12 ARMM towns not getting monthly fund

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - The 24-seat Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is seeking the release of International Revenue Allotment (IRA) to a dozen constitutionally-mandated towns of the region that have not been receiving the monthly fund from the national government.

Maguindanao 2nd District Assemblyman Khadafeh Mangudadatu said the RLA has drafted a resolution, seeking Malacanang’s immediate action on the issue.

“The resolution was approved about two weeks ago. We are hoping it will reach the attention of His Excellency, President Benigno Aquino III,” Mangudadatu told The Star Friday.

The resolution underscored the need for the grant of monthly IRA to the 12 towns, mostly in Maguindanao, for the affected municipal governments to effectively deliver basic services to local communities without delays.

The 12 towns were created, from 2006 to 2009, by the RLA, touted as “Little Congress” of ARMM, which, under Republic Act 9054 can create barangays and municipalities as long as the process does not alter or marginalize the territories of each of the eight congressional districts in the autonomous region.

The RLA is comprised of three legislators from each of the eight congressional districts in the autonomous region, which covers Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, which are both in mainland Mindanao, and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

The ARMM has more than 100 towns scattered in its five component-provinces. A dozen of these towns have not been receiving any IRA from the national government since their inception via a process that included extensive public consultations and plebiscites involving the local folks.

Mangudadatu said the RLA is grateful to ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman for helping work out the grant of IRA to the 12 towns.

Mangudadatu said Hataman has also been helping the 12 towns through socio-economic interventions being implemented by different government agencies and support offices under his administration.