QUEZON CITY – The House of Representatives has approved Thursday – without any interpellation – the P32-billion budget proposed by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) for 2019, according to Executive Secretary Laisa Masuhud-Alamia.
“We’re very happy that the ARMM-proposed budget for 2019 was approved immediately. Probably just like the previous years and we’re hoping and looking forward that the budget will be utilized properly and implemented by the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM,” she said. “With the passage of the BOL, we will have to wind up with the ARMM just to make sure that the BARMM would have something to start with by January 2019.”
Lawmakers noted that the House has foregone the usual committee-level discussions due to its strong support for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). “Today is a historic event for the ARMM because since then, they regularly come to the House to defend and propose their budget. With the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the budget being presented today, God willing, will be turned over to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority,” said Lanao del Norte 1st District Representative Khalid Dimaporo.
But Kusug Tausug party-list Representative Shernee Abubakar Tan remarked that there were documents Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman failed to submit during the 2017 budget hearing.
Sec. Alamia, however, debunked Tan’s allegation. “There are records that belie her statements. All of the documents that she mentioned were submitted last year, not just to the committee at the House but also at the Senate. If those documents were not submitted, the 2018 budget of ARMM would not have been approved,” she said.
Anak Mindanao party-list representative Amihilda Sangcopan also paid tribute to her ‘second family’. Sangcopan, who served in previous years as Department of Agrarian Reform-ARMM Secretary, commended the Hataman administration for serving the Bangsamoro region.
“Maraming salamat sa magandang serbisyo na ibinigay ninyo sa Bangsamoro at sa paghahanda sa institusyon sa pagpasok ng bagong entity. Congratulations po sa buong team ni Governor Mujiv Hataman. Maraming salamat po sa serbisyong ipinakita niyo na ito ang serbisyo na kayang ibigay ng Bangsamoro kaya pinagkatiwalaan po tayo at naipasa ang BOL,” she said.
Prior to the House of Representatives’ approval, the regional government’s proposed budget for next year was also approved by the Senate Committee on Finance on Tuesday, September 18. The P32.285-billion budget ARMM proposed for 2019 will be used for personal services, including the Retirement and Life Insurance Premiums, P14.6 billion; capital outlay, P13 billion; and Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses, P4.6 billion. (Bureau of Public Information)
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