MARAWI CITY (PIA)--To ensure sound financial management among the ministries and offices of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Management (MFBM) conducted the Bangsamoro Budget Forum for Fiscal Year 2024, March 14.

The forum aims to increase interventions addressing public expenditure management challenges in pursuit of genuine and meaningful autonomy in Bangsamoro.

Bangsamoro Senior Minister Abdulraof Macacua, representing Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, commended the efforts of all Bangsamoro public servants in continuously taking part in the goals and aspirations of the Bangsamoro Government, paving the way to the realization of significant milestones in the region through the establishment of a sound financial environment.

"A month-long planning and budgeting are not easy. You have been working tirelessly to provide the Bangsamoro people [with] what they deserve. Let us always keep in mind that what we are now is the result of the 50 years of Bangsamoro struggle. Let us not waste it and commit to practicing what we learn today. May our goal remain intact that this is for the Bangsamoro people," he said.

MFBM Minister Ubaida Pacasem presented the salient features of the budget call for FY 2024, which contains parameters to guide the ministries and offices in preparing their budget proposals.

Key regional officials, ministers, heads of offices, director-generals, budget and planning officers, chief accountants, representatives from civil society organizations, and other interested parties attended the aforementioned annual forum.

Meanwhile, MFBM Technical Working Group Member Rasul Salik said that 2024 will be the last remaining full calendar year of the extended transition period, considering the possible changes come 2025 with the recent passage of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code and the eventual regular elections come mid-2025. 

"The crafting of the Bangsamoro Budget for the calendar year 2024 is key in making sure that all the desired reforms in our way of governance are implemented, all the public goods and services we promised to the Bangsamoro people are duly given to them, and ultimately, all the desired progress and development we envision for our people is finally realized," Salik said. 

Further, the Bangsamoro Government recognizes the modernization of the national budget process to improve the efficiency of the processes such as planning, procurement, cash management, and payment systems. (BIO/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)