MFBM Recognizes the Importance of the Annual Bangsamoro Local Revenue Collection Forum to Strengthen BARMM’s Fiscal Autonomy
COTABATO CITY (April 12, 2025) — The Ministry of Finance and Budget Management (MFBM), through the Bangsamoro Treasury Office (BTO), successfully held the Annual Bangsamoro Local Revenue Collection Forum in Cotabato City on April 8, 2025.
The forum brought together representatives from various Ministries, Offices, and Agencies (M/O/As) with the goal of strengthening fiscal autonomy within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The event featured informative sessions on the latest tax and non-tax collection guidelines, including updates from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) regarding government payments, income tax return filings, value-added tax (VAT) on digital services, and the CREATE MORE Act. A significant session focused on the closure of ARMM bank accounts, highlighting the need for full compliance and ensuring a smooth financial transition within the BARMM.
Bangsamoro Treasurer Naila Dimaraw emphasized that the forum’s success depends on collective commitment. She noted that it provided a vital platform for learning, collaboration, and participant engagement.
“As we discuss treasury matters and revenue collection strategies, we reinforce the values of transparency, accountability, and efficiency in managing the financial resources of the Bangsamoro Region,” she stated.
The forum promoted collaboration among officials from various Ministries, Offices, and Agencies (M/O/As) to enhance local revenue collection, ensure compliance with fiscal policies, and strengthen inter-agency cooperation.
MFBM Minister Ubaida C. Pacasem, along with Chief of Staff Jamel Macacua and Treasurer Naila Z. Dimaraw, presented awards to top-performing ministries and offices. The Ministry of Public Works (MPW), Office of the Chief Minister (OCM), and Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE) received top honors for tax revenue collection, while the MPW, Ministry of Transportation Communications-Bangsamoro Telecommunications Commission (MOTC-BTC), and BEZA-Polloc Freeport and Ecozone (BEZA-PFEZ) were recognized for excellence in non-tax revenue collection.
These awards celebrated outstanding performance and encouraged ongoing improvement in financial management across the BARMM.
MFBM stated that this initiative underscores the Ministry’s commitment to the principle of “Sa Bawat Sentimo, Bangsamoro ang Sentro,” emphasizing the crucial role of local revenue in the region’s sustainable development. (USM OJT Student: Melody N. Flores, BMN/Bangsamoro Today)
