BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim leads the mass oath taking ceremony of the newly-elected Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials in Cotabato City and Special Geographic Areas (SGA) on Nov. 6, 2023 at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex (SKCC), Bangsamoro Government Center in Cotabato City. (Michael Camsa/BIO)
COTABATO CITY—An inspiring mass oath-taking ceremony unfolded in Cotabato City on Nov. 6, as newly-elected Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSK) officials from the city and Special Geographic Area (SGA) pledged their commitment to Moral Governance.
BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim presided over the event, setting the tone for a new era of leadership and hope deeply rooted in unity and progress—a guide for an empowered, cohesive, and progressive Bangsamoro.
Following the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite in January and February 2019, the 37 barangays in Cotabato City and 63 in SGA became an integral part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Chief Minister Ebrahim emphasized the enormity of leadership as a responsibility bestowed upon the officials.
“Leadership is a big task. It is about responsibility given to you to lead the people to the right path in improving their status in lives,” he stressed.
He urged the officials to lead their constituents devoid of all evils, particularly graft and corruption, fight against the use of illegal drugs, and maintain peace, order, and security in their respective barangays.
“Let us rally to do our duties in support of the region’s Moral Governance. Your success in governing the barangay will be a success of Bangsamoro, a success of BARMM, and a success of all of us,” Ebrahim said.
Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo, who heads the Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG), stressed the importance of physical presence and accessibility in their respective barangays.
He said the status of the incumbent officials is on hold over capacity which means the newly elected officials could assume office immediately after being proclaimed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and have taken their oath of office.
“Let us be reminded that when you assumed your office, your physical presence in your respective barangay is crucial in leading your constituents which best illustrates the Moral Governance,” Sinarimbo said.
He underscored the need for clear direction, vision, and action plans to be successful leaders
“The best leaders are those who easily and always reach their people, especially in times when people need them the most,” he added.
Meanwhile, Assistant Senior Minister Abdullah ‘Dong’ Cusain called on all officials to fulfill their “Amanah” or responsibility to the people they serve.
“To all of us who are given the opportunity of service, let us do our best to fulfill this Amanah or responsibility to our people,” Cusain said.
Cotabato City Mayor Mohammad ‘Bruce’ Matabalao’s “Para sa Lahat” slogan transcended politics and served as a guiding principle to unite Cotabateños.
He called on the newly elected officials to transform past divisions, hate, and anger into a driving force for unity and collective progress.
“To our newly elected officials, carry the lessons of the past as you forge a path of integrity of service and let the divisions, the hate, and the anger be transformed into the fuel that drives us towards unity and collective progress,” he added.
The City Mayor also extended an invitation to all 37 barangays to the People’s Palace, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to transform ideas into tangible realities that improve the lives of their constituents.
“Let us work hand and hand, shoulder to shoulder to transform these platforms into tangible realities that will elevate the lives of our constituents,” Matabalao said. (Kasan Usop, Jr./BIO)
