ARMM governor seeks higher budget

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Parouk Hussin yesterday sought a higher budget for the region, saying the health system there is "poor".

"Statistics will show we have the highest maternal and infant mortality rate and we have the lowest in terms of life expectancy and these are all reflections of the poor health situation," Hussin said during the First ARMM Health Congress yesterday.

Hussin complained that Basilan province and Marawi City have been included in the expanded ARMM but these are not yet reflected on the P5.2 billion budget earmarked for ARMM in 2002 and 2003.

ARMM is used to be composed only of the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

But Hussin was quick to clarify that President Arroyo "has been very very supportive" of ARMM, which was always her priority during her foreign trips.

He stressed, though that widespread poverty is the most serious problem in the region

"It is not surprising to know that ARMM’s maternal and infant mortality rate are the highest in the country and the life expectancy of residents is the lowest," he noted.

This, he said, was compounded by the peace and order situation in Mindanao, which continues to take lives.

ARMM acting regional health director Dr. Lampa Pandi confirmed that trauma or injury were the leading cause of death in the region last year.

This, he said aggravates ARMM’s problem with medical supplies and hospital facilities. ARMM is the hardest hit by the growing tension between the government and Muslim secessionist groups like the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the bandit Abu Sayyaf Group.

Pandi added that there are only 23 hospitals in ARMM that attends to 2.4 million people.