Transparency and accountability

A lot of pressing issues and matters have to take a back seat as the country continues to battle COVID-19 and its devastating effects on the economy.

But this should not be an excuse for those who are taking advantage of this preoccupation with the pandemic at the expense of the people.

It’s good that Sen. Imee Marcos has taken it upon herself to refocus government’s attention to the issues and developments in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The senator has filed a resolution directing the Senate committee on finance to conduct an inquiry into the expenses on rehabilitation and development projects of the conflict-affected region.  She is referring to the accounting and liquidation of the appropriations and the annual block grants allocated for the years 2020 and 2021 to BARMM, including the annual special development fund allocated for the rebuilding, rehabilitation, and development of conflict-affected communities.

The 80-member Bangsamoro Transition Authority, the region’s law-making body, approved the Bangsamoro Development Plan for 2020-2022 which calls for, among others, the establishment of foundations for inclusive, transparent, accountable, and efficient governance, to uphold peace, security, public order and safety, and respect for human rights, create a favorable enabling environment for inclusive and sustainable economic development, and promote Bangsamoro identity, cultures, and diversity.

The same plan also seeks to ensure access to the delivery of quality services for human capital development, harness technology and innovations to increase socio-economic opportunities and improve government services, and increase strategic and climate-resilient infrastructure to support sustainable socioeconomic development in the Bangsamoro Region, among others.

On paper, the goals of the Bangsamoro Development Plan for 2020-2022 can be described as ideal, which makes us hope that the usually violent-prone region could be finally on its way to progress and stability.

In filing Senate Resolution 729 last Monday, the lady senator revealed that under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2020, BARMM was allocated an annual appropriation of P7 billion, an annual block grant of P63.6 billion, and a special development fund of P5 billion. In addition, under the 2021 GAA, the BARMM was also given an annual appropriation of P8.6 billion, an annual block grant of P71.6 billion, and a special development fund of P5 billion.

Marcos noted that prior to the establishment of the BARMM, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was allocated an annual appropriation of P32.4 billion and adjustments of P7.2 billion, with total available appropriations of P39.7 billion.

Thus, as compared to the ARMM appropriation of only P39.7 billion, the total BARMM allocation was higher, amounting to at least double the amount of the budget allocated to the ARMM, she said.

Unfortunately, despite the appropriations, Marcos noted that there has been too little progress and change in the BARMM.

Signed on July 26, 2018 by President Duterte, Republic Act 11054 created the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (OLBARMM) which took effect on Aug. 10 of the same year,

The inauguration of the region’s government was officially held on March 29, 2019, with a mandate to establish a political entity that would provide for the basic structure of government in recognition of the justness and the legitimacy of the cause of the Bangsamoro people. It also sought to promote the aspirations of Muslim Filipinos and all indigenous cultural communities in BARMM to further secure their identity and posterity, allowing for meaningful self-governance within the framework of the Constitution and the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of the Philippines.

With the huge appropriations made in the GAA for 2020 and 2021, it is imperative for Congress and the entire country to determine the status of the projects and programs in the region and how the money is being spent.

Aside from seeking transparency on how the money is being spent, it is equally important that the public, especially Congress, be informed on the progress of the transition process at a time when public funds are dwindling.

It is a must that each and every peso be spent wisely and properly.

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