MARAWI CITY (PIA) — The Bangsamoro Government’s Ministry of Finance, and Budget and Management (MFBM) renewed its commitment with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on March 10 to strengthen the region’s finance and budget management.
This partnership was highlighted during a courtesy visit by Kohei Hori, JICA’s BARMM Advisor on Institutional Development, to MFBM officials.
Hori emphasized JICA’s ongoing commitment to supporting BARMM’s development, stating, “By enhancing public financial management, we aim to empower the region to achieve its goals of transparency, accountability, and efficient resource utilization.”
During the meeting, both parties discussed strategies to improve BARMM’s public financial management (PFM) processes, including adopting best practices in budgeting, fiscal policy formulation, and resource allocation.
The MFBM-JICA partnership has already led to the training of key personnel and the implementation of systems to streamline budget processes. Going forward, the partnership will focus on providing training for BARMM’s finance and budget professionals, developing fiscal policies aligned with BARMM’s goals, and enhancing the region’s capacity to generate and manage resources effectively.
“JICA has been a steadfast partner in our efforts to build a robust financial management system in BARMM. Their expertise and assistance have been invaluable in our journey toward self-reliance and sustainable development,” said MFBM Minister Attorney Ubaida Pacasem.
As BARMM progresses toward autonomy and development, the collaboration between MFBM and JICA stands as a model of international cooperation and commitment to good governance. (BIO/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
