The Ministry of Human Settlements and Development, the Housing Arm of the BARMM, convened heads and representatives from its divisions and sections for workshop on planning and budgeting for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, held at the D&M Catering Services, Cotabato City on February 27-28, 2024.

Minister Atty. Hamid Aminoddin D. Barra emphasized the importance of purpose-setting when conducting such sessions.

“As workers of the Bangsamoro government, we serve the people. Always carry that trust and confidence as it is timely as the month of Ramadhan, the month of mercy and forgiveness, approaches to drive us away from hellfire,” Minister Barra said.

He also enumerated the characteristics of an ideal Muslim to work on as both Muslim and government employee, of which he must have strong faith, correct worship (iba’dah), moral uprightness, intellectual refinement, financial stability, health consciousness, time consciousness, orderliness, and strives for self-betterment and being beneficial to others.

“The activity aims to ensure that the Budget Proposals for FY 2025 are effective and well-structured, aligned with the objectives of the Ministry and the 2nd Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP), along with the overarching development strategies of the BARMM Government,” explained John Anthony M. Ocumen, Head of the Internal Planning Section (IPS).

“This will ensure clarity regarding the outcomes and outputs expected from the budget allocations, thereby enhancing the Ministry’s execution of its mandate,” IPS Head Ocumen added.

Noroden S. Abdullah, RF, Provincial Director (PD) for MHSD-Maguindanao welcomed participants to the activity, reminding them to keep the people, who need the MHSD’s services, in mind during the planning sessions so as to reflect these needs and deliver them.

“No Bangsamoro left behind. In pursuit of excellence, we are not mere architects, engineers, planners or administrators. We are agents of change. Let us ensure that our projects, activities, and programs directly impact the people,” PD Abdullah said.

The planning and budget process was presented to guide the proponents on the standards and requirements of the budget proposals, after which the results of the consultation with the provincial offices were considered in the proposals.

After the activity, the consolidators are set to consolidate the plans, continuously working together with the source proponents to ensure their alignment to the overall proposal.

The activity was facilitated by the IPS with the finance team comprised of the budget, audit and cash sections.