Senate probe into BARMM fund allocations sought

MANILA, Philippines — A good governance group has called on the Senate committee on finance to conduct an investigation into what it described as “unfair” appropriation of funds in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Malayang Lipunan Movement Mindanao director Jhannah Villegas said BARRM has a total budget of P160 billion for 2020 and this year, but a substantial amount has been allocated for maintenance and other operating expenses.

Records show that P2.7 billion was allocated for supplies and materials in 2020 and P6 billion this year.

Villegas also questioned the P998.2 million budget for the office of the chief minister and P179.1 million for the office of the speaker this year.

On the other hand, the indigenous peoples ministry got only P5.2 million; labor, P3.5 million; safety, P2 million, and human settlement, P1.5 million.

“How can the people of BARMM feel progress in their turf with this kind of budgetary allocation?” Villegas asked.

The group’s petition came on the heels of the filing of a bill seeking an additional P50 million budget for the region’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“BARMM has so much money but it is unfairly and unjustly distributed or appropriated,” Villegas said.

Before the Senate went on recess, Sen. Imee Marcos filed a resolution directing the Senate committee on finance to conduct an inquiry into the expenses for rehabilitation and development projects of conflict-affected community in the BARMM, saying “there is too little progress and change.”

Marcos said BARMM received an allocation of P7 billion aside from a block grant of P63.6 billion and special development fund of P5 billion last year.

For this year, the region got P8.6 billion, an annual block grant of P71.6 billion and special development fund of P5 billion.