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ARMM reform continues Volume 1 | Issue 2 Bureau of Public Information January - February, 2015 Hataman: Things have changed Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv Hataman delivered his final state of the region address on December 1, 2014 underscoring the success of his leadership in instituting reforms and good governance that transformed the lives of the people across the region. WORKING GOVERNMENT. ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman, flanked by Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia presides over a cabinet meeting. society movement and local government units. He said the regional government performance since he assumed office three years ago was closely guided by the three pillars of reforms – good governance, socio-economic development, and peace and security. These, he said, supported the agenda of the regional government that, in the end, “made the impossible possible.” Hataman highlighted the plight of farmers, fishermen, public school teachers, and public employees, stressing the risk and sacrifices they take just to make the region stable and productive. “As we gather here, always remember that in a far away area in Basilan, despite the dangers, a public school teacher is taking the risk, tirelessly, just so she will be able to help Moro children get education,” he said. “In the hinterlands of Lanao del Sur, a farmer is currently harvesting sili and sakurab, the main ingredients to the “Change is here, beckoning, echoing right in our midst,” Hataman said before officials of the ARMM and personalities, including Moro Islamic Liberation Front chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal and Presidential Peace Adviser Teresita Deles. “We only need to look around us to know how things have changed for the better for the people of the ARMM since we instituted reforms,” he said. Hataman, who was appointed OIC governor of the ARMM by President Benigno Aquino III and later became the elected governor, likened himself as an “experienced driver” who led the journey of the people of the ARMM into a destination that is progressive. And what ARMM enjoys now is primarily because of the trust of the national government that “we were able to gain back” and the “support of the people in our reform agenda,” he said. The reforms were also successful because of the regional’s strong partnership with the civil- COTABATO CITY --- Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) assured the Bangsamoro people that the region is intact, reformed, and functional in accord with President Aquino’s “Daang Matuwid” campaign. Speaking to ARMM employees at the opening work day of January 2015, Hataman said the region is facing major challenges as it prepares to hand over the reign to the new Bangsamoro government which is expected to come later this year through the Bangsamoro Transition Commission. Hataman allayed fears of another “failed experiment” in Bangsamoro government, saying it will finally solve the decades-old Bangsamoro Question. As the days for the entry of new political entity nears, Hataman said reforms will continue and it will start right away. He called a new campaign aimed at making ARMM heads of offices always on their toes. HATAMAN | page 10 ARMM reform | page 10 THE MESSAGE of peace is accentuated by stakeholders during the celebration of the Week of Peace last December in the region of autonomy.

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Page 1: Hataman: Things have changed

ARMM reform continues

Volume 1 | Issue 2 Bureau of Public Information January - February, 2015

Hataman: Things have changedAutonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv Hataman delivered his final state of the region address on December 1, 2014 underscoring the success of his leadership in instituting reforms and good governance that transformed the lives of the people across the region.

WORKING GOVERNMENT. ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman, flanked by Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia presides over a cabinet meeting.

society movement and local government units. He said the regional government performance since he assumed office three years ago was closely guided by the three pillars of reforms – good governance, s o c i o - e c o n o m i c development, and peace and security. These, he said, supported the agenda of the regional government that, in the end, “made the impossible possible.” Hataman highlighted the plight of farmers, fishermen, public school teachers, and public employees, stressing the risk and sacrifices they take just to make the region stable and productive. “As we gather here, always remember that in a far away area in Basilan, despite the dangers, a public school teacher is taking the risk, tirelessly, just so she will be able to help Moro children get education,” he said. “In the hinterlands of Lanao del Sur, a farmer is currently harvesting sili and sakurab, the main ingredients to the

“Change is here, beckoning, echoing right in our midst,” Hataman said before officials of the ARMM and personalities, including Moro Islamic Liberation Front chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal and Presidential Peace Adviser Teresita Deles. “We only need to look around us to know how things have changed for the better for the people of the ARMM since we instituted reforms,” he said. Hataman, who was appointed OIC governor of the ARMM by President Benigno Aquino III and later became the elected governor, likened himself as an “experienced driver” who led the journey of the people of the ARMM into a destination that is progressive. And what ARMM enjoys now is primarily because of the trust of the national government that “we were able to gain back” and the

“support of the people in our reform agenda,” he said. The reforms were also successful because of the regional’s strong partnership with the civil-

COTABATO CITY --- Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) assured the Bangsamoro people that the region is intact, reformed, and functional in accord with President Aquino’s “Daang Matuwid” campaign. Speaking to ARMM employees at the opening work day of January 2015, Hataman said the region is facing major challenges as it prepares to hand over the reign to the new Bangsamoro government which is expected to come later

this year through the Bangsamoro Transition Commission. Hataman allayed fears of another “failed experiment” in Bangsamoro government, saying it will finally solve the decades-old Bangsamoro Question.As the days for the entry of new political entity nears, Hataman said reforms will continue and it will start right away.He called a new campaign aimed at making ARMM heads of offices always on their toes.

HATAMAN | page 10 ARMM reform | page 10

THE MESSAGE of peace is accentuated by stakeholders during the celebration of the Week of Peace last December in the region of autonomy.

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January - February, 2015 ARMM Gazette page 2

Simunul Island: Mindanao’s hidden treasure

BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi --- In 1380, Sheikh Karimul Makhdum landed on the shores of Simunul town, Tawi-tawi bringing with him the religion that would serve as one of the defining characters of the 13 ethno-linguistic groups that make up the Moro nation or Bangsamoro. Six hundred thirty four years on, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the political institution created to allow the Bangsamoro their right to self-determination, started the month-long celebration of its 25th founding anniversary in the small, fishing village of Tubig (Bohe) Indangan in Simunul where the Sheikh Karimul Makhdum Mosque stands. Thousands of people, including officials from the working ARMM government, gathered in the village to commemorate the arrival of Sheikh Makhdum and to celebrate the propagation of the Islamic religion in the country. Musl im Fi l ip inos revere Sheikh Makhdum f o r i n t r o d u c i n g Islam in the country. The religion has been pivotal in the Bangsamoro life and culture, setting their identity apart from the rest of the country. A fleet of eight wooden

ARMM marks Sheikh Karimul Makhdum Dayhulled boats festooned with colorful flaglets set sail from Bongao town to Simunul in a fluvial parade depicting the journey taken by Sheikh Makhdum. The blueprint and other details of the proposed renovation of the Sheikh K a r i m u l M a k h d u m Mosque, a declared national historical landmark, were unveiled during the short program that followed. Atty. Laisa Alamia, ARMM executive secretary, said the Sheikh Makhdum Mosque is a heritage site that must be preserved and developed for its historical value and tourism potential. A congregational prayer at mid-day capped the commemoration event.The event served as the official kick-off to the 25th ARMM anniversary celebration, perhaps the last, with the theme “A Quarter Century of Service to the Bangsamoro.” Alamia said marking the kick-off of the ARMM anniversary last year in Simunul instead of the region’s seat in Cotabato City is highly symbolic. She said the arrival of Sheikh Makhdum set the course of history for the Bangsamoro and the ARMM, born out of years of Bangsamoro struggle.

HIDDEN TREASURE. Sheikh Makdum Mosque in Simunul, Tawi-Tawi is the oldest mosque in the Philippines. Built in 1830, its construction marked the beginning of introduction of Islam in the country.

SIMUNUL Tawi-Tawi --- Thousands of people celebrated here last November 7 the birth of Islam in the Philippines 6 3 4 y e a r s a g o . The celebration was as elaborate, colorful, and poetic as one saw the culture and tradition of the Bangsamoro. The fluvial parade of eight wooden-hulled boats that sailed from Bongao to Simunul was the highlight of the celebration. The parade depicted the journey to the i s land of Sheikh Karimul Makhdum in 1380, the Arab preacher responsible for the spread of Islam in the Philippines. The festival featured dances and songs that retraced the arrival of the religion that had, over the years, set strongly in the lives of the Bangsamoro people of Mindanao, an essential part of their lives. Simunul is a s l e e p y s m a l l town-island in the province of Tawi-tawi. One can reach the island after more than an hour boat ride from Bongao, the seat of the

provincial government. It is an island where t ime i s l angu id .But this is a glorious slow, something that allows visitors to breathe and marvel at the sky exploding in various shades of blue until it becomes a canvass of orange as the sun sets. Facing Bongao at daytime, the landscape is a vast sea interrupted by a swarm of clouds and the silhouette of Tawi-tawi’s sacred mountain, the Bud Bongao. Only miles away is Sabah. At night, tourists sleep over stilt houses of the Sama residents – the melody created by the water under these homes bring people to sleep, only to be awakened by the simplicity of life contrasted by a colorful culture reflected by the elaborately decorated wooden bancas, music and dances, and the local’s traditional food. With only a little over 35,000 residents, Simunul has evolved into a progressive small town of happy and friendly Sama people. Over the years, various development projects

were implemented in the island by international donor organizations, all of which were designed to change the lives of the people by providing them with opportunities to better their lives. Every now and then, the island attracts loyal local tourists and even those who are especially curious about the hidden gems of the island. These treasures include the masjid build by Arab preacher Sheikh Makhdum in the village of Tubig Indangan. The mosque has been declared a historical landmark by the National Historical Commission and a cultural treasure by the National Museum. The arrival of Sheikh Makhdum is seen as the moment that “set the course of history” of the people of Mindanao, especially in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.The original pillars of the mosque – made out of ipil wood – remain inside the mosque. Another landmark of Simunul is the tomb of Sheikh Makhdum himself, located very close to the mosque. These collectively serve

as a well-ensconced and protected aide-mémoire --- a sublime reminder --- of the influence of Sheikh Makhdum and his teachings to the people.

HUMAN TREASURE. A group of Tausugs in their ethnic costumes.

