Not poor anymore Armm, Lanao del Sur removed from PH's poorest list

COTABATO CITY -After long years of government neglect, the people of Lanao del Sur can now see change is indeed coming after officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) and the provincial government have started mapping out anti-poverty strategies that will remove the province from the list of country's poorest, an official said Thursday.

Officials eye a twoyear projection to attain the goal, according to Armm Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman.

Hataman presided over a special cabinet meeting and consultation on Wednesday attended by regional and provincial officials where updates on anti-poverty projects' status as well as accomplishments for fiscal year 2016 were discussed.

Based on first quarter 2015 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the latest available, showed Lanao del Sur was the poorest province in the Philippines with 74.3 percent poverty incidence.

Presided by the Armm Regional Vice Governor Haroun Alrashid Lucman Jr., the consultation also discussed areas where they could improve and focus on in the coming months.

Lucman said this is the first in a series of provincial consultations this year covering the five Armm provinces.

Lanao del Sur Vice Governor Mamintal Adiong, Anak Mindanao Representative Atty. Makmod Mending Jr., and the province’s local chief executives were also present during the special cabinet meeting. PNA