DoF: No 2019 budget item for Bangsamoro

Economic managers said the budget for the implementation of the recently-signed Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) is not yet part of the 2019 proposed national budget.

The BOL was recently signed and it aims to create a new Bangsamoro region that will replace the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

During the briefing by the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), Senate minority leader Senator Franklin Drilon asked if the proposed budget for next year took into consideration the new law, to which Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said that they have not done it.

“Obviously the budget you presented today does not consider the financial implications of the formation of the Bangsamoro government. Secretary Dominguez is shaking his head so for the record the proposed 2019 budget does not include the projected budget for the Bangsamoro,” Drilon said.

Budget undersecretary Janet Abuel confirmed the information regarding the budget for the BOL.

“Indeed, it is not yet incorporated in the 2019 proposed budget,” said Abuel, adding the DBCC would just reallocate the budget allocation for the existing ARMM.

“We have a proposed budget for the ARMM which amounts to P32.2 billion and we can be able to reallocate that considering the complications for the requirements under the BOL,” Abuel said.

Drilon then asked about the block grant which would be given to the Bangsamoro region, under the law, but Dominguez said they do not have the exact amount but he estimated it to be around P60 billion.

The senator again asked if the P32.2 billion for ARMM will be adjusted to P60 billion but Dominguez said he is not sure if that is possible at the time. He said he has to check with Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno.

“We have to check with Secretary Diokno. We have to ask Ben what he plans to do,” he said.

Abuel, representing Diokno who came from a prior appointment, said they will have to study the matter first.

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