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page 3 ARMM Gazette January - February, 2015

For many years until recently, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) suffered from a lingering disability that plagued its people’s development and stunted the region’s growth. We have seen how the cycle of war, the total breakdown of law, and the insatiable greed for power and money of those who ruled the land for so many years resulted in broken lives, shattered hope, and a bleak future. It was hard to imagine how a region known for its rich culture and abundant natural resources could suffer a tremendous, almost an unstoppable kind of deterioration. There’s no doubt that over the years, it was greed for power and money that aggravated the suffering of the people of the ARMM. This fueled discontent, fanned hatred, and launched countless wars; these were that made the ARMM and many parts of Mindanao the hotbed of rebellion and the stage where various forms of injustice were committed at the backdrop of abject poverty. But that’s history now, a dark history. Today, we are making a new kind of history – a history that we will piece together and treasure because this is the fruit of the seeds of reforms that we have since planted. This is a history that will change the course of life of the people, a people who have embraced peace and transformation. The celebration of the 25th anniversary of the ARMM last November was a celebration of the victories of the reforms that we have initiated with the clear goal of bringing about genuine change and development and democracy to the people of the ARMM. This is a celebration not only for a historical milestone that we are experiencing now, but also for the political reconstructions that have taken a strong foothold in the regional government. Sincethecurrentgovernmentcameintooffice,the fate of the region’s more than three million people has never been in better hands. Governor Mujiv Hataman, including his incumbencyastheappointedofficer-in-charge,hasbeeninofficeforjustalittleovertwoyears,yetwehave seen a region formerly mired in the slough of despair transformed into a stable and peaceful region. The current government has managed to work aroundthegivenflawsandgapsoftheARMMasapoliticalinstitution, a condition we refer to as a “failed experiment.” Who can say that the ARMM is still a failed experiment when we have successfully performed reforms for things to become better for the people? It is without doubt that the ARMM is slowly turning into a competitive and emerging place of growth and concrete developments. The ARMM has seen a remarkable growth in the past couple of years – with a 3.6 percent growth in its Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP), record-breaking investments have alsobeen recorded by the region’s investment office. These encouraging socio-economicindicators and the adherence to the tenets of good governance have set the present working government of the ARMM afar from its predecessors. Late last year, the Bangsamoro Development Plan was presented by the Bangsamoro Development Authority. All the developments that we have started in the ARMM, all that we have achieved, will have more profound impact and meaning to our countrymen as we harmonize these victories with the Bangsamoro Development Plan. Anytime from now, the Congress will approve the Bangsamoro Basic Law, giving birth into a new Bangsamoro political entity. It is hoped that the gains of the ARMM, all the socio-economic developments, are translatedinto actual human development in the region in the years ahead, especially with the establishment of a stronger autonomous political entity that enshrines the Bangsamoro’s pursuit of self-determination. The Bangsamoro and the rest of our countrymen are reassured that the succeeding autonomous regional government will not be starting from scratch, but on a solid foundation, a reformed system – a governance that it must try to emulate or exceed. I t is then expected that the gains ushered in by the present ARMM administration be sustained by the succeeding government. What we envision now is a new Bangsamoro government that aspires to bring the standard of living in the Moro region to a decent and adequate level. It is a government that will uphold that essence of the Bangsamoro Basic Law – that is to enable the regional and national governments to work closely together with the objective of building a truly competitive people and region, and a strong nation.

Reformed governancegives birth to decency

Editorial

Is the Bangsamoro worth coming home to?

by AMIR MAWALLIL

An air of excitement, of celebration is overwhelming the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) these days. November last year marked the plebiscite that saw the inclusion of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Tawi-tawi, and Sulu into the regional government 25 years ago. That’s a quarter of a century that deserves a grand celebration even as the regional government takes a bow this year, when the Bangsamoro Basic Law gives birth to a Bangsamoro government which will take over the ARMM. I see this celebration more congratulatory for what the ARMM has stood for during its last stretch – despite the odds and pessimism of others, as ARMM proved itself and showed the world that it can govern itself well and institute genuine reforms that have resulted in the development now being felt across the region. Three years ago, when Governor Mujiv Hataman

became the officer-in-charge of the ARMM, he asked me to join his reform team, an offer that had me thinking, not only twice because I was enjoying my work very much as a print journalist in Zamboanga City, but because of my doubts over the reform agenda. He wanted me to head his communication group. I was 24 at the time. Before this, many young Moro professionals were far from the Moro land, in search of better deals in major cities like Davao, Cebu, and Metro Manila. It took him eight months to finally convince me to join his team, a decision I made only after I personally saw the remarkable changes happening under his leadership. At that time, the Cabinet of Governor Hataman already included a number of young Moro professionals. Two years after I officially became part of the ARMM, I can say I’m glad about the decision I made.

generated savings from prudent fiscal management amounting to P250 million. The savings were used to acquire 48 new construction heavy equipment, 16 project monitoring vehicles, and nine sets of surveying equipment. What redefined the current administration of the ARMM is transparency. How? Every single government project, including procurements, go through open and competitive bidding processes that conform to the rules of the Commission on Audit.

STARTING ALL OVER

From having suffered from derogatory labels such as a “ failed experiment,” the ARMM has now been recognized for innovations and policies and programs that would have been nothing but a source of corruption in the not-so-distant past.

AND DID THE NEWADMINISTRATION DELIVER?

Since January this year, a record-high of P3.372 billion worth of investments was recorded by the region’s board of investments, more than double 2013’s t o t a l i n v e s t m e n t s . The ARMM has also been cited as the most improved region in terms of the country’s commitment to the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals of reducing maternal and infant mortali ty. For the first time, the rates of these two health indicators are lower in the ARMM compared to the national level and most of other regions. In 2008, maternal mortality rate in the ARMM was at 245 per 100,000 live births. This was brought down to 66 per 100,000 live births in 2013, far lower than the national rate of 152 per 100,000 live births. The infant mortality rate also decreased from 55 per 1,000 live births in 2008 to 32 per 1,000 live births in 2013, the lowest in the country. With the revision of the 2012 Public Works Act, the regional government has stopped the practice of lump sum funding and

POVERTY

The fight against poverty is a continuous battle, I agree. In 2012, while the ARMM remained to be the poorest region in the Philippines, improvements in the fight to eliminate poverty were felt in Basilan (4.9% drop from 37.4% in 2009 to 32.5% in 2012), Sulu (7.6% drop from 37.9% in 2009 to 30.3% in 2012), and Tawi-tawi (27.5% drop from 48.3% in 2009 to 20.8% in 2012). The Gross Regional Domestic Product of the ARMM increased by 3.6% in 2013 from 1.1% in 2012. In 2011, the GRDP was at an all-time low at negative 0.3%. The growth is driven by strong performance of the region’s service sector and agriculture. Currently, the region is among the country’s top producers of rice, cassava, corn, coffee and oil palm, and fruits like lanzones, mangosteen, and durian. The region is also tops in fisheries and seaweeds production. By initiating reforms, the regional government hunted down ghosts employees, students, and even public schools. Between 2012 and 2013, 75,242 “ghost” students were removed. And for the present school year,

I joined ARMM while the world was witnessing a new brand of leadership and governance in a region long beset by corruption that, like disease, had burrowed itself to the very core of the system. The ails of the past are evident in the poverty that plagued the region, which remains the poorest in the country. With a clean slate, the new leadership offered a fresh start – with the desire to effect change and development in the lives of the Moro people, the kind that has long eluded them because of the sins – the greed – of the past.

BANGSAMORO | page 10

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January - February, 2015 ARMM Gazette page 4

Officials, CSOs hail Hataman’s

2nd SORA

Media group cites gov for public serviceMANILA --- Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao G o v e r n o r M u j i v S . Hataman was honored on December 5, 2014 by the Excellence in Public Service Award from the Bulong Pulungan at the Sofitel. Hataman received his award from no less than President Benigno Aquino III, who was guest of honor and also an awardee during a lavish celebration led by Philippine women journalists of Bulong Pulungan. Governor Hataman is the first local public official to have received the distinction in the 28 years of Bulong Pulungan’s existence. This award was a fitting cap to the governor’s very successful and emotional State of the Region Address (SORA) on December 1, 2014 when the numerous achievements of his service in the ARMM were brought to the fore, and where he thanked the various local officials and department heads who all worked towards thei r goals . President Aquino lauded Bulong Pulungan during his speech at the event, saying that “Interacting with you

COTABATO CITY --- Government officials and civil society organizations hailed the second State of the Region Address (SORA) of Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region i n Mus l im Mindanao (ARMM) for its substance and concrete indicators of reform happening in the region. He delivered the SORA on December 1, 2014 at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex located at the ORG Compound here.Fr. Eliseo “Jun” Mercado, executive director of the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG), lauded Hataman for his passion to bring the people to a unified direction through a solid roadmap. “The SORA was very impressive. Pinakita niya kung saan siya nagsimula, kung ano ang pinatutupad, at kung saan siya patutungo. Yun ang pinaka importante,”Fr. Mercado said, underscoring the concrete milestones achieved under the Hataman administration. Gauging the Hataman leadership on a performance scale of one to 10, Fr. Mercado said Hataman deserves a 9. Guiamel Alim, chairperson of the Consortium of the Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), also commended Hataman for introducing reforms and building the foundation for change in ARMM governance. “The social contract with the civil society is

continuing. We laud the Hataman administration for the instituted reforms,” Alim said. Mohaquer Iqbal, information chief of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said “all systems go” for the establishment of the Bangsamoro new political entity. “We will build on the gains of the ARMM under Hataman, then, we’ll see to it, that when the Bangsamoro is established, there will be much improvement as far as the life of our people is concerned,” said Iqbal. On the challenge posted to continue the reforms, Iqbal said “that remains a challenge to cope with,” affirming that the ARMM has moved forward with the Hataman leadership. Secretary Teresita “Ging” Quintos-Deles of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process said the ARMM administration records and accomplishments attest that Hataman has carried the responsibilities expected of him. “Masaya talaga tayo na itong term ni Regional Governor Hataman from the time na na-appoint sya na OIC and his elective term na iyun na nga ang ginagawa, ang maitawid ng husto ang ARMM doon sa inaasam-asam na Bangsamoro,” she said.Deles, together with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin of the Department of National Defense, were among the national dignitaries present during the delivery of the SORA.

ACHIEVERS. A group picture of awardees, including ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman in Public Service with President Aquino III. (Photo by Usec. Alzad Sattar)

always highlights the fact that you are women and men who enjoy respected status in our media; you are journalists who have paid their dues to propel the standards of your profession. You are widely quoted as influencers in our society, and you are free to say what you think with a sure audience ready to listen. As you have earned the respect of our people, you have no other motivation than to do what is right, to voice your informed and honest opinions, to stimulate relevant and productive discussions, and to set a standard in news-making that caters not to the mob but to the truth.” Bulong Pulungan is a forum organized in 1986 by a group of women journalists aimed at sharing and updating media members with a variety of issues, concerns, and topics of national interest. The media forum core group is led by Deedee Siytangco, press secretary of former Pres ident Corazon Aquino, Manila Bulletin columnist Julie Yap Daza, and Philippine Star columnist Domini Torrevillas, among others.

