BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi, June 14 (PIA) – The Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) government launched last week the ARMM HELPS
program with the conduct of the first-ever outside the regional government complex
Cabinet meeting at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session hall here.
Provincial Information Officer Abdel Nasser
Tahang disclosed that this basic services delivery program known as the ARMM
HELPS is an ellipsis of Health,
Education, Livelihood, Political Reform, and Synergy, which is also the core of
the ARMM governance that OIC Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman will implement to
achieve and sustain the development in the Autonomous Regional Government.
“We are in
Tawi-Tawi to launch the ARMM HELPS program and to introduce the cabinet
officials to the people of Tawi-Tawi,” Hataman said as he addressed the crowd
that attended the launching.
Speaking to about 500 people including
mayors, agency heads, employees and laymen at the SP Hall here, the ARMM top
executive revealed that the inventory of ARMM personnel including teachers and
with the strict observance of COA rules and regulations, the Autonomous
Regional Government was able to save P203.16 million pesos from the “ghost
busting” initiative, of which P162.3 million pesos from DepEd and P40.86
million from DPWH.
This is among the
reforms made in the first 100 days of his “Matuwid na Pamamahala Tungo sa ARMM
na Masagana’t Mapayapa!” governance in line with President Aquino’s “Matuwid na
Daan” program.
Hataman also revealed that ARMM HELPS has
awarded a water development project in Panglima Sugala, which will soon be
initiated and becomes the flagship project in the province.
In response, Governor Sadikul Sahali
emphasized that the Malum Water Project in the Municipality of Panglima Sugala,
of which he is pushing for support from both the national government and the
ARMM, has been his dream project and hopes to realize it during his final term
and leave this project as legacy to the people of Tawi-Tawi, whom he served for
12 years as governor.
Sahali also said that Tawi-Tawi has no enough
potable water supplies to cater the needs of all its populace, and developing
the water system in Malum can sustain not only the supply needed by
Tawi-Tawians themselves but also by investors who plan to establish big
businesses in the peaceful southern province.
“The completion of this water project in
Panglima Sugala is expected to jumpstart the influx of investments from
domestic and foreign businesses; it will give additional employment to the
locals as well as boost the province’s economy,” Sahali stressed.
For her part, Vice
Governor Ruby Sahali also lauded the ARMM officials for launching its HELPS
program and for choosing Tawi-Tawi the first venue of its outside-the ORG
Complex cabinet meeting.
Meanwhile, in presenting the HELPS program,
Executive Secretary Anwar Malang explained that this program is within the Priorities and Reform Agenda of the Hataman
administration focused on the framework of good governance, socio-economic
development, and peace and security in open governance.
“The ARMM
constituents will benefit from this program since this is what the present
administration is delivering to the people,” Malang stressed.
Last May 23, Hataman and some members of the
RLA also graced the consultation and launching of the “ARMM Watch program”
conducted by leading Mindanao CSOs here.
The objective of the program was to translate
ARMM into having a good governance and responsive leadership that will serve
the interest of its populace.
The two-day visit (June 7-8)
of RG Hataman and his cabinet officials to Tawi-Tawi include the following
itineraries: inauguration of the new
Bongao Municipal Building; welcome dinner and cultural presentation by the
provincial government at Governor Sahali’s residence in Lomboy; visit to
Panglima Sugala and Panampangan Island, and Friday prayer at Sheik Makhdum
mosque in Tubig Indangan, Simunul, awarding of scholarships vouchers to 75
grantees, and awarding of school supplies to 350 pupils of Hadji Biste
Elementary School. (ANT/RVC/PIA9-ZBST)
