P500M set aside for ex-ARMM gov’t workers

COTABATO CITY, Maguindanao, Philippines — The national government has released P500 million to fund the separation pay of employees of the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) who will no longer be absorbed by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the political entity that replaced ARMM early this year.

Abdulraof Macacua, BARMM executive secretary, said the region’s officials and employees were grateful to President Duterte and Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado for the prompt release of the funds.

The BARMM phaseout program affects more than 6,000 employees, whose positions will no longer be extended under the new BARMM government.

The first and second batches of ARMM employees ended their service on Oct. 31 and Nov. 30, respectively. The remaining group of employees will end their contracts on Dec. 31.