ARMM intensifies anti-poverty drive to create more programs

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=929213
• Thursday, October 6, 2016

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Oct. 6 (PNA) -- Ranking officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are directed to intensify the region's anti-poverty drive aimed at uplifting the lives of poor families who are mostly living in impoverished communities.

ARMM Executive Secretary Atty. Laisa Alamia has convened a top-level meeting of heads of agencies directly involved in improving the lives of millions of ARMM inhabitants.

“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,” Alamia said.

She told department heads of line agencies and locally created regional offices that now is the time to face the challenge to improve peoples lives.

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

The special meeting participants had discussed the regional programs and projects aimed at alleviating poverty, especially in conflict affected communities.

Executive Director Baintan Ampatuan of the region’s planning and development office presented during the event ARMM’s medium-term regional development plan (MTRDP) covering the years 2017 to 2022.

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.

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.

With the challenge to end poverty, Alamia said the regional government will improve its services in education, health, welfare, barangay, agri-fishery, infrastructure and non-infrastructure.

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

Alamia said 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,” Alamia said.