ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Mar 15 (PIA-9) – Top provincial and municipal officials of Sulu converged and strengthened their ties to propel socio-economic activities and spur development, particularly in the 2nd Congressional District of the province.
OIC provincial information chief Sonny Abing III disclosed that Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan said Monday that the meeting held at a hotel in Manila over the weekend served as a venue to further reinforce their ties towards the development of the district.
It was learned that the meeting was spearheaded by Representative Nur Anna Sahidulla (2nd District, Sulu) and her husband Banguingui (Sulu) Mayor Abdulwahid Sahidulla.
The couple led the various municipal mayors to the monumental meeting on Sunday night.
The various Sulu officials said the gathering was essential in order for them to thresh out what activities that the provincial and municipal government should undertake for the people of the district in order to uplift their living condition.
Tan said that understanding is the best foundation that the officials of the province should observe in order to spur socio-economic development in the 11 municipalities – Banguingui, Kalingalan Caluang, Lugus, Luuk, Old Panamao, Omar, Pandami, Panglima Estino, Pata, Siasi, and Tapul – comprising the 2nd Congressional District of Sulu.
“Our meeting is all about development for the 2nd District of Sulu. We want to liberate the people of the district from poverty, that’s why we have gathered in a simple dinner in Manila on Sunday,” Tan explained.
For his part, Mayor Sahidulla said that renewing ties with Tan is important in the development of the district, particularly Banguingui town.
He said the provincial government has several development programs for his town, and renewing their ties would mean more “infrastructure projects and livelihood programs” for his constituents.
He also lauded the Sulu governor for his sense of professionalism in dealing with the mayors of the 2nd Congressional District.
As this developed, Representative Sahidulla vowed to provide the necessary infrastructure and support projects, including livelihood programs, for the people of her district.
“Bringing the necessary projects and livelihood programs is my main agenda for socio-economic development for our people in the district,” Sahidulla said.
“I hope that our meeting with Governor Tan would serve as a bridge to further develop my congressional district in Sulu that comprises 11 towns,” the lady Solon said.
Meanwhile, the Banguingui municipal government reported that the association it formed to address the educational and health needs of the people of the municipality is efficiently moving forward as programed.
Mayor Sahidulla said the association – the Banguingui Development and Multi-Purpose Association, Inc. – is now gaining momentum as it moved forward to achieve its goal by addressing the constituents’ needs regarding the education system and health requirements.
Sahidulla said the association has already hired at least 10 local teachers to address the shortage of mentors, including health care volunteers to attend to the health needs of the people of Banguingui.
He said jobless but eligible teachers have been hired by the association, and is compensating them with a monthly stipend for their services as mentors in the town.
A similar scheme had also been adopted for volunteer midwives and nurses who wanted to serve the people of Banguingui.
The mayor said the stipend for the teachers and health personnel is being drawn from the funds of the association.
According to Sahidulla, the municipal government is contributing about P50, 000.00 per month, in addition to the contribution that the association is collecting from the 14 village officials monthly.
The mayor said that the association will also conduct the repair of various health centers and school buildings, including the purchase of health equipment and education materials for the pupils.
“Our people had been longing for these services– education and health, that is why my government have to address them by establishing an association,” he said.
“Now that we have already renewed our ties with the provincial government, I hope Governor Abdusakur Tan could also extend us their helping hand to alleviate the living condition of the people of Banguingui,” he added. (Sulu PIO/RVC-PIA9 ZBST)
