MP Candao: “Every Bangsamoro child should be in school”

COTABATO CITY  – The education sector in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will have the biggest budget for 2020, an indication that education was a priority in the new political entity, a member of Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) today said.

In a statement, Member of Parliament Bai Maleiha B. Candao said the P65.6 billion budget for the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) simply indicates that the BARMM leadership prioritize education.

“Every Bangsamoro child should be in school,” MP Candao said, adding that she hoped the literacy problem in the region will now be addressed.

BARMM is composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, the cities of Cotabato, Marawi and Lamitan and the 63 villages of North Cotabato.

The Bangsamoro region, as compared to other regions in Mindanao, has high illiteracy rate.

Data from Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the region has the highest number of children who are out of school.

She said the education sector is now in good hands with Minister Mohaqher Iqbal at the helm.

She said Iqbal’s leadership is anchored on moral governance. Candao lauded the statement of BARMM Chief Minister after signing the 2020 Bangsamoro Expenditure Program (BEP).

MP Candao also lauded BARMM Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim for stressing in his speech that the funds to run the affairs of regional government are for the Bangsamoro.

"This is not for me, this is not for the ministers, (but) this is for the Bangsamoro people,” said Chief Minister Ebrahim, referring to the 2020 regional budget.

“Behind these numbers are the blood, sweat, and tears of our people. We must, by all means, give justice to the sacrifices of our people,” Ebrahim said during the “Minister’s Hour” of the BTA sessions.

“We can do so by using our respective ministries' and offices' budget without an iota of greed and corruption," he also said. ###