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3June
Bangsamoro lawmakers propose special fund for disaster-struck infra
- Jun 3, 2025
- Taher G Solaiman
- HITS: 586
The proposed fund is designed to enable local authorities to swiftly respond to damage affecting roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, and other public facilities. This initiative seeks to eliminate delays often caused by budget constraints or lengthy approval processes, ensuring that communities can regain access to essential services without undue interruption.
The bill's principal author, Deputy Speaker Baintan Ampatuan, emphasized the critical need for such a mechanism.
"This bill responds to the urgent need for a dedicated and flexible funding mechanism that can act swiftly in times of crisis," Ampatuan stated.
"It’s about protecting infrastructure, enhancing regional resilience, and preventing further socio-economic losses," the lady-lawmaker added.
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is frequently impacted by typhoons, floods, landslides, and outbreaks of violence, all of which leave a trail of damaged infrastructure and cut off communities.
The proposed measure covers the rehabilitation of infrastructure rendered unsafe or unusable by various emergencies, including typhoons, floods, landslides, and armed encounters. It also includes the reconstruction of essential public facilities such such as transportation networks, communication systems, and water infrastructure.
Furthermore, the bill incorporates preventive measures, such as flood control systems and erosion protection, to mitigate long-term risks to key infrastructure.
Data from the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) reveals that over 40% of BARMM’s public infrastructure is vulnerable to natural hazards.
In conflict-affected areas like Maguindanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and Basilan, roads, bridges, and buildings have suffered significant destruction due to violence. In 2022 alone, armed conflict in the region displaced over 70,000 individuals.
Adding to the urgency, the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE) reports that 35% of BARMM’s land area is highly prone to flooding, particularly in coastal and low-lying areas, further underscoring the necessity of a rapid-response infrastructure fund.
Under the proposed measure, a Program Management Office (PMO) will be established within the MPW to oversee project identification, prioritization, and fund allocation. The fund will be initially capitalized with P500 million drawn from the Bangsamoro Government’s annual appropriations.
Additional funding is expected to come from grants, donations, and savings from completed or discontinued projects.
Parliament Bill No. 361 is a collaborative effort, co-authored by several members of the Parliament, including Sittie Fahanie Uy-Oyod, Khalid Hadji Abdullah, Laisa Alamia, Suharto Ambolodto, Don Mustapha Loong, Rasul Ismael, Rasol Mitmug Jr., Tawakal Midtimbang, Jaafar Apollo Mikhail Matalam, and Michael Midtimbang.
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