COTABATO CITY - Prioritizing Education, Health, Infrastructure, and Social Services, the Bangsamoro Parliament, on Tuesday, December 20, approved BTA Bill No. 54, or the Bangsamoro Expenditure Program for 2023, amounting to P85.3 billion.
The 2023 BARMM budget was approved on third and final reading with 44 affirmative votes, zero negative votes, and zero abstentions. Prior to budget approval, the Committee on Finance, Budget, and Management deliberated the proposed budgets of all the ministries and agencies since it was filed in September.
"The CFBM truly underwent marathon hearings and scrutinized the proposed budgets of all ministries and offices to ensure that the budget is for the Bangsamoro people," said CFBM Chair MP Eduard Guerra.
"Following this approval, we will move forward with the implementation of all projects and programs in the provinces of the region, including the Special Geographic Area," he added.
The budget increased to P85.3 billion in 2023 from P79.8 billion in 2022. The Bangsamoro Government allocated P70.1 billion for all of the ministries, agencies, and offices, while P15.2 billion is allotted for Special Purpose Funds.
Following its passage in second reading, the budget was swiftly approved by Parliament members.
The top 10 ministries and offices with the biggest budget allocation are as follows:
Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education - P27.2 billion;
Ministry of Public Works - P16.4 billion;
Office of the Chief Minister - P5.9 billion;
Ministry of Health - P5.8 billion;
Bangsamoro Transition Authority - P3.9 billion;
Ministry of Social Services - P3.07 billion;
Ministry of Interior and Local Government - P2.04 billion;
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform - P1.5 billion;
Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy - P666 million; and
Ministry of Transportation and Communications - P539 million.
EDUCATION
The education sector in the region has received the highest budget allocation for next year, totaling P27.2 billion. The proposed budget, in line with BARMM's enhanced priority agenda, aims to improve access to quality and holistic education by strengthening the education system.
This includes investing in human resource development, skills training, learning continuity programs, and advancing science, technology, and innovation through the madaris system.
The budget is also allocated for the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education’s support to operations, including the management and supervision of field operations, curriculum, learning delivery, and assessment; school-based management and operations; higher education services; access to higher and modern education scholarships; management support to education; Bangsamoro education; Bangsamoro School Sports; and inclusive education programs.
INFRASTRUCTURE
The Bangsamoro government is also keen on developing a reliable and resilient infrastructure system for land, sea, and air transportation, communications, commercial, social, industrial, environmental, and other strategic infrastructure to spur regional growth.
As the engineering and construction arm of the Bangsamoro government, the Ministry of Public Works allocated a P16.4 billion budget for 2023.
The funds will be used to support its operations in road network and other public infrastructure facilities programs, such as road network development, bridge construction, flood management, water supply, port rehabilitation, and other infrastructure programs.
HEALTH
As part of its drive for social protection and Universal Health Care, the Bangsamoro government earmarked P5.8 billion for health services.
This will help the Ministry of Health improve the responsiveness and timeliness of social protection in order to reduce vulnerability to economic, social, and environmental shocks and disasters.
Furthermore, this will improve equitable access to high-quality, low-cost healthcare services, protect against health-related financial risks, and improve disease preparedness, prevention, and management strategies.
SOCIAL SERVICES
The Ministry of Social Services and Development has been allocated P3 billion for next year to provide a balanced and responsive approach to social welfare in which the rights, needs, and interests of all citizens within its jurisdiction are protected and addressed at all times, whether natural or human-induced, that affect their well-being and participation in community affairs.
Women, children, senior citizens, differently-abled individuals, indigenous cultural communities, internally displaced persons, and those similarly situated by analogy will be prioritized.
Family and community welfare, child and youth welfare, women’s welfare, older persons' and persons with disabilities' welfare, disaster risk reduction, and emergency assistance programs are some of the MOH’s operations for 2023.(LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)
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