By Noel Punzalan/PNA
COTABATO CITY — Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv Hataman delivered here Wednesday his last “Ulat sa Bayan”, banking heavily on the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) early next year to catapult the region to greater heights.
The governor’s report, his second since assuming office as officer-in-charge in December 2011, highlighted his administration’s accomplishments but also pushed for the BOL to realize the Bangsamoro’s dream of unity and prosperity.
“Seven years of reforms. Seven years of changes on which in our hearts and minds molded us of being Moro people with dignity,” Hataman said.
Hataman described next year’s BOL plebiscite as a “victory in itself for the Moro people, the peace advocates, and other stakeholders” in Mindanao.
“The BOL leads to the success of peace in Al Barka, Basilan; in the whole of Lanao, and in the Shariff Aguak-Pagatin-Mamasapano-Salibo area o SPMS box in Maguindanao,” he said referring to the region’s troubled spots.
In the same speech, Hataman thanked many people, organizations, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and above all, President Rodrigo Duterte for giving him the go-signal to run the ARMM despite their different political party affiliations.
He said that unknown to many when Duterte won in 2016, he and other ARMM officials went to Malacañang for a courtesy call and asked for the President’s decision on his being the region’s governor amid their being attached to dissimilar political parties.
“You know what President Duterte told me? He said that I should stay in my position and fulfill my mandate as regional governor because for him there are no political parties involved when it comes to serving the people. So thank you, Mr. President, thank you,” a teary-eyed Hataman said.
More so, the governor urged the incoming leaders of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to give special attention to the needs of the people of Marawi City for the limited time the ARMM has at present.
“Once the BOL is ratified, the next regional leadership would have enough time, space and funds to implement more projects there. I plead to you to continually look into their plight,” Hataman said.
This year alone, 23 local government units (LGUs) were awardees of the Department of the Interior and Local Government ‘s (DILG) Seal of Good Local Governance in the ARMM, landing on the top spot in all areas of Mindanao.
In 2017, 63 LGUs were also awardees of the Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping from the DILG for sound fiscal management. The feat has earned for the region an ISO certification.
In terms of investments, the Regional Board of Investments has so far recorded a total of PHP20 billion in investments, which is equivalent to 15,507 jobs for the ARMM constituency.
Regional gross domestic profit also registered a growth of 7.3 percent in 2017 compared to 0.3 percent since 2011.
