Gov’t releases P42M to Bangsamoro transition team working on basic law

Putting its money where its mouth is, the government has released P42 million to the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), which is tasked to draw up the basic law of the proposed autonomous region.

In a statement, Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad said P25 million of the amount was for the BTC’s operating expenses and P17 million for salaries and benefits, particularly of the 16 officials appointed to the commission.

Abad said the P42 million was an initial release from the P100 million President Aquino had earmarked for the BTC. He added that P29 million was given in cash.

“The Aquino administration has mobilized the necessary talent and resources to establish the commission and ensure its success in drafting the Bangsamoro basic law,” Abad said.

Last March, the Department of Budget and Management released P1.5 billion for various infrastructure projects—including national roads and bridges—in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) amid talks on the Bangsamoro peace framework.

Negotiations between the government and the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) resulted in a pact to come up with a peace agreement this year. The area a new juridical entity will cover will encompass the ARMM and will be known as Bangsamoro.

In January, the DBM gave P745.5 million for peace and development efforts to the ARMM through the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) program.

Pamana delivers social services to conflict-affected communities, and links these communities to markets for job generation and the easier flow of goods and services through vital infrastructure like farm-to-market roads.

The January fund was earmarked for various projects that included support for development of settlement sites in the ARMM; the disposition of arms and forces; and the construction of roads and public infrastructure.

On Thursday, Abad said the national government’s fiscal program for 2013 provided for the construction of infrastructure projects in the five ARMM provinces.

The ARMM is composed of the provinces of Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.—Ronnel W. Domingo