CHIEF MINISTER’S REPORT TO THE BANGSAMORO
JANUARY 21, 2022
A’UDHU BILLAHI MIN ASH-SHAYTAAN-IR-RAJEEM
BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHEEM
TO THE WALI OF THE BANGSAMORO: SHIEK KHALIFA NANDO, PARLIAMENT SPEAKER: ATTY. ALI PANGALIAN BALINDONG, COLLEAGUES IN THE BANGSAMORO TRANSITION AUTHORITY PARLIAMENT, MEMBERS OF THE CABINET, FRIENDS AND PARTNERS FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT, LADIES, AND GENTLEMEN, MY FELLOW BANGSAMORO:
ASSALAMU ALAYKUM WA RAHMAHTULLAHI TAALA WA BARAKATUH.
TODAY, WE COME TOGETHER IN REMEMBRANCE OF WHAT MIGHT VERY WELL BE THE MOST NOTEWORTHY CHAPTER OF OUR RECENT HISTORY – THE RATIFICATION OF THE BANGSAMORO ORGANIC LAW AND THE SUBSEQUENT ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO.
THE SPIRIT OF THAT MOMENTOUS EVENT THREE YEARS AGO STILL LIVES ON TODAY. WE WERE MANDATED BY OUR PEOPLE TO PUT UP A GOVERNMENT THAT WILL FINALLY PUT TO REST THE DECADES-LONG CONFLICT, TURMOIL AND WORRIES THAT OUR PEOPLE HAD GONE THROUGH.
THE BANGSAMORO TRANSITION AUTHORITY TOOK AN OATH TO TURN THAT VISION INTO A REALITY, TO TURN OUR HOPES INTO SUCCESS STORIES AND TO FINALLY RESURRECT THE PRIDE OF THIS BEAUTIFUL REGION AND OUR RICH HISTORY, CULTURE AND TRADITIONS.
TO SAY THAT WE HAVE GONE THROUGH A LOT THROUGHOUT THIS TRANSITION PERIOD IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. BUT THROUGH OUR UNITY, COOPERATION, AND STRONG COMMITMENT TO REMAIN TRUE TO OUR OATH OF MORAL GOVERNANCE, WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE MILESTONE AFTER MILESTONE AND OVERCOME CHALLENGES AFTER CHALLENGES.
I AM THRILLED TO JOIN YOU TODAY AS WE LOOK BACK ON WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED THROUGHOUT THE TRANSITION PERIOD PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT HELPED CHANGE THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE FOR THE BETTER AND HOW WE ARE TRANSFORMING THE BANGSAMORO INTO A PROGRESSIVE AND PEACEFUL HOMELAND.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS THE CHIEF MINISTER’S REPORT TO THE BANGSAMORO:
IN TERMS OF OUR MAIN PRIORITIES AND FUNCTIONS UNDER ARTICLE XVI OF RA 11054, WE WERE ABLE TO SUBMIT THE TRANSITION PLAN TO THE PARLIAMENT ON JUNE 17, 2019 WHICH SERVED AS OUR INITIAL BASIS AND GUIDE FOR THE ORGANIZATIONAL PLAN, SCHEDULE OF PHASING OUT OF EMPLOYEES, AND OTHER TRANSITION MECHANISM. OF THE 6 PRIORITY CODES, 3 HAVE ALREADY BEEN ENACTED, THE BANGSAMORO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, THE BANGSAMORO CIVIL SERVICE CODE, AND THE BANGSAMORO EDUCATION CODE. THE LOCAL GOVERNANCE CODE HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE PARLIAMENT AND IT IS NOW AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL. THE ELECTORAL CODE IS TO BE SCHEDULED FOR DISCUSSION AT THE CABINET AFTER IT HAD GONE THROUGH SEVERAL REVISIONS AT THE CABINET COMMITTEE LEVEL. THE DRAFT REVENUE CODE, ON THE OTHER HAND, WILL BE COMPLETED WITHIN THIS YEAR. IN SHAA ALLAH. WE HAVE CARRIED OUT THE GRADUAL PHASING OUT EMPLOYEES WHILE ENSURING THAT THERE WILL BE MINIMAL DISRUPTION TO THE CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES. THIS WAS DONE BY STRATEGICALLY EXTENDING PERTINENT EMPLOYEES, PARALLEL TO OUR MASSIVE HIRING PROCESS. SPEAKING OF WHICH, THE BANGSAMORO JOB PORTAL WAS LAUNCHED AS PART OF OUR CALL FOR MORAL GOVERNANCE, PARTICULARLY OUR POLICY TO IMPLEMENT AN INDEPENDENT AND CREDIBLE PLACEMENT AND HIRING PROCESS. AS OF JANUARY 19, 2022 THE PORTAL HAS RECEIVED 462, 805 APPLICATIONS FOR THE 6, 156 POSITIONS POSTED.
THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITIES OF THE BTA DURING THE TRANSITION PERIOD AND WE CAN SAY THAT WE HAVE FULFILLED MAJORITY OF THESE. ALHAMDULILLAH. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY, HOWEVER, IS NOT CONFINED IN JUST FULFILLING THESE PRIORITIES AS REFLECTED IN THE LAW. WE TAKE THE TRANSITION PERIOD AS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPLEMENT MAJOR PROGRAMS, POLICIES, AND REFORMS AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD A RESPONSIVE AND PROGRESSIVE BANGSAMORO GOVERNMENT.
IN TERMS OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE BANGSAMORO BOARD OF INVESTMENTS RECORDED A TOTAL OF PHP2.8-BILLION WORTH OF INVESTMENTS FOR 2021, EXCEEDING ITS PHP2.5-BILLION TARGET FOR THE YEAR. SINCE 2019, WE HAVE RECORDED A TOTAL OF 6.5 BILLION PESOS WORTH OF INVESTMENT WHICH TRANSLATES TO 4, 809 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
IT IS, THEREFORE, SAFE TO SAY THAT WITH A SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER PEACE AND ORDER SITUATION, OUR REGION IS ECONOMICALLY VIBRANT DESPITE THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC. INVESTORS ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE CONFIDENT, AND WE AIM TO SUSTAIN SUCH BY ALSO IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS AND ASSISTANCE FAVORABLE FOR BUSINESSES AND WORKERS.
FOR INSTANCE, THROUGH OUR LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT MINISTRY, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO 12,037 FORMAL SECTOR WORKERS IN VARIOUS BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS. THE MTIT ALSO PROVIDED CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT FOR 1, 391 MICRO-SMALL-MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (MSMES), while the Ministry of Science and Technology provided technology and technical to a total of 54 MSMEs. WE RECOGNIZE the MSMEs AS ONE OF THE EMERGING KEY SECTORS OF OUR ECONOMY.
I AM ALSO PLEASED TO INFORM ALL OF YOU THAT OUR MINISTRY OF PUBLIC ORDER AND SAFETY HAS SETTLED AROUND 175 RIDO CASES AND HAS TRAINED 569 LOCAL MEDIATORS THAT CAN HELP US IN PROMOTING PEACE ACROSS OUR COMMUNITIES.
EDUCATION, OF COURSE, REMAINS A PRIORITY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY; THAT’S WHY WE HAVE CONTINUED TO BUILD CLIMATE-RESILIENT CLASSROOMS, HIRE COMPETENT TEACHERS, AND FURNISH REFORMS INCLUDING A PROPER BALANCE OF SECULAR AND ISLAMIC EDUCATION, THE BANGSAMORO HISTORY AND PROVIDING MORE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
WE HAVE AWARDED A TOTAL OF 18, 032 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION TRAINING THAT PROVIDES RELEVANT SKILLS TRAINING TO ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC SKILLS NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
THE ACCESS TO HIGHER AND MODERN EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (AHME-SP) IS A FLAGSHIP SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM OF THE BANGSAMORO GOVERNMENT IMPLEMENTED BY THE MBHTE. IT PROVIDES PHP 60,000.00 ASSISTANCE TO STUDENT BENEFICIARY/SCHOLAR PER ACADEMIC YEAR. 1,400 QUALIFIED STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THIS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR FYS 2020-2021. FOR FY 2022, WE ARE SET TO PROVIDE ANOTHER 1, 400 SCHOLARSHIPS IN OUR HOPES TO PRODUCE AT LEAST ONE PROFESSIONAL PER FAMILY IN THE BANGSAMORO.
