The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will work with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in ensuring sufficient funding for its social protection programs in Sulu in the wake of the Supreme Court’s (SC) ruling that excludes the province from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian made this assurance on Monday (September 16) before the Senate Committee on Finance which was deliberating the agency’s proposed 2025 budget. The committee is chaired by Senator Imee Marcos.
“We took cognizance of the Supreme Court ruling carving out Sulu from the BARMM area…what we plan to do is to work with the DBM on trying to carve back the portion that was intended for Sulu’s administrative cost para mabalik sa Central Office and we can augment sa Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) where Sulu will historically be part of,” Secretary Gatchalian explained during the interpellation of Sen. Francis Tolentino, who asked about the agency’s plan to ensure the continuous delivery of services to the locals of Sulu province.
It can be recalled that the SC declared the Province of Sulu as not a part of the BARMM after the highest court upheld the validity of Republic Act No. 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
The voters in Sulu province rejected the law’s ratification in a plebiscite.
The DSWD chief further clarified that when it comes to programs that provide direct grants – such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), and Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SocPen) – the provision of assistance to beneficiaries will not be affected since the cash aid are personally received by the beneficiaries.
