ARMM institutionalizes good budgeting governance

Photo from Wikimedia Commons.

COTABATO CITY — The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has introduced policies on open governance aimed at improving and institutionalizing good governance, an official said.

The Regional Budget and Management Office of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RBMO-ARMM) and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) inked on Tuesday a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) implementing the release of the salaries of employees of eight locally funded agencies through automatic teller machine (ATM) accounts.

Mailyn Macusang, RBMO-ARMM executive director, and Marissa Dalidig, LBP Estosan branch head, led the ceremonial signing at the Pagana Kutawato Restaurant this city.

Macusang said the MOA is part of the ARMM government’s objective in promoting good governance under the leadership of Governor Mujiv Hataman.

“The current administration of ARMM has introduced policies on open-governance system, processes and other interventions to improve and institutionalize the ARMM budgeting system as part of its quest for good governance,” Macusang said.

Currently, she added, the agency is prioritizing the elimination of ghost employees as well as fast-tracking the process of salary payments.

On January 22 this year, Gov. Hataman signed Administrative Order No. 004 that entrusted the RBMO-ARMM with managing its own funds as well as seven other agencies.

These agencies are ARMM Development Academy, Bureau on Cultural Heritage, Coordinating and Development Office on Bangsamoro Youth Affairs, Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women, Regional Reconciliation and Unification Council, Regional Sports Coordinating Office and Southern Philippines Development Authority.

More than 150 employees from these agencies will receive their salaries through ATM accounts starting this month.

Major departments under the regional government had already implemented payments of salary through ATM accounts, and the inclusion of locally funded agencies “is another milestone for the autonomous regional government,” Macusang said.

The LBP also conducted proper training on Republic Act 10365, or the Anti Money Laundering Act of 2012, especially on Know-Your-Client procedures, to all concerned employees of the eight agencies.