by Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Apr 12 (PIA) – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) caretaker Mujiv Hataman has declared recently that his administration has instituted significant reforms in its first 100 days in office.
Regional Governor Hataman initially made the report at the opening ceremonies of the ARMM Athletic Association (ARMMAA) meet last week in Lamitan City, Basilan where he urged young athletes, coaches, teachers, and spectators to be the agent of reform in the region.
Days before the April 16 regional report, which marks his 100 days in office, Hataman proudly declared that the regional government is already free from the anomalous transactions and activities of the past administration.
“Lahat po ng maanomalya at mga anomalya noong mga nakaraan, tinitiyak ko po sa inyo ay hindi na po nangyayari,” he said.
He cited that major reforms are being instituted in the three priority departments, namely: the office of the regional governor, the region’s Department of Education, and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
While Hataman admitted that in his administration’s effort to institute changes, some promises were broken, “not because we wanted it but because of the resistance of those affected by the changes.”
He cited the case of systematizing the releasing of salaries of the teachers in the ARMM through automated teller machines (ATMs). “Nahirapan ang Landbank sa disiplina ng mga nag-oopen ng account,” he said.
He appealed to the teachers to be patient with the new system as he is aware of some complaints that teachers assigned in the islands and far-flung communities would still have to spend time and money to visit banks in urban centers to claim their salaries in ATM.He said that the system is the same with salaries released through checks, “the teacher will still have to visit a bank to encash his/her check.”
Hataman pointed out that this system is for the benefit of the teachers because their salaries will already be free from unauthorized and illegal deductions. “Ang sweldo ni Abdul ay dapat mapunta kay Abdul,” he said as he abhor the existence of ghost teachers in the region.
He assured that by the opening of classes in June, all salaries will already be in ATMs, complete with identification cards with picture and in biometrics.
The regional governor announced that there are some 2,300 available items for new teachers in the ARMM. With many applications are received in the region, Hataman appealed to the region’s governors, mayors, and DepEd officials “na huwag politikahin ang application of teachers, at unahin natin ang mga LET passers.”“Hindi magtatanggal ng guro ngunit magdisiplina at maglinis tayo upang magkaroon ng makabuluhang edukasyon ang DepEd-ARMM,” Hataman stressed.
Hataman was appointed ARMM caretaker by President Benigno Aquino III and took his oath of office on December 19, 2011 with the mandate to institute reforms in the region as envisioned by the frameworks of the Constitution, by the solons that drafted the Organic Act and push to advance the welfare of the people from ARMM. (RVC/PIA-9 ZBST)
