Key officials of the national and Bangsamoro governments in the Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) have resolved to continue the engagement of their respective Cabinet departments and ministries to identify additional, nationally funded programs (NFPs) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) for possible inclusion in the proposed 2023 national budget.

Co-chaired by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and BARMM Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal, the IGRB held its 9th meeting last Sept. 22 virtually to continue fulfilling its commitment to resolve points of divergence between the national and Bangsamoro governments and keep the transition of the BARMM moving at the fastest possible pace.

“The IGRB continues to meet regularly to resolve matters and issues brought before the body as it remains determined in accomplishing its targets through unrelenting dedication, strong partnership and mutual trust between the National Government (NG) and the Bangsamoro Government. The IGRB remains fully committed to achieving meaningful autonomy, and genuine and lasting peace in the BARMM,” Secretary Dominguez said.

During the meeting, Secretary Dominguez and Minister Iqbal also instructed the technical working groups (TWGs) tasked to address the overlapping jurisdictions of certain NG agencies and Bangsamoro ministries to speed up the resolution of their outstanding issues so that these offices may focus on delivering efficient services to the public.

These offices include, among others, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) on the part of the NG, and the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE) of the BARMM.

During the meeting, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) discussed the issue on the inclusion in the national budget of NFPs located in the Bangsamoro region.

Under Section 13, Article VI of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), national programs and projects in the BARMM such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Health Facility Enhancement Program (HFEP), School Building Program (SBP), retained hospitals of the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Heath Insurance Corp. (Philhealth), the social pension of senior citizens, and the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) shall continue to be funded by the NG without prejudice to the power of the Bangsamoro Government to provide supplemental funding for such programs and projects.

The NG and BARMM have previously agreed that this list is not an exclusive one and that NG agencies may still fund other national programs and projects in the Bangsamoro region as decided upon by the two sides.

In its 9th meeting, Secretary Dominguez pointed out that because the NG makes its budget call every February of each year, it is crucial for the different NG agencies and the BARMM ministries to directly coordinate, identify and agree on which NFPs could be possibly included for funding under the 2023 national budget.

The NG agencies and BARMM ministries are expected to report to the IGRB relevant updates as to their coordination regarding the NFPs in the next meeting of the body tentatively scheduled in the second week of December.Paola Alvarez, Asst. Secretary,DOF