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U.S. Ambassador Kenney Lauds “Creativity and Innovation” of Women. 08/08/2007 U.S. Ambassador Kenney lauds "Creativity and Innovation" of Women, Urges Greater Leadership Opportunities During Visit to ... more »  Learn more about investment opportunities. Sign-up now!  RBOI-ARMM ARMM Complex, Cotabato City 9600 Philippines Telephone Numbers: Fax Number: |
Regional Governor's 3rd SORA3RD STATE OF THE REGION ADDRESS BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHEEM…. THE HONORABLE SPEAKER PAISALIN P. TAGO THE HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE REGIONAL CABINET, MY BELOVED FATHER,/ MAGUINDANAO GOVERNOR DATU ANDAL S. AMPATUAN, SR. AL-HAJ, MAJOR GENERAL RAYMUNDO FERRER OF THE 6TH INFANTRY DIVISION, PHILIPPINE ARMY PRESIDENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE LEAGUE OF MUNICIPAL MAYORS, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ACADEME/NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS/ RELIGIOUS & BUSINESS SECTORS/ OUR FRIENDS FROM THE MEDIA LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: ASSALAMU ALAIKUM WARAHMATULLAHI WABARAKHATU WE COME HERE TODAY NOT TO CELEBRATE A POLITICAL VICTORY BUT TO REPORT TO THE GOOD PEOPLE OF THE AUTONOMOUS REGION AND TO THIS ASSEMBLY THE TRUE STATE OF THE REGION UNDER OUR CLOSE WATCH. TWO YEARS AGO WHEN I DELIVERED MY FIRST STATE OF THE REGION ADDRESS BEFORE THE 5TH REGIONAL ASSEMBLY, I COMMITTED MYSELF TO HELP IMPROVE THE PEACE AND ORDER CONDITION; PURSUE GOOD GOVERNANCE AND REFORMS; ACCELERATE SOCIO-ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES, AND BUILD MORE INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES IN ARMM. TODAY AS I DELIVER MY THIRD STATE OF THE REGION ADDRESS, I DO SO WITH CONFIDENCE THAT WE CAN SUBMIT A GOOD PERFORMANCE REPORT TO OUR PEOPLE RESULTING FROM OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS AND HARDWORK.
MR. SPEAKER, OUR STRONG COMMITMENT TO PEACE IS PAYING OFF. EXCEPT FOR THE RECENT ENCOUNTERS IN THE ISLAND PROVINCES OF SULU AND BASILAN, THE AUTONOMOUS REGION IS GENERALLY PEACEFUL AND ORDERLY. OUR STATISTICS SHOW A TREMENDOUS DECREASE OF CLASHES BETWEEN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES AND ORGANIZED GROUPS FROM 66 IN 2005 TO 28 IN 2006 AND DOWN TO 11 IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2007. WE COMMEND THE OFFICIALS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THE MILF FOR UPHOLDING THE CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT AND THE OFFICIALS OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONITORING TEAM FOR THEIR FULL SUPPORT AND COOPERATION IN THE GOVERNMENT PEACE EFFORTS. OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE TO THE MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT FOR ITS CONTINUING SUPPORT TO THE ON-GOING PEACE NEGOTIATION BETWEEN THE GRP AND THE MILF. LET ME ALSO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER ON THE PEACE PROCESS FOR INVITING ME WITH SOME OF MY CABINET OFFICIALS TO ATTEND TO THE JUST CONCLUDED PREPARATORY TRIPARTITE MEETING IN JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC CONFERENCE (OIC). LET ME EXTEND MY COMMENDATION TO THE GRP AND THE MNLF PANELS FOR THE SUCCESSFUL MEETING WHICH PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK TO REVIEW THE STATUS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 1996 FINAL PEACE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GRP AND MNLF. UNDER THIS FRAMEWORK, FIVE JOINT WORKING GROUPS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED TO EXAMINE ISSUES PARTICULARLY ON SHA’RIAH AND JUDICIARY, REGIONAL SECURITY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, POLITICAL SYSTEM AND REPRESENTATION AND EDUCATION. WE FULLY SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT HUMANITARIAN OFFENSIVE LAUNCHED BY THE PRESIDENT IN MINDANAO PARTICULARLY IN THE ISLAND PROVINCES OF SULU AND BASILAN. WE ARE PROVIDING OUR OWN SHARE OF THE MUCH NEEDED RELIEF