BTA working hard for constituents

COTABATO CITY - Deputy Floor Leader Atty. Jose Lorena has recommended a budget increase for the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education as members of the Bangsamoro Parliament’s Finance, Budget, and Management Committee continue deliberating on the proposed budget of various BARMM ministries, agencies, and offices for next year.

According to Lorena, CFBM subcommittee C chair, the suggested increase will fund scholarships for Bangsamoro learners and school construction initiatives in the region.

Under the 2024 Bangsamoro Expenditure Program (BEP), MBHTE was allotted with P30.231 billion, affirming the Bangsamoro Government's priority on education.

Meanwhile, the Committee also started deliberating on the P97.656 million Bangsamoro Youth Commission budget for 2024, which will resume next month.

A series of deliberations is set to be conducted in the following days to thoroughly examine the BEP for the upcoming fiscal year. Once approved, the CFBM will submit a committee report to the Bangsamoro Parliament for further deliberations.

The Committee of Finance, Budget, and Management also approved the proposed P349.6 million budget of the Ministry of Science and Technology.proposed 2024 Bangsamoro Expenditure Program (BEP).

During the deliberation, CFBM Subcommittee A Chair MP Eddie Alih defended MOST’S proposed budget for next year with an 18% increase from the current year’s appropriation.

The Committee also recommended an additional increase in the budget to finance research and development, the installation of tsunami early warning stations, and the institutionalization of the Mujahideen Assistance for Science Education (MASE) which the members of the committee renamed to Bangsamoro Special Assistance for Science Education (BSASE).

According to Science and Technology Minister Engr. Aida Silongan, investing more in research and development is crucial for driving innovation and advancing scientific knowledge which will result in significant progress across different industries in the region. (LTAIS-PUBLIC Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)