ARMM implements more than half billion pesos HELPS projects in 100 target barangays

L to R: Basilan District Engineer E Soler Undug, DPWH-ARMM Secretary Don Mustapha Loong, Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman, ORG-IPMO Regional Director ASec Noor Saada, Maguindanao I District Engineer Nasrodin Ibrahim, Lanao Sur I District Engineer Luvizminda Santos-Sani and RPDO Executive Director Engr Baintan Ampatuan.
(Photo copyright: BPI-ARMM)

Cotabato City - ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman signs today memorandum of agreement with district engineering offices of DPWH-ARMM to expedite the implementation of a total of P537 million worth of projects identified by target communities under the ARMM HELPS Program.

"For so long, communities are saying they have not felt the regional presence and care in their locality; ARMM HELPS is about these communities directly benefitting and feeling the care from the on-going ARMM Reform", Regional Governor Hataman said.

Under the 2015 ARMM HELPS,  one hundred (100) barangays spread across the ARMM provinces have identified and will benefit from the 2015 ARMM HELPS Support Infrastructure Projects. These barangays are located in eighty-two (82) municipalities.

A total five hundred and six (506) health, education, livelihood, peace and governance support infrastructure projects are contracted today with the following breakdown – Health (81), Education (114), Livelihood (176) and Peace and Governance (135). The total cost is about P537 million pesos to be paid in 4 tranches (30:30:30:10) based on verifiable physical accomplishment. 42% or P226 million goes to peace and governance infrastructure such as barangay halls, multi-purpose buildings and children’s park. 30% or P159 million to support livelihood activities. 20% or P105 million for barangay health station, watsan and botika ng barangay.  8% or P46 million for construction and repair of CLCs. 

Regional Governor Hataman emphasized that these projects were identified by residents and stakeholders of target communities. These were communicated with partner line agencies to insure propriety and complementation, to avoid duplication and to promote project synergy and complementation. ORG IPMO will serve as the fund manager and lead in monitoring and evaluation of DEOs construction for quality, on-time delivery and consistency with the program of work.

Finally, Governor Hataman emphasized that parallel to this support infrastructure is an IPMO-led mechanism on continuing engagement with the target communities, B/M LGU and partner agencies to insure functionality and sustainability of these infrastructures; for example, if we construct a barangay health station, we need commitment and complementation from DOH and LGU that a health worker is deployed, trained, paid and serving the community; and the community at large commits to protect both the health worker and the station. 

ARMM HELPS is about contributing efforts to decrease in maternal and infant mortality, and prevalence of underweight among under 5 children; increase access to education; improve livelihood and entrepreneurial capacities and enhance peace and governance conditions.