AND REHABILITATION ASSISTANCE TO THE DISPLACED PEOPLE AND FAMILIES IN THE CONFLICT-AFFECTED AREAS. AT THIS MOMENT, WE ARE DEEPLY SADDENED BY THE UNTIMELY AND TRAGIC DEATH OF HONORABLE CONGRESSMAN WAHAB AKBAR OF THE LONE DISTRICT OF BASILAN AND WE CONDEMN IN THE STRONGEST TERM THIS DASTARDLY ACT COMMITTED AGAINST THE LEGISLATOR. WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND CONGRESSMAN AKBAR’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT OF BASILAN WHICH HELPED IMPROVE THE LIVES OF ITS PEOPLE. “TAYONG LAHAT, AY AYAW NG KAGULUHAN, SAPAGKAT ALAM NATIN NA WALANG NANANALO SA GYERA, KAYA TAOS PUSO AKONG NANANAWAGAN SA MAGKABILANG PANIG SA GITNA NG GULO SA SULU AT BASILAN NA ISAALANG-ALANG NATIN ANG KARAPATANG PANTAO, ANG KALAGAYAN NG MGA KABABAIHAN AT KINABUKASAN NG MGA KABATAAN”. THE PNP-ARMM HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS AND ORDER. CRIME INCIDENCE IN THE REGION HAS BEEN DECREASING FROM 854 IN 2005 TO 338 IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2007, WITH 81 PERCENT CRIME SOLUTION EFFICIENCY. THE RRUC-ARMM HAS BEEN ABLE TO SETTLE A TOTAL OF 18 CONFLICTS INVOLVING PROMINENT FAMILIES AND PERSONALITIES IN THE REGION. THE OFFICE OF THE CIVIL DEFENSE HAS STRENGTHENED ITS CIVIL PROTECTION AND PREPAREDNESS AND COORDINATION OF DISASTER RESPONSE OPERATIONS AND REHABILITATION INITIATIVES. THE STUDY ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF CONFLICT AFFECTED AREAS IN MINDANAO, COVERING 872 BARANGAYS IN ARMM INCLUDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF QUICK IMPACT PROJECTS TO SOME SELECTED PILOT BARANGAYS FUNDED BY JICA IS A BOOST TO THE GOVERNMENT PEACE EFFORTS. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT TO FUND THE MINDANAO PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM INCLUDING ARMM IN THE NEXT FIVE (5) YEARS. THE GROWING NUMBER OF PEACE CHAMPIONS AND PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTIONS COUPLED WITH EMERGING SOCIAL COHESION AMONG COMMUNITIES IN AND OUTSIDE THE PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT ZONES IN THE REGION IS ANOTHER MILESTONE IN OUR PEACE INITIATIVES. MR. SPEAKER, PART OF THE REFORM WE ARE PURSUING IS TO ADDRESS THE DEPED PROBLEM WITH THE GSIS WHICH WE INHERITED FROM THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS. WITH OUR STRONG REPRESENTATION TO THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, TO THE GSIS AND TO CONGRESS, WE ARE NOW IN THE VERGE OF FINALIZING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE GSIS AND THE DBM TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. IT HAS BECOME A POLICY OF THIS ADMINISTRATION TO RELIGIOUSLY REMIT THE MANDATORY OBLIGATIONS SUCH AS THE GSIS REMITTANCES AND PREMIUMS OF THE EMPLOYEES OF THE ARMM. IT IS ONLY DURING THIS ADMINISTRATION THAT DEPED-ARMM HAS NEVER BEEN REMISED IN REMITTING ITS MANDATORY OBLIGATIONS SUCH AS TEACHERS’ SHARES AND PREMIUMS TO THE GSIS. WITH SUPPORT OF THE PRESIDENT, WE HAVE RESTORED IN OUR 2008 BUDGET THE 30 PERCENT SHARE OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT FROM THE COLLECTION OF INTERNAL REVENUE TAXES, FEES AND CHARGES ON NATURAL RESOURCES IN ARMM, WHICH IS TERMINATING NEXT YEAR. WE HAVE ALSO REQUESTED THE PRESIDENT TO EXTEND THE ANNUAL ASSISTANCE OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT TO ARMM TO ANOTHER FIVE YEARS AND TO INCREASE IT TO P1.0 BILLION PESOS. OUR RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR 2008 IS P8.6 BILLION PESOS AND WE HAVE ASKED CONGRESS AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF P1.64 BILLION PESOS WHICH WILL COVER ADDITIONAL CAPITAL OUTLAY, GSIS UNREMITTED PREMIUMS AND INTERESTS AND LEGITIMATE EXPENDITURES INCURRED IN THE PAST BUT REMAINED UNPAID. MR. SPEAKER, AS A MATTER OF POLICY, THE REDPB HAS BEEN MEETING ON REGULAR BASIS AND REGIONAL POLICIES AND PROGRAMS ARE BEING DISCUSSED AND APPROVED. AS OF DATE, 22 MAJOR RESOLUTIONS WERE ADOPTED AND ENDORSED BY THE BOARD TO THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, FUNDING INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER NATIONAL COUNTERPART AGENCIES. OUR INSTITUTIONAL LINKAGES WITH THE NATIONAL COUNTERPARTS AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS ON REVENUE MEASURES ARE SECURED. THE LGUS HAVE BEEN IN THE FOREFRONT OF RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. “KUNG KAYA SA AKING ADMINISTRASYON, SINISIGURO KO NA MALAKAS ANG PAGTUTULUNGAN NATIN NG MGA LGUS”. THE DILG, BEING THE OVERSIGHT AGENCY HAS BEEN ASSISTING OUR LGUS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LGSPA, A TOTAL OF 107 COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN/EXECUTIVE-LEGISLATIVE AGENDA (CDP-ELA) HAVE BEEN PREPARED AND 12 LGUS HAVE BEEN ASSISTED IN THE PREPARATION OF THEIR COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN (CLUP). MR. SPEAKER, THE HLURB WAS ABLE TO ISSUE “DEVELOPMENT PERMIT” AND “LICENSE TO SELL” TO THE BIGGEST SUBDIVISION PROJECT IN ARMM. THE PROJECT LOCATED AT DATU ODIN SINSUAT, SHARIFF KABUNSUAN COSTS ABOUT P300 MILLION PESOS COVERING 25 HECTARES AND 778 HOUSING UNITS. ON THE WELFARE OF OUR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR FOR IPS IS NOW WORKING FOR A BILL TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE IPS IN THE REGION. MR. SPEAKER, WE WORK FOR DYNAMIC PUBLIC INFORMATION MECHANISM TO BE BETTER UNDERSTOOD AND APPRECIATED BY OUR CONSTITUENTS THROUGH THE TRI-MEDIA AND TO REACH OUR STAKEHOLDERS. WE MAINTAIN A WEEKLY RADIO PROGRAM CALLED “AKSYON ARMM” AND A GUILD OF INFORMATION OFFICERS (GIO) HAS ALSO BEEN REORGANIZED. THE REGION IS NOW IN THE PROCESS OF OPERATIONALIZING THE WEBSITES OF ORG, REDPB, DEPED AND OTHER LINE AGENCIES WHICH FEATURE LATEST NEWS, UPDATES AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE REGION. WE RECOGNIZE THE SUCCESSFUL CONDUCT OF THREE (3) DEVELOPMENT TRAININGS AND SEMINARS FOR THE WORKING FORCE OF THE REGION THROUGH THE ARMM DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY (ADA). MR. SPEAKER, THE ARMM REGIONAL ECONOMY FOR 2007 CONTINUED TO PERK UP. RICE PRODUCTION REGISTERED 585,776 METRIC TONS VALUED AT P5.97 BILLION PESOS WHILE CORN PRODUCTION HAS REACHED TO 262,739 METRIC TONS VALUED AT P2.16 BILLION PESOS. THE REGION HAS ALSO PRODUCED 635,549 METRIC TONS OF FISH AND SEAWEEDS. MR. SPEAKER, THE UPWARD TREND OF FISHERY PRODUCTION HAS GAINED FOR ARMM A TITLE AS THE “TOP FISHERY PRODUCER IN THE COUNTRY” BASED ON LATEST NATIONAL ASSESSMENT. OTHER PROJECT OF BFAR-ARMM WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SEAWEEDS PROCESSING PLANT IN PARANG, SHARIFF KABUNSUAN. THIS REDOUNDS TO INCREASED INCOME OF FISHERMEN AND HELPED REDUCE POVERTY. THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM HAS TRANSFERRED A TOTAL OF 394 HECTARES OF LAND TO 183 FARMER–BENEFICIARIES. ON THE VOLUNTARY OFFER TO SELL (VOS), THE INTER-AGENCY COMMITTEE FOR ARMM HAS APPROVED 5 RESOLUTIONS COVERING 56 TITLES FROM MAGUINDANAO AND RECOMMENDED FOR THE APPROVAL AND PAYMENT BY THE LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES. IN TERMS OF AGRARIAN REFORM COMMUNITIES DEVELOPMENT, THE DEPARTMENT FOCUSED ITS IMPLEMENTATION ON BOTH INFRASTRUCTURE AND LIVELIHOOD PROJECTS UNDER THE FOLLOWING 5 FOREIGN-ASSISTED PROJECTS.
OF THE 136 INFRASTRUCTURE AND LIVELIHOOD PROJECTS WORTH P453.70 MILLION PESOS FUNDED BY THESE DONOR INSTITUTIONS, 96 PROJECTS WERE COMPLETED WHILE 40 PROJECTS ARE STILL ON-GOING. THE ADB-ARCP II AND MINDANAO RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PHASE 2 (MRDP II) WERE RECENTLY ADOPTED BY THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING BOARD (REDPB) FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN THE REGION. THE ARCP II WAS APPROVED BY THE CABINET COMMITTEE OF NEDA-ICC FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN THE EARLY PART OF 2008 COVERING 5 ARCS PER MUNICIPALITY IN THE 6 PROVINCES OF THE REGION. IN MRDP II, A TOTAL AMOUNT OF P151.21 MILLION PESOS WORTH OF RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS WERE