BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim during the Bangsamoro Budget Forum (BBF) 2025 at Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex (SKCC), in Cotabato City on February 20, 2024. (Hamdan Badrudin/BIO)
COTABATO CITY—BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim assured his constituency that every peso is spent on the premise of the fundamental interests of the Bangsamoro people.
On February 20, during the Bangsamoro Budget Forum (BBF) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 here, the Chief Minister reechoed the promise of the Bangsamoro peace process which is to ensure ‘fiscal transparency and accountability’ across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“As we are in the final year of the extended transition period, we stand at a critical juncture where we focus on the essence of our collective duty to the Almighty Allah and to our people to ensure that ‘Sa bawat sentimo, Bangsamoro ang sentro’,” Ebrahim stated.
He also highlighted the necessity to align the various interventions of the Government of the Day to his policies and priority agenda, the national development goals, and the 2nd Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) 2023-2028, among others.
“As architects of our budgetary system, let us be reminded to be attuned to prioritizing the budget that supports the implementation of comprehensive programs, projects, and activities,” he stated.
Spearheaded by the Ministry of Finance, and Budget and Management (MFBM), the forum aimed to inform different BARMM ministries, offices, and agencies (MOAs) and other stakeholders about the salient features of the Bangsamoro Budget Call for FY 2025.
MFBM Minister Atty. Ubaida Pacasem stressed that the initiatives of the interim government are specially designed to address the needs of the Bangsamoro constituents.
Pacasem added that public servants shall consider the essence of financial accuracy and accountability for the general welfare of every Bangsamoro.
“It is important to note that overspending and underspending of budget, as well as delays in the implementation of programs and projects, mean that we deny the Bangsamoro people’s right to live a prosperous life,” the Minister emphasized.
He urged the financial managers to craft the 2025 budget by following the Bangsamoro Government’s aspirations and values for its people, bolstering the region’s economy, and opening doors for investment opportunities.
The forum also served as an avenue to discuss the guidelines for the preparation and submission of the budget proposals and the indicative budget calendar for the next fiscal year.
BBF 2025 aligns with the first priority agenda of CM Ebrahim, which promotes transparency, accountability, and improvement of overall public financial management. (Johamin Inok/BIO)