BRIDGE program to address local governance, community empowermentCOTABATO CITY --- A new government program, the ARMM-Bangsamoro Regional Inclusive Development for Growth and Empowerment (BRIDGE), was launched January 15 to help strengthen local governance and better empower the communities in the autonomous region. The BRIDGE program is a follow up to the ARMM Social Fund Project (ASFP), which ended last year, and complements the existing Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Governance and Synergy (HELPS) program of the regional government. ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said the program is patterned after the National Community Driven Development Program of the government. The NCDDP covers 851 municipalities nation-wide. However, it does not include ARMM. In concurrence to the region’s unique culture and governance system, the autonomous regional government requested the national government to implement a similar program in the region.

Hataman said ARMM-BRIDGE was conceptualized last year and will begin its initiatory phase this month. It will initially cover this year 45 barangays

in 15 target municipalities in the five component provinces of the region, with a budget of P120 million, but will eventually include other municipalities. Targets include the municipalities of Balindong, Taraka, and Lumba-Bayabao in Lanao del Sur province; Barira, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, and Matanog in Maguindanao province; Sumisip, Tipo-tipo, and Tuburan in Basilan province; Pandami, Parang, and Talipao in Sulu province; and Sibutu, Simunul, and Tandubas in Tawi-tawi province. A budget of P22 billion is needed to realize the full-blown implementation of the program. Executive Secretary Atty. Laisa Alamia said the program aims to improve “local governance and strengthen partnership between and within the target communities.”She said the Municipal Development Plan (MDP) and performance of the mayors and key stakeholders of target municipalities will be reviewed and assessed before they can fully qualify. She said the composition of the erstwhile project management office of the ASFP has been tasked to handle the initial stage of the program, which includes training and capacity-building and technical assistance on the preparation of MDP.

TAPATAN SA ARMM. A weekly press conference is a way of communicating to the people the regional autonomous government ‘s programs and services including discussions on people’s pulse and concerns through issues raised by the journalists.

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page 5 ARMM Gazette January - February, 2015

“Kite for peace” amplifies children’sstand against armed conflict

COTABATO CITY --- More than 13,000 children from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) simultaneously flew their kites last November 12 from their assigned areas to amplify their stand against violence and armed conflict. The Department of Education (DepED)-ARMM, in partnership with the Coordinating and Development Office of the Bangsamoro Youth Affairs (CDO-BYA), organized the kite flying activity to help advocate children’s rights and as part of the 25th founding anniversary of the ARMM. The activity was supported by the Young Moro Professionals Network (YMPN), Anak Mindanao (AMIN) Partylist, and the Coalition of Organization for Reform and Empowerment (CORE-ARMM). Leah Tarhata Mehila, YMPN coordinator and secretariat, said the “Kites for Peace” in the ARMM is a collaborative activity to convey the message of peace, especially among the most vulnerable sector in conflict areas, the children. “We also wish to set up a new record as to the most

number of children who will fly kites simultaneously and surpass the Guiness World Record holder, Gaza, Palestine, with 13,000 kids in 2011,” she said. Regional Governor Mujiv S. Hataman led the kite flying at the ARMM compound in Cotabato City, a major venue for the event, which kicked-off the Mindanao Week of Peace, a part of the ARMM’s silver jubilee celebration. Apart from the open spaces along school premises, the activity was simultaneously held all over the ARMM, to include the Mindanao State University oval in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur; DepED oval in Tawi-tawi; Capitol grounds in Sulu; Lamitan National High School ground in Basilan; and MSU-Dalican in Maguindanao . Pupils from grade 3 to 6 in the 2,000 public elementary schools within the autonomous region took part in the activity with at least 10 kites for each section. ARMM line agencies, local government officials, peace stakeholders, civil society organizations, youth groups, and representatives from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front supported and even participated in the event.

BBL passage highlights Mindanao Week of Peace celebration in ARMMCOTABATO CITY --- The celebration of the 2014 Mindanao Week of Peace in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) culminated last November 28 with a call for unity towards the ratification of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) as the key for lasting peace in Mindanao. ARMM Governor Mujiv S. Hataman urged the peace-loving constituency of the ARMM to be in solidarity in promoting peace advocacies essentially expressed through the urgent passage of the BBL. “Ang kapayapaan ay bahagi ng ating obligasyon kaya ang mga reporma na ating pinapatupad ay upang tunguhin ang kapayapaan sa darating na panahon,” Hataman said. “Pangarap ng lahat ang kapayapaan para sa mga mamamayang Moro. Dapat lahat ay handa para magsakripisyo sa ngalan ng kapayapaan para sa kinabukasan ng ating salinlahi,” he said. Hataman has repeatedly pronounced

his readiness to step down even before his term as the duly elected regional governor of ARMM expires in 2016 to make way for the smooth transition to the new Bangsamoro political entity. The week-long celebration in the ARMM was marked by activities promoting the core message of peace. These included a peace concert, a photo exhibit, poster making contest, sports peacetivities, a forum on BBL and the colorful and symbolic :Kites for Peace.” Other highlights of the commemoration included a kick-off parade, an inter-agency Islamic quiz bowl, and the crowd drawing regional debate and public speaking competition. The celebration in the ARMM of the Mindanao Week of Peace with the theme, “We Pray for Lasting-Peace in Mindanao: Give, Share, Live and Proclaim Peace!” was spearheaded by the region’s locally funded agencies.

SPECIAL GUESTS. Bangsamoro Transition Commission Chairperson Mohagher Iqbal (left) and Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles (right) join ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman (center) in a press conference conducted right after the second State of the Region Address held on December 1, 2014 inside the ARMM compound in Cotabato City.

AERIAL MESSAGE. School children from different schools have fun flying kites with the call for peace and solidarity

Fun-run kicked offsports “peacetivities”

COTABATO CITY --- Personnel from different depa r tmen t s o f t he Autonomous Reg ion in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) sweated it out the regional government’s 25th Foundation Anniversary Sports Festival that kicked off with a fun-run led by the Regional Sports Coordinating Office (RSCO). The three-kilometer run for men and two-kilometer for women were spearheaded by Regional Governor Mujiv S. Hataman and other cabinet officials. Participated by hundreds of runners and sports enthusiasts, the activity capped the beginning of the inter-agency cluster competition dubbed as Pakaradjaansa ARMM 2014. The yearly sports

“peacetivities” highlight team sports such as basketball, volleyball, badminton, lawn-tennis, table tennis, and dart, among others. Board gameslike chess and scrabble were also played in line with the sports fest. The Regional Governor Open Basketball Cup highlighted the ball games.

“This sports festival is aimed to provide amusement in a way to further foster unity among our work force now that a new political entity will be replacing the ARMM and this anniversary will be our last,” Hataman said. “We have two major reasons to celebrate. First is the quarter of existence for the ARMM, and second is the realization of the peace aspiration of the Bangsamoro that will give way to the creation of the new Bangsamoro e n t i t y, ” h e a d d e d . The sports competition b o l s t e r e d s o l i d a r i t y and camaraderie of the ARMM work force and provide a setting for personnel to unwind from the usual office routines. The ARMM sport peacetivities, which provided cheers and entertainment, is a yearly activity featured on the month-long anniversary celebration of the autonomous region. Prizes and trophies were received bythe victors in the different sports categories which was awarded during the culmination of the month-long affair.

RUNNING. If fit for such activity as physical exercise could be fun when in a group. (Photo by Omar Mangorsi)

Page 6: Hataman: Things have changed

January - February, 2015 ARMM Gazette page 6

STATE OF THE REGION ADDRESS OF ARMMREGIONAL GOVERNOR MUJIV S. HATAMAN

Speaker Datu Roonie Sinsuat at mga miyembro ng Regional Legislative Assembly, Regional Vice Governor Haroun Al Rashid Lucman Jr., Sec. Ging Deles, Sec. Voltaire Gazmin, BTC Chairman Mohager Iqbal, Executive Secretary Laisa Masuhod Alamia at mga miyembro ng Gabinete, ang ating mga Deputy Governors, Hilario Tanzo for IPs at Louis Alano for Christian, Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr., Gov. Nurbert Sahali, Gov. Jum Akbar, Vice Governor Al Rashid Sakalahul, Vice Governor Lester Sinsuat, mga opisyal ng lokal na pamahalaan, civil society organizations, international organizations, mga opisyal at kawani sa unipormadong hanay, mga kapwa ko manggagawa sa pamahalaan, mga minamahal kong kababayan.

Magandang hapon po sa lahat.

Magtatatlong taon na mula ng manungkulan ako sa pinagsamang termino bilang OIC at halal na Governor ng ARMM. At mula noon ay sinikap at nagawa po nating ayusin at baguhin ang ARMM mula sa dati nitong kalagayan. Sama-sama tayong nangarap at kumilos upang patunayang kaya nating gawing posible ang akala ng mga nagduda ay napaka-imposibleng mangyari. Naibalik po natin ang tiwala ng pambansang pamahalaan sa atin, naibalik natin ang tiwala at suporta ng ating mamayan sa pamahalaan ng ARMM, at higit sa lahat nabago natin ang negatibong pananaw sa atin ng mga taga-labas ng Rehiyon. Andito na ang pagbabago, hindi na tayo kelangang lumayo pa, dito na mismo sa bulwagang ito, makikita at ramdam na natin ang pagbabago.

Humaharap ako sa inyo ngayon upang ilahad ang aking pangalawang State of the Region Address, at ito na ang kahuli-hulihang State of the Region Address sa kasaysayan ng ARMM. Pero hindi po ako magbibigay ng Farewell Address, hindi pa po ngayon. Ang kalagayan po ng ating Rehiyon ang isasalaysay ko.

Pero bago ang lahat, nais ko pong balik-tanawin ang ating nakaraan.

Para po sa kaalaman ng lahat, ni sa hinagap o sa panaginip, hindi po sumagi sa aking isipan ang pangaraping maging bahagi o higit lalo ang mamuno sa ARMM, isang lugar na banggitin lang ang pangalan ay nagdudulot na agad ng takot at kwento sa katiwalian at dayaan sa panahon ng eleksyon. Pumapatak ang ARMM sa headlines sa panahon ng halalan bilang balon ng mga boto na nagpapasya sa kapanalunan ng mga kandidato. Sa ARMM lang maaring maging zero ang isang kandidatong nais ilampaso ng sino mang nasa poder nito.

