ARMM launches BRIDGE program to address local governance, community empowerment

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Jan. 19 (PIA) --- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) launched a new program to help strengthen local governance and empower communities in the region.

The program dubbed Bangsamoro Regional Inclusive Development for Growth and Empowerment (BRIDGE) is a follow up to the ARMM Social Fund Project (ASFP), which ended last year, and complements the existing Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Governance and Synergy (HELPS) program of the regional government.

ARMM governor Mujiv Hataman said the program was patterned after the National Community Driven Development Program (NCDDP) of the national government. NCDDP covers 851 municipalities nationwide but does not include ARMM.

He said ARMM-BRIDGE was conceptualized last year and will begin its initiatory phase this month.

For this year, the program will initially cover 45 barangays in 15 target municipalities in the five component provinces of the region with a budget of P120 million.

Target areas include the municipalities of Balindong, Taraka and Lumba-Bayabao in Lanao del Sur province; Barira, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, and Matanog in Maguindanao province; Sumisip, Tipo-tipo and Tuburan in Basilan province; Pandami, Parang and Talipao in Sulu province; and Sibutu, Simunul and Tandubas in Tawi-Tawi province.

Other municipalities will eventually be included. A total budget of P22 billion is needed to realize the full-blown implementation of the program.

ARMM executive secretary Laisa Alamia said program aims to improve local governance and strengthen partnership between and within the target communities.

She said the composition of the project management office of ASFP has been tasked to handle the initial stage of the program, which includes training and capacity-building and technical assistance on the preparation of Municipal Development Plan (MDP).

Alamia said the MDP and the performance of their local chief executives and key stakeholders of the target municipalities will undergo review and assessment before they can fully qualify for the program.  (Bureau of Public Information-ARMM/APB/PIA-10)