BARMM chief minister seeks P114-B budget for 2026

EXPENDITURE PROGRAM Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua (left) hands over his proposed P114-billion 2026 regional budget to Bangsamoro Parliament Speaker Mohammad Yacob on Oct. 29 in Cotabato City. Budget hearings at the regional parliament will begin in the third week of November. —PHOTO FROM BTA PUBLIC INFORMATION, PUBLICATION AND MEDIA RELATIONS DIVISION

COTABATO CITY—Bangsamoro interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua has proposed a P114.07-billion regional budget for 2026, the biggest, so far, in the six-year history of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The proposed spending program for next year is P19.66 billion higher than this year’s Bangsamoro Expenditure Program (BEP) of P94.41 billion.

Speaker Mohammad Yacob and members of the 80-man Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) welcomed the BEP for 2026 during its regular session here last Oct. 29.

In his budget message, Macacua, the second chief executive of the regional government, told parliament members that his proposal “aims to strengthen social services, accelerate development and ensure continuity as BARMM transitions toward a regular government.”

Macacua identifies education, health and infrastructure as the top spending priorities for 2026.

“This is your government, and this is your budget,” Macacua said.

As in previous BEP, the education, health and public works ministries have the biggest shares in the budget pie.

Bridge to peace

The Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) will receive the largest share at P32.65 billion, followed by the Ministry of Health at P8.61 billion and the Ministry of Public Works at P5.77 billion.

Almost one third of the budget is allocated to the education sector because it is “our bridge to peace and progress,” Macacua said.

“It is the foundation of progress and the bridge to peace,” he added in justifying the huge budget for MBHTE. He stressed that his administration is now focused on building human capital through accessible and quality education.

“For the Bangsamoro, education is not only a fundamental right but our bridge to peace, progress and empowerment,” Macacua explained.

Next to education, the 2026 budget gives due importance to sustaining and expanding health-care services across the region, particularly in far-flung communities.

“Health care is not a privilege but an essential right for every Bangsamoro,” Macacua said. “Every family will have equitable access to essential health services.”

Other ministries getting the large chunks of allocation are the Office of the Chief Minister, P4.9 billion; Ministry of Social Services and Development, P4.3 billion; Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform, P2.1 billion; and Ministry of the Interior and Local Government, P2.1 billion.

Fund sources

The BARMM’s annual budget is sourced from the annual block grant, national government subsidies, the BARMM’s share of national taxes, regional collections and unutilized prior appropriations.

Macacua urged regional lawmakers to support the swift passage of the 2026 budget, saying it will help translate the government’s reform agenda into tangible programs for communities in the region.

The parliament’s committee on finance, budget and management will begin budget hearings in the third week of November.