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.