COTABATO CITY – Maguindanao del Norte marks its second founding anniversary with a grand celebration spanning from September 9 to 17, 2024, under the theme: “Katatagan at Pagkakaisa: Susi sa Patuloy na Pag-unlad ng Maguindanao del Norte.”
Governor Abdulraof Macacua and Vice Governor Abdulnasser Abas inaugurated the event with a ceremonial gong beating on Monday. The anniversary celebration will feature various activities, including ball games, cooking competitions, cultural dances, medical missions, Islamic competition, a grand kanduli, and a float parade, among many others.
Reflecting on the province’s progress, Macacua shared with pride, “Before, we were among the poorest provinces […] but now, Maguindanao del Norte is no longer among the poorest provinces – we are in rank 14.”
In the 2024 Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index released by the Department of Trade and Industry, Maguindanao del Norte ranked 14 among the other provinces in the Philippines based on population and income weighted average of the overall scores of cities and municipalities under a province. The rankings of cities and municipalities are based on the sum of their scores on economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure, resiliency, and innovation.
Macacua emphasized the critical role of different municipalities, underscoring how their contributions can propel the province’s advancement.
“Kung hindi magkasundo ang executive and legislative departments, maniwala kayo, walang mangyayari sa atin. We can uplift the lives of the people of Maguindanao del Norte if the legislative and executive departments cooperate with each other,” he said.
On the other hand, Vice Governor Abas emphasized that the celebration marks not just the founding of the province but also serves as a platform for uniting and reflecting on its rich history and achievements.
“As we launch this program featuring various sportsmanship activities and cultural competitions, we are not only commemorating September 17th, the day our province was officially and legally divided through a plebiscite, but also an opportunity to recognize our collective efforts, dedication, and aspirations for a brighter and more prosperous future,”
Maguindanao del Norte’s establishment
The province’s journey began on September 17, 2022, when an election was held to vote on the division of Maguindanao into two provinces: Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.
A total of 706,558 residents voted in favor of the division and just 5,209 against it. Republic Act No. 11550 formalized the decision, and the separation was affirmed by the Supreme Court.
The province is composed of 12 municipalities namely: Barira, Buldon, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Northern Kabuntalan, Parang, North Upi, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, and Talitay. (Myrna S. Tepadan/BIO)
