ARMM ‘HELPS’ CONVERGENCE EFFORT KICKS-OFF IN TUBIG INDANGAN, A SUCCESS.

RPMA, Cotabato City- The Autonomous Regional Government successfully launched the ARMM ‘HELPS’ Convergence last February 18, 2013 in Barangay Tubig Indangan in Simunul, about an hour ride away from Bongao, the capital town of the province of Tawi-Tawi.

Residence of the area warmly welcomed the Regional Convergence Team headed by Secretary Aquino Sajili of Department of Agrarian Reform together with the officials of the ARMM.

Local Officials expressed their gratitude of the Regional Government for providing the needed services of their constituents. They also expressed their appreciation to the convergence program of the OIC Regional Governor Mujiv S. Hataman.

During the launching ceremony, Barangay Captain Munding A. Bayo brought the attention of the convergence team to the most pressing issues of the area such as the need for Madrasah, Livelihood Assistance, tourism development and others.

Being known to be the origin of Islamic Civilization in the Philippines and the place where we can found the historical mosque built by the Arab trader Sheikh Makdum Karim in 1380, Brgy. Capt. Bayo also cited assistance to develop tourism centers in the area to increase work productivity of the people in Brgy. Tubig Indangan.

Secretary Sajili, in his message, explained the salient components of the convergence program and assured the local residence that the ARMM Regional Government will try to address the needs of the constituents through the program.

While the launching ceremony is on-going, some local residence took the opportunity of availing the different services brought by the regional line agencies like medical mission, supplementary feeding, provision of fishing gears/paraphernalia, agricultural seedling and many others.

The Regional Ports Management Authority managing, operating and supervising all ports within the ARMM sees to it the better delivery of port services to the stakeholders and ensure the security and safety of the visitors and passengers.

The program ended with the signing of the pledge of commitment by different stakeholders of the area including the key municipal, provincial and regional officials of the ARMM

ARMM ‘HELPS’ CONVERGENCE EFFORT KICKS-OFF IN BASILAN, A SUCCESS.

RPMA, COTABATO CITY —In a bid to bring the autonomous regional government closer to its people, a convergence plan on health, education, livelihood, peace and governance programs was launched on February 5 and 6,2013 in Barangay Albarka, Basilan City.

Dubbed as the ARMM Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Governance and Synergy or ARMM HELPS Convergence Plan, it is a banner program of the present regional leadership caretaker- Governor Mujiv S. Hataman.

The launching was attended by the key officials of ARMM, Local Government Unit (LGU) and other line agencies. Each participating line agencies brought with them services that are needed by the people of Brgy.Tubig-Tanah.

During the launching, the Department of Health (DOH) with the help Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) offered medical services as well as Phil Health Card Distribution.

The Social Welfare Department provided supplemental feeding among pre-school kids and turned-over Capital Seed for Micro-livelihood enterprise.

The Education Department had their proper hand washing drill among the students and provided them hygiene kits containing a toothbrush, toothpaste and soap. The CHED also distributed scholarship checks for 2^nd semester SY 2012- 2013 to OTOS and stuFAP grantees.

Fisheries Department had their ceremonial distribution of fishing gears/paraphernalia and ceremonial dispersal of tilapia fingerlings. The Agriculture department provided starter seeds, upland seed, OPV corn seeds and assorted vegetable seeds. They also provided enrollment of ARBs in PhilHealth and identified agrarian beneficiaries of PhilHealth as issued by DOH.

Tourism department distributed tourism brochures and conducted community profiling for tourism potential area. The department of Trade and Industry also conducted entrepreneurial training awareness to the beneficiaries of the program.

ARMM HELPS convergence program is a response to the ARMM Reform Agenda of the OIC Regional Governor Mujiv S. Hataman to transform the area from the land of conflict to the land of peace and to deliver better services in the neglected Barangay of ARMM.

The same program was already launched in Lamitan City in Basilan, targeted municipalities in Lanao Del Sur and some other parts of Maguindanao and Island Provinces.