The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is working closely with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to help facilitate the direct release of funds allocated for various social welfare programs in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

In an inter-agency consultation meeting held on January 16, DSWD officials facilitated the discussion of the terms and conditions stipulated under the DSWD 2023 budget special provision No. 8 of the General Appropriations Act to BARMM representatives, including the mechanisms and procedures that will be observed in the direct transfer of funds from the Department to the autonomous region.

Under the special provision, the funds will be released directly to the Ministry of Social Services and Development, through the Office of the Chief Minister. It will be used in the implementation of the different social protection programs and services in BARMM including the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Sustainable Livelihood Program, Supplementary Feeding Program, Social Pension Program, implementation of the Centenarian Act, Recovery and the Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons, and disaster response operations.

The Department ensures that the processes and procedures to be undertaken in relation to the allocation of fund for BARMM is in accordance with the existing budgeting, accounting, and auditing rules and regulations.

The Department ensures that the process and procedures to be undertaken in relation to the allocation of fund for BARMM is in accordance with the existing budgeting, accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

Through the consultation meeting, the DSWD, DBM, and BARMM governemtn gave assurance of the continued implementation of social protection programs to serve the marginalized and disadvantaged population in the region. ###