AWARDED TO 8 OUT OF THE 43 MUNICIPALITIES TARGETED IN THE REGION. A TOTAL OF 190 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP GRANTEES WERE AWARDED TO DESERVING CHILDREN OF AGRARIAN REFORM BENEFICIARIES THROUGH THE PRESIDENT DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL AGRARIAN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. BEING ONE OF OUR FLAGSHIP PROJECTS, THE HALAL INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT IS NOW FOCUSED ON: 1) CERTIFICATION; 2) PRODUCTION, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT; AND 3) MARKETING & INFORMATION. THE TECHNICAL GUIDELINES ON HALAL CERTIFICATION CRAFTED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE ARMM THROUGH THE MUSLIM HALAL CERTIFICATION BOARD IS NOW THE BASIS FOR THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL HALAL STANDARD. MR. SPEAKER, A TOTAL OF P461.45 MILLION PESOS WORTH OF INVESTMENT BOTH SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES AND MAJOR INDUSTRIES WITH 4,286 JOBS WERE GENERATED. THIS IS EQUIVALENT TO 60.2 PERCENT GROWTH RATE FROM 288 MILLION PESOS IN NOVEMBER 2006 TO P461.45 MILLION PESOS IN OCTOBER 2007. BUSINESS NAME REGISTRATION (BNR) ALMOST DOUBLED FROM 470 FIRMS IN NOVEMBER 2006 TO 875 FIRMS THIS YEAR. THE VALUE OF EXPORTS PRODUCTS REACHED TO P1.28 BILLION PESOS, WHICH CONSISTED OF WOODWORKS, GARMENTS, BANANA CHIPS, CASSAVA STARCH AND CAVENDISH BANANA. MR. SPEAKER, THE RBOI HAD REGISTERED 4 NEW FIRMS WITH P75 MILLION PESOS TOTAL INVESTMENT AND 404 EMPLOYMENT GENERATED. ANOTHER BUSINESS EXPANSION WORTH P194 MILLION IS EXPECTED TO OPERATE IN THE REGION PER ASSESSMENT BY THE BOARD OF INVESTMENT. WE REMAINED COMMITTED TO THE BRUNEI-INDONESIA-MALAYSIA-PHILIPPINES EAST ASIAN GROWTH AREA (BIMP-EAGA) THROUGH OUR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN BOTH LOCAL AND FOREIGN UNDERTAKINGS. THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC ZONE AUTHORITY (REZA) HAS FINALIZED THE RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE POLLOC PORT AS A “FREE PORT”. THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT HAS GRANTED OUR REQUEST FOR SUBSIDY IN THE 2008 BUDGET FOR ITS OPERATION. IN COOPERATION WITH THE LGUs, WE ARE LAUNCHING THE PROGRAM ONE TOWN, ONE PRODUCT (OTOP) WITH ITS LAUNCHING IN ALL THE 6 PROVINCES OF THE REGION THIS YEAR. ALL THE PROVINCES HAVE ALSO CONDUCTED THEIR SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISE HARMONIZATION PLAN WITH THE NATIONAL SMED PLAN. COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT IN THE REGION HAS ALSO CONTRIBUTED IN TERMS OF CAPABILITY BUILDING, EFFECTIVE REGULATION, AND MONITORING. A TOTAL OF P48.55 MILLION PESOS SAVINGS MOBILIZATION FUND (SMF) WAS GENERATED AND P1.06 MILLION PESOS WERE REALIZED UNDER THE CAPITAL BUILD-UP (CBU) OF 98 FUNCTIONAL COOPERATIVES. THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES IS INSTITUTIONALIZING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GOOD ECOLOGICAL GOVERNANCE THROUGH THE PROVISION OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs) IN THE FORMULATION OF MUNICIPAL FOREST LAND USE PLAN. UNDER ITS REGULATORY FUNCTION A TOTAL OF 428,000 HECTARES OF TIMBERLAND/FOREST WERE DECLARED “NO ILLEGAL LOGGING AREA”. MOREOVER, A TOTAL OF P8.98 MILLION PESOS FOREST CHARGES WERE COLLECTED. THE LAND MANAGEMENT SERVICES HAS ISSUED 891 PATENTS OF ALIENABLE AND DISPOSABLE LAND COVERING 6,128 HECTARES AND SURVEYED 18,093 HECTARES. THE BUREAU ALSO ISSUED 24 PERMITS TO ESTABLISH AIR POLLUTION CONTROL, 100 PERMITS TO OPERATE, AND 5 PERMITS ON AIR POLLUTION CLEARANCE TO ESTABLISHMENTS. TWO (2) APPLICATIONS FOR MINERAL EXPLORATION IN TAWI-TAWI ARE NOW BEING ASSESSED. PROTECTED AREAS AND WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES ARE ACTIVELY MONITORED. