Mindanao executives oppose P75-B Bangsamoro block grant

MANILA, Philippines - Local officials in Mindanao oppose the automatic allocation of a multibillion-peso block grant to the envisioned Bangsamoro region.

A leader of the House of Representatives, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said several governors, mayors and other local officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have expressed apprehension on the huge financial concessions reportedly totaling P75 billion during a meeting with lawmakers in Makati.

“They (local officials) could not come out in the open because of reprisals from Malacañang, and with the elections just around the corner, funding for their projects could be withheld,” the lawmaker, who was present at the meeting, said.

Among the lawmakers present was Senate committee on local government chairman Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The House member said local officials believe members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will dominate the envisioned Bangsamoro government and use the huge war chest to wipe out political rivals in future polls.

“Unless you are chosen or appointed by the MILF, then you are wiped out,” the lawmaker said.

Local officials told the lawmakers the fund’s disbursement will be at the full discretion of the envisioned MILF-dominated autonomous government.

Depending on the government official or MILF leader speaking, the actual block grant amounts to P27 billion to P40 billion.

Augmenting the lump sum are the existing annual ARMM budget of P25 billion, a special development fund of P7 billion, proceeds from capital gains, donors and documentary stamp taxes; 100-percent share from non-metallic resources, shares from metallic resources, proceeds from energy exploration and proceeds from other taxes.

In separate statements, Reps. Lito Atienza of Buhay and Karlo Nograles of Davao City warned that the huge block grant is highly prone to abuse.

Atienza said the MILF wants their own audit agency to audit the funds of the envisioned autonomous region.

“We could be providing funds to further strengthen the armed capability of the MILF, especially that their decommissioning and disarmament is not guaranteed and automatic under the CAB,” he said. “So we will have the new Bangsamoro region with the MILF still fully armed.”

Gov. Mujiv Hataman denied that local officials in the ARMM are against the block grant.

“That’s not true,” he said. “This is no different from other automatic appropriations from Congress. The issue here is trust. It’s unfortunate that they just don’t trust us.”