DAVAO CITY --- The
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will reduce in three years the
region’s poverty incidence to 30 percent, from 53.4 percent in 2015, through a
convergence of several government efforts.
The development plans are rooted in regional priorities
and full backing from the national government. Another component of the plan
hinges on commitments from ARMM local chief executives drafted during the 3rd
ARMM Local Government Summit last November 30 held at SM Lanang Premier’s SMX Convention
Center in Davao City.
“Our target is to improve the living conditions of our
households para ma-reduce ang poverty,” ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia
told local chief executives and other government officials attending the
summit.
In the first quarter of 2015, the ARMM’s poverty
incidence was tracked at 53.4 percent with Lanao del Sur and Sulu posting 70.2
percent and 61.8 percent poverty incidence, respectively.
The performance of the regional economy is also on the
list for improvement. The growth in gross regional domestic product of the ARMM
in 2013 was 3.6 percent, from only 1.1 percent in 2012. The figure is projected
to improve to 5.6 percent growth in 2019.
The regional priorities are anchored on six fronts: agri-fishery development under rural
development; functional LGUs, improved
regional government service delivery, and increased people’s participation
under good governance at all levels; anti-terrorism,
illegal drugs and crimes under public order and security; health and nutrition, education, livelihood,
water and sanitation, and social welfare and protection under basic services
for all; disaster preparedness, response
and rehabilitation and environmental protection and management under climate
change adaptation, and disaster resiliency; and, all components are complemented with
infrastructure support.
It should be noted that the ARMM is undertaking several
programs to combat poverty and these include ‘Apat na Dapat’ initiative at the
household level and the ARMM-Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and security
and Synergy, or HELPS, at the barangay level.
“These two programs are specifically designed to address
the roots of poverty,” ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said. The Apat na Dapat
started in January 2016, with 600 of the region’s families as beneficiaries. In
2017, about 5,000 families will benefit from the program.
At least P240 million was earmarked for the program’s
implementation in 2016. The initiative provides the beneficiaries with basic
needs such as food and livelihood training, water and sanitation, shelter, and
electricity.
Governor Hataman said the absence of even one of these
poses risks to a family.
The ARMM-HELPS is the banner program of the Office of the
Regional Governor that aims at establishing a peaceful and secure environment
in the region by providing basic social services in relation to health,
education, livelihood, good governance, and peace at the barangay level. The
program was launched in 2013.
The ARMM has allocated a total of P13.7 billion for
poverty alleviation since 2014, including a P4 billion budget for 2017.
The national government’s anti-poverty agenda –
Comprehensive Reform and Development Agenda (CRDA) – also focuses on the
improvement of economic condition of ARMM constituents and those in other conflict-affected
areas in Regions-9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), 10 (Northern Mindanao), and 12
(Central Mindanao).
Billions of pesos were also allotted by the Duterte
administration to the CRDA with projects mostly covering areas in the ARMM.
Rosanna Urdaneta, Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority national deputy-director general, said President Duterte
wants “to bring the programs and services of the national government to the
ARMM and conflict-affected areas.”
The CRDA focuses on the eradication of hunger,
establishment of potable water systems, provisions of shelters, free college
and technical vocational skills training, electrification, health facilities,
agricultural development, and job generation to combat employment and
underemployment.
The ARMM leadership noted that the realization of the
region’s development vision demands the participation of the LGUs. “Hindi po nakasalalay
lang sa regional government ang effort [to reduce poverty], we need your [LGUs]
help to lower the poverty incidence rate,” Executive Secretary Alamia added.
The local chief executives across the region, comprising
of 116 town mayors, two city mayors, planning officers, and provincial
governors, manifested the commitment to reduce poverty incidence.
“Ang dami kong nakuha from the summit, sobrang nakaka-inspire
ang pagbabagong naganap sa ARMM. It actually boosted my desire na lalo pang
galingan ang pagbibigay ng serbisyo sa akingbayan,” Mayor ArcamIstarul of
Tipo-Tipo, Basilan said, noting he is now working to achieve for his town the
Seal of Good Local Governance.
“We must prove to the entire nation that Mindanaons can
perform as well, if not better, than our counterparts in Luzon and Visayas,”
Secretary Ismael Sueno of the Department of the Interior and Local Government
said. (BUREAU OF PUBLIC INFORMATION –
ARMM / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)
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