FIRST
STATE OF THE REGION ADDRESS
of
HON.
ANSARUDDIN ALONTO ADIONG
ARMM
Acting Regional Governor
6
December 2010 @ SKCC, Cotabato City
BISMILLĀHIR-RAHMANNIR-RAHEEM
The Honorable Speaker Datu Roonie Q.
Sinsuat and the
Honorable Members of the Regional Assembly,
Acting Regional Vice Governor Hon.
Rejie Sahali-Generale,
Your Excellencies of the Diplomatic
Corps,
Honorable Members of Congress and Distinguished
National Officials,
Officials and Senior Representatives
of the International Donor Community
Member of the International
Monitoring Team,
Members of the Regional Cabinet and
other ARMM Officials,
Basilan Governor Hon. Jum Akbar,
Lanao del Sur Governor Hon. Mamintal
Adiong, Jr.,
Maguindanao Governor Hon. Esmael
Mangudadatu,
Tawi-Tawi Governor Hon. Sadikul
Sahali,
Sulu Governor Hon. Abdusakur Tan,
Marawi City Mayor Hon. Fahad Salik,
Maj. Gen. Arthur Tabaquero, Commander
of the Eastern Mindanao Command,
Major General Anthony Alcantara,
Commanding General of the 6th Infantry Division,
Police Chief Superintendent
Bienvenido Latag of the PRO-ARMM,
Provincial Board Members,
Presidents and Members of the Leagues
of Municipal Mayors,
Municipal Vice Mayors, Barangay
Chairmen and Sangguniang Kabataan officials,
Representatives from the Academe,
Religious, Non-Government Organizations, and Business Sector,
Our development partners from the Media,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Assalamu
Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu!
Exactly
four days from now, I shall be a full year in office. I was put into the
highest position of authority in the ARMM under extreme circumstances, and when
I was sworn in as Acting Regional Governor on December 10, 2009, the autonomous
regional government was at its most challenging period.
I knew then, as I am still very much
conscious of until today that I could not have spared any time in restoring and
normalizing the operations of the autonomous regional government.
But more than just restoration and
normalization, we have struggled for enhancement, for reforms and relevance.
Mr.
Speaker, it is my distinct honor to address this august Assembly for the first
time in my capacity as Acting Regional Governor of the Autonomous Region in
Muslim Mindanao. On this memorable occasion, I wish to convey my heartfelt
gratitude to the honorable members of the 6th Regional Assembly for
extending me this privilege to deliver my first State of the Region Address.
I
am here to report the achievements we have gained over a year’s time. I shall
also lay down today the major policies and programs that we will vigorously
pursue in the next twelve months.
During
my installation, I expressed the policy directions and priorities to be
executed and implemented within a timeframe in order to ensure the continuity
of the delivery of quality services to our people.
We
were prepared to establish policy measures and reforms to improve governance
and administration of the Autonomous Regional Government.
We strived
to lead the region with a high degree of transparency and accountability to the
people and to the national government.
Alhamdulillah,
in just a short time, major strides were achieved in spite of the usual
difficulties of a government-in-transition.
In
pursuing our goals, I organized my cabinet and appointed those persons of known
integrity, competence and experience --- highly committed men and women-- to
assist us in establishing good governance and reforms in ARMM.
I
directed the Regional Planning and Development Office to lead in the crafting
of the ARMM Strategic Action Plan or ASAP which now serves as our blueprint of
development for the years 2010 and 2011. The Plan embodies the major policies
and priorities of my administration, and I have emphasized on several occasions
that subsequent plans, programs, projects and even budgets must be referred
back to said document. And we intend to keep it that way.
Endorsed
by the Regional Economic and Development Planning Board, the ASAP is also a
continuation of the major efforts of ARMM towards peace and security, good
governance, economic programs, social services and development, and priority
infrastructure programs.
We
have given priority to the restoration of peace and stability, especially in
Maguindanao Province, and to the maintenance of law and order region-wide, as a
prerequisite for the renewed delivery of basic public services. Working closely
with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, we
have focused on the perennial sources of security problems: “rido” or clan
violence, terrorist groups, rebel forces, and even election-spawned hostility.
As
a primary stakeholder to the peace process, the autonomous regional government
has renewed its full support to the on-going peace talks between the Government
of the Republic of the Philippines and Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Believing
in peace as a catalyst for growth, we continuously render our full support to
the peace efforts of the national government and the Moro Fronts. After all, the ARMM with its more than four
million constituents is still the biggest stakeholder to any dividend of peace.
