The Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) between the National and Bangsamoro governments concluded its final meeting in 2021 with a reaffirmation of its “strong resolve and commitment” to accomplish its goals of fostering functional and meaningful autonomy and lasting peace in the new Muslim autonomous region.
Co-chaired by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the IGRB said it “has vigorously shown its staunchness to have meaningful collaboration and consensus” in discussing and resolving issues of concern between the national and Bangsamoro governments.
The IGRB held its 10th meeting, its last for 2021, last Dec. 7.
“Guided with its firm resolve and commitment to achieving meaningful autonomy, and genuine and lasting peace in the BARMM, the IGRB was able to consistently and successfully convene during the past two years amidst the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dominguez and Iqbal in their joint statement.
“The IGRB remains determined in accomplishing its goals through unrelenting dedication, strong partnership, and mutual trust between the National Government (NG) and the Bangsamoro Government (BG),” they added.
With the IGRB tasked to convene every 90 days, the members agreed to hold their first meeting for 2022 in March.
During the Dec. 7 virtual meeting, the IGRB directed the NG agencies and the BG ministries to coordinate as early as February next year in identifying the nationally funded programs (NFPs) in the BARMM that should be included in the proposed 2023 national budget.
The IGRB reminded the concerned departments and ministries that the early call in February on the submission of agency budget proposals for the 2023 National Expenditure Program (NEP) and onwards should prompt them to coordinate in finalizing the list of NFPs.
Under Section 13, Article VI of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), national programs and projects in the BARMM such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Health Facility Enhancement Program (HFEP), School Building Program (SBP), retained hospitals of the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Heath Insurance Corp. (Philhealth), the social pension of senior citizens and the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) shall continue to be funded by the NG without prejudice to the power of the Bangsamoro Government to provide supplemental funding for such programs and projects.
The NG and BARMM have previously agreed that this list is not an exclusive one, and that NG agencies may still fund other national programs and projects in the Bangsamoro region as decided upon by the two sides.
For instance, the BG Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy has requested during the virtual meeting that the BARMM be included in the National Greening Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The IGRB also discussed several pending concerns involving the transfer of properties and assets of NG agencies within the BARMM to the BG; and the overlapping functions of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) with the BG Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE).
The IGRB recommended that the overlapping powers and functions of the POEA and the OWWA in the BARMM, among other issues that might arise, be taken up with the Congress, so that these can be incorporated in legislation pending in the Senate and House of Representatives.
As to the transfer of properties and assets, several NG agencies within the BARMM have already made the transfers to the BG, following persistent urging from the IGRB for them to comply with the provisions of the BOL.
These include the DENR; DOLE; Departments of Agrarian Reform (DAR), of Education (DepEd), of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), of Science and Technology (DOST), of Transportation (DOTr) and of Trade and Industry (DTI); and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
The other NG agencies are currently undertaking preparations for the transfer of their assets and properties to the BARMM.
On the powers and functions of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NICP) and the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs (MIPA) of the BARMM, the IGRB deemed the issue of their overlapping as resolved after the two agencies signed a memorandum of cooperation containing their agreements on this issue.
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