Alam kong bawat isa sa atin ay dama kung gaano kahirap ang mamuno sa ARMM, kaya nung kinausap ako ni Pangulong Noy upang pamunuan ang ARMM, para akong humarap sa isang napakalaking bundok na hamon. Paguwi ko nang bahay kinausap ko ang aking asawa. Sabay namin kinausap ang aming anak, at sabi nya “Amah akala ko magiging driver ka na lang namin sa eskwelahan.” Naging hudyat na mensahe ito para sa akin, nabuo nito ang aking desisyon na aakuin kong maging driver ng sambayanang Moro upang ihatid sila sa isang magandang bukas na napakatagal na nilang inaasam. Ito na ang pagkakataon, ang nakaatang sa akin ay hindi prestihiyo o karangyaan ng pusisyon, kundi katuparan ng isang misyong inako ko na sa aking buhay, ang paglingkuran ang Bangsamoro. At sa desisyong ito, inialay ko ang aking sarili ng buo sa kapasyahan ng Panginoong Allah.

Mabigat man ang hamon pero masaya po ako sa pagumpisa ng ating paglalakbay dahil ang komunidad na aking pinanggalingan ang Civil Society na binubuo ng mga NGOs at Peoples Organizations ay nanguna at umagapay sa atin sa pagbalangkas ng isang Road Map para sa Transitional Reform Government. Kasabay nito ay agad ding nagbigay ng suporta ang mga Local Government Executives ng ARMM upang maipwesto ng maayos ang binabalak nating mga programa. Sa pamamagitan nito tiniyak nating maging tama ang ating unang hakbang sa tuwid na daan.Ang naging pangkalahatang palisiya po na gumabay sa ating pamamahala ay binalangkas natin bilang ‘The Three Pillars of Reform’. Dito sumentro ang ating pag-aral sa mga suliranin at ang mga akma at nararapat na paraan para lunas an ang mga ito. Sa buong panahon ng ating panunungkulan isinapuso natin ang Good Governance, Socio-economic development at Peace and Security. Sa lilim ng Three Pillars of Reform uminog ang ating pagkilos sa halos tatlong taon nating pagsusumikap upang gawing posible ang imposible.Pero higit ho sa atin na andito ngayon, ang susi ng pagbabago na ating nakamit ngayon ay nasa kapasyahan ng ating mga mamamayan. SIla na sa kabila ng pagdurusa, sa kabila ng kahirapan ay patuloy na nagsusumikap at nag-aambag ng munting kontribusyon sa sarili nilang paraan para sa kaunlaran ng Rehiyon at para sa ating kinabukasan. Habang tayo’y narito ngayon sa oras na ito, sa isang liblib na pook sa isla ng Basilan, sa kabila ng mga naka-ambang peligro, isang guro ang walang pagod na nagtuturo, ginagampanan ng walang pag-iimbot ang kanyang tungkulin upang mabigyan ng magandang bukas ang ating kabataan.

Sa kabundukan ng Lanao Sur, isang magsasaka ang sa ngayo’y naghaharvest

ng kanyang tinanim na sili at sakurab, ilalagay ito sa sako upang tuluyang gawing palapa na pampagana sa hapag kainan nating lahat. Sa oras na ito, ang mga mamamalakaya sa isla ng Sulu ay pumapalaot na para mangisda, habang sa isla ng Tawi-Tawi ang mga seaweed farmers nama’y naghaharvest ng agar-agar. Sila ang nagbibigay sa atin ng biyaya mula sa ating karagatan.

Sa eskwelahan naman sa isang munisipyo dito sa Maguindanao, sa oras na ito ngayon, ang mga bata ay nagbabasa ng libro at nagsusulat sa kanilang mga notebook, at mayamaya lang ay masayang magsisitakbuhan para maglaro imbes na magtakbuhan para magtago ng di tamaan ng mga bala ng digmaan.

At mamaya lang sa pagsapit ng gabi, isang nanay na empleyado ng ARMM ang maghahanda ng hapunan, at masayang magpapahinga kasama ang buong pamilya, at sa gabing mapayapa ay ihihimlay ang pagod na katawan upang bukas ay kakayod na naman para pagsilbihan ang mamamayan.

Sila po ang mamamayang ating pinagsisilbihan, ang tahimik at mga walang mukhang pinaghuhugatan natin ng lakas bilang isang Rehiyon. Ang dahilan kung bakit tayo narito ngayon.

Ngayon sa bulwagang ito, ang mamamayang ating pinaglilingkuran at tayong mga lingkod bayan ay may iisang tinig. Ang resulta ng ating pagtutulungan at pagsusumikap ang magbibigay ng tunay na mukha sa kalagayan ng ating Rehiyon. Ito ang pagbabagong ating pinapaniwalaan at pinangarap:

Ano nga ba ang bago sa ARMM?

Sa umpisa pa lang ng ating panunungkulan siniguro natin ang hayag at tamang proseso sa lahat ng transaksyong ating pinapatupad. Lahat ng mga proyekto ng gobyerno ay idinadaan na natin sa hayag at competetive bidding alinsunod sa mga patakaran ng Commission on Audit. Dagdag pa rito inatasan natin ang lahat ng mga opisyal sa ARMM na ilahad sa publiko ang mga personal contact numbers para sa madaliang access sa kanila. Kasama din po ako, kaya nga andami ko nang mga textmates ngayon, kapwa haters at mga friendlies.

Noon kailangan ng koneksyon at palakasan para makakuha ng trabaho sa ARMM. Ngayon, ang hiring at promotion ng mga empleyado ay dinadaan na natin sa Regional Selection and Promotion Board o RSPB. Lahat ng mga kwalipikado ay may patas na oportunidad nang makahanap ng trabaho sa ating pamahalaan na di na kelangang magbayad, mangoneksyon o dumaan sa palakasan.Ngayon ipinapatupad na natin ang Open Governance. Lahat ng Departamento, kagawaran o tanggapan ay inatasan nating i-publish sa kanilang mga websites, ang mga kaukulang impormasyon ng kanilang mga proyekto, pondo at mga aktibidad.

Inayos natin ang ating mga gusali at ang institutionalisasyon sa ating pagpapatakbo ng mga opisina. Lahat ng mga ahensyang may Frontline services ay kailangang merong Citizens Charter. Sa tulong ng Development Academy of the Philippines, pinahusay natin ang mga sistema sa operasyon ng mga tanggapan upang maging propesyunal at episyente ang mga ito sa pagpapatupad ng kanilang mga mandato at hindi lang opisinang ginawang tambayan ng mga walang ginagawa.

Inayos din natin ang proseso sa pagpaplano at pagtiyak sa partisipasyon ng ating mga LGUs at CSOs sa pag-konseptualisa, pagtakda at pagpapatupad ng mga proyekto kaya binuhay at ginawa nating aktibo ang Regional Economic and Development Planning Board o REDPB na pinangangasiwaan ng ating RPDO. Sa ating mga binagong kalakaran, ito ang mga naging resulta:

Nakilala tayo sa buong bansa dahil sa ating Ghost-busting, kaya palaging babalik-balikan ang usaping ito. Sa pagitan po ng 2012 at 2013, may 75, 242 ‘Ghost’ students ang ating natanggal, at sa kasalukuyang taon, 21, 374 naman na ‘ghost’ enrollees ang ating nabura sa listahan. Hindi na po tayo tirahan ng mga ‘ghosts’ ngayon.

Noon, ang pagkuha ng pwesto sa pagtuturo ay dinadaan sa palakasan. Ngayon ay sa tamang proseso at hayag na pamamaraan, dahil dito meron na tayong na-hire at na-promote na 454 bilang ng empleyado sa buwan ng Hunyo. Dagdag pa rito nakapagrekluta tayo ng 1,323 na mga bagong guro na sabay sabay nanumpa sa kanilang tungkulin noong buwan ng Mayo. May kasunod pa ho tayong idadagdag dito na 2,000, na mga gurong de-kalidad, tapat sa trabaho at handang magsakripisyo para sa kapakanan at kinabukasan ng ating mga kabataan.

Dahil sa palakasan noon, hindi tumutugma ang kaalaman at kakayahan ng mga nakukuhang guro sa kanilang pusisyon. Inayos na natin ito, at sa pamamagitan ng Teachers Assessment and Competency Examination o TACE ay naitatalaga natin sa tamang puwesto ang mga bagong guro.

01 December 2014Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex, Cotabato City

Bismillahir Rahmaneer RaheemAssalamu Allaykum

Page 7: Hataman: Things have changed

page 7 ARMM Gazette January - February, 2015

Dahil naayos natin ang pamamalakad sa DepEd at napataas ang kalidad ng pagtuturo ng mga guro, sa National Achievment Test ngayong taon, nagpakita ng makabuluhang pag-unlad sa kanilang kakayahan ang ating mga mag-aaral sa Rehiyon. Ang mga estudyante natin sa elementarya ay nakakuha ng average score na 62.2% kumpara sa 57.25% noong 2013, habang sa High School naman ay 44% mula sa dating 38.22% sa nakaraang taon.

Sa mahigit dalawang dekada, nagdusa ang libu-libo nating mga guro sa kasakiman ng iilan. Ang kanilang kontribusyon sa GSIS na awtomatikong kinakaltas mula sa kanilang sahod ay napunta sa wala, naglaho na parang bula. Dahil dito sa mahabang panahon ay wala po silang nakukuhang benepisyo mula sa GSIS. Kaya pinilit nating ayusin ang kanilang masaklap na sitwasyon. Isang Memoramdum of Agreement, ang ating pinirmahan kasama ang Department of Budget and Management at ang GSIS noong June 11, 2014. Sa pamamagitan ng MOA na ito binayaran ng National Government sa pamamagitan ng DBM ang P891.4 million na halaga ng unpaid premiums sa GSIS at magdadagdag pa ng bagong P100 million sa loob ng isang taon.

Ngayon matatanggap na ng ating mga kawani sa DepEd ang benepisyong dapat lang ay sa kanila. Pati po ang mga retiradong kawani at kanilang mga benepisaryo ay makukuha rin ang kanilang mga kaukulang refunds. Dahil dito ramdam natin ang tuwa at saya sa ating mga guro ngayon. Ginawa natin ang ating tungkulin para sa ating mga guro, at natitiyak kong susuklian naman nila tayo ng panibagong sigla sa paggampan sa kanilang tungkulin.