Particularly,
we are in the final stage of drafting our regional peace agenda in support to
the Mindanao Peace and Development Agenda of His Excellency President Benigno
C. Aquino III. Major peace and
development issues have evolved and important policy recommendations have been
proposed for consideration of the President.
Our
own peace agenda has resulted from the series of provincial consultations which
culminated in the ARMM Peace Summit held last September 20 and 21 here in
Cotabato City. Our people have voiced their sentiments and aspirations. It is
for us their leaders to address those sentiments and be instrumental in
realizing those aspirations.
As experience has been teaching us,
pure military solutions would never be enough and negative events are not mere
police matters. Peace and order in ARMM has taken the proportion of a social
problem.
Given
that reality, it would require efforts of societal magnitude to bring about the
desired solution. Let us hence empty our minds of any notion that the
autonomous regional government alone can solve the peace and order problem in
ARMM. All of us must be into that monumental task of peace-building.
But
let me state it clearly that while there are issues and concerns on security,
the regional atmosphere is still conducive to socio-economic activities and
development works.
In
administering the affairs of the regional government, we have activated all
policy-making bodies, including the planning board, for timely decisions affecting
ARMM development, taking into consideration national policies and priorities of
the Aquino Administration.
In
our desire to transform the regional government not only superficially but in a
truly substantial way, we set up financial and personnel measures to ensure
good governance. Performance and financial reviews of the ARMM were and are
still religiously observed in accordance with Task Force Presidential
Administrative Order 273.
As
one result, we have significantly reduced the hiring of contractual employees
and consultants to save government resources.
We
have strengthened our monitoring and evaluation system in order to keep track
of the progress of program implementation by a timely resolution of problems
and issues affecting such.
Mr.
Speaker, my administration is not insensitive to the plight of those who have
been wronged.
For
the unfortunate teachers who have been unjustly denied of their salaries and
back-wages from years 2006 to 2008, I never hesitated to order the release of P130
million for more than 2,000 of them region-wide. What was withheld from them
for more than 3 years, we tried to hand over to them in just eight months of my
administration.
And
in the coming days, another P36.5 million would be ready
for release.
I
am confident to say that the support we have generated from the national
government and the donor community is recognition of the commendable manner in
which we have implemented our major programs and projects.
The
ARMM Social Fund Project is now a model of success among our foreign-assisted
projects. The World Bank has consistently rated as satisfactory the project
performance in all its evaluation missions. Japan International Cooperation
Agency or JICA and the NEDA or National Economic Development Authority are also
highly satisfied with the implementation of the project.
Hence,
our application for additional financing of 30 million US dollars from the
national government under the new administration of President Aquino has been
approved by the World Bank effective November 5, 2010.
We
launched this project last November 17 during the 21st ARMM
Foundation Anniversary, and in the next three years 596 more barangays across
the region will benefit from the project.
The
Regional Government has also signed memoranda of agreement with other donor
partners, such as the UNICEF for a 2-year extension of the 6th
County Programme for Children in the provinces of Maguindanao and Sulu; the
AusAID for a year-long extension of the Basic Education Assistance in Mindanao
or BEAM; and an implementing arrangement with JICA on a new project dubbed as
“Development Study on the Promotions of Local Industry in ARMM.
Mr.
Speaker, allow me to emphasize that the JICA – ARMM Human Capacity Development
Project has been successfully implemented; it even included the conduct of
out-of-country trainings in Japan and Malaysia for our officials and employees.
At
this stage, we have also completed the draft of the Administrative Code and its
Implementing Rules and Regulations which in due time would be submitted to this
august body.
Hence,
we are expecting another 2-year extension of the human resource development
program.
On financial matters, the Office of
the Regional Treasurer generated a total collection of P561.8 million
consisting of regional taxes, fees and charges, share from national internal
revenue taxes, and other revenues. This represents 85% accomplishment of the
target collection from January to September of this year.
As primarily a regulatory and
revenue-raising agency, our DOTC-ARMM has posted almost P10 million
collections.
By
modifying our system of budget preparation, our proposed budget for 2011 is
increased by the national government to P11.8 billion, P2.0 billion
higher than our current budget of P9.8 billion.
