(From left to right) Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim and Parliament Speaker Atty. Pangalian Balindong present the signed Bangsamoro Automomy Act (BAA) No. 65 or the General Appropriations Act of the Bangsamoro (GAAB) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Manila. (Benyamen Cabuntalan/BIO)
MANILA—The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has finalized a P94.4 billion budget for 2025, solidifying its commitment to inclusive and transparent governance as the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) nears the end of its mandate.
Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim and Parliament Speaker Atty. Pangalian Balindong signed the bill into law as the Bangsamoro Automomy Act (BAA) No. 65 or the General Appropriations Act of the Bangsamoro (GAAB) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 today, Dec. 11, 2024 here.
“This might be the final appropriations bill that we will pass as a transition government,” Chief Minister Ebrahim said during the signing ceremony.
“Let us use this opportunity to leave a lasting imprint of transparency, inclusivity, and responsive, moral governance for the betterment of our Bangsamoro Government and the public we serve,” Ebrahim emphasized.
The BTA Parliament approved the budget on Tuesday night with 55 affirmative votes, one negative vote, and no abstentions. The bill underwent over a month of deliberations by the Committee on Finance, Budget, and Management to ensure the strategic allocation of the region’s resources.
Prioritizing essential sectors
The 2025 budget prioritizes key sectors that underpin the development of the Bangsamoro region.
Education received the largest allocation, with the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) granted 33.2 percent of the total budget, reinforcing the government’s commitment to education as a foundation for progress.
The Ministry of Public Works (MPW) followed with 11.8 percent, while the Ministry of Health (MOH) was allocated 7.7 percent. The BTA itself received 5.1 percent.
Other key allocations include the Office of the Chief Minister (OCM) with 4.02 percent and the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) at 4 percent.
Ensuring Inclusivity for Sulu
Despite the Supreme Court ruling severing Sulu from the Bangsamoro region, the 2025 budget includes provisions for its inclusion.
This decision highlights the government’s commitment to ensuring continuous and effective delivery of services to the province, regardless of political boundaries.
(Prince Nor-Anzahri Matalam/BIO)