Syempre hindi rin tayo nahuhuli sa pagbibigay ng kaukulang halaga sa pagpapalakas ng pundasyon ng ating pananampalataya at paniniwala para sa ating mamamayan lalo na ang ating kabataan. Pinatibay natin ang ating Madaris system, kung saan umabot na sa 700 na karagdagang Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education o ALIVE teachers ang pumasa sa Qualifying Examination ang nadeploy natin sa ibat-ibang public elementary schools mula January nitong taon. Sa kasalukuyan ay tumaas na po ng 77 mula 50 noong 2012 ang pilot madaris na gumagamit na ng Standard Madrasah Curriculum.

Naorganisa na rin natin ang ating mga Muslim Religious Leader o mga Ulama sa bisa ng ating Executive Order No.09 Series of 2013 na bumuo ng Regional Darul Iftah sa rehiyon.

Mga kababayan, maalala ko sa librong binigay sa akin noon ni Pangulong Noy na COA Special Audit Report ng ARMM sa taong 2010, ang pinakasikat na ahensya na may best practice sa katiwalian ay ang DPWH.

Ngayon, ang ating DPWH ay naging tanyag at huwaran sa implementasyon ng masinop, maingat at tamang pagamit ng budget nito. Dahil dito, as of June 30, 2014 nakapag-ipon ito ng savings na aabot sa 250.276 million pesos. Mula sa savings na ito nakapag-acquire ang ahensya ng mga bagong equipo. Malaki rin po ang naging kontribusyon ng ating Regional Legislative Assembly sa mga pagbabagong nagaganap sa DPWH, sa pamamagitan ng pagpanukala at pagpasa nila sa batas na Regional Public Works Act, kung saan dito tinakda ang masusing project identification, pagtanggal sa re-gravelling at paggamit ng lumpsum at iba pang mga probisyon para sa reporma. (Maraming salamat po mga Honorable Assemblymen and women ng Regional Legislative Assembly)

Alam nyo po ba na ang inabutan nating budget para sa mga proyektong dinadaan sa DPWH ay nasa 1 billion a year lang, nung naupo na tayo at sa pagbabagong ating nagawa naging 5.02 billion sa 2014, bahagi na rito ang Road to Peace ng programang PAMANA, at sa 2015 naman ay 10.103 billion na. Malinaw po na pinapakita nito ang pagtiwala at kumpyansang binibigay ngayon ng pambansang pamahalaan sa ating DPWH.

Dati rati malaking perwisyo sa atin ang mga lubak-lubak o hindi sementadong mga kalsada. Pahirapan ang pagtawid ng mga produkto. Naging matamlay ang ating ekonomiya dahil kapos ang ating mga imprastruktura. Ngayon nakumpleto na ng DPWH ang pagsemento sa 158.907 Kilometers na kalsadang magpapabilis sa ating paggalaw at magdudugtong sa ating mga komunidad, sa sakahan at pamilihan. May naconstruct tayong 5 tulay na magdudugtong at magbibigay buhay sa ating mga komunidad. Ngayon sa mga malayong pook, hindi na mahihirapan ang ating mga mamayan sa pagkukunan ng tubig dahil may 13 Water Systems tayong naitayo. May 10 seaports din ang ating napalawak, at 8 Flood Control and Drainage Facilities tayong nakumpleto na ang konstruksyon.Mga kababayan, tiniyak ng ating DPWH na ang tuwid na daang ating tinatahak ay pulido at sapat sa pinaglaan ng pera ng bayan.

Dati rati bihira ang naglalakas loob na magbuhos ng negosyo sa Rehiyon. Sino po ba namang imbestor ang tataya sa malalang sitwasyon ng peace and order at talamak na Red Tape sa pamahalaan. Ngayon, dahil sa ating inayos na burukrasya at pamamalakad sa ARMM kasabay ang matagumpay na usapang pangkapayapaan, tumaas ang kumpyansa ng mga negosyante. Sa 2013 nakita natin ang pagbugso ng investments sa ating Rehiyon na umabot ng P1.46 Billion. At sa third quarter pa lang ngayong taon pumalo sa mataas na record na P3.372 Billion halaga ng imbestments, higit doble pa ito sa naitala nating investments sa nakaraang taon. Ito po ay bunga ng matagumpay na usapang pangkapayapaan sa pagitan ng GPH at MILF.

Dagdag pa rito, sa kauna-unahan pagkakataon nailunsad natin sa probinsya ng Tawi Tawi ang isang International Business Conference. Dinaluhan ito ng mahigit 400 na mga negosyante mula Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia at Japan at mga multi-national companies sa Mindanao. Ang kumperensyang ito ay nagresulta sa pledge na P900 Million na halaga ng investments para sa Oil palm

industry, power generation at sea weeds trading sa pagitan ng Tawi-Tawi, Brunei, Indonesia at Malaysia.

Tunay pong tinatamasa na natin ngayon ang resulta ng pagbabago sa rehiyon. Ang naibalik nating tiwala at kumpyansa ng pambansang pamahalaan at ng ating mamamayan ang nagtulak sa pag-unlad at pag-igpaw ng ating ekonomiya kahit sa maigsing panahon lang.

Mula sa pagkalugmok at nasa negative 0.3% sa taong 2011 nung tayo po ay unang nanungkulan, ang Gross Regional Domestic Product o GRDP ng ARMM ay lumaki ng 3.6 percent sa taong 2013, umangat tayo mula sa mapanglaw na recovery na 1.1 percent growth sa 2012.

Ang pag-igpaw na ito ng ating ekonomiya ay hinimok ng masigasig na paggampan ng ating service sector at agrikultura ayon sa Philippine Statistics Authority.

Sa buong bansa nananatili po tayong top producer ng cassava, pumapangalawa sa mais, at pang-apat sa kape. At tayo ang nangunguna sa buong bansa sa mga produktong dagat.

Kasabay sa pagunlad ng ating produksyon sa agrikultura ay pinapataas natin ang antas ng kakayanan ng ating mga kababayang nasa sektor ng agrikultura at pandagat. Sa tulong ng mga programang pangsakahan ng national government gaya ng Agri-Pinoy, Sikat Saka, BUB at iba pa, naibabahagi natin ang suporta sa ating mga magsasaka’t mangingisda, mula sa produksyon hanggang sa post-production. Andito kasama po natin ang ilan sa ating mga champions sa iba’t ibang larangan ng produksyon sa sektor ng agrikultura, bigyan po natin ng pagkilala, si Princess Kumalah Sug Elardo, isang coffee grower ng Sulu Royal Coffee, si Benzar Asula isang Vegetable farmer mula sa Maluso, Basilan, at si Benjamin Abdulmaute ng Al-Rahman Multipurpose Cooperative ng Mamasapano, Maguindanao, producer ng organic black and brown rice, andito rin po si Mayor Raisara Mangondato, ng Balindong, Lanao del Sur, sya po ang best implementor ng Mindanao Rural Development Program ayon sa WB. Maraming Salamat po at saludo kami sa inyo.

Tayo din po ngayon ay tinaguriang Most Improved Region sa usapin ng pagpapatupad ng comitment sa United Nations Millenium Development Goals sa pagpababa ng maternal and infant mortality.

Ayon sa National Demographic Health Survey at Field Health Services Information System, sa taong 2008, ang maternal mortality rate sa ARMM ay nasa 245 per 100,000 na livebirths. Bumaba na po ito ngayon sa 51 per 100,000 livebirths sa taong 2013, mas mababa pa ho ito kumpara sa national rate na 152, per 100,000 livebirths. Bumaba din po ang infant mortality rate natin mula 55 per 1,000 livebirths sa taong 2008, naging 32 per 1,000 livebirths na lang po sa 2013.

Sa kasalukuyang tala tumaas ang nabigyan natin ng PhilHealth cards mula 835,153 noong 2012 ngayon 2014 as of October ay umabot na ng 1,535,661 members kasama ang pamilya. Sa PhilHealth accredited hospitals naman ay mula 28 noong 2012 mayroon na ngayong 37, habang ang RHU natin ay mayroon ng 50 na PHILHEALTH accredited ngayon mula sa 19 lang noong 2012.

Hindi lang po nagiging masagana ang ating Rehiyon ngayon, ginagawa pa po itong malusog ng ating Department of Health sa tuloy tuloy nitong mga kampanyang pangkalusugan gaya ng anti-polio, laban sa tigdas at marami pa. Hindi na po matamlay o sakitin ang ARMM ngayon dahil sinisiguro po nating malusog ang ating mamamayan. Tayo ang pinakamataas na bilang na coverage sa ligtas tigdas 2014 sa buong bansa, umabot tayo sa 97% sa measles sa buong target population at kasabay nito nag-95% naman tayo sa polio vaccination.

Puspusan din po ang ating pagsisikap na mapaganda ang paghahatid natin ng social services sa ating mga mahihirap na kababayan. Pinalawig pa natin ang mga pamilyang makikinabang sa programang 4Ps kung saan mayroon ng 402,484 na benepesaryo sa buong rehiyon, kasabay nito ang pamamahagi natin ng ibat-iba pang programang pang-kabuhuyan para sa ating mamamayan gaya ng SEA-K, PAMANA, SLP, SF, BUB, at iba pa.

At habang sumusulong ang ating ekonomiya, patuloy naman po ang pangangalaga at proteksyon ng ating kalikasan. Tuloy tuloy na naipapanalo natin ang kampanya laban sa illegal logging. Halos 92% na ang binaba ng mga illegal na pagputol o pagkuha ng mga forest products. Mula sa mga nahuli at nakumpiska nating mga illegal na forest products, mula sa 2011 na 28, 696 board feet at sa taong 2012 na 89,570 board feet, ngayong taon ay 4,400 board feet na lang.

Habang prinoprotektahan ang ating kalikasan, patuloy na pinangangalagaan at sinisiguro ng ating DENR na ibalik sa pagiging luntian ang Rehiyon. Sa kasalukuyan ay may 2,500 Hectares na ang saklaw ng nataniman ng iba’t ibang species ng punong kahoy.