Thus, we will have more appropriations for equipment for halal testing center, midwives for every community in ARMM, repair
of school buildings and emergency employment.
While strengthening the institutions
of the regional government, we also assisted a very important unit of our
governance --- the local governments.
Our local government department has
strengthened its field programs and projects to enhance the capability of the
local government units, particularly with the newly elected officials.
In close
coordination with the LGUs, we strengthened the implementation of flagship
programs designed to improve local governance, such as Project CURE or
Comprehensive and Unified Response to Eliminate Red Tape, the annual conduct of
the Local Governance Performance Management System, the inclusion in the
Performance Challenge Fund or Seal of Good Housekeeping Project, and
implementation of Local Rationalized Planning Systems.
In partnership with The Asia Foundation, the DILG-ARMM facilitated
the conduct of regional orientation on Transparent and Accountable Governance or
TAG whereby 30 selected LGUs in the entire region prepared their respective
technical proposals for transparent and accountable governance to be funded by
the Foundation. The DILG-ARMM had evaluated LGU proposals and these proposals
are now with the Foundation for final review.
To make the LGUs ready for physical
expansion and proper allocation of their territories, our Housing and Land Use
Regulatory Board has worked closely with some local governments in the revision
of their Comprehensive Land Use Plans or CLUPs. It has also approved the
application of Notre Dame of Bongao for a housing project in that municipality
in Tawi-Tawi Province.
On the part of the executive
leadership, we have created the Regional Housing and Rural Development
Authority to address the big housing backlog in ARMM. A concrete proof that we have started is our
first housing project in DOS, Maguindanao which was formally launched last
November 18 during the 21st ARMM Foundation Anniversary.
All
of these, and the many more that I shall be dealing with, Mr. Speaker, could be known by the public only by a regular and
open interface with members of media. Our weekly radio program, “Aksyon ARMM”, and also the weekly “Tapatan sa ARMM” press
conferences, allow us to communicate to our people our
development updates and policy concerns. We made our presence in cyberspace by
going online with our official website www.armm.gov.ph. But more than that, we have opened
ourselves – both our successes and failures, and even controversial acts of
commission and omission – to the scrutiny of the media and the public.
We
are
transparent in our works. We are making ourselves accountable for what we do or
may have failed to do.
And we believe, we have done more
than what was expected.
Our
priority economic programs have been geared towards higher growth, more income
to producers, more job creation and more revenues to the regional and local
governments.
The
agriculture, fishery and forestry sector has continued to contribute the
biggest share in the regional economy.
For
several years, ARMM has been on top in fisheries production in the country. It
has contributed about 28% of the total national fisheries production.
The
autonomous region produces about 40% of the total national seaweeds production
and 70% of Mindanao’s total.
In
2009, ARMM recorded the highest volume of cassava production and remained as
top producer of white corn and seaweeds in the whole country.
This
partly owes to the fact that 284 farmer-beneficiaries
got more than 2 thousand hectares of land in the first half of 2010. To date,
DAR has already distributed 65% of the total 350 thousand hectares
within the scope of CARP.
We
have also implemented 15 projects under the Comprehensive Livelihood and
Emergency Employment Program or CLEEP, a micro-enterprise program designed to
generate more jobs for the agrarian reform communities.
Aside
from land and aquatic-based resources, trade and industry as well as regional
investments registered some P387 million worth of capital infusion into small
and medium enterprises and major industries, generating in the process more
than 3,000 jobs.
This year,
one of the top 1,000 corporations of the Philippines and one of the biggest
corn starch factories in the country -- Lamsan, Incorporated -- launched
commercial operations of its P172.97 million investment project
registered with ARMM Regional Board of Investment. Its plant site in
Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao has been modernized, expanded and provided with
bio-mass power.
As the biggest corn buyer in ARMM, Lamsan
Incorporated supports the expansion of corn production in the region, which
generates an estimated P400 million income per quarter for small farmers and
growers. What is more exciting is that the ARMM Regional Board of Investment
officials have reported that they are now in the process of registering the
investment of Marawi City-based EA Trilink Corporation, which is a
33-million-dollar or 1.5 billion-peso project for a telecommunications-hub in
the ARMM. This 1.5 billion-peso project, the biggest investment so far in
the region, seeks to make the ARMM an international gateway for
telecommunications and cyberspace industries supporting
internet-based businesses. This also enhances literacy and education by
extending the most modern tools of learning to all.
