Manila, Philippines – September 26, 2024
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has called on the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and the province of Sulu to maintain “status quo” following the recent Supreme Court (SC) decision excluding Sulu from the BARMM.
In a statement released Thursday, DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman affirmed the national government’s acknowledgment of the SC ruling but emphasized the need to wait for the decision to reach finality before any major changes are implemented.
“While the decision states that it is immediately executory, it is prudent to wait for it to reach finality, considering the significant implications of its enforcement,” Pangandaman said. “This ensures that when the transition commences, the decision has already attained a state of immutability.”
Pangandaman encouraged all stakeholders in both BARMM and Sulu to maintain the current arrangements until the SC ruling is finalized. She assured that government services, particularly salaries and benefits for local personnel, would remain unaffected during the interim.
Continued Support for Sulu
Pangandaman outlined that the salaries and benefits of local government employees in Sulu would continue to be sourced from available local government funds. Likewise, personnel from provincial field offices under various BARMM ministries would continue to be funded by the annual Block Grant.
She further emphasized that the Marcos administration is committed to ensuring a smooth and coordinated transition process. “It will take a whole-of-government approach to guarantee the continued delivery of essential services to the people of Sulu,” she added.
Programs, projects, and activities (PAPs) for Sulu, funded by the Bangsamoro Government under its 2024 General Appropriations Act, will also proceed as planned until the Supreme Court ruling reaches its finality.
“Once the decision becomes final, funding for PAPs in Sulu will be excluded from BARMM’s annual budget for future fiscal years,” Pangandaman said, citing that appropriations for the province would shift accordingly based on the SC’s ruling.
Future Guidelines and Transition
The national government, in collaboration with the Bangsamoro Government’s Intergovernmental Relations Body, will discuss future guidelines for Sulu’s transition. The discussions will involve President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., ensuring that the SC ruling is fully implemented while minimizing disruptions to the province and the region.
Pangandaman, who also co-chairs the National Government–Bangsamoro Government Intergovernmental Relations Body, expressed her commitment to supporting both BARMM and Sulu during the transition. She underscored the importance of sustaining the gains of BARMM’s self-governance, peace efforts, and continued growth.
“As a daughter of Mindanao, I am fully committed to supporting both BARMM and Sulu as they navigate this significant development,” she said. “The DBM will stand by to provide guidance and assistance as both parties work through their respective concerns following the SC ruling.”
Supreme Court Decision on Sulu
The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision on September 9, 2024, ruled that Sulu is no longer part of the BARMM. This comes after the province rejected the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in a 2019 plebiscite. The BOL, enacted in July 2018, laid the foundation for the establishment of BARMM as a political entity with a distinct governmental structure aimed at fostering self-governance for the Bangsamoro people.
While most areas in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) voted in favor of the BOL and transitioned into the BARMM, Sulu opted out, citing various concerns. Despite Sulu’s opposition, the province was initially included in BARMM’s jurisdiction. However, the SC’s recent decision formally excludes Sulu, affirming its independent stance.
The DBM and other government bodies now await the ruling’s finality as they prepare for the adjustments that will shape Sulu’s new status outside the BARMM framework. Pangandaman assured that both the national government and the Bangsamoro Government remain committed to achieving lasting peace and development for Mindanao as a whole.
“We share a common vision for a peaceful, progressive, and thriving Mindanao,” she concluded.
