ARMM, national gov’t start releasing funds from ‘bottoms up budgeting’

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao office is reminding local government officials to make sure they implement their development projects well in accordance with the goals set in the “bottoms up budgeting” introduced by the Philippine government.

Close to P1 billion has been allotted to projects identified by ARMM local units under the bottoms-up budgeting or BUB, the ARMM office said.

Laisa Alamia, ARMM executive secretary, said at least 338 projects on infrastructure and livelihood would benefit some 104 municipalities in the five ARMM provinces, and “we want to make sure that town mayors who already received their share should make good of their word.”

Makmod Mending Jr., agriculture regional secretary, said the reminder has come at a time of congressional inquiries into the alleged misuse of P10-billion pork barrel allotted to senators.

Mending said out of the total of P959,392,914.11 in BUB funds for ARMM, checks for a total of P40.3 million were personally distributed in February by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala to eight Lanao del Sur LGUs and three in Maguindanao.

On March 25, Alamia and Mending handed over another P16.7 million in checks for BUB projects to five Lanao Sur mayors, namely: Mamintal Razuman of Lumbatan (P4.1 million plus P350,000 for livelihood), Sahrodin Ampatua of Bayang (P2.9 million and P392,000), Jamal Manabilang of Bumbaran (P1.5 million and P250,000), Jamal Asum of Lumbayanague (P6-million), and Misangcud Capal of Tagoluan (P1.66 million).

Mending said the Commission on Audit, the Department of Public Works and Highways, among other government agencies would be around to monitor and supervise construction of farm-to-market roads and livelihood project implementation.

“These proposed projects have been identified  by the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team and duly approved by the National Anti-Poverty Commission and civil society organizations,” Mending said.

“The Office of the Regional Governor is doing this for the constituents of ARMM to truly benefit from the national government’s funding assistance,” Mending said.

He identified the 11 towns of Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao that earlier got a total of P49.3 million as Ditsaan, Ramain, Taraka, Sultan Dumalondong, Piagapo, Calanogas, Bumbaran and Balindong, all of Lanao, and Parang, Buldon and Barira of Maguindanao.

Mending urged other chief executives, whose municipalities were covered by the BUB program, to submit immediately to his office their project proposals and other requirements and vital documentation indicating project cost to facilitate releases of fund aid.

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