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION IN ECONOMIC ENDEAVORS HAD PROVEN ITS MAXIMUM ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL BENEFITS TO THE CONSTITUENTS OF THE REGION. THE DEPARTMENT HAD IMPLEMENTED 13 TECHNOLOGY-BASED PROJECTS WORTH P4.9 MILLION PESOS UNDER THE SMALL ENTERPRISE TECHNOLOGY UPGRADING PROGRAM. IT HAS AWARDED 30 GRANTEES UNDER THE GRANT FOR EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE ON TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE TEACHING COURSES IN MINDANAO. TOURISM DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES WERE VIGOROUSLY FOCUSED ON CULTURE-BASED TOURISM PROMOTIONS, MARKETING AND ADVOCACY, ORGANIZATION OF TOURISM COUNCILS AS WELL AS DEVELOPMENT OF HISTORICAL PARKS AND LANDMARKS. FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE REGION HAD PARTICIPATED IN THE 18TH PHILIPPINE TRAVEL MART THAT PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT VENUE FOR PROMOTING THE TOURISM OF THE REGION. THE OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWs) WELFARE AND BENEFITS WERE OPTIMIZED THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF THE PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT ADMINISTRATION. THE POEA HAS COUNSELED 8,754 OVERSEAS JOB APPLICANTS, PROCESSED AND ISSUED OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION OF 2,057 BALIK MANGGAGAWA AND CONDUCTED 34 JOB FAIRS AND RECRUITMENT ACTIVITIES. PRE-EMPLOYMENT ORIENTATION SEMINAR WAS ALSO CONDUCTED TO 1,875 OVERSEAS APPLICANTS INCLUDING THE POLICIES AND GUIDELINES AND US$400 MINIMUM SALARY RATE FOR FILIPINO DOMESTIC HELPERS ABROAD. THE NSO-ARMM RECENTLY COMPLETED FIELD WORKS ON THE 2007 POPULATION CENSUS. THE OFFICE IMPLEMENTED BIRTH REGISTRATION IN 15 PROJECT AREAS IN LINE WITH THE UNIVERSAL EFFORT TO ESTABLISH RIGHTS OF CHILDREN TO A NAME AND NATIONALITY. IT’S CIVIL REGISTRY SYSTEM “SERBILIS” CENTER SERVED THOUSANDS OF CLIENTS SEEKING SECURITY COPIES OF BIRTH, MARRIAGE AND DEATH CERTIFICATES AND RELATED DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR VARIOUS TRANSACTIONS OF ARMM CONSTITUENTS. ON SOCIAL SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT, WE ARE HAPPY TO REPORT TO YOU THE FOLLOWING ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS OF MY ADMINISTRATION. THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CONTINUES TO DELIVER EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO IMPROVE THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND SKILLS OF OUR TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND PUPILS. “MULI, LUBOS PO TAYONG NAGPAPASALAMAT SA ATING DONOR COMMUNITIES KAGAYA NG AUSAID-BEAM, ASFP-WORLD BANK, UNICEF, JICA, JBIC, UNFPA, ADB AT NG ATING MGA NGO PARTNERS PARA SA KANILANG WALANG SAWANG PAG SUPORTA SA ATING PAGPAPATUPAD SA MGA PROGRAMANG PANG- KOMUNIDAD.” WITH THEIR SUPPORT, WE WERE ABLE TO CONSTRUCT 80 SCHOOL BUILDINGS, ONE BUREAU OF MADARIS BUILDING AND 103 COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS. A TOTAL OF 28 PRIVATE MADARIS ARE NOW RECOGNIZED BY DepEd FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM IN THEIR PROGRAM. THE BUREAU OF MADARIS HAD FACILITATED THE PRINTING OF 96,000 COPIES OF ARABIC LANGUAGE AND ISLAMIC VALUES TEXTBOOKS FROM THE DepEd-CENTRAL OFFICE FOR DISTRIBUTION TO DepEd DIVISIONS IN THE ARMM FOR THE USE OF OUR GRADE 2 PUPILS. WE ARE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THE CHILD FRIENDLY SCHOOL SYSTEM AND DISTRIBUTED SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO SELECTED SCHOOLS IN SIXTH COUNTRY PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN TARGET AREAS. TO UPGRADE TERTIARY EDUCATION AND TO FURTHER RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES, THE CHED-ARMM HAS ORGANIZED THE MUSLIM EDUCATORS AND RESEARCH FEDERATION IN ASIA TO ASSIST THE CREATION OF ARMM REGIONAL TEXTBOOK BOARD AND IN UPGRADING THE COMPETENCE OF ARMM TEACHERS. THE COMMISSION LIKEWISE SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (MOA) WITH DOST-ARMM AND MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY (MSU) FOR THE ARMM HEALTH RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM. ON TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATION SECTOR, A TOTAL OF 12,416 ARMM CONSTITUENTS WERE GIVEN VARIOUS SKILLS AND LIVELIHOOD TRAINING USING DIFFERENT TRAINING MODALITIES AND 2,027 AVAILED OF SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS. THIS MONTH, TESDA HAS LAUNCHED ITS TWO LANGUAGE SKILLS INSTITUTE TO BETTER SERVE THE ENGLISH PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS OF OVERSEAS-BOUND FILIPINO WORKERS COMING FROM OUR REGION. