The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is seeing “significant improvements” in terms of security situation and poverty level, the region’s spokesperson said Saturday, Sept. 28.
BARMM spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Asnin Pendatun said that the region now has a relatively “better peace and security situation.”
Although there are still local ridos or clan wars, the region is now able to attract investors, he said.
“Last year, we were able to record 3.4 billion pesos worth of investments that translated into around 1,900 job opportunities,” Pendatun said during Saturday News Forum.
“This year alone, hindi pa po tapos iyong 2024 (the year is not yet over) but we are already at four billion pesos,” he added, highlighting that there is even upcoming upscale resort to be built in Tawi-tawi.
But Pendatun disclosed that while there is now relative peace, there are still threats from the Islamic State. However, these are those coming from local rebels groups that are affiliated with IS.
"But malaki na rin po iyong mga napagtagumpayan ng atin pong Armed Forces of the Philippines (Our AFP already has great success)... Three or four months ago iyong isa pong leader ng isang grupo ay na-neutralize... So, continuing ho iyong effort ng security forces dito (Three to four months ago, a rebel group leader was neutralized. So the efforts of our security forces continue),” he said.
BARMM also saw an improvement in its poverty level. In fact, for the first time in history, he said, the region is no longer the poorest region in the Philippines.
"Noong huli ho kaming bumisita (The last time we visited there), we’ve reported that we have significantly reduced the poverty incidence in the region at as of the latest of PSA account, we're happy to report that in 2018, the poverty incidence in the BARMM or the then ARMM was at 52.3 percent. Iyong huli pong data na inilabas ho ng PSA a couple of weeks ago ay (the last data that PSA released a couple of weeks ago was) we recorded a poverty incidence down to 23.2 percent," he said.
"So, iyon po ang pinakamalaking pagbaba ng poverty incidence from 2018 to 2023 (So that's the highest drop of our poverty incidence) and we are proud to day that for the first time in the long history of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and in the BARMM ay for the first time po, hindi na po BARMM iyong pinakamahirap na rehiyon sa buong Pilipinas (for the first time, BARMM is no longer the poorest region in the Philippines)," he added.
But Pendatun admitted that "sustaining the momentum" remains as the challenge for its government. So to do that, there must be honest and fair elections.
"Ang aim ho namin (Our aim) is that we will be able to conduct an honest, peaceful and credible election kung saan mataas po iyong voters turnout at ito po ay tinitingnan ho natin na importante para ho doon sa… even sa post election ‘ika nga na reconciliation ay mas magiging madali (Where there is a high voters turnout, and we're looking at what's important, a fast reconciliation from the elections)," he said.
"So, iyon po ang ginagawa namin (That's what we are doing) for the past couple of weeks leading up to the first parliamentary elections, kaliwa't kanan po iyong atin pong mga information-education campaign at iyon pong ating mga gagawing mga microsonics (From left to right we are doing information education campaign and we will also do microsonics). This has been done and we will do in partnership with various civil society organization at malaki din ho iyong ating pasasalamat sa Comelec (and we are greatly thankful for Comelec) for their support sa Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao," he added.