AGENDA FOR PROSPERITY. Speaker Martin G. Romualdez calls for a united support for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s Agenda for Prosperity during the Philippine Congress-Bangsamoro Parliament Forum held at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City Tuesday (Nov. 15, 2022). Beside Romualdez are Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman. (Contributed photo by Office of the Speaker)
MANILA – Speaker Martin G. Romualdez on Tuesday called for a unified support from the Bangsamoro Parliament for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Agenda for Prosperity, which has at its core mission the country’s economic transformation towards inclusivity and sustainability, which includes the development of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Romualdez made the call during the Philippine Congress - Bangsamoro Parliament Forum at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City.
In his speech, Romualdez pointed out that Congress has committed to prioritizing legislative measures that support the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework (MTFF) and the 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda because lawmakers join in the mission to steer the economy back to its high-growth path in the near term and sustain inclusive and resilient growth through to 2028.
“I encourage the Bangsamoro Transition Authority to adopt or align with the MTFF as well as it outlines a comprehensive policy direction for our country, including the BARMM, both in the immediate and medium-term. For the first time, the country has a clear 6-year agenda with clearly defined goals,” he said.
The MTFF seeks to achieve a 6.5 to 7.5 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2022, and 6.5 to 8 percent annual GDP growth from 2023 to 2028; to achieve single digit or 9 percent poverty rate by 2028; to bring the government deficit down to 3 percent by 2028; to achieve less than 60 percent debt-to-GDP ratio by 2025; and, to achieve upper middle-income country status for the Philippines.
Meanwhile, the 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda ensures that progress is inclusive and sustainable. The objectives include attaining food security, addressing public health concerns, strengthening social protection programs, reducing the costs of transportation and energy, returning to face-to-face classes, and enhancing bureaucratic efficiency and practicing sound fiscal management in government.
Romualdez said it is with this solid economic plan that the Philippines is not only surviving, but also thriving in spite of the external or global economic challenges brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, stubbornly high inflation, and an abrupt slowdown in global growth in 2022.
Against such odds, the country expanded its economy by 7.6 percent in the third quarter of this year, faster than the 7.5 growth in the second quarter and the 7 percent expansion reported in the third quarter of 2021.
He also cited recent reports which credited the Philippines as the second-best performing country among the major emerging economies in the Southeast Asian region today, surpassed only by Vietnam.
“Without a doubt, this is because of the Agenda for Prosperity, the sound economic plan of our President and economic managers. That is why we lawmakers must support the Agenda for Prosperity with the necessary legislative measures,” Romualdez said.
“On our end, we in Congress - and you in Parliament - must focus on creating legislation that will help the government boost domestic demand and increase the competitiveness of domestic production to sustain and further accelerate economic recovery,” he added.
On the part of the House of Representatives, Romualdez said the chamber had acted swiftly on approving the 2023 General Appropriations Bill, based on the proposed 2023 National Expenditure Program that was carefully crafted under the able leadership of Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, the first Muslim Budget Secretary and the only Muslim in the Cabinet.
“This includes the allocation of PHP74.4 billion for BARMM – for the BARMM Block Grant, Special Development Fund and share in National Taxes collected – to ensure that the Bangsamoro Transition Authority will be able to deliver on its commitments,” he said.
To ascertain further that progress in BARMM will remain uninterrupted despite natural calamities, the House of Representatives also intends to seek additional funding for BARMM to cover the cost of repair and rehabilitation in areas most affected by the Severe Tropical Storm Paeng, particularly in Maguindanao and Cotabato, the House leader said.
On the part of BARMM, Romualdez echoed Marcos’ call for the Bangsamoro Parliament to also pass measures that will secure the welfare of the Moro people, particularly in agri-fishery, healthcare, transportation, communication, digital infrastructure and e-governance.
“Given the challenges of the times, we really need to rise to the call for unity and development. I am certain that as we respond to this call, the Bangsamoro Region will rise to be a major player in achieving our unified Agenda for Prosperity,” he said.
“Wala pong duda. Kaya nating lahat bumangon kung sama-sama. (There is no doubt, we can all rise if we are united as one). The best is yet to come, if we come together and work hard together,” Romualdez said.
‘Productive partnership’
Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez expressed confidence that the forum would be the start of stronger cooperation between the Congress and Bangsamoro Parliament.
“Now, that we have formally launched this forum, I believe this will be the beginning of a strong, inclusive, and productive partnership between the Philippine Congress and the Bangsamoro Parliament in uplifting the lives of our Bangsamoro people,” he said.
Pangandaman, for her part, reiterated her commitment to lasting peace and inclusive growth in Mindanao.
“...Following the President’s Agenda for Prosperity, we will do all that we can and endeavor to convene all mechanisms to support the Bangsamoro Transition Authority and ensure the success of BARMM,” she said.
BTA Parliament Speaker Pangalian Balindong affirmed that the forum “will put into fruition the many initiatives endeavored to be put into motion.”
During the forum, legislative issues and concerns discussed by the coordinating body were the laws enacted on the upgrading of hospitals within BARMM; possible extension of the application period for amnesty of Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front members; qualification of Shari’ah circuit court judges; enactment of remaining priority codes of the BTA, as well as ways forward for the continued cooperation of the Philippine Congress and the Bangsamoro Parliament (PCPBF).
The PCPBF likewise agreed to establish Technical Working Groups that will study the feasibility of addressing these issues and concerns.
The PCBPF was spearheaded by Inter-Governmental Relations Body (IGRB) co-chairs, Pangandaman and BARMM Minister of Basic, Higher and Technical Education Mohagher Iqbal. (with reports from Azer N. Parrocha/PNA)
