Poverty Rates Decline in BARMM Under Current Administration

QUEZON CITY – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has seen a significant decline in poverty rates, dropping from 39.4 percent in 2021 to 34 percent under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., announced BARMM Cabinet Secretary Asnin Pendatu at the Saturday News Forum.

According to Philippines News Agency, this reduction reflects the effectiveness of the autonomy granted to BARMM and aligns with President Marcos’s target to further reduce poverty in the region to a single digit by 2028. The improvement in BARMM’s economic and social metrics is attributed to better peace and security conditions, which have fostered an environment conducive to investment and job creation. In 2023 alone, PHP 3.1 billion worth of investments created 1,927 job opportunities.

The region is also exploring the development of its natural resources, such as natural gas in the Liguasan Marsh, which is expected to contribute further to economic growth and poverty alleviation. Secretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity, Carlito Galvez Jr., emphasized President Marcos’s full support for BARMM’s development in various sectors, including food security through the cattle industry, agriculture, aquaculture, and fisheries.

Galvez also highlighted the global recognition of the Bangsamoro Peace Agreement as a model for peace and autonomy implementation, as discussed at the Global Peace Summit in Oslo, Norway. Looking forward, he noted that the upcoming first BARMM parliamentary election in May 2025 will be a major milestone for the region.

The Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, initiated under former President Benigno Aquino III and continued under President Rodrigo R. Duterte, culminated in the enactment of the Organic Law for the BARMM, establishing a new political and administrative framework for the region.