An autonomy project on poverty alleviation

TRAILS UP NORTH
Glo Abaeo Tuazon

Three municipalities in the Cordillera were chosen and signed a covenant to become the pilot areas for the Regional Social Development Committee of the Regional Development Council poverty mapping. Among the chosen are Natonin, Mt. Province, Kapangan Benguet and Kibungan, Benguet.

This project was done in a bid by the RDC to renew the region's pursuit of autonomy to accelerate development of the region. To do this the RSDC endeavored on the preparation of poverty maps project funded from the Special Autonomy Fund. According to RDC Acting Chair Juan Ngalob, the RDC has uploaded P 1 million as catalytic money to generate more money from the LGUs and other agencies for the purpose of alleviating or improving poverty status of areas concerned.

According to the project brief "poverty mapping is a useful tool for the different LGUs and development planners in the proper identification of priority areas as well as the identification of appropriate poverty interventions.

Although it is an RDC project, it has reached out to the LGUs and other agencies for a convergent effort to implement the same. It actually "empowers the LGUs and enhances the region's capability to undertake devolved functions which strengthens the region's resolve for renewed pursuit of development and autonomy.

As to why the three municipalities were chosen, Ngalob said it was because they were the first ones who requested to be assisted. They were also selected among other municipalities who do not yet have the LPRAP or Local Poverty Reduction Action Plan on the basis of their willingness to put counterpart funds. The other municipalities will later be covered on an expanded program due to fund limitation at the moment.

According to statistics presented by NSCB on poverty incidences of municipalities in the Cordillera, the three pilot areas were among the list of poorest in the region. In 2000 Natonin ranked 5th but has alleviated itself and in 2003 ranked 11th. Kapangan stayed on the 25th from 2000 to 2003 and Kibungan from 26th moved to 37th in 2003. Tanudan, Kalinga remains the poorest in the region. -- email: twilight_glo@yahoo.com