Senate approves 2018 ARMM budget in less than a minute

PASAY CITY --- The P33.569 billion budget for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) for 2018 was approved by the Senate without much discussion and in less than a minute last October 11.

Senators present during the Senate plenary hearing did not raise any question which made the budget approval quick. No discussion took place between the ARMM executives and the senators.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said the speedy approval of the ARMM budget is a manifestation of the Senate's trust in his administration.

"Sa Senate finance sub-committee hearing pa lang, we received positive feedbacks na from our lawmakers. And this speedy approval in the Senate means they trust our administration," Hataman said.

The Senate finance sub-committee endorsed the budget proposal last September 18.

The budget also had a swift approval at the House of Representatives after it received support from the majority on September 12.

About P14.661 billion, or 43.8 percent of the total budget is allocated for personnel services. Another P14.042 billion, or 41.96 percent, is allocated for capital outlay, and the remaining P4.766 billion, or 14.24 percent, is for maintenance and other operating expenses.

Hataman added that the budget was formulated based on many considerations that include the ARMM Regional Development Plan, 2017-2022, which was anchored on the Philippine Development Plan, 2017-2022.

The Hataman administration's two banner programs will serve more target families and barangays in 2018.

Since it started, the ARMM's Bangsamoro Regional Inclusive Development for Growth and Equity (BRIDGE) has provided shelter, electricity, water, and food provision for 5,600 less privileged families across the region. 7,000 more families will benefit from the program in 2018.

The second program, ARMM-Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Security, and Synergy (ARMM-HELPS), aims at establishing a peaceful and secure environment in the region by providing basic social services, especially in relation to health, education, livelihood, good governance, and peace in the barangays.

Since 2014, there were 403 barangays that established their barangay peace centers, health centers, water facilities, day care centers, and livelihood centers and even housing projects. In 2018, the region sets to put up these infrastructures to 150 barangays region-wide.  (BUREAU OF PUBLIC INFORMATION – ARMM / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)