DBM to Bangsamoro leaders: Ease up on Sulu transition

COTABATO CITY—Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman advised leaders of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) not to scramble into transition for its activities in Sulu after the Supreme Court had ruled that the province was not part of the political and administrative territory of the autonomous government.

“We respectfully acknowledge, and will be awaiting for the entry of judgment indicating the finality of judgment, barring any motion for reconsideration the parties may file,” Pangandaman said in a statement on Thursday.

“Accordingly, while the decision states that it is immediately executory, it is prudent to wait for it to reach finality, considering the significant implications for its enforcement—to ensure that when commenced, the same had already attained a state of immutability,” added the head of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

“In the meantime, we encourage all the stakeholders in the BARMM and in the province of Sulu to maintain the status quo,” she said.

Employees’ fate

The ruling has sent serious political and administrative shockwaves that continue to be felt by leaders of the BARMM and of Sulu. It came as the regional bureaucracy was in the thick of preparing the BARMM’s budget for 2025.

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Mainly, the regional government gets a fixed 5 percent share of national revenues, called the block grant, as mandated by the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

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Among the many other issues that arose from the ruling, penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the BARMM leadership has been immediately concerned about the fate of some 5,700 employees of the various ministries of the regional government who are assigned in Sulu to deliver various social services to the people.

Earlier, BARMM Cabinet Secretary Mohd Asnin Pendatun said these workers would receive their salaries from Sept. 16 to Dec. 31 this year on condition that the sum would be returned to the regional government in the event the Commission on Audit disallowed the spending on account of the high court ruling.

“We would like to affirm that the salaries and benefits of local government personnel in the province (of Sulu) shall continue, and are to be charged against available local government funds, while those for the personnel of the various provincial field offices in the different ministries under the BARMM government should continue to be charged against their corresponding appropriations from the annual block grant,” said Pangandaman.

She added that programs, projects, and activities set for 2024 “should continue to be implemented until the finality of the decision, as evidenced by the issuance of an entry of judgment.”

But Pangandaman cautioned that in consideration of the high court ruling, “funding for programs, projects and activities for the province (of Sulu) shall already be excluded from BARMM’s annual budget for the succeeding fiscal years.”

Sen. Francis Tolentino and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman had asked Congress to establish a transition fund for Sulu in the 2025 budget to compensate for lost funding opportunities from the BARMM after it fully exits from the regional government.

Pangandaman vowed, “full support (for) the BARMM and Sulu province as both parties begin to thresh out their respective concerns over the SC ruling.”

“Under the leadership of President Marcos, (we) will exert all efforts to ensure a smooth transition and will take a whole-of-government approach to ensure the continued delivery of essential government services. We will be here to guide and extend our assistance whenever needed as we continue to realize our shared vision of a peaceful, progressive, and thriving Mindanao,” she added.

President’s assurance

In Malacañang, President Marcos met with Sulu officials on Wednesday and assured them that ongoing vital projects and essential services would “continue seamlessly.”

“Our meeting with the leaders of Sulu reinforced our commitment to the province’s continuous progress. By working closely with our local and national partners, we will sustain vital projects and services —ensuring that Sulu remains on the path to peace, unity, and development,” the President said on Facebook.

In a separate post on Instagram, Mr. Marcos said: “Every part of our nation, including Sulu, will move forward together—united in hope and driven by the desire for lasting growth and harmony.” —WITH A REPORT FROM JULIE M. AURELIO

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