BONGAO,
Tawi-tawi - As stakeholders of various government programs and
projects implemented under the Aquino government, some 50 civil society
organizations raised several issues and concerns to the local and regional
governments in a recent summit held at a local hotel here.
The
participants, who are members of the Tawi-tawi Alliance of Civil Society
Organizations (TACOS) and coming from the different island municipalities,
brought to the attention of government leaders certain issues and concerns
affecting their respective areas.
Regional
Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, who was the
guest of honor, took time to answer these issues and concerns. He also informed
his listeners of the reforms the regional government had accomplished under his
watch, particularly on graft and corruption.
Hataman
said the “matuwid na daan” agenda of President Benigno S. Aquino is his guide
in instituting reforms in the ARMM.
With
the Regional Governor were some ARMM cabinet secretaries and members of the
Regional Legislative Assembly who also engaged with the participants.
Assemblywoman
Dayang Carlsum Jumaide, who formally opened the two-day summit, underscored the
role that CSOs play in monitoring government programs and projects.
On
the other hand, DTI-ARMM Secretary Sangkula Tindick said in his message that “being
a Bangsamoro, good governance must be defined as in the Qur’an, Hadith and the
Sunnah of Rasul.”
In
her presentation during the workshop, Ms. Melba Matba cited an array of
problems relative to the delivery of basic services, health and education in
the municipality of Languyan. Matba heads the CSO in said town.
Similar
concerns were also aired by other municipalities.
Speaking
as one voice, the CSO members of TACOS formulated some resolutions to address
the issues and concerns besetting their respective towns.
The
resolutions were a realization of the summit theme, “Mainstreaming CSOs in
Participatory Governance.”
In
his closing remarks, TACOS Chairman Prof. Magsaysay Werble challenged the
sincerity of both the local governments and the CSOs.