Hussin banks on foreign aid for ARMM projects

DAVAO CITY — Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Parouk Hussin is banking heavily on the assistance of foreign funding agencies to implement various economic and development projects across the region.

Hussin arrived here the other day for the opening of a four-day workshop, sponsored by the Local Government Support Program (LGSP) of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), where the executive agenda for peace and development for the expanded ARMM will be tackled.

"We must prove to the government and to our international benefactors that given enough support and resources, we are determined as ever to achieve our goal of peace, stability and progress for Muslim Mindanao," Hussin said.

He said the planning workshop is vital in helping formulate a comprehensive regional development framework which can steer his administration in the next three years.

Members of Hussin’s Cabinet are attending the workshop.

"Our foreign donors have started coming in and those already with us are strengthening their support and assistance so we can move further toward our peace and development goals and objectives," Hussin said.

He said the LGSP-CIDA has committed additional funding for the region’s various technical assistance needs, including capability-building activities.

Hussin said he has been closely coordinating with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank which are both keen on pursuing various projects started by his predecessor.

The United States Agency for International Development has also signed a new memorandum of agreement with ARMM officials for the next phase of the Livelihood Enhancement Assistance Program involving livelihood projects benefiting mostly former Moro rebels.