Minister Mohagher Iqbal, members of the Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB), ladies and gentlemen, good day.
Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
We are now on our 14th Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) Meeting and I would like to congratulate everyone for our accomplishments in the past months that will ensure the delivery of quality public service to our citizens in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Before anything else, allow me to congratulate all of you on the successful launch of the 2nd Bangsamoro Development Plan 2023-2028, underscoring the macroeconomic targets, development goals, and strategic directions of the Bangsamoro Government to become an empowered, cohesive, and progressive region in the country.
As always, I am honored to co-chair with Minister Iqbal and have our esteemed executives from the National Government and Bangsamoro Government in full force today, including our Special Assistant to the President, Secretary Antonio Lagdameo Jr. who is here with us today. We are in full force today here in the beautiful city of General Santos, to strengthen our efforts in setting the path for BARMM’s continuous development in social, economic, and cultural aspects.
Our harmonious working relations have resulted in productive technical working groups, public-oriented decisions that will have lasting benefits, and strategic intergovernmental mechanisms, among others. The successful convening of the Intergovernmental Infrastructure Development Board (IIDB), the Intergovernmental Energy Board (IEB), and the Joint Body for the Zones of Joint Cooperation (JBZJC), as well as the scheduled convening of the Bangsamoro Sustainable Development Board (BSDB) this month, show that we are on track to inclusive national development and progress in BARMM.
Moreover, we agreed to fast-track the establishment of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Consular Office and the establishment of the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) Service Center in BARMM to bring government services closer to our Bangsamoro constituents.
To reinforce the work we are doing, the National Government, through the Department of Budget and Management, already released to the Bangsamoro Government the block grant of BARMM amounting to Php 64.8 billion and the Special Development Fund amounting to Php 5.0 billion to rebuild, rehabilitate, and develop conflict-affected communities in the region.
As I have always said in our previous meetings, there is still so much work to do. So, I encourage everyone today to look forward and imagine what more we can do for our people and nation.
This is also a crucial time of the year as we now prepare the Fiscal Year 2024 National Budget. At this point, let us think of long-term projects and high-impact programs to concretize socioeconomic development in BARMM. The timely submission of worthy proposals for nationally-funded programs by various Bangsamoro Ministries will enable the Department of Budget and Management to strongly consider sufficient allocation for the implementation of these programs that benefit our people.
I hope that these endeavors and initiatives and our future programs will be implemented in a timely and efficient manner to achieve economic stability and improve the way of life of the Bangsamoro and every Filipino towards our Agenda for Prosperity.
Thank you and I look forward to another productive meeting of the IGRB. Mabuhay ang bawat Pilipino!
Wasalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.
