7.3 GRDP growth rate “to set benchmark for Bangsamoro transition” –Hataman

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman 

COTABATO CITY (April 27, 2018) - Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman said that he was grateful for the "good news," as lat -est figures of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)'s economic growth figures were announced on Thursday.

“Masaya ako dahil papasok tayo sa isang transition mula ARMM government to Bangsamoro government nang nag-iwan tayo ng isang mark na kailangan . Magiging challenge din ito sa mga susunod na mamumuno sa atin,” Hataman said.

This was after PSA-ARMM’s OIC Regional Director Razulden Mangelen announced in a press conference that the ARMM's gross regional domestic product (GRDP) reached a 7.3% growth rate in its economy.

This year, the ARMM registered a higher growth rate than the national growth rate of 6.7%. It is also far from the region's 0.4% growth rate in 2016.

The region’s economy was lifted mainly by the recovery of the Agriculture, Hunting, Forestry, and Fishing (AHFF) sector according to Mangelen.

Hataman called on the region's line agencies to continue their good work. “Panawagan ko sa lahat, isustain natin kung ano na ang naabot natin at lalo pa nating taasan,” he said.

National Statistician Lisa Bersales also commended the efforts of the regional government in the message she delivered during the event.

“We thank the government of Governor Hataman for being our source of information and for helping us advocate for proper data which enabled us to give the right information,” Bersales said.

“We partnered with ARMM, and with the Bangsamoro eventually, to know more about the information that we come up with as we provide the best information for the lives of the people,” she added.

ARMM ranked 6th among the 17 regions in the country in terms of GDRP growth rate, and remains as the only predominantly agricultural region. (Bureau of Public Information)