MANILA -- A lawmaker batted for a P2 billion allotment of the conditional cash transfer (CCT) for the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (Armm), saying it is one of the poorest regions in the country.

Representative Rodolfo Biazon (lone district, Muntinlupa City), chairman of the Committee on National Defense and Security, urged his colleagues to consider his proposal after the proposed budget of P1.645 trillion for next year passed on second reading.

“What is needed is to compute what must go to the Armm considering it is one of the most depressed areas in the country. Its share must be a little bit higher than the other regions,” Biazon pointed out.

“I know that the Armm is one of the most depressed areas in the country. I am surprised why it has a small allotment for the cash transfer program,” he stressed.

At the House budget hearing, Armm Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional secretary Hadja Pombaen Kader said the cash transfer allotment for her agency is not enough to cover the program for the region. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)