Nagsikap din tayong ipatupad ang matuwid na pamamahala sa ating mga lokal na pamahalaan. Siniguro natin ang pagkakakaroon ng makatotohanang datos hinggil sa kalagayan ng pamamahala, tamang dokumento at replication of good practices. Ngayong taon, may sampu (10) po tayong mga LGUs ang nagpamalas ng good governance initiatives, patuloy na pagpapabuti ng good housekeeping, pagpapanatili ng kapayapaan at kaayusan at pagkakaroon ng local disaster and preparedness plans.

Page 8: Hataman: Things have changed

January - February, 2015 ARMM Gazette page 8

Sa atin namang mga pantalan, dahil sa masinsing pagkumpuni at pag-aayos ng pamamahala sa mga ito, nitong taon umabot sa P12 million ang ating nakuhang revenue collection mula rito. Ito’y isa sa mga mataas na record na nakuha ng ating Regional Ports and Management Authority, na dati rati’y ay kakarampot o halos walang nakokolekta sa bawat taon.

Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon din sa ARMM, ang isang Regional agency nito ay nakakuha ng ISO Certification. Ang binabanggit ko po dito ay ang ating TESDA. Sa walang humpay na pagbibigay ng vocational trainings sa ating mga kabataan, aabot sa 24, 314 ang grumadweyt, mas mataas pa ito sa target nitong 22,204. Dumarami na ang bilang ng ating mga kabataan na nasasangkapan ng mga skills para makapaghanapbuhay.

Dahil sa palagi tayong binibisita ng mga sakuna, itinayo natin ang ARMM Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team o ARMM HEART. Inihahanda natin ang ating mamamayan sa mga sakunang natural o man-made. Naipakita din po natin na ang pagtulong sa kapwa ay walang kinikilalang teritoryo, sa pamamagitan ng ARMM HEART naipa-abot natin ang ating Humanitarian assistance sa mga biktima ng Yolanda sa Visayas at sa mga IDPs sa naganap na kaguluhan sa Zamboanga City.

Nagpapatupad din po tayo ngayon ng ating ISKOLAR program. Binibigyan po natin ng scholarship ang mga karapat dapat na mga kabataang nagmula sa mga kababayan nating kapos at walang kakayanang paaralin ang kanilang mga anak. Dahil sa kakulangan natin sa mga propesyunal lalo na sa larangan ng medisina sa mga bayan sa Basilan, Sulu at Tawi-Tawi, hinihikayat natin ang ating kabataan na makapag-aral at magtapos upang makapagserbisyo sa kanilang mga bayan. Sa pinaghalong suporta mula sa aking Special Purpose Fund at sa CHED-ARMM, sa kasalukuyan ay umabot na po nang 1,765 ang bilang ng ating mga Iskolar, mga kabataang nabigyan natin ng pag-asang makapagtapos sa kanilang pag-aaral sa kolehiyo.Pakinggan po natin ang boses ng ating pag-asa ng bayan:

(Video interview of a scholar ng ISKOLAR Program)

At upang maihatid natin ng diretso ang ating serbisyo sa mismong mga komunidad, kinonseptualisa at tinayo po natin ang programang ARMM HELPS o ARMM Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Governance and Synergy.Sa pamamagitan ng ARMM HELPS naitayo natin ang mga clusters ng mga government infrastructures sa 53 na mga barangays at mga pangkabuhayang proyekto batay sa kanilang mga pangangailangan.

Panoorin po natin ito: (Video interview,)

Ang lahat ng tagumpay na ito ay dahil sa ating partnership sa mga CSOs, sa LGU at sa active participation ng ating mga kababayan. Ang kaibahan ho ngayon sa ating partnership ay aktibo ang partisipasyon ng ating mga local government units. Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon, dahil sa partnership na ito umabot na tayo ngayon sa 97% obligation accomplishment sa implementasyon ng ating Bottom Up-Budgetting (BUB). Sa katunayan, sa isla ng Tawi-Tawi, ang bayan ng Tandubas isa sa mga pinakamalayong isla pero sila pa ang unang nakatapos ng kanilang BUB projects. Andito po kasama po natin ngayon si Mayor Rahiema Sali, ng Tandubas na syang naka-100 % BUB completion. Patunay po ito kung gaano ka epektibo ang ating partnership sa ating mga LGUs.

Hindi rin po natin makakaligtaan ang suportang binibigay sa atin para sa usapang pangkapayapaan sa bahaging ito ng bansa. Patuloy ang ating pagsusumikap na makapaghatid ng serbisyo lalong lalo na sa mga conflict affected areas sa pamamagitan ng Programang Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan o PAMANA, meron tayong P2.0524 bilyon pondo para sa 205.24 kilometer na kalsada na tawag natin ay “Roads to Peace”. Maliban dito, ang PAMANA ay namamahagi din ng mga suporta sa pangkabuhayan partikular na sa mga communities ng mga kapatid nating MNLF. Meron pong nailaan na P430 million pondo para sa livelihood projects ng 180 Cooperatiba ng ating mga kapatid na MNLF.

Mga mahal kong kababayan, kung hindi pa ho pagbabago ang inyong nakita at nadama, ewan ko na lang po. Kung hindi pa ho bagong ARMM ang meron tayo ngayon, ewan ko na lang po kung meron pang iba. Kaya nga po napakainam na katawagan na magbibigay ng bukod tanging pagkilala sa kung ano tayo ngayon ay bilang “The Working ARMM Government”. Sa mga nagduda na hindi natin kayang gawing posible ang imposibleng mangyari, hindi na po namin kelangang magpaliwanag, hahayaan ko na lang po na ang pagbabagong nagaganap sa inyong paligid ang pumukaw sa inyo. Hayaan na lang po natin na ang kasaysayan ang magsabi nito, balang araw.

Mga kababayan, sa munting panahon na natitira sa atin, sisikapin nating mas pabilisin ang pagbibigay ng serbisyo upang mapalakas pa natin ang ating mga batayang pamayanan at upang magkaroon ng matibay na pundasyon bago mag-Bangsamoro.

Mula sa 50 paabutin pa po natin sa 100 Barangays ang magiging benepisaryo ng ating ARMM HELPS program.

Tatapusin po natin ang mga ongoing at target infrastructure projects gaya ng natitira pang dapat sementohing 365.502 kilometers na kalsada sa pangkabuoang target nating 524.409 Kilometers, Tatapusin din po natin ang mga targets nating ayusin o iconstruct na mga tulay, pantalan, water systems, school buidings at iba pa. Papaigtingin pa natin ang mga programa’t serbisyo sa larangan ng agrikultura, kalusugan, edukasyon at kalikasan. Palakasin natin ang ating partnership sa local government units sa usaping peace and order. Sa 2015 itatayo natin ang mga Special

Peace and Order Councils batay sa geographical na pormasyon at sa kanilang mga partikular na security concerns. Sa tulong ng ating mga LGUs ipapatupad natin ang clustering ng magkakadikit na municipalites para magtulungan sa pagpigil sa kriminalidad at iba pang mga banta sa seguridad. Lahat ng ito’y gagawin natin sa tulong ng ating mga LGU at ng Regional Legislatve Assembly, double-time, sinsin at pulido para maging matiwasay ang transition sa pagpasok ng Bangsamoro.

Ang tagumpay nating nakamit ngayon ay bunga ng ating mga pagsusumikap, ng ating pagtutulungan, ginagawa namin ang aming trabaho para sa inyo at sinuklian naman po ninyo kami ng inyong suporta at kooperasyon. Kaya sa yugtong ito nais ko pong magpasalamat sa inyong lahat, hayaan nyo po akong ihayag ito at taos pusong ipadama sa inyo:

Una, nais ko pong pasalamatan ang aking pinakamasipag at pinagkakatiwalaang Executive Secretary si Atty. Laisa Alamia, siya po ang Wonder Woman ng ARMM, ang Team Captain ng aking Gabinete, maraming salamat ES.

At siyempre ang aking buong Gabinete, mangyari pong tumayo… Mga kababayan sila po ang nasa likod ng ating pagsusumikap upang maihatid sa inyo ang pagbabago. Ito po ang aking REFORM TEAM, ang aking mga kasama sa trabaho. Mga kasama ko sa kabinete, sa inyong pasensya, pagtitiwala, at panahon, sa kaibuturan ng aking puso, maraming maraming salamat po sa inyo.

Nais ko rin pong pasalamatan ang mga kasama natin sa Civil Society organizations, at mga partners natin na mga International Organizations, na naging bahagi po ng ating paglalakbay sa reporma. Maraming Salamat po mga Kasama’t kaibigan.

Sa mga partners nating mga Local Government Officials, na nagbigay ng suporta sa atin sa bawat hakbang ng ating pagsulong. Maraming Salamat po mga Honorable Sirs.

Sa akin din pong pamilya, lalo na sa aking Inah na kasama po natin ngayon, sa aking asawa’t mga anak, para sa inyong pasyensya, paggabay, suporta at walang kamatayang pagmamahal, ang aking labis labis na pasasalamat.

At higit sa lahat, sa ating mga kababayan, maraming salamat po. kayo po ang aming inspirasyon, kayo po ang dahilan kung bakit tayo ay nagtagumpay.

Mga kababayan, ngayong ramdam na natin ang pagbabago, ngayong tinatamasa na natin ang bunga nito, ito po ang aking masasabi: Kung ano po ang inabot natin ngayon, natitiyak ko po na mas higit pa ang ating makakamit kapag tatag na ang Bangsamoro. Ibibigay sa atin ng itatayong Bangsamoro ang pagkakataong pagibayuhin ang mga tagumpay na ating nakamit ngayon. Alalahanin po natin na ang tinatamasa natin ngayon ay bunga ng dugo at pawis ng ating mga ninuno, at ang Bangsamoro sa hinaharap ay bunga ng sakripisyo at pagsisikap nating lahat. Huwag po tayong mag-alangan sa kinabukasan at maniguro’t magkasya na lang sa kung anong meron tayo ngayon. Huwag nating sayangin ang pagkakataon.Huwag po tayong mag-aabang na lang na mangyari ang kasaysayan. Tandaan po natin na ang susi para sa kapayapaan sa buong bayan at kasaganaan para sa lahat, ay Bangsamoro higit sa ating sarili. Ang Bangsamoro ang magiging katuparan ng ating mga pangarap bilang mamamayan. Salubungin natin ito.

Yakapin natin ito ng buong puso.

