CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Scrutiny is intensifying on the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s (BARMM) education ministry after state auditors flagged over ₱2.2 billion in fund handling, raising concerns over procurement practices and leadership accountability.
A leaked March 19 special audit report detailed findings on the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE), led by Minister Mohagher Iqbal, citing rapid transactions, documentation gaps, and unenforced penalties—issues observers warn may point to systemic weaknesses in oversight.
Among the Commission on Audit’s (COA) key observations was the release of ₱1.77 billion for textbooks reportedly processed within a single day, prompting questions on whether standard verification and internal controls were bypassed.
Auditors also flagged the ₱449 million disbursement for learning kits awarded to a single supplier, raising concerns over procurement competitiveness and safeguards against contract concentration.
The audit further uncovered compliance lapses, including 73 disbursement vouchers processed with incomplete documentation and 53 contracts—worth nearly ₱2 billion—found to have deficiencies such as missing performance securities and questionable joint venture arrangements.
In one case, a supplier delivered armchairs 520 days late, yet penalties amounting to about ₱16 million were not enforced.
COA noted that the scale and recurrence of these issues suggest deeper institutional challenges, potentially extending to the ministry’s leadership.
The findings echo earlier warnings from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom II), which flagged persistent gaps in BARMM’s education sector.
For neighboring regions like Northern Mindanao, developments in BARMM remain closely watched, as education outcomes in the autonomous region have broader implications for Mindanao’s socioeconomic stability.
COA has recommended stricter compliance with procurement laws, complete documentation, and stronger internal controls as BARMM officials review the audit findings—seen as a key test of governance and accountability in the region.
