Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

March 27 is special because it holds two stories that are deeply personal to me: The story of Muslim women and the story of a peace we once only hoped for.

Muslim Women’s Day: Strength that endures

For those who may be unfamiliar, March 27 is Muslim Women's Day. The first annual Muslim Women's Day, an initiative of the digital platform Muslim Girl, was launched on March 27, 2017. Nine years since, it has become a global initiative that continues to elevate Muslim women’s representation, amplifying their voices and stories.

When I think of Muslim Women’s Day, my mind goes to the sisters I have met in communities across the country—the ones who rarely step into the spotlight yet carry so much of what keeps a community whole.

I think of mothers who held their families together when the future felt uncertain, of teachers who continued to show up even when resources were limited, and of women who, in their own quiet ways, made sure that life moved forward.

Over the years, I have come to understand something deeply: In communities that have experienced conflict, women are not just part of the rebuilding process. We carry it. We are its heart and soul.

I have always believed that when we speak of development, women should never be at the margins. They must be at the center of how we plan, allocate, and act. Because when women are supported, communities become stronger, more stable, and more hopeful.

As the former Budget secretary, this belief guided how I looked at the budget. At the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), we needed to ensure that women were considered across all sectors—that their needs, their realities, and their contributions were recognized in every part of the national budget.

There is still much to be done. But what gives me hope is that, more and more, we are seeing women step forward—not just as beneficiaries, but as leaders, partners, and voices shaping decisions.

And so on March 27, we honor Muslim women not only for what they have endured but also for what they continue to build—often without recognition, but never without impact.

The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro: A promise we chose to keep

On March 27, we also commemorate the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

Underlying the agreement is the recognition of the justness and legitimacy of the cause of the Bangsamoro people and their aspiration to chart their political future through a democratic process that will secure their identity and allow for meaningful self-governance.

The signing of the agreement did not change everything overnight. But it changed something important: It gave people reason to believe that things could be different. And from there, the work truly began.

During my tenure as DBM secretary, I was committed to advancing inclusive governance, strengthening institutions, and supporting initiatives that empower Muslim Filipinos.

In the DBM, we understood that part of our role was to support that transition in ways that people could actually feel. That meant making sure that resources reached communities, especially the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), not as abstract figures, but as concrete support.

As former co-chair of the Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB), we activated all seven IGR mechanisms, strengthening the partnership between the National Government and BARMM and providing a foundation for the laws and policies of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority. We also made key progress, including guidelines for Official Development Assistance loans to BARMM, the integration of former combatants into the Philippine National Police, and stronger coordination for priority development efforts.

In one of our IGRB meetings, I shared that the progress we are seeing in the Bangsamoro is something we all have a stake in. Because when peace takes root in one part of the country, it strengthens the whole. We are beginning to witness a shift from a place long described as a land of promise into one that is becoming a land of promises fulfilled.

But the work is not done yet. There are still communities that need to feel more of these gains. There are still gaps that need to be addressed. And there is still a need for all of us to remain committed—not just in words, but in action.

I have always believed that our work is ultimately about people—the lives we touch, the futures we help shape, and the dignity we uphold through meaningful governance.

Beyond budget, as I reflect on March 27, I am reminded that the stories of Muslim women and of the Bangsamoro peace process are, in many ways, the same. Because behind every milestone, behind every program, behind every step forward, there are women who made it possible—who kept going, who kept believing, who kept building.

When the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos recognized my contributions toward inclusive governance in 2025, I accepted it not just as a former public servant, but as Citizen Mina—with a renewed commitment to continue to support and stand with Muslim Filipinos. I hope you will join me in this endeavor.

(Amenah F. Pangandaman is the former Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management.)