Transparency sought in BARMM’s P160 billion budget

MANILA, Philippines — An advocate for good governance has assailed what she described as the “questionable” combined total budget of more than P160.8 billion for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The 2020 annual budget for BARMM was P75.6 billion, which was increased to P85.2 billion for 2021.

Jhannah Villegas, Mindanao director of Malayang Lipunan Movement, said a substantial amount was allocated for the maintenance and other operating expenses, which included but was not limited to supplies and materials.

“We demand absolute transparency on where all the money went, if we want the BARMM to succeed and not go the same way as the failed Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM),” Villegas said.

Records show that in 2020, the total supplies and materials of the BARMM government was P2.7 billion, which ballooned to more than P6 billion for 2021, or an increase of over 120 percent.

Villegas said it was worth noting that the BARMM government is still in the process of recruitment, and that field offices in the five provinces are still not at full capacity.

“It is a blunder that you have a huge budget for supplies and materials, yet no personnel are doing administrative or clerical work. The amount is very huge and mind-boggling,” she said.

Earlier, Sen. Imee Marcos filed Senate Resolution 729, urging the Senate committee on finance to conduct an inquiry into the expenses on rehabilitation and development projects of conflict-affected communities in the region.

“Compared to the ARMM appropriation of only P39.7 billion, the total BARMM allocation was higher, or at least double the amount of the budget allocated for ARMM,” Marcos said.

“Despite these allocated appropriations, there is too little progress and change in BARMM,” Marcos said.