The Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament has passed the Bangsamoro Revenue Code, a historic piece of legislation that establishes the framework for revenue generation and sharing within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Revenue Allocation
The code specifies how the region's share of national taxes, including the 75% share of taxes from natural resources, will be distributed among BARMM's provinces, cities, and municipalities. Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim hailed the passage as a milestone in Bangsamoro self-governance.
"This code is the fruit of decades of struggle. It gives our people genuine control over resources within our homeland while ensuring equitable distribution," Chief Minister Ebrahim declared.
Local Government Shares
Component LGUs will receive increased allocations under the code, with provisions for special development funds in conflict-affected and underdeveloped areas. Indigenous Peoples' communities are guaranteed specific allocations for ancestral domain development.
Natural Resource Management
The legislation includes provisions for sustainable natural resource management, requiring environmental impact assessments and community consent before extractive projects proceed. Revenue from such activities will fund long-term development programs.
Implementation Challenges
BARMM officials acknowledged challenges in building administrative capacity to implement the complex revenue sharing scheme. The World Bank and Asian Development Bank have committed technical assistance for financial management systems.
Transition Outlook
With parliamentary elections scheduled for 2025, the passage of the Revenue Code represents one of the final major legislative achievements of the transition period. The elected parliament will have authority to amend the code based on implementation experience.