#BARMMBudgetWatch: Office of the Chief Minister

The Office of the Chief Minister (OCM) has a total proposed budget of P10.29-billion for 2021, which indicates a P2.36-billion increase, amounting to almost a third of its budget in the previous year.

The budget for the Marawi Rehabilitation Program under the OCM’s supervision grew by P17.32M (3.46%), which other agencies and ministries may access by submitting a project proposal, subject to the OCM’s approval.

However, other programs under the OCM account for a bigger portion of the increase in budget. The budget for the Ayudang Medikal mula sa Bangsamoro Government (AMBAG) program almost doubled as an additional P93.43-million was added to its budget, while an additional P2.17-billion was allocated for the Kapayapaan sa Pamayanan (KAPYANAN) program — a 77% increase from the previous year.

There are no organizational outcomes or output indicators provided as basis for the increase in the AMBAG budget. Apart from this, the nature of the said program aligns with the mandate of the Ministry of Health (MOH) which may be better served by the increase in the budget for the AMBAG program. The MOH has significantly slashed its budget for the Family Health Cluster and the Integrated Communicable Disease Cluster — clusters that may need additional funding as the pandemic continues into the next year.

The bulk of the increase in the budget of the OCM lies in the P2.79-billion increase in the capital outlay allotted for the KAPYANAN program, which aims to build houses and provide livelihood training for its beneficiaries.

It must also be noted that similar housing initiatives are lodged in the Human Settlement Development Project under the Ministry of Human Settlements whose 2021 budget has increased by 754.3%. Livelihood programs are also provided for by the Ministry of Social Welfare and Development, the Ministry of Labor and Employment, Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reforms, and the Bangsamoro Women Commission

The allocations for both the Tulong Alay sa Bangsamorong Nangangailangan (TABANG) program and Quick Response Fund (QRF) decreased by P225.98M (13.70%) and P575M (35.94%), respectively.

Meanwhile, new programs were launched by the OCM, namely:

Support to Local Moral Governance
Strengthening of BARMM Linkages and Networks through Information Services
Developmental Research and Impact Assessment on BARMM Training Program
Promulgation of Religious Edicts
Cultural Advocacies and Promotions
Promotional and Investment Services

A look into the output indicators of the Support to Local Moral Governance program shows that projects already found in the projects list of other ministries. For example, the construction of housing units for former combatants is found under the Support to Local Moral Governance, for which the Ministry of Social Services and Development has similarly allocated P750-million under its Bangsamoro Shelter Assistance program.

The construction of public and small infrastructure facilities are also listed as output indicators under the Support to Local Moral Governance, as similar projects are found in the budget of the Ministry of Public Works. The nature of these facilities is not indicated in the budget proposal, and further inquiry may show that these may be better incorporated into the projects of the Ministry of Public Works.

Similarly, the Promotional and Investment Services need further clarification, due to the possibility of integration with programs under the Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism. The Promulgation of Religious Edicts and Cultural Advocacies and Promotions, on the other hand, may be better matched to the mandate of another agency apart from the OCM.