During the last quarter of 2006, by virtue of the powers conferred upon by Republic Act No. 7160¹ “The Local Government Code of 1991”, Republic Act No. 6734² “An Act Providing For An Organic Act For The Autonomous Region In Muslim Mindanao” as amended by Republic Act No. 9054³ “An Act To Strengthen And Expand The Organic Act For The Autonomous Region In Muslim Mindanao” and the Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Acts, one province, five municipalities and one barangay were created in ARMM. These are as follows:

1. On October 28, 2006, in line with these provisions and the Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 201, voters in Maguindanao’s 29 municipalities approved the creation of the new province of SHARIFF KABUNSUAN, in a plebiscite conducted in Maguindanao. It is the country’s 80th province and the sixth in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. According to the Local Government Academy of the DILG, it is the first province not created by Congress⁴, as it was created through invoking the powers of Republic Act No. 9054 or the Expanded ARMM law. The new province is composed of 10 municipalities from Maguindanao.  namely: Barira, Buldon, Datu Blah T. Sinsuat, Datu Odin Sinsuat (Dinaig), Kabuntalan (Tumbao), Matanog, Parang, Sultan Kudarat (Nuling), Sultan Mastura and Upi. It also includes all the 209 barangays of these 10 municipalities.

2. The new municipalities created in ARMM are:

1. The municipality of DATU ANGGAL MIDTIMBANG, with 7 barangays coming from the municipality of Talayan and Talitay, Maguindanao, pursuant to MMAA No. 206 and ratified through plebiscite conducted by the COMELEC on December 30, 2006;

2. The municipality of MANGUDADATU, with 8 barangays coming from the municipality of Buluan, Maguindanao, pursuant to MMAA No. 204 and ratified through plebiscite conducted by the COMELEC on December 30, 2006;

3. The municipality of PANDAG, with 8 barangays coming from the municipality of Buluan, Maguindanao, pursuant to MMAA No. 203 and ratified through plebiscite conducted by the COMELEC on December 30, 2006;

4. The municipality of NORTHERN KABUNTALAN, with 11 barangays coming from the municipality of Kabuntalan, Shariff Kabunsuan, pursuant to MMAA No. 205 and ratified through plebiscite conducted by the COMELEC on December 30, 2006; and

5. The municipality of SIBUTU, with 16 barangays coming from the municipality of Sitangkai, Tawi-tawi, pursuant to MMAA No. 197 and ratified through plebiscite conducted by the COMELEC on October 21, 2006.
   
   
   
3. The newly created barangay in ARMM is:

1. Barangay GADUNGANPEDPANDARAN in Parang, Shariff Kabunsuan, ARMM pursuant to M.M.A.A. No. 82, which was rat ified through a plebiscite conducted by the COMELEC on December 30, 2006.

In view of the above developments, the ARMM now has 6 provinces, 1 city, 111 municipalities and 2,470 barangays as of December 31, 2006. 

Number of Regions and Local Government Units (LGUs) In ARMM (As of Dec. 31, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2005)

Breakdown of Geo-Political Subdivisions in ARMM as of December 31, 2006

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¹http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1991/ra_7160_1991.html
²http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1989/ra_6734_1989.html
³http://www.congress.gov.ph/download/ra_11/RA09054.pdf
⁴http://www.lga.gov.ph/articles/readarticle.php?articleid=162