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COTABATO CITY — Succession of government administrations in the Philippines, meaning everytime a new President is elected and holds the seat of power in Malacañang Palace, development programs, most chances than not, at least some, are forgotten and discarded.
For whatever reason when new Chief Executives of the Philippines hold the reins development programs of the previous administration do not figure much, meaning no continuity of development projects, they start from zero.
Discarding programs and projects already set in motion naturally would stymie, stunt progress, hold back employment opportunities, and affect the economy in many ways.
But if it can be helped, perhaps, implement continuity of development initiatives it would be better for a nation, for a region like the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Precisely, that’s what a law maker is seeking to implement and institutionalize continuity of development programs and projects in the six years old Bangsamoro region, comprised of five provinces, three cities, a particular geographic area with eight municipalities.
The man of the hour, lawyer Rasol P. Mitmug, Jr., a member of the Parliament (MP) of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).
Thus, he is bidding to ensure continuity in development programs, at the same time safeguard unspent funds, as he filed a bill seeking to create a Bangsamoro Trust Fund for Development Continuity (BTFDC).
In introducing the legislative measure, Mitmug “seeks to address delays in project implementation caused by bureaucratic bottlenecks, procurement issues, and limited absorptive capacity.
He said the fund would allow unutilized yet obligated development allocations to be retained, carried over, and programmed across fiscal years.
The intent is for the cited fund to cover unspent balances from the Annual Block Grant (ABG), the Special Development Fund (SDF), and other legally sourced funds.
Among the initiatives the fund is intended to finance include ongoing or delayed projects in infrastructure, education, health, livelihood, disaster response, and peace-building initiatives. But it is strictly prohibited to finance personal or political expenses.
The BTFDC will be governed by a Management Board led by the Bangsamoro Finance Minister, and it will operate under strict transparency and accountability measures, including digital fund tracking and public reporting through the Bangsamoro Budget and Accountability Management System (BBAMS).
“The Board will also be assisted by audit and monitoring units to ensure proper utilization of funds,” Mitmug assured.
His proposed bill allows retention of funds for up to two succeeding fiscal years, extendable by one year in extraordinary circumstances, ensuring development continuity across BARMM communities.
The Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), ratified in January 2019, established the BARMM to implement the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).
Comprising the BARMM are the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, and Tawi-Tawi; the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi; and the Special Geographic Area (SGA) made up of eight new municipalities (located in the province of North Cotabato). — EDD K. USMAN
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Source:
BTA Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division