The SORA highlighted
the autonomous region’s 28th Foundation Anniversary.
Hataman said
before officials and guests that the regional government will more than double
its assistance to Marawi City to P930 million in 2018 from P450 million this
year.
The governorexpressed
hope that Marawi City will rise from the current challenges as rehabilitation
and reconstruction efforts have begun after neutralizing the terror threat
instigated by the ISIS-inspired Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups.
He also mentioned about lessons learned from the crisis and even cited
the 2015 Mamasapano incident, which was followed by development initiatives and
new opportunities for the town’s residents and those in nearby areas.
Further, Hataman said the Marawi Crisis could possibly fast track the
passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, noting that more legislators will
hopefully now realize the urgency of such a measure which has received “not so
good”response from many legislators in the past.
For one thing, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front joined the occasion.
Ghazali Jaafar, first vice chairman of the MILF Central Committee, was special
guest at the SORA of Governor Hataman.
Jaafar is also chairman of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC)
which pushes forward the Mindanao peace process. His presence was to reaffirm that
the government and MILF are working together to end the five-decadelong
conflict in parts of Mindanao.
It is a common knowledge that the MILF has consistently rejected the now
28-year-old ARMM as a solution to the quest for self-governance.
Development
strides
Further, Hataman noted the regional government’s other development efforts the
past years to bring about positive change and development in the component
provinces in the ARMM.
The ARMM’s Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Governance and
Synergy, or HELPS program has extended assistance amounting to P4.3 billion to
over 400 barangays since 2014. The program is geared towards developing
peaceful and progressive communities with each beneficiary barangay receiving
P10 million for infrastructure development.
The regional government’s Humanitarian and Development Action Plan, or
HDAP, which was developed in response to the Mamasapano incident, released
roughly P2.23 billion for 15 municipalities in Maguindanao as of last year. The
plan covers various government projects, specifically relief, rehabilitation,
and reconstruction for the promotion of peace
and alleviating the situation in calamity-affected communities.
The ARMM’s Bangsamoro Regional Inclusive Development for Growth and
Empowerment, or BRIDGE, launched in 2015 is another initiative which targets the
poorest barangays as recipients. It now covers 119 communities with 5,800
family-beneficiaries. The program covers food and shelter, as well as provision
of electricity and water supplyThe ARMM’s efforts to uplift the condition of the region’s educational
sector succeeded as literacy rate in the region went up to 88.7 percent in 2015
from 80.3 percent in 2010, based on data from the Philippine Statistics
Authority.
Hataman, however, said that more challenges need to be hurdled such as the
ARMM’s 59 percent average scoring in the National Achievement Test compared
with the national passing score of 75 percent.
Strides have also been achieved in the public health sector in recent
years. Maternal mortality rate in the region has gone down to 53 per 100,000
live births in 2016 from 65 in 2012. Infant mortality rate also went down in
2016 to 5.81 per 1,000 live births from 7.23 in 2012.
In the agriculture sector, the region has remained the nation’s top
producer of white corn and seaweeds. The
ARMM government distributed 558 units of corn farming machineries, equipment,
and facilities benefiting close to 20,000 farmers during the Hataman
administration.
Support of the regional government to farmers has been consistent
notwithstanding its limited resources. From 2012 to 2016, the ARMM has provided
1,823 units of various farm equipment and facilities to 1,662 cooperatives
whose membership runs to more than 58,000 farmers.
The governor also cited a significant improvement in the economic
condition of fishermen in the region based on figures monitored by government
agencies. Average monthly income of fishermen in the ARMM increased to P7,005
last year from P3,495 in 2014.
Even as sectoral accomplishments were achieved, specific operations of
government agencies showed marked improvements. Revenue collection from the
Polloc Port in Maguindanao has grown significantly during the Hataman
administration – from only P75,194 in 2013, to over P19 million in 2014, and
close to P135 million last year.
Private and public investment figures in the region have been excellent
despite reports of perceived security threats. From 2012 to present, proposed
investments that passed through the Regional Board of Investments total P17.783
billion. As private investments come in, government infrastructure funding for
the same period, comprising of 1,900 projects, have reached P26 billion.
The governor also noted the installation of 363 units of water systems
in various parts of the region, worth over P2 billion. The regional government
also initiated the construction of flood control structures, drainage
facilities, and bridges, all amounting to more than P3 billion.
The regional government, Governor Hataman underscored, recognizes the
role of local government units (LGUs) in promoting good governance in the ARMM.
This is reflected in the local government's achievements these past years.(GILMHAR A. LAO WITH BUREAU OF PUBLIC
INFORMATION- ARMM - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)
No comments:
Post a Comment