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS ADOPTED A NEW STRATEGY KNOWN AS THE “FOURMULA ONE”, WHICH AIMS AT ACHIEVING CRITICAL REFORMS AND EFFECTIVE COORDINATION DIRECTED AT IMPROVING QUALITY, EFFICIENCY, EFFECTIVENESS AND EQUITY OF HEALTH SYSTEM RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE ARMM CONSTITUENTS. PRESENTLY, THE DEPARTMENT IS FINALIZING THE ARMM INVESTMENT PLAN FOR HEALTH WHICH WILL SERVE AS THE BLUEPRINT OR OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR REFORMING THE HEALTH SYSTEM IN ARMM. SA ATING EMERGENCY RESPONSE, “TAYO PO AY NAMIGAY NG LIMANG AMBULANSYA SA ATING MGA PROVINCIAL HEALTH OFFICES PARA SA AGARANG PAGTUGON SA MGA EMERGENCY MULA SA SPECIAL PURPOSE FUND NG INYONG LINGKOD.” WE PROVIDED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE DURING THE MEASLES AND CHOLERA OUTBREAKS IN THE PROVINCE OF BASILAN. MEDICAL TEAMS WERE DISPATCHED AT THE HEIGHT OF CONFLICT IN TIPO-TIPO, BASILAN. TWO HUNDRED (200) FAMILIES WERE GIVEN MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN JOLO AND 646 FAMILIES IN SIASI, SULU, RESPECTIVELY. “ATIN DIN PONG BINIGYAN PRIORIDAD ANG MGA PAGPAPATAYO AT PAGSASAAYOS NG MGA INFRASTRAKTURANG PANGKALUSUGAN AT ITO AY NAGTAMO NG POSITIBONG PAGTANGGAP NG ATING MGA KOMUNIDAD.” THIRTY TWO (32) OUT OF 98 RHUs ARE CERTIFIED “SENTRONG SIGLA” OR OFFERING QUALITY HEALTH SERVICES AND 50 RHUs ARE NOW READY FOR ASSESSMENT. THE GARANTISADONG PAMBATA, A WEEKLONG CAMPAIGN ON CHILD PROTECTION FROM 0-5 YEARS OLD, WAS OBSERVED WHERE DOH-ARMM DELIVERED PACKAGE OF HEALTH SERVICES. ALMOST 500,000 CHILDREN WERE GIVEN ROUTINE IMMUNIZATION, VITAMIN A AND SUPPLEMENTATION AND DEWORMING DRUGS. HEALTH DISSEMINATION WAS SIMULTANEOUSLY DONE REGIONWIDE AND THE DAYS OF PEACE CAMPAIGN. HEALTH EMERGENCY TEAM AT THE REGIONAL AND PROVINCIAL HEALTH OFFICES ARE ESTABLISHED AND FUNCTIONAL. MORE IMPORTANTLY, CHILDREN AND WOMEN EVEN IN CONFLICT AND HARD-TO-REACH AREAS IN THE PROVINCES RECEIVED HEALTH SERVICES. THIS WAS DONE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS AND HEALTH PARTNERS SUCH AS UNICEF, USAID THROUGH SHIELD PROJECT. ON SOCIAL WELFARE, WE CONTINUE TO UNDERTAKE OUR COMPREHENSIVE REHABILITATION PROGRAMS TO OUR COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY NATURAL AND MAN-MADE CALAMITIES. TIMELY RELIEF ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED TO 73,733 FAMILIES OR 361,707 PERSONS THAT WERE AFFECTED BY CALAMITIES. CONSIDERING THAT ARMM IS A DISASTER-PRONE AREA, I HAVE DIRECTED THE PREPARATION OF THE ARMM DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN, WHICH IS NOW BEING FINALIZED. UNDER THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM, A TOTAL OF 5,987 IDPs WERE PROVIDED WITH RELIEF ASSISTANCE; 22,349 LACTATING MOTHERS AND 19,646 CHILDREN WERE SERVED UNDER THE MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION COMPONENT AND 106,378 GRADE SCHOOL PUPILS AND 3,890 PRE-SCHOOLERS AVAILED OF THE FOOD FOR EDUCATION COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM. ON FOOD FOR SCHOOL PROGRAM, DSWD HAD SERVED A TOTAL OF 14,958 PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE DIFFERENT DAY CARE CENTERS REGION-WIDE. A TOTAL OF 226 LEARNING LIVELIHOOD AND FOOD SUFFICIENCY SUBPROJECTS WERE COMPLETED UNDER THE ASFP COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE COMPONENT. “PARA MAABOT NATIN ANG PANGANGAILANGAN NG ATING MGA KABATAANG NAULILA, SA PAMAMAGITAN NG RCBW AT REGIONAL LINE AGENCIES, NAMIGAY PO TAYO NG MGA GAMIT AT PAGKAIN PARA SA MGA KABABAIHAN AT KABATAANG NAULILA.” “LALO PANG GUMANDA ANG ATING SERBISYO SA