The
region recorded a total export sales of P657 million and domestic sales of P337 million out of the existing major industries in the ARMM.
On the Halal Initiatives, the
enactment last January of MMA Act 254, otherwise known as Halal Labeling Act of
2009, is a manifestation of our commitment in pursuing an economic agenda
consistent with our philosophy. The IRR for that regional law is underway and
aggressive advocacies have been undertaken to promote halal investment,
marketing and financing.
On
cooperative development, 681 cooperatives have renewed their registration and
another 162 are newly registered.
Our
programs on environmental management and protection are being sustained. We
have reforested and rehabilitated about 63 hectares of forestland and produced
more than 85 thousand seedlings of
various species.
We
have partnered with other agencies and organizations for tree planting
activities, especially in critical resources such as watersheds.
For
the long-term perspective, we have intensified the protection and management of
our lakes, marshes, rivers and forests to contain the risk of climate change
and to ensure sustainable development of the region.
Mr. Speaker, we declared Polloc Port
as free port and barangay Polloc as special economic zone in Parang,
Maguindanao. Relegated into the pipeline for several years, the plan to declare
Polloc Port as a Freeport became a reality when I signed the proclamation for such purpose on
March 15, 2010. In the presence of foreign dignitaries like Japan Embassy
Secretary Hirochicka Namekawa and Counsellor Hussain Ibrahim Al-Badr of the
Qatar Embassy, I symbolically opened up the Polloc Port for would-be locators
and investors in the hope of achieving economic transformation in this part of
the region.
Consequently,
on-site priority infrastructure projects in the form of water supply system
rehabilitation, restoration of lighting facilities and setting up of one-stop
shop were implemented to fully develop the Polloc Port and upgrade its operation
and services for it to become an internationally competitive freeport.
The
Freeport Port and Economic Zone are key economic strategies in the region’s
effort to attract more investments to our shores, and create more opportunities
to improve the economic well-being of our people.
We
have also rehabilitated and upgraded the capacity of various ports in the
island provinces in partnership with some of our donors and the concerned LGUs.
With
science and technology as entrepreneurial sources, our DOST has continued to
support micro, small and medium-scale enterprises through the implementation of
Small Enterprise Upgrading Program or SET-UP.
It has also conducted technology transfer and
demonstration activities and awarded scholarships to qualified and deserving
students.
Our
advances in the economic realm were also matched by vigorous provision of basic
public services.
We
upgraded the delivery of social services to our constituents, both in quality
and extent.
In
education, our efforts were focused on expanding the access to basic education,
improving the quality and relevance of basic education, and improving
efficiency and effectiveness of the schools and the divisions’ educational
system.
To
sustain that, more than 55% of our proposed P11.8 billion budget for 2011 goes to education.
Mr.
Speaker, we thank the Regional Assembly for the timely passage of Muslim
Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 279, known also as the ARMM Basic Education Act of
2010, which will further strengthen the Regional Basic Education System.
We
are currently implementing the BEAM One-Year Extension Program which includes a
school on-the-air program using an FM radio owned and operated by DepEd-ARMM,
human resource development, early childhood education, strengthening of
madaris, literacy and livelihood projects.
About 2,000 children benefited from
Early Childhood Education assistance while more than 1,400 women were provided
functional literacy assistance.
Moreover, 22 madaris were assisted in their accreditation by the
Department of Education-ARMM.
On
higher education program, we have awarded scholarship certificates under the
one-town-one scholar or OTOS program.
Our
technical education and skills development program provided 244 skills training
for more than 5,800 workers, in partnership with technical-vocational
institutions, NGOs and LGUs.
We also awarded
209 scholarship slots under the Training for Work Scholarship Program and soon
we will distribute 1,024 Private Education and Student Financial Assistance or
PESFA slots to our provinces.
Other
initiatives include the distribution of computer sets to 91 recipient public high
schools in the region under the Personal Computer for Public School Project or
PCPS Phase 4.
Mr.
Speaker, let me inform you that since the implementation of said project in
which ARMM has been a recipient region, a total of 232 public high schools were
benefitted. This project is funded by the Non-Project Grant-Aid-Counter Value
Fund of the Japanese Government.
In
the public health sector, we have deployed 300 newly-hired midwives in the
different municipalities to augment our health personnel and address high
maternal and infant mortality rates especially in remote areas.
