THE MAJESTIC MUNICIPALITY OF BARIRA

Municipality of Barira was created on August 29, 1977 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1188. It is classified as 4th class municipality by income, land area and population and is composed of 14 barangays, 13 of which are rural and one urban.

It is one of the 36 municipalities of Maguindanao, a mainland province of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. It has a total land area of 25,976 hectares (DENR-ARMM).

According to Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA), the population of the municipality for 2015 Census is 30, 004 with approximately 5, 026 households. Of the 14 barangays of the municipality, the most populated barangay is Barangay Barira Poblacion with a population of 5, 688 individuals with 953 households. Majority of the municipality’s citizens are of Iranun ethnic origin.

According to historians and old folks, Barira is a place rooted out from a legend. The place was then a beautiful kingdom, ruled by a Sultan and a Putri. There was a magnificent palace called “aras” which means Paradise. The palace was too big that it can accommodate a horse racing in its wings.

Happiness was everywhere and food was so abundant. Wines, beautiful women, buffoons, brave warriors, and servants were everywhere. The nobles were living in their grandeur as if nobody can alter their merry makings for years.

According to the legend, one day the sultan went out to play his usual diversion, hunting deer. He went out with his royal entourage, his “Urobarang” in full hunting gears and naturally his favorite hunting dog.

The hunting expedition was productive. All the ears of the deer caught were made into a garland and imposed in the neck of the dog and was sent home alone. When the dog arrived at the palace, he looked for the Putri. The princess was up in the “lamin”, an attic built for her and the sultan weaving a very fine and handmade cloth called “Sutra Mantang”. She was using the Barira or loom, a device used to weave cloth and tapestry.

Upon seeing the dog with garland made of ears of the deer, she asked the dog, “where is your master?” There was no response. Again and again, she asked the dog and still there was no response. Irritated, the Putri gave an order to the dog to pick up her little pocketknife. More furiously, she again asked the dog, “Where is your lord? Where is your master?”

Finally, it is God’s will (perhaps), that the dog wagged its tail, moved his ears, and shrugged its shoulder. And in a low, weird voice, it said, “My master, my lord sent me home to inform you of his victorious hunt!” All of a sudden, there were flashes, lightning, and thunder! Heavy rainfall poured; darkness seized the kingdom! Growling animals! Crying children! Screaming folks! The unthinkable just conquered the kingdom!

Subsequently, the kingdom re-claimed its beautiful landscape. Mountains and hills are covered with trees, yields, and flowers. The land gleamed, wild animals played gleefully, rivers flowed freely, streams and ponds matched the greenish panorama beneath the blue sky. The land is magnificent. Happiness radiated to greet every new morning in the valleys and all mystical mountains.

Descendants of the survivors intermarried with nearby kingdoms inhabited the area. According to them, they saw (have seen) the “Barira” floating in the Ambal River.

And because of tragedy, they believed that seeing “Barira” is an omen that either a terrible thing will happen or a beautiful and an abundant harvest. Inhabitants witnessed this sporadic phenomenon, and thus, named their beautiful land (realm/kingdom) BARIRA. This is to remind all descendants that this place is a land of mystery (enigma) and uncertainty (suspense).

Believe it or not, before the all-out war year 2000, the downfall of the biggest camp of the MILF, one resident saw the “Barira” floating in the Ambal River.

The Municipality of Barira is situated in the northern portion of the province of Maguindanao. From Cotabato City, it can be reached through the Narciso Ramos National Highway going to Marawi and the through the provincial road from Barangay Langkong, Matanog, Maguindanao. It can also be reached through the provincial road from Parang, Maguindnao going to Barangay Marang, Barira, Maguindanao. Another route is through Barangay Nituan of Parang, Maguindanao.

It is situated 500 meters above sea level. Its boundary on the north is the Municipality of Butig, Lanao Del Sur, on the south is the Municipality of Parang, Maguindanao, on the west is the Municipality of Matanog, Maguindanao and on the east is the Municipality of Buldon, Maguindanao.

Currently, the total land area of Barira is 25,976.76 hectares, which make up an estimated 5.33% of the total land area of Maguindanao Province.

VISION

The People of the Municipality of Barira, Province of Maguindanao, envisions Barira as a road network gateway to blah blah, and a disaster resilient, selfsustaining gender-responsive and child-friendly Iranun community guided by the teaching of Islam; living in politically, and economically empowered community; observing, and practicing effective participatory governance; promotes safe, and secured conservation of environment; and sharing a culture of peace.

MISSION

Develop and uplift the livelihood of the people.

•Develop the capability of the Local Leader or Local Government.

•Peaceful resolution of conflicts.

•Promotion of tourism activities in a friendly environment.

•Adequate and sustainable infrastructure.

•Strengthen the ability of local government unit to achieve sustainable development challenged by climate change and natural hazards.