PAMAMAGITAN NG ATING ITINAYONG REGIONAL SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER NA MATATAGPUAN SA BARIO SEMBA, DOS, SHARIFF KABUNSUAN.” WE HAVE ALSO ORGANIZED A REGIONAL INTER-AGENCY COUNCIL TO CLOSELY COORDINATE AND MONITOR ANTI-TRAFFICKING CASES AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN. ON LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT, A TOTAL OF 883 JOB VACANCIES WERE SOLICITED. WITH THESE VACANCIES; 1,040 APPLICANTS WERE REGISTERED, 890 WERE REFERRED AND 807 WERE PLACED IN THE DIFFERENT ESTABLISHMENTS. ON CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT, THE “ANGAT KULTURA 2007” WAS LAUNCHED TO RECOGNIZE THE TALENTS AND ARTISTRY OF OUR LOCAL INSTRUMENTALISTS. A CULTURAL SHOWROOM IS NOW BEING HOUSED AT THE ARMM MUSEUM AIMED AT PROMOTING AND PRESERVING OUR RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE. THE REGIONAL SPORTS COORDINATION OFFICE HAS SENT A PARTICIPANT TO THE 2007 ARAFURA GAMES IN DARWIN, AUSTRALIA LAST MAY 2007 AND HAD DONATED VARIOUS SPORTS EQUIPMENT TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS IN THE REGION. THE CDO/BYA HAD COORDINATED VARIOUS YOUTH ACTIVITIES INCLUDING THE SHIP FOR SOUTHEAST ASIAN YOUTH PROGRAM FOR 2007. THE OSCC HAD ACCESSED ONE MILLION PESO- GRANT FROM THE COUNTRYSIDE DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDING WHICH WAS ALREADY COMPLETED AND TURNED OVER TO THE CONCERNED LGU. A DOCUMENTATION AND CODIFICATION OF THE TEDURAY AND LAMBANGIAN CUSTOMARY LAWS AND TRIBAL GOVERNANCE INTO THREE PARTS: THE TRIBAL CONSTITUTION, CIVIL CODE CREED AND THE PENAL CODE WERE ALREADY SUBMITTED TO THE RLA-ARMM FOR LEGISLATION. MR. SPEAKER, WE HAD ALSO PREPARED OUR FIRST PROGRESS REPORT ON MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS. THIS REPORT REVEALS THAT ARMM IS MODERATELY ON TRACK IN THE ACHIEVEMENT OF MDG TARGETS BY 2015. “ANG IBIG SABIHIN PO NITO AY KAILANGAN NATING MAGTULONG-TULONG PARA MAPAGANDA ANG KALIDAD NG ATING EDUKASYON, KALUSUGAN AT LABANAN ANG KAHIRAPAN PARA MAABOT NATIN ANG MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS TARGETS SA TAONG 2015.” THE DPWH-ARMM UNDERSCORES THAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS IN SUPPORT TO THE REGION’S ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROGRESS. IT STRENGTHENS THE LINKAGES BETWEEN AND AMONG REGIONS AND PROVINCES; PROMOTE INTER-ISLAND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES AND PEOPLE INTERACTIONS. A TOTAL OF 658 REGIONAL, PROVINCIAL AND DISTRICT IMPACT PROJECTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED UNDER THE 2005 AND 2006 ANNUAL INFRASTRUCTURE SUBSIDY AMOUNTING TO P1.3 BILLION PESOS. ALSO FUNDED UNDER THE 2007 ANNUAL ASSISTANCE WERE 149 REGIONAL, PROVINCIAL AND DISTRICT IMPACT PROJECTS WHICH ARE EITHER COMPLETED OR ON-GOING. UNDER THE US$33.6 MILLION DOLLARS ARMM SOCIAL FUND PROJECT FUNDED BY WORLD BANK, A TOTAL OF 1,076 COMMUNITY-BASED INFRASTRUCTURES OUT OF 1,630 SUBPROJECTS ARE EITHER COMPLETED OR ON-GOING. TWELVE (12) OUT OF THIRTEEN (13) STRATEGIC REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE SUB-PROJECTS WERE COMPLETED WITH ONE (1) TEACHERS TRAINING CENTER UNDER CONSTRUCTION. UNDER THE US$26.3 MILLION DOLLAR JBIC COMPONENT OF THE ARMM SOCIAL FUND PROJECT, SEVEN (7) COMMUNITY BASED INFRASTRUCTURE HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, SEVEN (7) OUT OF 33 STRATEGIC REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE ARE READY FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND 26 ARE ON THE PIPELINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION. THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF THE TMS AND ODA OFFICE, WE COORDINATED THE SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECTS FROM THE PROCEEDS OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES FROM THE US GOVERNMENT. AS A RESULT, A TOTAL OF 55 PROJECTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AMOUNTING TO P213.23 MILLION PESOS. THEY ARE NOW BEING IMPLEMENTED IN 30 MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REGION. THE DOTC HAS STRENGTHENED ITS SYSTEMS FOR MONITORING, SUPERVISION OF COLLECTION AND REMITTANCES OF FEES INCLUDING THE MONITORING OF TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANIES OPERATING IN ARMM. THE DEPARTMENT WILL EXERT ITS EFFORT FOR THE FINAL TURN-OVER OF THE ASSETS, PERSONNEL AND FACILITIES OF AIR TRANSPORTATION OFFICE AND TOWARDS THE FULL OPERATION OF LTO-ARMM. