A GOOD governance group seeking total transparency on the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has reiterated its call for concerned agencies and the Senate Finance committee to investigate BARMM’s “unfair” appropriations of funds.
Malayang Lipunan Movement Mindanao Director Jhannah Villegas said BARRM has a combined P160 billion budget for fiscal year 2020 and 2021, but a substantial amount was allocated to Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) that includes, but not limited to, Supplies and Materials while forgetting more important ones.
The group’s petition for a Senate inquiry came on the heels of a request by three lawmakers of BARMM who jointly filed a bill seeking an additional P50-million fund for the region’s response against Covid-19 in addition to the P380 million the ministry of health earlier allocated.
The bill was authored by BARMM Parliament Deputy Speakers Ziaur-Rahman Adiong and Nabil Tan, and Ubaida Pacasem.
“BARMM has so much money but is unfairly and unjustly distributed or appropriated,” Villegas said. “For instance, prudent dictates that a P6-billion budget for supplies for a year is highly questionable, unconscionable, extravagant and highly immoral.”
Records show that in 2020, the total Supplies and Materials of BARMM Government was P2,717,741,060 and it ballooned to more than P6 billion for 2021, a 120.20-percent increase.
In an official statement for media earlier sent, Villegas said, “it is worth noting that the BARMM Government is still in the process of recruitment such that various field offices in the five provinces are still not in its full capacity.”
Before the Senate went on recess, Sen. Imee Marcos filed Senate Resolution No. 729 on May 24, 2021, directing the Senate Committee on Finance to conduct an inquiry into the expenses on rehabilitation, development projects of conflict-affected community in the region, saying “there is too little progress and change in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).”
Under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2020, the BARMM was allocated an annual appropriation of P7 billion, an Annual Block Grant of P63.6 billion, and a Special Development Fund of P5 billion.
Under the 2021 GAA, the BARMM also got an annual appropriation of P8.6 billion, an Annual Block Grant of P71.6 billion, and a Special Development Fund of P5 billion.
“Prior to the establishment of the BARMM, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao [ARMM] was allocated an annual appropriation of P32.4 billion and Adjustments of P7.2 billion with Total Available Appropriations of P39.7 billion,” Marcos said.
“Thus, as compared to the ARMM appropriation of only P39.7 billion, the total BARMM allocation was higher, amounting to at least double the amount of the budget allocated to the ARMM,” Marcos said. “Despite these allocated appropriations, there is too little progress and change in the BARMM.”
“With the huge appropriations made in the GAA for 2020 and 2021, it is imperative for Congress to determine the status of the projects implemented especially since the Bangsamoro Government is still in its transition stage,” Marcos added.
“It is also important for Congress to be informed on the progress of the transition process, implementation of programs and the proper utilization of funds, as well as the reasons for delay which are not attributable to the dire effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and to determine other legislative measures, if necessary, to be legislated by Congress in order to promote the long-term vision of meaningful growth in the Bangsamoro Region.”
The BARMM law (RA 11054) was signed on July 26, 2018 by President Duterte.
Meanwhile, in a recent news conference, BARMM interior minister lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo clarified that fiscal transactions of the region are “transparent, above-board, legal, and with no irregularities.”
“We are open to audit anytime,” Sinarimbo told reporters.