PROPOSED BARMM 2021 BUDGET. Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Minister Ahod Ebrahim (right) presents before members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, the region’s lawmaking body, the proposed 2021 regional budget on Thursday (Nov. 26, 2020). Standing on the left is BTA parliament speaker Pangalian M. Balindong. (Photo courtesy of BPI-BARMM)
COTABATO CITY – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim has filed before the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) a PHP75-billion proposed regional budget for the fiscal year 2021.
The budget proposal under Cabinet Bill No. 73 aims to sustain the regional government's programs with added concern on the fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
“Despite the massive challenges brought by the Covid-19, the BARMM’s mandate to its people remains the same,” he said during his speech at the BTA plenary hall here Thursday afternoon.
“None, of course, can be possible without approving a financial program that can respond to the unprecedented needs of these trying times, enabling our community to bounce back better,” Ebrahim added.
Under the proposal, the BARMM’s Ministry of Health (MOH) is set to get a PHP5.1-billion allotment for the building of additional 173 barangay health stations (BHS) and 27 rural health units (RHU) all over the region.
Also proposed is the additional PHP500 allowance per barangay health workers, along with an extra PHP3,000 for the supplies of their respective BHS. The measure would give RHUs PHP30,000 each for the same purpose.
The proposed allocation also intends to provide additional ambulances and PHP10 million each to MOH-supervised hospitals in the region for necessary repairs or expansion.
An allotment for additional health care personnel in Covid-19 isolation centers was also included to help local government contain the virus.
Also, at least PHP193.4 million was allotted for the Office of the Chief Minister’s (OCM) "Ayudang Medikal Mula sa Bangsamoro Government (AMBAG)" program to subsidize the medical expenses of indigent constituents admitted in 11 BARMM partner-hospitals in the region and the nearby provinces.
Meanwhile, the region’s Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) would get a PHP3.3-billion share, with a large chunk allotted to its emergency assistance program for grassroots interventions.
Another PHP1.4 billion was also allotted for the OCM’s Project TABANG (Tulong Alay sa Bangsamorong Nangangailangan) to provide mobile clinics and floating ambulances for coastal towns.
The biggest chunk of the budget proposal was the PHP23.4-billion funding for the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE), in anticipation of the absorption of schools and school divisions located in the 63 barangays of North Cotabato and Cotabato City that have opted to join the BARMM during the 2019 regional plebiscite.
The money would pay for the establishment of four additional school buildings, three additional technical municipal training centers, skills training for teachers, and a higher allowance for school supplies.
Meanwhile, some PHP1.1 billion was also proposed for the Madaris Asatidz Program that seeks to hire "Asatidz" (Islamic teachers) as part of the regional education workforce.
The budget proposal also aims to help 6,500 beneficiaries of the BARMM's Kapayapaan sa Pamayanan program, which includes housing and livelihood projects.
Some PHP517 million was also allotted as the regional government's contribution to the reconstruction of Marawi City, which was ravaged by a months-long siege by extremists in 2017. (PNA)
