Congress Oks ARMM 2018 budget

COTABATO CITY – In less than three minutes, the House of Representatives approved the 33.469 billion budget of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao for 2018. The proposed budget was sponsored by Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte’s 1st. district.

In behalf of the minority, Rep. Anthony Bravo of COOP NATCCO party-list moved to terminate the interpellation of the ARMM budget in the plenary as soon as the budget was brought to the floor for discussion. The motion was quickly followed by an expression of support from the majority.

“On behalf of the majority, we join the minority in closing the period of debate on the proposed budget of the ARMM, said Rep. Juan Pablo Bondoc of the 4th district of Pampanga.

Despite the joint motion, Rep. Shernee Tan of Kusug Tausug, insisted on her objection to the termination of debate regarding the ARMM budget. Given Tan’s objection, Bondoc moved to divide the house, during which the “ayes” decisively drowned out the “nays.”

It was this vocal support from both the majority and the minority that led to the passage of the ARMM budget in the House of Representatives.

“We are proud of what we have accomplished in the ARMM and we have answered all queries sufficiently during the pre-plenary hearings. The house has shown yet again that it trusts the regional government,” said Gov. Mujiv Hataman as he received news of the ARMM budget approval.

“We thank our fellow public servants in the House of Representatives for their support, and we extend our gratitude most especially to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, to the majority floor leader, Cong. Farinas, and Cong. Dimaporo who has always been a voice for the Bangsamoro,” Hataman added.