported by a framework that considers the customs, traditions and religious values of Bangsamoro communities.

The Bangsamoro Darul Ifta emphasized that the program should conform to Shariah and Bangsamoro family values, particularly in providing Islamic guidance on marriage and family concerns.

Under the bill, the Darul Ifta would also help ensure that the policies, guidelines and framework for the program conform to Shariah.

MSSD pushed for a stronger preventive approach, proposing that pre-marriage counseling be required before a marriage is solemnized or registered.

The ministry said such counseling could help couples make informed decisions about marriage, prepare for family life and address concerns that may contribute to child, early and forced marriages and other harmful practices.

MOH, meanwhile, recommended a Marriage Counseling Framework that would use counseling for primary health prevention and early intervention, with referral links to rural health units, municipal health officers, and provincial and district hospitals.

The committee raised whether pre-marriage counseling should be mandatory and how the program could be implemented through LGUs without duplicating existing services.

Lawmakers will hold a committee deliberation on Thursday to determine how its proposed framework and implementation mechanisms can be improved before the measure moves forward. (LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)

18/08/2026

𝙐𝙋𝘼𝘼 𝙋𝙄𝙉𝘼𝙍𝘼𝙉𝙂𝘼𝙇𝘼𝙉 𝙎𝙄 𝙈𝙎𝙎𝘿 𝙈𝙄𝙉𝙄𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝘼𝙏𝙏𝙔. 𝙍𝘼𝙄𝙎𝙎𝘼 𝙃. 𝙅𝘼𝙅𝙐𝙍𝙄𝙀 𝙎𝘼 𝙂𝙊𝙊𝘿 𝙂𝙊𝙑𝙀𝙍𝙉𝘼𝙉𝘾𝙀 𝘼𝙏 𝙋𝙀𝘼𝘾𝙀𝘽𝙐𝙄𝙇𝘿𝙄𝙉𝙂

Pinarangalan ng University of the Philippines Alumni Association o UPAA si Minister Atty. Raissa H. Jajurie ng Ministry of Social Services and Development o MSSD, matapos nitong igawad sa kanya ang Distinguished Alumni Award for Good Governance: Peacebuilding.

Kinilala sa parangal ang kanyang pamumuno, dedikasyon sa serbisyo publiko, at patuloy na pagsusulong ng mabuting pamamahala at kapayapaan sa Bangsamoro.

Ipinahayag naman ng MSSD ang malaking pagmamalaki sa natanggap na pagkilala ni Jajurie, na anila’y sumasalamin sa kanyang mahusay at makabuluhang pamumuno sa ministeryo.

Ayon sa MSSD, ang parangal ay hindi lamang pagkilala sa mga nagawa ni Jajurie, kundi isa ring karangalan para sa buong pamilya ng MSSD. Patuloy umano itong nagsisilbing inspirasyon sa mga kawani na pagbutihin ang kanilang serbisyo sa mamamayan ng Bangsamoro, na may integridad, kahusayan at malasakit.

Ministry of Social Services and Development

18/08/2026

DAVAO CITY | The proposed creation of a dedicated commission for senior citizens in the Bangsamoro is now under closer review as lawmakers assess whether a separate office would strengthen the delivery of services to the region’s elderly.

The Committee on Social Services and Development began discussions on BTA Bill No. 121, or the Bangsamoro Commission for Senior Citizens Act of 2022, after a series of public hearings on the measure.

Lawmakers went through a comparative matrix of the bill’s 15 sections, matching its original provisions with concerns raised during the hearings and recommendations from stakeholders.

They discussed how the proposed commission would divide responsibilities with existing Bangsamoro ministries and national government agencies.

The bill seeks to establish a mechanism within the Bangsamoro Government to ensure the implementation of laws, policies and programs for senior citizens, protect their rights and coordinate with local governments and regional agencies.

It also proposes three core programs, including a Bangsamoro Social Pension that would provide indigent senior citizens a monthly stipend of at least P1,000; Centenarian Benefits, including a P100,000 gift for those who reach 100; and Bangsamoro Social Safety Nets providing assistance such as food, medicine and financial support for home repairs following disasters and calamities.

Lawmakers said the measure needs further study, particularly on the pros and cons of creating a separate office, its proposed powers and functions, its coordination with national agencies, and mechanisms for aligning the work of ministries, offices and institutions handling senior citizens’ concerns.

Bill author Member of the Parliament Kadil Sinolinding Jr. lauded the committee’s efforts to refine the bill, saying he looks forward to a stronger version of the measure after considering the concerns and recommendations raised during the hearings. (LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)

17/08/2026

DAVAO CITY | The proposed creation of a Bangsamoro commission dedicated to senior citizens could strengthen the region’s delivery of social protection, healthcare and other essential services for older persons, lawmakers and experts said Monday, Aug. 17.

The Committee on Social Services and Development held a meeting with invited resource persons on BTA Bill No. 121, which seeks to establish a Bangsamoro Commission of Senior Citizens under the Office of the Chief Minister.

The proposed body would oversee the implementation of senior citizen laws and programs, coordinate with BARMM ministries and local government units, protect benefits guaranteed under national law, and develop services responsive to the needs of elderly residents, including healthcare and rehabilitation for those with disabilities.

Cesar Adegue IV, Region XI director of the National Commission for Senior Citizens (NCSC), expressed support for the measure but urged lawmakers to clearly define the commission’s functions to prevent duplication with the NCSC and other national agencies.

Adegue also called for a clear national-regional coordination mechanism, protection of existing benefits, defined funding responsibilities and a unified database of senior citizens.

The Ministry of Social Services and Development proposed additional measures, including a home for the aged, stronger protection against neglect and abuse, senior citizen registration, digital inclusion and additional professional services.

Committee Chair Nurredha Misuari emphasized the need to make the most of the committee’s remaining working days, saying lawmakers would continue refining measures that could strengthen protection and services for Bangsamoro communities.

The committee will begin deliberations on the bill Tuesday.(LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)

17/08/2026

UPAA selected BTA Deputy Floor Leader Atty. Raissa H. Jajurie for the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award in Good Governance: Peacebuilding.

In an official letter, the UPAA noted, "This distinction is a testament to your outstanding achievements and invaluable service to the nation." was unable to accept the award in person during the August 15, 2026 ceremony at Ang Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman, Quezon City, as she is currently recovering from surgery and remains unable to walk following an ankle fracture. She is a graduate of UP College of Law.

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"Nine alumni will be recognized for good governance: Associate Justice Jaime Fortunato A. Caringal, Undersecretary Felix William Buquid Fuentebella, Secretary Sharon S. Garin, Justice Karl B. Miranda, Atty. Gerardo P. Sirios, Atty. Carlos D. Sorreta, Atty. Francis Saturnino C. Juan and 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝘆. 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗮 𝗝𝗮𝗷𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗲." (MANILA BULLETIN)

The University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) will recognize individuals and groups whose work has contributed to public service, community...