Sen. Bam Aquino called on fellow lawmakers to allot enough funds for the full implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to ensure the fulfilment of its mandate to bring peace and order in Mindanao.

“Dapat tiyakin na sapat at hindi kulang ang suporta para sa BOL,” said Sen. Bam, a co-author and co-sponsor of the BOL.

“Ang tagal na nitong pinangarap at inilaban ng mga kapatid nating Moro. Dapat hindi mabinbin ang transition dahil sa kakulangan ng budget,” added Sen. Bam, whose mother grew up in Mindanao, particularly Davao City.

Republic Act 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law mandates that the current appropriation for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) shall be transferred to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

Sen. Bam said the ARMM’s 2019 approved budget of P31.1 billion won’t be enough as the transition to BOL needs around P59 billion. 

The Senate version of the 2019 budget has allotted around P30 billion additional budget for the BOL, which Sen. Bam hopes to hurdle the bicameral conference committee.

If there will be a re-enacted budget for 2019, the President can issue a supplemental budget, subject to the certification of the Treasurer of the Philippines that there’s enough fund for the purpose.

“Sayang naman kung hindi natin bibigyan ng tamang pondo ang BOL. Itodo na natin ang suporta upang maabot na ng mga kababayan natin sa Mindanao ang inaasam nilang kapayapaan at kaunlaran,” said Sen. Bam.

“Kinakailangan ang sapat na budget para makalikha ng iba’t ibang trabaho para sa mga kababayan natin doon,” the senator added.