COTABATO CITY—In a comprehensive address held on Jan. 25, 2024, Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) outlined significant achievements over the past year during his fifth Report to the Bangsamoro.
The Chief Minister began with a tribute to the Bangsamoro people’s landmark decision on Jan. 21, 2019, which paved the way for the current transition process.
“A ‘yes’ vote that entails not only the blood, sweat, and tears of the Mujahideen and our people, but it was also a vote that carries the faith in the peace process—not only in the Bangsamoro but in the entire world,” Chief Minister Ebrahim stated.
His report highlighted BARMM’s legislative milestones, economic growth, infrastructure, education, health, and social services improvements since its inception in 2019.
Legislative Milestones
The Chief Minister highlighted the passage of key legislative measures in 2023. The Bangsamoro Electoral Code and the Bangsamoro Local Governance Code were successfully enacted, marking the fourth and fifth priority codes passed by the Parliament. The Bangsamoro Revenue and the Indigenous Peoples Codes are nearing finalization.
“I trust that through the collective wisdom of the Parliament, we will have a law that is acceptable and beneficial for all concerned,” the Chief Minister added.
The report also noted the establishment of eight new municipalities from the 63 Special Geographic Area (SGA) barangays in North Cotabato, and the redistricting of parliamentary seats to ensure fair representation in the upcoming 2025 elections.
Economic Growth
The Chief Minister highlighted substantial economic progress, noting a reduction in poverty incidence from 55.89% in 2018 to 29.8% in 2021.
“This makes us the region with the most significant drop in terms of poverty reduction,” he emphasized.
The Bangsamoro Board of Investments (BBOI) reported P3.1 billion in investments for 2023, generating 1,927 jobs. The region also saw 558,795 domestic and 1,394 foreign tourists.
BARMM remains the top fish producer in the country, accounting for 31.6% of the total fisheries production for the first quarter of 2023, and the third-highest producer of corn with a production volume of 363.7 metric tons.
Social Services
In 2023, the Unlad Pamilyang Bangsamoro program extended assistance to 35,319 indigent families.
The Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) provided emergency aid to 219,829 displaced families and health subsidies to 32,853 individuals with disabilities and indigent clients.
MSSD’s Programs such as the Kalinga Para Sa May Kapansanan and the Angat Bangsamoro: Kabataan Tungo Sa Karunungan (ABAKA) provided substantial support for health, education, and various needs. Also, the Bangsamoro Critical Assistance to Indigents in Response to Emergency Situations (BCARES) program supported 10,540 sickly indigents with free medicines and hospitalization.
The Bangsamoro Government continues to support the National Government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
In the previous year, a total of 272,346 active household beneficiaries received conditional cash grants. The program led to the graduation of 43,061 beneficiaries due to significant improvements in their living conditions.
Infrastructure, health, and education developments
Over the past three years, the Bangsamoro Government has funded the construction of 2,618 kilometers of roads. Of this, 773 kilometers have been completed, 952 kilometers are ongoing, and 893 kilometers are set to begin soon. The construction and repair of 190 bridges were also prioritized, with 73 completed, 73 ongoing, and 44 planned for construction.
The government invested in 264 flood control projects, of which 61 have been completed, 92 are ongoing, and 110 are in the pipeline. Additionally, 102 Level 2 water systems were completed, with 121 under construction and 57 planned. Slope and shore protection projects saw 30 units completed, 36 ongoing, and 56 still to be built.
There has been progress in port construction, with 22 ports repaired or built, 29 ongoing, and 35 planned. The Ministry of Human Settlements and Development (MHSD) completed 557 housing units—157 in Maguindanao, 250 in Basilan, 100 in Sulu, and 50 in the Special Geographic Area—while 2,036 units are under construction.
Nine training centers were established, with five in Lanao del Sur, two in Sulu, and two outside the region. Twenty-two more centers are in progress. The Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) distributed 323 barangay halls across the region, with 66 completed and 257 under construction.
The Bangsamoro Government also constructed 32 public markets (six completed, 26 ongoing), 26 municipal halls (six completed, 20 ongoing), and nine municipal police stations (four completed, five ongoing). Additional projects include 24 seawater desalination plants, 16 solar-powered and electric water systems, two legislative buildings, 11 community activity centers, and two regional reformation centers.
Meanwhile, in 2023, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has equipped the region with 120 land ambulances, 20 cadaver transport vehicles, 20 sea medical ambulances, 6 mobile clinics, five vans, which aimed at enhancing emergency medical services and overall healthcare accessibility.
Since 2020, Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) have been recognized for their vital role in community health. As of 2023, there are 8,600 BHWs across the Bangsamoro region. Each BHW receives a monthly financial subsidy of P2,000 under the GAAB program, reflecting the government’s commitment to supporting their invaluable contributions.
The Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) has reported a notable increase in student enrollment for the academic year, marking a 17% rise compared to 2022. This increase encompasses 1,258,253 pupils and students across public schools, government-accredited madaris (Islamic schools), and community learning centers. This growth is a significant achievement, considering the region’s historical educational challenges.
In addition to enrollment gains, the ministry has implemented the Access to Higher and Modern Education (AHME) scholarship program. This initiative supports 700 qualified students from across the region, providing each with 30,000 pesos per semester for four years, contingent upon performance monitoring and adherence to scholarship guidelines.
Special Programs
Special programs reported include the Ayudang Medical Mula sa Bangsamoro Government (AMBaG) program, which assisted 120,961 patients without , and the Project Tulong Alay sa Bangsamorong Nangangailangan (TABANG), which reached 195,314 beneficiaries.
The Kapayapaan sa Pamayanan (KAPYANAN) project has provided 1,410 housing units with 8,319 more under construction.
The Support to Local Moral Governance (SLMG) program has delivered small infrastructure projects to various communities, with 5 units completed and 174 nearing completion.
The Marawi Rehabilitation Program provided assistance to 29,884 IDPs affected by the Marawi Siege.
Ways forward
In closing, the Chief Minister expressed optimism about the future of the Bangsamoro. “Despite the complex challenges of transition period, we continue to prove that even though it is not perfect, the autonomy we achieved through the Bangsamoro Peace Process is working,” CM Ebrahim stressed.
“This year, the last full year of the extended transition period, it is imperative that we make the most of the opportunity given to us to be of service to the people and to Allah,” he said. (Aisah Abas/BIO)