Mga kababayan, dapat lahat tayo ay bahagi ng kasaysayang ito. Lahat tayo ay may papel na ginampanan at gagampanan pa. Nakatingin man tayo sa dako pa roon, pero tiyakin nating nakaapak ang ating mga paa sa lupa ng kinalalagyan natin ngayon. Sa maigsing panahon nakayanan nating mabago ang kailangang baguhin at maituwid ang dapat ituwid. Sa natitira pang mga araw gawin lang natin ang dapat at tama, tuloy lang tayo sa reporma. Ito lang ang pamanang ating iiwanan, dahil matapos ang lahat, tanging ang ating naging mabuting gawa ang magsasalita, at tutularan ng mga susunod sa atin.

Sa kasaysayan ng ating paglalakbay sa ARMM, muling sumagi sa aking isipan ang sinabi ng aking anak na imaneho ang mamamayan para sa kanilang patutunguhan. Pero hindi rin pala sapat ang maging driver lang. Marami rami tayong natutunan sa ating paglalakbay na maaring pagpulutan ng aral sa mga hinaharap. Ang palagi kong binabanggit na kahit anong ganda pa ng sasakyan pero kung ang driver ay pagmamaneho lang ang alam at bigla syang masiraan sa daan, mauunahan pa rin sya ng kahit isang kakarag-karag lang na sasakyan na ang driver ay maliban sa marunong magmaneho ay magaling din na mekaniko.

Mga kababayan, sa aking pagmamaneho marami akong naging kasama na mga magagaling na mekaniko. Naipatakbo natin ang ating sasakyan ng maayos at napatunayan natin na dito sa bahaging ito ng mundo, tayong mga Muslim, tayong mga Moro ay kayang magpatakbo ng gobyerno, na kaya nating itakda ang ating kinabukasan bilang mamamayan. Sa aking naging papel sa kasaysayang ito, taas noo kong masasabi, hindi ko pinahiya ang aking pamilya, at higit sa lahat hindi ko pinahiya ang Muslim at Bangsamoro.

Mga minamahal kong kababayan, HINDI KO KAYO BINIGO!

Maraming Salamat po at magandang araw sa lahat.

Page 9: Hataman: Things have changed

page 9 ARMM Gazette January - February, 2015

More investments seen in 2015COTABATO CITY --- The Regional Board of Investments (RBOI) expects some P1 billion worth of investments in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in 2015.

These fresh investments could come from local and foreign investors and existing firms on biomass power generation, mining, oil depot in Tawi-tawi, and agricultural –related projects such as banana, oil palm, and buckwheat plantations. R B O I - A R M M Chairman Atty. Ishak V. Mastura expressed optimism that the agency will meet its target to register some P700 million worth of investments in the region this year. Mastura attributes this positive outlook to the continuous effort of the national government in pursuing peace and development initiatives in Mindanao through the Bangsamoro Basic Law or BBL and the reforms in governance instituted by the Hataman Administration as well as the major advantage that the region possesses as an emerging investment destination. “The region has about 500,000 hectares of available land potential for oil palm, coconut, corn, banana, rubber, and

other crops,” he noted. “It is also not affected by typhoons and floods which make it conducive for agricultural investments,” he added. H o w e v e r , h e cautioned investors to get reputable local partners to mitigate investment risks and ensure social acceptability of their investment projects. Investors must also do due diligence on land tenure or land ownership if they engage in plantation projects in order to avoid future problems regarding questionable land titles or land tenure, he added. Since the ARMM is home to a large Muslim population, it is being developed as the Halal hub, becoming the production and market base for Halal products and services not only in the country but in the ASEAN. “ Inf ras t ruc ture , l o g i s t i c s , telecommunications, and other utilities are already present to support and sustain the growth of large industries in the region. However, continuous improvement

BANANA BUNCHES being pulled to packing facility for market distribution.

is a must,” he said. In 2014, the ARMM generated a total of P3.857 billion worth of investment. These consisted of P1.773 billion (46 percent) in biomass renewable energy, P1.198 billion (31 percent) in nickel mining, P740 million (19 percent) in agriculture, and P146 million (four percent) in petroleum product distribution and trading. These investments

generated 3,422 jobs. Lamsan Power Corporation that constructed a P921-million biomass power plant at Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao was the biggest investor in 2014 followed by Al Mujahidun Agro Resources and Development, Inc. that poured in P570 million for a 500-hectare Cavendish banana plantation in Ampatuan, Maguindanao. S R L a n g u y a n

Mindanao Corporation invested P520 million for nickel ore mining a n d q u a r r y i n g i n Languyan, Tawi-tawi.ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said the regional economy has accelerated from 1.1 percent in 2012 to 3.6 percent in 2013 and was expected to increase in 2014.This means, he said, that the ARMM is fast coping with the challenges of socio-economic

development. “This is a sign of an improving economy, a product of relentless reforms in governance and peace which is good for business.”

“Now is the opportune time to grow as the country’s brightest investment area as we transition from the present ARMM set-up to the Bangsamoro government in 2015 ,” Governor Hataman added. (RBOI-ARMM and PIA-12)

Another 24/7 HEART center upCOTABATO CITY

--- The autonomous regional government will establish another 24/7 Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team (HEART) operation center this year at the region’s seat in Cotabato City. Atty. Laisa Alamia, A R M M e x e c u t i v e secretary, said the 500 square meter operation center, including the facilities and equipment, will be worth P100 million. “The operation

center will be the nerve center of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction a n d M a n a g e m e n t Council (RDRRMC) operations,” she said. The ARMM-HEART 24/7 operation center will primarily cater for the constituents of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-tawi provinces affected by armed conflict and natural disasters. In 2014, the response team delivered some

18,000 food packs to flood victims and served 4,234 families affected by armed conflicts in the provinces of Maguindanao, Tawi-tawi, Sulu, and Basilan. Alamia said the team also monitored the deportees from Sabah, Malaysia and conducted several trainings to capacitate the personnel and rescue team. ARMM-HEART was also among the emergency response groups that immediately responded to the relief and emergency

needs of families affected by typhoon Yolanda in Tolosa, Leyte and by the Zamboanga siege in 2013. The team continues to strengthen its partnership with non-government organizations that include different humanitarian agencies of the United Na t ions and c iv i l society organizations. Alamia is urging local government units in the region to be the front-line emergency response team in their respective areas.

RUSH UP. A mobile unit of ARMM HEART proceeding to a flooded community to respond to the disaster needs of the victims.

ARMM to host DepEd’s national management committee meeting

COTABATO CITY --- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will host the annual national management committee meeting of the Department of Education (DepED) this February in the town of Bongao in Tawi-tawi province. ARMM Education Secretary Jamar Kulayan said this would be the first time for the region to host DepED’s national management committee meeting. He said it shows the support and importance the national leadership places in the ARMM, especially in improving education and literacy in the region. It was Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro who marked the opening of classes for school year 2014-2015 by leading the annual Brigada Eskwela in a school in Maguindanao, another component province of the ARMM. The meeting, scheduled on February 23, will draw together key officials of the department, including Secretary Luistro and the directors from other regional offices, according to Kulayan. He said matters relating to the government’s existing programs and policies on education will be tackled. The event will also be an opportunity for the working government of the ARMM to showcase its accomplishments in the area of education, which include the elimination of ghost employees and students, enforcement of a transparent and competitive hiring process for teachers, and the introduction of innovative programs that bring basic education to children in hard-to-reach communities. Results of the latest National Achievement Test (NAT) indicated an improvement in the performance of elementary and high school students in the ARMM.Mubarak Pandi, DepED-ARMM information officer, said preparations are now underway for the management committee meeting. He said they’re also hoping to bring to the attention of national officials the education needs of the region.

Page 10: Hataman: Things have changed

January - February, 2015 ARMM Gazette page 10

Hataman...palapa that most of us love. Right at this very moment, fishermen in Sulu have sailed for another day full of hope, while in the island of Tawi-tawi, seaweed farmers are busy harvesting agar-agar. They are those who provide us with the bounties of our rich seas,” he cited. In a public school in a town of Maguindanao, he said, school children will no longer scamper for safety for fear of being caught in a crossfire – and instead, “they are peacefully learning their lesson and they will go home safely to their families.” A stable and progressive ARMM, he said, are the “fruits of our cooperation” brought by the public’s trust over the “working ARMM government .”Hataman counted down his administration’s success: * Delisting of 75,242 ghost students between 2012 and 2013 and delisting of 21,374 ghost enrollees in 2014; *End of “palakasan system” in the employment process that resulted in the promotion of 454 employees as of June (last) year, and the recruitment of 1,323 new teachers in May. At least 2,000 more positions (were) up for grab this year; *The region’s National A c h i e v e m e n t Te s t performance has improved from 57.25 percent in 2013 to 62.2 percent this year. The results for the high school level test was also encouraging from 38.22 percent in 2013 to 44 percent this year; *A memorandum of agreement among the regional government, Department of Budget and Management, and Government Service Insurance System resulted in the payment of P891.4 million worth of unpaid premiums for thousands of public school teachers to the GSIS, and an additional P100 million within one year. Because of this, employees of the Department of Education are now enjoying GSIS benefits; *The Department of Public Works and Highways-ARMM accumulated savings amounting to P250.276 million and the money was used to purchase additional construction equipment; *Rehabilitation and construction of 158.907 kilometers of road that improved commerce , connected communities toge the r, and made m a r k e t s a n d f a r m s easily accessible; and * The ongoing construction of five bridges in different parts of the region and 13 water systems, rehabilitation of 10 seaports, and completion of eight flood control and drainage facilities;

From page 1

“Oplan GISA” is a campaign where every department and bureau chiefs will be put to scrutiny on how they performed in the past year and what they can still do this year to further improve government services . Hataman, known for his unique leadership, wants

to leave a legacy in the region by doing what his predecessors failed or have not done as regional governor.His reform agenda netted at least Php 1 billion savings in the past two years that he led the regional bureaucracy.In his last state of the region address in November, Hataman outlined what he intends to do in the remaining year before the new government assumes. All his plans are geared to transform the regional government into a people-centered, pro-poor, pro-development and transparent regional government. ( P N A – C o t a b a t o )

ARMMreform... From page 1

Bangsamoro... From page 3

21,374 “ghost” enrollees were delisted. One “ghost” secondary school was removed from the records. In addition, the regional government has hired 1,323 new public school teachers.