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WHAT ARE OUR POLICY DIRECTIONS AND PRIORITIES FOR 2008? FIRST, I AM ASKING THE REGIONAL ASSEMBLY TO REVIEW RA 9054 AND IDENTIFY WHAT PROVISIONS ARE YET TO BE IMPLEMENTED OR TO BE LEGISLATED; WHAT AMENDMENTS ARE TO BE MADE TO MAKE ARMM MORE VIABLE AND SUSTAINABLE. I AM ALSO ASKING THE ASSEMBLY TO FAST-TRACK THE ENACTMENT OF OUR ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, REGIONAL INVESTMENTS AND INCENTIVES CODE; AMENDMENT OF OUR REGIONAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND REGIONAL INTERNAL REVENUE CODES TO MAKE THEM MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE AUTONOMOUS REGION. WE WILL STRENGTHEN OUR SUPPORT TO THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 1996 GRP-MNLF FINAL PEACE AGREEMENT AND THE FULL COMPLETION OF THE GRP-MILF PEACE NEGOTIATION. WE WILL SUPPORT AND HELP THE EDUCATION AND INFORMATION CAMPAIGN ON RA 9372 OR THE HUMAN SECURITY ACT OF 2007 FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE LAW. WE WILL REORGANIZE AND STRENGTHEN LOCAL BODIES THAT WILL HELP PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE WELFARE OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND OTHER DISADVANTAGED GROUPS. WE WILL FAST-TRACK THE DISTRIBUTION OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS TO AGRARIAN REFORM BENEFICIARIES UNDER THE COMPREHENSIVE AGRARIAN REFORM PROGRAM; WE WILL INSTITUTIONALIZE INTER-AGENCY BODIES TO STRENGTHEN AND FAST-TRACK THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HALAL INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT IN THE REGION. ARMM WILL BE A STRONG PARTNER AND ADVOCATE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR MAJOR PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS UNDER THE MINDANAO SUPRA REGION. WE WILL RATIONALIZE THE ALLOCATION OF 2008 ANNUAL ASSISTANCE BASED ON THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (LGPMS) AND ACCOMPLISHMENT IN PREVIOUS PROJECTS. “ANG PAGBIBIGAY NG MGA SUSUNOD NA PROYEKTONG INPRASTRAKTURA AY IBABATAY NATIN SA PERFORMANCE NG ATING MGA LGUs” WE WILL IMPLEMENT IN ARMM THE JOINT NEDA, DOF, DILG AND DBM GUIDELINES ON THE HARMONIZATION OF LOCAL PLANNING, INVESTMENT, PROGRAMMING, REVENUE ADMINISTRATION, BUDGETING, AND EXPENDITURE MANAGEMENT. FINALLY, MR. SPEAKER, TWO YEARS IS NOT ENOUGH FOR US TO ACHIEVE A FULL GROWTH AND STABILITY OF ARMM. BUT GIVEN THE COMPLEXITY OF PROBLEMS IN THE REGION PRIOR TO OUR ASSUMPTION, WE CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY BROUGHT THE REGION TOWARDS A BETTER PATH OF MORE SUSTAINED PEACE AND DISCERNABLE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I AM OPTIMISTIC THAT WITH THE CONTINUING SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE REGIONAL ASSEMBLY, THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNORS, THE CITY AND MUNICIPAL MAYORS, AND OTHER LOCAL LEADERS, THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, THE DONOR COMMUNITY, THE AFP AND THE PNP, THE MNLF AND THE MILF AND ALL OTHER LEADERS OF THE REGION, WE SHALL BE ABLE TO BRING A MEANINGFUL CHANGES IN THE LIVES OF OUR PEOPLE IN THE YEARS AHEAD. AND SO I ASK YOU TO MAINTAIN OUR UNITY AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS, STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIP AND TO CONTINUE TO DO OUR TASK IN THE BEST WAY WE CAN—NOT ONLY IS THIS OUR RESPONSIBILITY BUT OUR MORAL OBLIGATION TO THE BANGSAMORO PEOPLE. THANK YOU, MABUHAY TAYONG LAHAT AND WASSALAM. <[bB][rR]> |
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