Proposed Bangsamoro gov’t to get Php36.8B in first year, not Php75B – Abad

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad. Photo courtesy of the World Economic Forum 2014 / Fotopedia

MANILA  – Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Butch Abad on Monday clarified that the Bangsamoro government will get only Php36.8 billion and not Php75 billion as reported in the first year.

”This Php36.8 billion is provided in the (proposed) law.

They have to study the law,” Abad said in a press briefing in Malacanang, referring to the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

Some lawmakers claimed that the Bangsamoro government will get Php75 billion budget in 2016 if the BBL will be approved this year.

Abad explained the budget is almost the same amount that the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has been getting from the national government.

He also said the ARMM also gets Php26 billion in the form of Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).

”That (IRA) will not be touched in the Bangsamoro government because that is provided for under the local government code and it goes directly — we release that directly to the LGUS,” he said.

Should the BBL hurdles Congress, the Bangsamoro government will replace the ARMM.