LEADERSHIP

Transparency also allowed the public to easily access government officials, including Governor Hataman himself. He and the others are just a text or call away. This brand of leadership has secured a foothold in the country’s only autonomous region, anchored on good governance, peace and stability, and socio-economic development, known as the three pillars of reform. This kind of leadership – this brand of leadership – and the dramatic changes that are rippling on the ground, community after community, life after another, is what makes the celebration of the 25th creation of the ARMM more relevant. What the the ARMM has gone through is a dramatic and monumental transformation made possible through the relentless efforts of the national government, the regional leadership, the civil society community, other key stakeholders and most importantly, the people of the ARMM. Right now, the ARMM is moving forward, setting the groundwork and standard of governance for the political entity that is to follow it. The restart of the Bangsamoro will take off smoothly from this. And this, I hope, becomes sustained.

YOUTH

As a postscript, let me go back to the reasons why I joined the regional government. When I saw that a number of the members of Governor Hataman’s Cabinet were young Bangasamoro professionals, I took that as a good sign that something beautiful was going to happen. The challenge for the new

Investors have also started eyeing the ARMM as areas for viable for business. In 2013, Hataman said, investment reached P1.46 billion and for the third quarter of 2014, investments reached P3.372 billion, more than double the investments recorded in 2013. The International Business Conference conducted in Tawi-tawi also gathered 400 investors from Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, and Japan as well as multi-national companies with base in Mindanao. The conference, he said, resulted in the pledge of more than P900 million worth of investments in oil palm, power generation, and the seaweed trading between Tawi-tawi and Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia. “What we are enjoying today are the results of the reforms we dared to implement,” he said.

“The trust of the national government over our capacity to ignite change in the region became the driving force that sparked the growth and economic development of the region after only a very short time.” In 2011, Hataman said, the ARMM’s Gross Regional Domestic Product was at negative 0.3 percent. The region’s GRDP skyrocketed to 3.6 percent in 2013, and 1.1 percent recovery growth in 2012. The upbeat economy was brought by the service and agriculture sectors, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. Development and progress, he said, will be “more palpable if the Bangsamoro is strong.”

“The Bangsamoro will offer itself as an entity which will continue what we have started,” he said. “The Bangsamoro is the realization of our dreams as a nation. Let us welcome it. Let us embrace it. We are part of a history unfolding before us. And we have a role to play. As we look forward to a brighter future, let us always be reminded of where we are standing on right now. Let us strengthen the delivery of services to the public as we approach the end and welcome another government .”

Bangsamoro government is to attract more and more young, dynamic Moro professionals to come home and allow them to be at the forefront of governance.

With their wealth of fresh ideas and energy, the young Moro professionals can effectively keep the engine of change moving forward for the Bangsamoro.

It is worth coming home to build with the promise of peace and progress. It is worth coming home to our roots. It is worth coming home to the Bangsamoro.

Four officials take upnew positions in ARMMCOTABATO CITY --- Four officials took their new positions in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) starting this month as a result of career movements in the regional bureaucracy. Atty. Laisa Alamia, ARMM executive secretary, administered the official installation of Secretary Amihilda Sangcopan of the Department of Agrarian Reform, Deputy Executive Secretary John Louie Balagot, and Rasol Mitmug, Jr., chief of staff of the regional governor’s office, at the Office of the Bangsamoro People in Cotabato City. Alamia had earlier installed the new administrator of the ARMM’s Cooperative Development Authority ( C D A ) – D i m n a t a n g R a d i a . She said the movement in the cabinet is not a revamp, but the result of the career transfers of some of the region’s officials. Abdulrashid Ladayo, Sr., former CDA-ARMM administrator, has accepted a promotion at the National Food Authority-12 office, while the former officer-in-charge of DAR-ARMM, Macmillan Lucman, has been appointed as provincial director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government – Lanao del Sur. Alamia said the newly installed officials

are expected to continue the reform initiatives of their predecessors and contribute to the preparation for a smooth transition to the Bangsamoro government. She also urged employees to give their full support and cooperation. The newly installed officials vow to give their best performance and help in the transformation of the ARMM into a working government. Sangcopan said her goal is to strengthen the governance performance of DAR-ARMM and prepare it for the transition. She said her first job in the government was at the agrarian department. Mitmug, former speaker of the Regional Legislative Assembly and deputy executive secretary, took over Sangcopan’s post as chief of staff. “Bilang bagong chief of staff, titingnan natin na maging mabuti ang kalagayan ng mga empleyado natin, na maibigay natin ng tama ang mga agenda ng regional governor, at maisagawa yung mga required na mga aktibidades tulad ng Gender and Awareness Development o GAD,” he said. Balagot, Governor Hataman’s former executive assistant, said he will be handling special programs of the ARMM as the new deputy executive secretary.

ARMM turns over livelihood equipment

to MNLF communitiesCOTABATO CITY --- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) through the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) project turned over last January 9 farm and livelihood equipment to four identified recipient communities in Lanao der Sur province. The equipment, which included four units of six-wheeler hauler trucks and 35 units of sewing machines, were awarded to the respective cooperatives of four Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) communities in the province. The beneficiaries are the Darussalam Producer Cooperative of Barangay Manalucon Talub in Masiu town; Unified Farmers Multi-purpose Cooperative, Inc. of Barangay Cabasaran in Madamba town; Padang Karbala Farmers and Marketing Cooperative Inc. of Barangay Rantian in Bayang town; and RSSRC Agricultural Multi-purpose Cooperative, Inc. of Barangay Pandapatan, also in Bayang. “Ito ang isa sa pinakamalaking items na madedeliver natin para sa MNLF communities,” said Dong Anayatin,

PAMANA-ARMM program manager. He said it is part of the first batch of materials awarded to the beneficiaries. “Ito ay napakaganda. Napakalaki ng maitutulong nito sa amin. ‘Yung hauler trucks ay para sa mga magsasaka at ’yung sewing machines ay para sa mga kababaihan,” said AbdulJabbar “Africa” Mamoclo, chairman of Darussalam Producer Cooperative. He said the equipment will facilitate the transport and delivery of agricultural products and the sewing machine will help women in their community start a livelihood. The ceremonial turn-over, held at the ARMM’s seat in Cotabato City, was formally led by Alamia, Dong Anayatin, and Rasol Mitmug, the regional governor’s chief of staff.In her message, Alamia said ARMM Governor Mujiv S. Hataman is thankful that the MNLF communities have been very cooperative in the implementation Pamana programs. “Magiging successful, hindi lamang ‘yung mismong pag-implement ng proyekto pero pati ‘yung mga buhay ng mga MNLF members and their families,” Alamia said.

SUPPORT UTILITIES. Work equipment are turned over by ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia to the MNLF cooperative.

Page 11: Hataman: Things have changed

page 11 ARMM Gazette January - February, 2015

The WORKING ARMM GOVERNMENT

Provision of computer kiosk for research

Rigid screening and competency assessment of public teacher applicants

Treeplanting/reforestation in watershed areas Agricultural equipment and machineries for farmers’ cooperatives for better yield

Building wharfs for small fishing vessels Distribution of school supplies for school children Enhancing know - how in food technology

Promoting organic farming

Expanding infrastructure requirements for economic advancement

Establishment of district engineering offices

Uniquely inspired school boat for island towns

Periodic scheduling of barangay summit for public discussion of issues, concerns, and governance

Update disbursement of teachers’ pay differentials and backwages

Installation of potable water system Modernization of public hospital equipment

Readiness to disaster response

Promoting tourism industry

Budgetary support to academic scholars

Page 12: Hataman: Things have changed

January - February, 2015 ARMM Gazette page 12

The ARMMin a day

The ARMM spans two geographical areas: Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao (except Cotabato City) in south western Mindanao and the island-provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-tawi, covering a total of 12,288 square kilometres. But from the 19th of November to 19th of December 2014, visitors to the ORG Compound in Cotabato City were able to visit these provinces all in one day, had the chance to sample the delicacies from each region, and even shopped at each village store displaying wares unique to their tribes. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the ARMM, each member province built a mock rendition of their region inside the ORG Compound in Cotabato City, seat of the ARMM government, designed to give visitors the feel of actually being there. Visitors to the Sama-Badjao Village of Tawi-tawi can walk on footbridges over seawater; going to the Maranao Village of Lanao del Sur means you get to see and go inside an authentic torogan; watch weavers of Yakan fabric when you go to the Basilan village, and sample their famous coffee as well; know what it feels like to live in an Astanah at the Sulu Village; and experience the grandeur of Maguindanaoan culture. The mock villages are reminiscent of the Nayong Pilipino in Pasay City, with its pockets of Philippine provinces laid out for schoolchildren, tourists, and picknicking families to see. The ARMM Villages, however, did not just offer things to touch and buy, there were scheduled daily and nightly activities such as lectures, native games, exhibits, and cultural presentations showcasing the culture of each tribe and province. Students from nearby schools had come here on field trips, as well as visitors from nearby cities, not to mention various national government officials who had come to wish the ARMM well on its 25th year. It’s regrettable that the mock villages stayed only until the 19th of December, 2014, at the end of the month-long celebrations for the ARMM’s anniversary. This writer certainly hopes this will not be the case, that the ARMM government would find a way to sustain the presence of these villages for people to visit. The villages are the embodiment of the regions’ best, a microcosm of the ARMM’s multi-faceted culture and history, and their presence at the ORG compound enabled those who would otherwise not have the chance to visit these provinces to have a taste of them, even if only for a day.

It would be impossible to visit all the provinces in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in one day.

ARMM to reopen mock cultural villages

COTABATO CITY --- The mock cultural villages installed inside the regional government’s compound in this city will be reopened this February, officials announced. The five mock villages, which represent the component provinces of the ARMM, were put up in November last year as part of the region’s 25th founding anniversary celebration. They offered visitors the chance to experience

the culture, cuisine, and sights in each province. A series of competitions also pitted the villages against one another with the Sulu mock village emerging as the over-all champion. Activities in the villages ended following the culmination of the anniversary celebration in December last year when the structures were supposed to have been t aken down . But Atty. Laisa Alamia, ARMM executive

secretary, said there is a strong public clamor to sustain the presence of the mock villages, which have attracted at least 30,000 visitors during their more than a month running. Alamia said the regional government does not have the necessary fund to revive the villages and will be inviting partners from the private sector to take part. She said the mock villages proved to be a viable tourist attraction and offer a good business opportunity.

Mock cultural villages

Astanah of Sulu

Fishers of Tawi-tawi

Inged a Maguindanao

Torogan of Lanao del Sur Wedding rites in Basilan