Macacua vows to closely monitor Bangsamoro funds, financial obligations

COTABATO CITY – As an anti-corruption strategy, Bangsamoro Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua vowed on Sunday to personally monitor the financial standing and payment obligations of the ministries and offices under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

His pronouncement followed the signing of Memorandum of Agreement between the Bangsamoro Government and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) on Thursday, November 12.

“I led the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with the Land Bank of the Philippines, granting the Bangsamoro Government access to the bank account information of our ministries, offices, and agencies for improved financial monitoring and oversight,” Macacua said in a statement.

Article continues after this advertisement

Abdulkadil A. Alabat, LBP Cotabato City branch manager, signed on behalf of the LBP.

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

Macacua stressed the partnership strengthens his “commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsible management of public funds.”

 “We must ensure that every peso entrusted to the government is properly monitored and managed in accordance with the highest standards of public service,” he said.

“Good governance requires strong institutions, sound financial systems, and the discipline to uphold public trust. This is the kind of governance we continue to build for a “Mas Matatag na Bangsamoro,” Macacua added.

Under the agreement, selected officials of the Ministry of Finance, and Budget and Management (MFBM), the Office of the Chief Minister (OCM), and the chairperson of the Bangsamoro Parliament’s Committee on Finance, and Budget and Management will be granted real-time viewing access to the bank accounts of Bangsamoro Ministries, Agencies, and Offices (BMAOs).

Article continues after this advertisement

The coverage includes regional, district, and provincial offices, as well as accounts inherited from the former regional government.

Macacua explained that this initiative aims to address complaints regularly received by his office through the “OCM CMActs App,” particularly grievances from suppliers and service providers over unpaid obligations of certain ministries and offices.

Article continues after this advertisement

The Chief Minister identified this as one of the recurring concerns he intends to address to prevent unnecessary delays in payments and ensure that the government properly fulfills its financial obligations to suppliers and contractors.

Through the new mechanism, officials will be able to closely monitor account balances and compare them with the scheduled payments and obligations of each office.

This is expected to help identify potential payment delays, idle funds, and other bottlenecks affecting the implementation of government programs and projects.

Macacua emphasized that the accounts will undergo monthly reviews to determine whether there are outstanding payments and identify the reasons behind any delays.

“Building a stronger Bangsamoro requires a government capable of identifying problems early and taking immediate action to address them,” he said.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

MFBM Minister Ubaida C. Pacasem, CPA, underscored the importance of the initiative in strengthening the fiscal autonomy and sustainability of the Bangsamoro Government, in line with the powers granted to it under the Bangsamoro Organic Law. /ms