Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 30) — Bangsamoro Interim Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim has submitted the region’s proposed ₱75-billion 2021 budget for approval, placing priority on programs addressing the public health crisis.
In a statement, the Bangsamoro government said its 2021 allocation, which is higher than the ₱65-billion budget for the current year, has been submitted to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority for plenary deliberations. Next year’s spending plan prioritizes programs for education, health, and social services.
The proposed BTA-Cabinet Bill No. 73 allots ₱23.4 billion to the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education to be used in the absorption of schools and school divisions located in 63 barangays in North Cotabato and Cotabato City which voted to join the BARMM in the 2019 plebiscite.
The MBHTE also plans to construct four higher education buildings, while local authorities intend to build three more technical municipal training centers.
The ministry said it is eyeing to provide scholarships to 2,000 students from families affected by armed conflicts under the Access to Higher and Modern Education Scholarship Program, while the Ministry of Science and Technology has proposed a ₱26-million fund for science, engineering, and mathematics tertiary programs.
Moreover, the health ministry is targeting to grant scholarships for medical students with a ₱14-million budget.
Also included in the bill is a proposal to provide teachers ₱10,000 each for their trainings or seminars, and another ₱5,000 as extra allowance. A ₱1.1-billion fund meanwhile will be used for the hiring of asatidz, or Muslim teachers.
For its health sector, the BARMM is proposing a ₱5.1-billion budget that will fund the construction of an additional 173 barangay health stations and 27 rural health units.
Barangay health workers will also be given an additional ₱500 allowance each, along with a budget for their medical supplies of ₱3,000 for BHSs and ₱30,000 for RHUs.
Each hospital supervised by the Ministry of Health will be provided an additional ambulance and ₱10 million, while the number of personnel in all seven COVID-19 isolation centers across the region will be increased to boost efforts in containing the virus.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Chief Minister is earmarking ₱193.4 million for its Ayudang Medikal Mula sa Bangsamoro Government to subsidize the medical expenses of indigent patients.
A ₱3.3-billion fund will be allocated to the Ministry of Social Services and Development, the bulk of which will be used in the Emergency Assistance Program for grassroots interventions.
An amount of ₱1.4 billion has also been set aside for the Tulong Alay sa Bangsamorong Nangangailangan program which gives out cash or in-kind assistance to communities.
Aside from these top priority programs, the Bangsamoro government said it will also set aside ₱517 million for the rehabilitation of Marawi City.
