COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro government is eyeing to lower poverty incidence rate in the BARMM by 2025, following the 13-14% increase of individual household income in the region based on 2021 report of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
This matter has been discussed during the Economic Development Committee’s (EDCom) first regular meeting for year 2022 held on Wednesday, January 19, presided by Mohammad S. Yacob, Committee Chair and Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR).
“According to Chief Minister’s report, bumaba ang poverty incidence ng region. Malaking achievement ‘to. Sa income naman ng individual household, tumaas din ng 13 point something to 14 point something,” he said.
Yacob further stressed that despite of insufficient manpower and machineries, BARMM has managed to overcome challenges brought by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic amidst the transition period, to which he highlighted the region’s achievement for the past three years which are also projected in the 1st Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) 2020-2022.
“Meron tayong comprehensive development plan. Nakikita natin ang impact. With the celebration of 3rd BARMM anniversary, we wish to continue collaborating with one another, delivering service together with the guidance of CM Ebrahim lalo na sa moral governance because it makes us optimistic regarding our commitment. By 2025, mababa na ang poverty incidence tapos mag-increase ang individual household income,” he added.
Furthermore, the meeting also highlights the presentation of the updates on Brunei Darrusalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines Linkages East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) implementation in Mindanao; proposed creation of sub-committee on BIMP-EAGA Economic Growth and Linkages; updates on the final inputs and packaging of the Regional Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (RCFIDP) 2022-2026 for approval of the BEDC; updates for the conduct of assessment workshop of the 1st Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) 2020-2022; regular convening of the sub-committees under the EDCom; and submission of 2021 accomplishment report.
Rohanisah Rashid, Economic Planning Division (EPD) Chief of the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), said being the secretariat of the committee, BPDA will provide an update to each member in connection to the assessment workshop of the 1st BDP.
Meanwhile, also present during said committee meeting were Minister Romeo Sema from the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE) and representatives from the Ministries of Trade, Investment and Tourism (MTIT), Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE), Finance, Budget and Management (MFBM), Science and Technology (MOST), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA-BARMM), Cooperative and Social Enterprise Authority (CSEA), Regional Board of Investments (RBOI), and Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA-BARMM). (BPDA-BARMM)