UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed Friday the signing of a Muslim autonomy law in the Philippines which he lauded as "a landmark achievement on the road to lasting peace" in the south of the country.

Speaking through his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, Guterres welcomed "the signing into law of the Organic Law for Bangsamoro in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao," and congratulated negotiators for the government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front for their efforts.

The UN will continue to support the Philippines in the implementation of the law, and to help build the capacity of the Bangsamoro transition authority as an effective conduit for peace, democratic governance, and human rights, Dujarric said.

On Thursday, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed the law aimed at ending nearly five decades of armed conflict in Mindanao that claimed the lives of thousand and displaced millions in the southern Philippines.

As an organic act, the law will pave the way for creating a government for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, replacing the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Under the new law, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, enjoying more power, can have its own judicial system and parliament but cannot have its own military or police force, as these would still be under the national government.