To strengthen the interventions in addressing challenges on public expenditure management in pursuit of genuine and meaningful autonomy in the Bangsamoro, the Ministry of Finance, and Budget and Management (MFBM) successfully conducted the Bangsamoro Budget Forum for FY 2024 yesterday, March 14, at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex, Bangsamoro Government Center, Cotabato City.

 

Ministers, Heads of Offices, as well as representatives from Civil Society Organizations, partner agencies, and stakeholders participated in the said event, which is deemed pivotal in ensuring the efficient budget preparation of the different Ministries, Offices, and Agencies (MOAs) for the upcoming fiscal year following the issuance of the FY 2024 Budget Call Guidelines.

 

BARMM Senior Minister Abdulraof A. Macacua, on behalf of Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, lauded the efforts of all Bangsamoro public servants in continuously taking part in the goals and aspirations of the Bangsamoro Government, paving way to the realization of significant milestones in the region through the establishment of a sound financial environment.

 

“A month-long planning and budgeting are not easy. You have been working tirelessly to provide the Bangsamoro people what they deserve. Let us always keep in mind that what we are now is the result of the 50 years of Bangsamoro struggle. Let us not waste it and commit to practice what we learn today. May our goal remain intact that this is for the Bangsamoro people,” Senior Minister Macacua added.

 

MFBM Deputy Minister Amilbahar P. Amilasan, Jr. highlighted in his message the essence of moral governance. He said, “Moral Governance in the Bangsamoro Government intensifies government actions especially in policy and decision-making with a sense of responsibility, ensuring transparency and accountability, strengthening work commitment, protecting the spirit of fairness, and elevating integrity. Today, we are once again be reminded of our duties and responsibilities as the BARMM’s financial managers.”

 

Key highlights of the Budget Forum include the discussion of MFBM Minister Ubaida C. Pacasem on the salient features of the Budget Call Guidelines and the presentation of the indicative budget calendar by MFBM Bangsamoro Budget Office Director Rahma D. Sanglitan.

 

MFBM Technical Working Group Member Rasul M. Salik concluded the event by emphasizing that 2024 will be the last remaining full calendar year of the extended transition period, considering the possible changes come 2025 with the recent passage of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code and the eventual regular elections come mid-2025.

 

He said, “The crafting of the Bangsamoro Budget for the calendar year 2024 is key in making sure that all the desired reforms in our way of governance are implemented, all the public goods and services we promised to the Bangsamoro people are duly given to them, and ultimately, all the desired progress and development we envision for our people is finally realized.”

 

He further underlined that everyone is highly valuable and instrumental to the success of the Bangsamoro Government in transitioning to a more developed, more progressive, and more inclusive region.

 

This event marks the fifth Bangsamoro Budget Forum, which has been sustained since its onset in 2019.