The Marcos administration is firm on ensuring the development of the Bangsamoro community vis-a-vis the government’s goal of inclusivity for all Filipinos through its Agenda for Prosperity.

Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman reiterated this during the inaugural General Meeting of the Bangsamoro Council of Leaders in Davao City on Wednesday, where she noted that about PHP80.6 billion has been allocated for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) under the proposed PHP5.678 trillion 2024 national budget.

“It is our hope that through this allocated budget, we will be able to continue to build on what we have accomplished,” she said in the agency’s press release.

Part of the proposed funding for BARMM will be for the Annual Block Grant, the Special Development Fund, the BARMM Shares in National Taxes, and the Local Government Support Fund, which has a proposed allocation amounting to PHP16.6 billion.

Some PHP5.3 billion was also proposed for the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA), or Peaceful and Resilient Communities Program, PHP2.5 billion of which was allotted for infrastructure development.

Meanwhile, Pangandaman defined “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines), the current government’s new governance brand, as “bansang may respeto sa lahat ng paniniwala (a country that respects all faith).”

“And Bagong Pilipinas ay nagtutulungan at nagkaka-unawaan sa kabila ng pagkakaiba ng relihiyon, kulay, at pinagmulan. At ang Bagong Pilipinas ay mas pinatatag ng pagkakaisa (The New Philippines means helping and understanding amid the differences in religion, color, and origin. Also, the New Philippines is a strengthened unity),” she said.

Pangandaman thanked both the national and BARMM officials for their solidarity and cooperation that led to the smooth transition of the new Bangsamoro government. (PNA)