Thousands
of assorted essential drugs and medicines were distributed in strategic
barangays in order for the locals to access affordable medicines.
We
have forged a memorandum of agreement with the National Nutrition Council which
paved the way for the creation of NNC-ARMM and the ARMM Anti-Hunger Task Force
to enhance the region’s capacity in mitigating hunger and malnutrition.
We
implemented the “Operational Plan Pangalawang
Paningin” project that provided free eye operations to hundreds of indigent
beneficiaries in the different hospitals in the region.
Mr.
Speaker, our welfare services programs have continued to cater to the needs –
especially – of the poorest among the poor.
We are currently
implementing the Pantawid Pamilyang
Pilipino Program or 4Ps where more than 18 thousand beneficiaries have
received their cash grants.
We
have provided Emergency Relief Assistance to more than 27 thousand families
that were affected by man-made and natural calamities all over the region.
Provision of core shelters, post-harvest
facilities and supplemental feedings were also extended to the IDP families.
An Early Recovery Plan for sending
home the IDPs was already laid down and there will be three batches for the
identified resettlement areas with provisions of food packages and livelihood
assistance. The ER plan is a product of improved relations among ARMM, NGOs,
iNGos and donor institutions resulting to a more focused and coordinated
interventions to IDPs. Focus is shifted from relief and emergency operations or
camp maintenance towards early recovery and rehabilitation of IDP communities
or return sites.
Other
support activities which included food assistance to IDPs, food for work, food
for training, and maternal child health and nutrition were also implemented by
some donors.
The
World Food Program in cooperation with the social welfare department and some
LGUs served a total of 89,000 beneficiary IDPs with 688 metric tons of mixed commodities. Last July, WFP launched an
18-month long protracted relief and recovery operation with flexibility to
address residual emergency needs.
ARMM’s
offer of free storage at Polloc Freeport to WFP enables the latter to boost its
emergency school feeding, supplemental feeding and
food-for-work/food-for-training activities.
Under
labor and employment, the Special Program for Employment of Students or SPES
provided summer jobs to 715 students.
Newly hired
nurses were also deployed in the different municipalities under the Nurse
Assigned in Rural Service or NARS Program.
Unfortunately, something tragic happened
to the volunteer nurse “Florence”. We
are still deeply saddened by that incident. We reiterate our strong
condemnation of that inhuman act and we hope that soon justice will be served
to “Florence” and to her family. We have extended material, psycho-social and
moral support, and we intend to stand by her till she gets the justice she
deserves.
Our
labor department has also conducted 14 job
fairs all over the autonomous region.
We have just launched the one-stop-shop
for the processing of vital documents of our overseas workers.
Aside from the OFWs, the Youth Employment and Migration program
provided educational assistance to 449 under-privileged children of migrant
workers and other disadvantaged youth in some target areas.
There are other things done in order to
reinforce social cohesion and regional unity in ARMM.
For our IPs, a draft
Implementing Rules and Regulations for MMA Act No. 241, or “An Act to
Recognize, Respect, Protect and Promote the Rights, Governance and Justice
Systems and Customary Laws of the Indigenous Peoples/ Tribal Peoples of the
Autonomous Region”, is now subject for consultation and refinement.
A
draft of the ARMM Gender and Development Code was also completed by the
Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women in
close coordination with the RPDO, POPCOM Region XII, DILG and other regional
line agencies, and was supported by the UNFPA and UNICEF.
No
doubt, ARMM is home to a wonderful tapestry of colorful and lively cultures. In
many celebrations, our Bureau on Cultural Heritage was at the helm of promoting
the icons of our distinct identity. The recent ARMM 21st Foundation
Anniversary was not only a renewal of regional ties, but also a visual delight
and aesthetic display of how vibrant our cultural wealth is.
It
was also an occasion to showcase the sports program of the region, reinforcing
our belief that we have a pool of athletes that we can bring to bigger sports
competitions.
Due
to the direct participation of our youth, whose roles in regional development
and nation building are regularly promoted by the CDO-BYA, the numerous
celebrations, seminars and public assemblies of ARMM have always been dynamic
and full of optimism.
On
the regional scale, our tourism department led in promotion programs geared
towards travel and investment interests. In spite of the usual adverse
perceptions, our tourism officials strengthened tourism councils in the region
and showcased our beautiful spots and unique products in Mindanao-wide tourism
activities, such as the 14th Mindanao Trade Expo and 5th
Mindanao Travel and Tour Expo. The celebrations of our festivals, most notably
the ARMM 21st Foundation Anniversary, were in themselves major
tourism achievements.
