By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has authorized the release of nearly P213 million for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
In a statement on Wednesday, the DBM said Secretary Amenah Pangandaman approved on Feb. 20 the release of a Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA) amounting to P212.77 million to finance the implementation of the programs of the BARMM’s Ministry of Social Welfare and Development for the first quarter of 2024.
The DBM said the released fund is chargeable against the 2024 General Appropriations Act.
“The released NCA is part of the P3.22 billion funds allocated for the BARMM, which was directly transferred from the appropriation of the DSWD Central Office for the implementation of its banner programs,” it said.
The department said the amount would be allotted for the continued implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens, Sustainable Livelihood Program, Supplementary Feeding Program, and the implementation of Republic Act 10868 or the Centenarians Act of 2016 in the BARMM.
Pangandaman said the Marcos administration is committed to providing support to the Bangsamoro region, as part of efforts to secure “a future-proof and sustainable economy.”
She emphasized that under the “Bagong Pilipinas” banner, no one will be left behind, especially the Bangsamoro people.
“Our collective efforts at developing BARMM are bearing fruit,” Pangandaman said. “We will continue to give all the necessary aid to our brothers and sisters in Mindanao because their success is the success of every Filipino. This is aligned with the call of our beloved President Bongbong Marcos for a Bagong Pilipinas where inclusivity and unity are of utmost importance.”
The BARMM’s MSSD aims to provide a balanced and responsive approach to social welfare by putting a premium on the marginalized and vulnerable sectors, including women, children, senior citizens, differently-abled persons, indigenous cultural communities, and internally displaced persons.
