Palace releases P2B for ARMM

The Department of Budget and Management has released P1.97 billion for welfare projects in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) amid growing hostilities in the south.

Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad said the amount would be used to build day-care centers, implement a supplemental feeding program and a livelihood assistance and cash-for-work program, and to help provide housing in the region.

“The fund is part of the P8.5 billion ARMM Transition and Investment Support Plan, which is included in the P72-billion (economic stimulus package),” Abad said.

“As the Aquino Administration pursues lasting peace in ARMM through the negotiated settlement of conflict, it is also implementing a reform roadmap that would enable the regional government to be responsive to the problems of severe poverty, lack of employment and poor health and education outcomes,” he said.

Day-care centers

Of the total amount released, P676 million is earmarked for the construction of 845 day-care centers in the region, including 573 in Maguindanao, 42 in Lanao del Sur, 38 in Basilan, 142 in Tawi-Tawi and 50 in Sulu.

Also, P370 million is allotted for the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) supplemental feeding project for some 200,000 malnourished children aged two to five years—100,000 in Maguindanao, 50,000 in Basilan and 50,000 in Lanao del Sur.

Further, P625 million will fund the livelihood assistance program for 2,500 poor women who will receive training and seed capital for micro-enterprises. The beneficiaries will come from Maguindanao (1,000), Basilan (500), Sulu (500) and Lanao del Sur (500).

An additional P100 million is allotted for the DSWD’s core shelter assistance program that provides for the construction of customized housing units for 1,000 families, including 699 in Maguindanao, 200 in Sulu and 101 in Basilan.

Cash for work

Moreover, P14.76 million is allocated to provide assistance to 1,476 families in Maguindanao whose houses were partially damaged because of floods caused by heavy rains in June.

Additionally, P6.19 million will go to the DSWD’s cash-for-work program, a short-term intervention through the provision of cash or food in exchange for community work rendered by the beneficiaries. The amount targets 2,476 beneficiaries, including 2,175 in Maguindanao, 101 in Basilan and 200 in Sulu.

Abad said the implementation and supervision of the projects would cost P179 million.