Mr. Speaker, in the field of
infrastructure development, we released almost P100 million road maintenance
funds to the six engineering districts of the region. Hence, road repair and
maintenance are within the direct responsibility of the engineering districts,
and no longer with the regional department of public works. Even then, a very
strict monitoring of their field engineering works is well established.
Procurement works for our
infrastructure projects, both foreign and locally funded, were done with
transparency and in strict accordance with guidelines and regulations. Bids
were published in reputable national dailies and all acts of the bids and
awards committee were out in the open.
Let me take this occasion to thank
JICA for the equipment support.
Initially, 6 dump trucks have been received by DPWH-ARMM. Other heavy
equipments for the maintenance of our roads and bridges are due soon.
I also thank the Japanese Government for
the on-going construction of the ARMM-JAPAN Friendship Hall and Training Center
at the ARMM Compound. I look with optimism and excitement on the early
completion and eventual inauguration of that building.
Under the 2010 annual infrastructure fund,
a total of 294 various projects worth P659 million, consisting of 85 Regional
Impact Projects (RIPs), 102 Provincial Impact Projects (PIPs) and 107 District
Impact Projects (DIPs) are all on-going implementation.
Other significant on-going projects
that I wish to cite are the 2008 and 2009 School Building Programs and the ARMM
Social Fund Project.
While the School Building Program is
nationally-funded, it is being coordinated and facilitated by the autonomous
regional government.
In just a year, we have awarded the
construction of 352 new classrooms and repaired 75 school buildings under the
2008 SBP. In the 2009 SBP, 38 new classrooms are already completed, 46 are
on-going projects, while several more are just waiting for fund releases from
the budget department.
As
our flagship program, the ARMM Social Fund Project has already completed more
than 2,000 Community-Based
Infrastructures and organized 983 groups with 27,000 women and youth
benefitting from the Learning Livelihood and Food Sufficiency Program.
An
estimated 900 thousand people across the 987 project-assisted
barangays in ARMM are the beneficiaries of these sub-projects.
The 13 World Bank-funded Strategic
Regional Infrastructure subprojects were completed according to plans and
specifications, 8 subprojects of which have been provided with additional
equipment and facilities to maximize service delivery.
Under the JICA component, 15 out of
the 33 SRIs had been completed and turned-over to proponent agencies and
LGUs. These subprojects consisted of
hospitals, two-storey school buildings, port improvements, local government
centers, training and laboratory centers, water system and road projects.
With support from the USAID, the
Sanga-Sanga and Jolo Airports were improved and upgraded. Asphalt overlay of
Awang Airport runway was also undertaken by DOTC-National.
Mr.
Speaker, we shall continue to pursue the following initiatives to enhance
further our socio-economic development that will alleviate poverty and improve
the standard of living of our people:
a) We
will continue to extend our full support and cooperation to the peace process
between the GRP and Moro Fronts;
b) We
will streamline the regional bureaucracy and conduct rational allocation and
efficient programming of resources especially for locally-funded agencies in
order to strengthen service delivery;
c) We
will enhance revenue-raising powers of the Autonomous Regional Government and
strengthen systems and processes in revenue collection and remittances;
d) We
will impose strict monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of programs
and projects through an enhanced Performance Management System to ensure
responsiveness and accountability of our agencies;
e) We
will close the gap between planning and budgeting;
f) We
will continue developing and promoting our potentials in the halal industry given our comparative
advantage and cultural ties with the Muslim countries;
g) We
will continue our land acquisition and distribution program for our landless
farmers and strengthen our cooperation with the DAR-National to fast track the
implementation of Agrarian Reform Communities II project in ARMM;
h) We
will enhance our social services programs: poverty alleviation and livelihood activities; quality education
and universal health care; and other social development-oriented projects; A
two-storey building for the DepEd would rise next year through the assistance
of BEAM.
i)
We will provide housing projects to other
provinces at the appropriate time;
j)
We will revive traditional barter trading
with our neighboring countries given that the Polloc Freeport is already in
full operations and
k) We
will continue the implementation of priority investment programs and projects,
including those to be funded out of the P1.0 billion infrastructure funds under
the 2011 budget.
Mr.
