SIMUNUL, Tawi-Tawi, July 5 – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is building in the coming months another 50 core shelters for the poorest of the poor in this island municipality.
ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman told the Philippine News Agency that there is an ongoing evaluation to determine the exact number of beneficiaries.
The project is under the Bangsamoro Regional Inclusive Development for Growth and Empowerment (BRIDGE) program of ARMM.
Hataman visited on Monday this island town and has turned over 40 core shelters to identified beneficiaries.
The sturdy core houses were built in Barnagay Tubig Indangan, this municipality.
Gov. Rashidin Matba, Department of Public Works and Highways-ARMM (DPWH-ARMM) Sec. Don Mustapha Loong, District Engineer Toni Kamlani and Mayor Ahmad Abdurahamn joined Hataman in the inauguration of the core shelter project.
Abdurahman said the local government donated the land where the core shelters were built in Barangay Tubig Indangan.
The LGU identified the beneficiaries of the program while ARMM’s Social Welfare Department validated the list.
The ARMM-BRIDGE utilizes a modified community-driven development approach following the “Apat na Dapat” program model, which is focused on poverty alleviation by targeting the four most basic needs of the poorest of the poor — water and sanitation, food, shelter, and light.
This town and the municipalities of Sibutu and Tandubas are the initial target towns of ARMM-BRIDGE project in this province.
The other towns on the BRIDGE list are Balindong, Taraka and Lumba-Bayabao in Lanao del Sur; Barira, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, and Matanog in Maguindanao; Sumisip, Tipo-tipo and Tuburan in Basilan; and Pandami, Parang and Talipao in Sulu.
Hataman said the program aims to alleviate poverty incidence among residents by targeting 600 poor families across the region under the program’s first swing of implementation.
In order to implement these components, a budget of at least PHP204 million is required, according to Hataman.
“The ARMM BRIDGE is a collaboration and complementation effort of the ARMM government and the LGU beneficiaries to combat poverty, especially among the poorest of the poor,” Hataman said.
ARMM-BRIDGE program is a follow up to the ARMM Social Fund Project that ended last year. It complements the Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Governance and Synergy program of the regional government. (DWTW/PNA)
