ZAMBOANGA CITY — Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim signed into law Parliament Bill 54 or the Bangsamoro Expenditure Program for 2023 amounting to P85.3 billion on Thursday night.

"The BEP 2023 is inspired by many things; our collective experiences, recent economic changes, and just recently, tragedies that struck at the very core of our homeland. These factors have been thoroughly considered in this process, and I am optimistic that the roadmap for next year is clear and responsive to the needs of the Bangsamoro," said Ebrahim.

Parliament Bill 54 was approved on its third and final reading by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament on Thursday with 44 affirmative votes, zero negative votes, and zero abstentions.

According to Ebrahim, the BEP for next year was increased by around 6.89 percent — to P85.3 billion from P79.8 billion for 2022 and added that the large portion of the BEP was allocated to education, health, infrastructure and social services.

At least 10 ministries and offices have the biggest budget allocation — Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education, P27.2 billion; Ministry of Public Works, P16.4 billion; Office of the Chief Minister, P5.9 billion; Ministry of Health, P5.8 billion; Bangsamoro Transition Authority, P3.9 billion; Ministry of Social Services and Development, P3.07 billion; Ministry of the Interior and Local Government, P2.04 billion; Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform, P1.5 billion; Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy, P666 million; and Ministry of Transportation and Communications, P539 million.

"Following this approval, we will move forward with the implementation of all projects and programs in the provinces of the region, including the Special Geographic Area," Ebrahim said.

The Special Geographic Area or SGA is composed of 63 barangays from Cotabato Province which became an addition to the official territory of the BARMM after a successful plebiscite in 2019.

On the same day, the expenditure law was approved, the Government of the Day also filed several bills that will create eight municipalities in SGA which will constitute the covered areas into distinct and independent municipalities.