Speaker, in furtherance of our peace and development initiatives, we urge the
Regional Assembly to speed-up the enactment of our priority legislative
measures, as follows:
1. ARMM
Administrative Code in order to further professionalize and strengthen the
bureaucracy
2. ARMM
Public Works Act of 2011
3. Local
Budget Act of 2011
4. ARMM
Investment Act
5. ARMM
Gender and Development (GAD) Code
6. Legislative
Support to the Implementation of our Regional Housing Project
7. Regional
Development Corporation that will have to generate non-tax income because we
cannot impose more taxes to our impoverished population;
8. Securitization
Act
9. Scholarship
program for the poor but deserving students in ARMM to complete their tertiary
education, and
10. A
stricter guidelines and qualifications on the creation of new local government
units
Mr.
Speaker, we now appeal to the national government to consider favorably our
policy recommendations that would empower ARMM, especially the following:
1. We
strongly propose for the immediate reactivation of the Oversight Committee on
Devolution with priority to the devolution of revenue-generating agencies of
the national government to the Autonomous Regional Government;
2. We
urge the national government to allow the active participation of Muslims in
national affairs by allowing more representation of ARMM in the central offices
of the national government, including the assignment of Muslim diplomats in
Muslim countries;
3. We
urge the national government for the immediate and full implementation of
Executive Order 125 that will allow the Regional Government to manage and
implement all locally and foreign funded projects in ARMM;
4. We
ask the national government to allocate more resources to ARMM through the
following:
a.
For the national government to allocate ARMM an equitable and proportionate
share in the national budget equivalent to at least 1.0 percent of the national
budget every year.
b.
To increase the annual assistance of the national government to ARMM for local
infrastructure projects from 1 billion to 2 billion pesos annually, since ours
is still way beyond the average for the administrative regions which is about 3
billion pesos yearly; and
c.
For the national agencies to carry ARMM in their regular programs and projects
for 2012 and the succeeding years as mandated by RA 9054.
5. Finally,
we appeal to the government and the MILF for the immediate resumption of the
stalled peace negotiations, and bring it to its final conclusion of lasting
peace and sustainable development in Mindanao.
At
this juncture, Mr. Speaker, let me express once more our gratitude to our major
donor partners such as the World Bank, the JICA, the UN System, the UNDP, the
AUSAID, the ADB and all other donor institutions supporting ARMM.
We
will pursue further the socio-economic development of our people, ensuring
their security and the stability of their communities. Let me announce that
this month of December, we will be giving bonus to the employees of the
Autonomous Regional Government.
We
will continue to adopt strategic measures to fully develop the region’s
economic potentials and support Mindanao’s overall economic growth.
We
believe that with the support of the national government and the international
community, we can achieve more in our peace and development efforts.
Let
me appeal to all Muslim leaders in ARMM regardless of their political belief
and ethnical identity to extend more support to our program of governance for
the well-being of Muslim Mindanao.
To
the members of the Organization of Islamic Conference, we wish to acknowledge
once more your full support to the government’s peace efforts in Mindanao. In
the same way, we will continue to count on you.
We
are counting on the continuing mediation of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference through the facilitation of the Malaysian government in the final
resolution of armed conflict in Mindanao and to finally bring lasting peace to
this Island.
We
urge all peace stakeholders to help in sustaining the favorable environment of
peace and stability on the ground and to continue to rally behind the peace
efforts of the government and the Moro Fronts.
We
further appeal to the members of the International Monitoring Team to help us
keep the ceasefire intact on the ground and to help secure the gains of peace
in cooperation with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Coordinating
Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities.
With
strong political resolve of President Aquino and the full support of Mindanao
leaders, we are optimistic that a comprehensive political settlement with the
MILF and full implementation of 1996 Final Peace Agreement will be realized
within the term of the President.
To
His Excellency President Benigno C. Aquino III, I would like to take this
opportunity to express our gratitude for his deep concern for this region and
his determination to bring lasting peace and economic progress in Mindanao.
I
also wish to express further my sincere thanks to the President for his
continuing trust and confidence in me.
The
autonomous regional government is a legacy of countless men and women who have
sacrificed their time, efforts, wealth and even lives. Inspite of all its
shortcomings, the ARMM is our instrumentality for peace and development. The
responsibility is ours to make it work for the benefits of our people.
Thank
you very much. Mabuhay Po Tayong Lahat.
Wassalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu!
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