ARMM intensifies anti-poverty drive – The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper

COTABATO CITY – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said it would anti-poverty drive in 5 provinces under it in an effort to uplift the living condition of families in impoverished communities.

“The best way to combat poverty in the region is to properly deliver the programs and projects because these will have significant effects on their daily lives,” said ARMM Executive Secretary Atty. Laisa Alamia.

“It will take time to solve the poverty challenge, but we in the regional government must continue to lead the fight,” she said.

Atty. Alamia presided an expanded meeting on October 5 involving heads of different departments, line agencies and locally created offices to plan and discuss the campaign, its programs and projects aimed at addressing poverty reduction, especially those in conflict-affected areas.

Executive Director Baintan Ampatuan of the ARMM’s Planning and Development Office, also presented during the meeting the Medium-Term Regional Development Plan (MTRDP) from 2017 to 2022.

Engr. Ampatuan explained that MTRDP is a six-year undertaking aligned with the national government’s Philippine Development Plan. The strategic cluster convergence plan, a three-year initiative of the ARMM cabinet cluster to carry out the administration’s priorities for 2016-2019, was also discussed.

Atty. Alamia said the region has various programs and projects on poverty alleviation such as the Bangsamoro Regional Inclusive Development for Growth and Empowerment, Humanitarian and Development Action Plan, and Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Governance, and Synergy.

The regional government will further improve its services in education, health, welfare, barangay, agri-fishery, infrastructure and non-infrastructure, she said.

Two strategies were also discussed during the poverty reduction meeting. The immediate strategy is the ‘Labanan ang Kahirapan sa ARMM’, or the ‘Apat Dapat Program’, that focuses on key interventions concerning the four basic needs of every family, namely food, lighting, water and sanitation, and shelter.

The region’s anti-poverty long-term strategy is the balancing of the economy that includes enhancing the productivity of the farming sector in order to increase agricultural production in rural areas.

“The local and regional governments will jointly work to provide an environment conducive to industrial development and in strengthening the services sector,” Atty. Alamia said. (Bureau of Public Information)