Basic Facts

Better known as the ARMM, this is a region located in the southern portion of Mindanao and includes the mainland provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Marawi City and the traditional island centers of Muslim economic, political and cultural activities: Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan in the Sulu archipelago. ARMM covers approximately 12,000 square kilometers - about four percent of the country's total land area and has a population of more than two million predominantly Muslim inhabitants.

Considered the 15th region of the Philippines, the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was created on November 6, 1990 by Republic Act 6734 during the administration of then Philippine President Corazon C. Aquino.

ARMM has an abundant supply of low cost labor. Projections for 2000 estimate a labor force of more than 800,000 and an employment rate of 97%. The average daily minimum wage rate in the ARMM is the lowest in the country at about US$3.15 a day (October/99) and is roughly 33% lower than the prevailing rate in the National Capital Region (Manila).

GRDP in the ARMM is growing at rates significantly higher than the rest of the country. Inflation is considerably lower than the national average.

Almost all agricultural crops grow well in the extremely fertile Muslim Mindanao region. Corn, palay, coconut, abaca, nuts, and root crops are widely grown. Livestock raising is also widely practiced with carabao, cattle, goats, and horses as the major livestock commodities.

In order to encourage investment in the area, there are plans to develop three industrial and agro-industrial centers in Polloc and Parang, municipalities in Maguindanao province. Investors will enjoy various fiscal and non-fiscal incentives such as income tax holidays, tax and duty-free importation of capital equipment and spare parts and other tax exemptions. (Incentives).

The ARMM has four airports (two secondary, one feeder, and one trunk line) and 36 ports, including Polloc, an international point of entry. Its energy requirements are provided by the National Power Corporation's Mindanao power grid, which has a generating capacity of 1,600 megawatts.

The national and local governments provide social and health services support in the region. There are more than 1,700 educational institutions in the area including 1,568 elementary schools, 111 high schools, 13 colleges and universities, and 15 technical and vocational schools.