The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) urged the newly established government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to tackle the region’s low economic performance, high poverty incidence, and poor access and delivery of public services.

At the first-ever Bangsa Moro Global Economic Summit on Monday, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia prevailed upon the leaders of BARMM to follow the 12-point priority agenda for the region’s transition to better economic climes from 202 to 2022.

Pernia said the region’s two-year economic blueprint should help its leaders deal with the challenges.

“Bear in mind, however, that while the Bangsamoro government is working on the transition, socioeconomic challenges remain and will likely impact the development of the region in the coming years,” he said.

Poverty incidence among the population in the region stood at 53.7 percent in 2015, Pernia said. He identified the province of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Sulu as having the highest poverty incidence among families in the country. This he attributed to limited investments in education, health and social services as well as inadequate exposure and vulnerability to economic, environmental and conflict risks.