WE ALSO HIRED QUALIFIED 2, 479 ASATIDZ AS ISLAMIC STUDIES AND ARABIC LANGUAGE (ISAL) TEACHERS TO BE DEPLOYED IN VARIOUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THIS IS TO ENSURE THE INTEGRATION IN THE EDUCATION CURRICULUM OF THE TEACHING OF ISLAMIC AND ARABIC STUDIES FOR MUSLIM PUPILS AND STUDENTS.
WE CONTINUE TO UPGRADE EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT THROUGHOUT THE REGION BY CONSTRUCTING SCHOOL BUILDINGS, PROVIDING NEEDED EQUIPMENT SUCH AS LAPTOPS, COMPUTERS, LEARNERS KIT, TEACHERS KIT, PRINTING SUPPLIES, TEXTBOOK, AND OUR SIGNATURE BANGSAMORO ARMCHAIR WHICH HAS NOW TOTALED TO 66, 659.
THE GOVERNMENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (GIP) AND SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR EMPLOYMENT OF STUDENTS (SPES) OF MOLE PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR POOR BUT DESERVING STUDENTS TO BE EMPLOYED WHILE STUDYING. IT ALSO PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW COLLEGE GRADUATES OF BOTH ENGLISH AND ARABIC STUDIES TO ACQUIRE EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE ESTABLISHMENTS. A TOTAL OF 6,400 SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND COLLEGE GRADUATES WERE ABLE TO AVAIL OF THE PROGRAM
The M.O.S.T. also awarded 314 scholarships to incoming college students who opted to pursue a course in Science and Technology. Scholars get assistance worth Php 40, 000 per semester until they successfully graduate from their chosen field.
AS A REGION THAT HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY A MULTITUDE OF SOCIOPOLITICAL DISTURBANCE FOR THE PAST FEW DECADES, IT IS MANDATORY FOR US TO PRIORITIZE SOCIAL WELFARE DURING THIS TRANSITION PERIOD.
ALONG WITH THE ONGOING RESPONSES TO THE SEVERE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 IN VARIOUS COMMUNITIES IN THE BARMM, WE CONTINUED PURSUING SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAMS DEDICATED TO VARIOUS MARGINALIZED GROUPS THAT NEED OUR SUPPORT THE MOST, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WOMEN, CHILDREN, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, SOLO PARENTS AND OUT OF SCHOOL YOUTH.
THIS ENTAILS PROVIDING MORE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THAT CAN STREAMLINE ALL OUR SOCIOECONOMIC REFORMS IN THE REGION. TO NAME A FEW, WE HAVE THE MSSD’S EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WHICH HAS PROVIDED 571,944 BENEFICIARIES WITH COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY RELIEF ASSISTANCE AND SERVICES TO DISPLACED PERSONS AND DISASTER AFFECTED FAMILIES. THE BANGSAMORO SAGIP KABUHAYAN PROVIDED 20,714 BENEFICIARIES WITH LIVELIHOOD SEED CAPITAL AND SKILLS TRAINING
KUPKOP PROGRAM, A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR POOR AND VULNERABLE ORPHANS THROUGH WHICH WE HAVE PROVIDED 11,816 ORPHANS WITH FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR THEIR NUTRITIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS. WE LIKEWISE HAVE THE KALINGA SA MAY KAPANSANAN PROGRAM, ALSO A LANDMARK PROGRAM IN WHICH 30,810 PWDS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED WITH SOCIAL PENSION SUBSIDIES EQUIVALENT TO PHP 6,000 PER YEAR.
THE ANGAT BANGSAMORO: KABATAAN TUNGO SA KARUNUNGAN PROGRAM (ABK) PROVIDED FINANCIAL AID FOR INDIGENT STUDENTS TO COVER SCHOOL-RELATED EXPENSES SUCH AS SCHOOL SUPPLIES, BOOKS, SCHOOL PROJECTS, INTERNET/DATA LOAD, AND OTHER RELATED EXPENSES. TO DATE, 31,627 STUDENTS BENEFITED FROM THIS IMPORTANT PROGRAM.
THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF MINISTER HAS ALSO IMPLEMENTED VARIOUS SPECIAL PROGRAMS AIMED AT ADDRESSING AND RESPONDING TO THE SHORT AND LONG-TERM NEEDS OF OUR PEOPLE. THE AYUDANG MEDIKAL MULA SA BANGSAMORO GOVERNMENT (AMBAG) HAS PROVIDED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO AT LEAST 20, 399 POOR AND INDIGENT FAMILIES THROUGH OUR 28 PARTNER HOSPITALS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE REGION. 72 PERCENT OF THE BENEFICIARIES WENT HOME WITHOUT PAYING A SINGLE CENTAVO FROM THEIR POCKETS. THE TULONG ALAY SA BANGSAMORO NANGANGAILANGAN OR PROJECT TABANG IS A HUMANITARIAN PROJECT PURPOSIVELY CREATED TO ALLEVIATE THE SITUATION OF BANGSAMORO COMMUNITIES, HELP THE PEOPLE IN THE GRASSROOTS, AND BRING THE GOVERNMENT CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE. IT HAS SERVED 1, 327 COMMUNITIES, AND BENEFITED 114, 181 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THOUGH ITS 11 PROGRAMS. WE ALSO HAVE THE KAPAYAPAAN SA PAMAYANAN (KAPYANAN) PROJECT THROUGH WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO AWARD 258 UNITS OF HOUSES TO SELECTED BENEFICIARIES. THERE ARE THOUSANDS MORE ONGOING HOUSING PROJECTS TO BE AWARDED SOON. AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT AND MORAL OBLIGATION TO OUR MARANAO BROTHERS AFFECTED BY THE MARAWI SIEGE, THE OCM ALSO IMPLEMENTED VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS THROUGH OUR MARAWI REHABILITATION PROGRAM. SINCE 2019, WE HAVE ALLOTTED AROUND 1 BILLION PESOS TO FUND OUR OWN PROGRAMS THAT WILL SUPPLEMENT THE EFFORTS OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT IN ITS TASK-FORCE BANGON MARAWI.
COVID19 CONTINUES TO CHALLENGE OUR REGION, THE COUNTRY, AND THE WHOLE WORLD. BUT IT ALSO SERVED AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHOW WHAT WE ARE CAPABLE OF DOING AS A GOVERNMENT. THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, WE WERE ABLE TO CONSISTENTLY RECORD THE LOWEST ACTIVE AND TOTAL CASES OF COVID 19. WE WERE QUICK IN PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO AFFECTED FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS. THE FISCAL AND POLITICAL AUTONOMY WE NOW ENJOY HELPED US TO QUICKLY BUILD ISOLATION CENTERS AND TREATMENT FACILITIES, TO PROVIDE UPGRADE AND EVENTUALLY BUILD LABORATORIES FOR TESTING, AMONG OTHERS.
IN TERMS OF OUR VACCINATION, AS OF JANUARY 19, 2022. WE HAVE ADMINISTERED A TOTAL OF 1, 587, 981 DOSES. 25 PERCENT OF OUR POPULATION ARE NOW FULLY VACCINATED. THOUGH ADMITTEDLY, THIS IS STILL FAR FROM OUR TARGET OF AT LEAST 70 PERCENT, OUR MINISTRY OF HEALTH IS LEADING OUR INTER-AGENCY EFFORT IN DOING EVERYTHING WE COULD TO REACH THIS TARGET AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ONCE AGAIN THANK OUR HEALTH WORKERS, AND ALL OF THOSE WHO SERVED AT THE FRONTLINES. MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG SERBISYO AT SAKRIPISYO.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE BANGSAMORO GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO CONTINUED GIVING FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION THROUGHOUT THE TRANSITION PERIOD:
TO SECURE AND PROTECT FORESTS IN THE BANGSAMORO REGION, THE BANGSAMORO GOVERNMENT HIRED 400 EX-MILF COMBATANTS AS NEW “PALAW” (MOUNTAIN) OR FOREST RANGERS DURING THE LAUNCHING OF THE INTEGRATED BANGSAMORO GREENING PROGRAM (IBGP) LAST 2019. THE PALAW RANGERS WILL GUARD THE REGION’S 301, 894 HECTARES OF FOREST COVER. THIS PROGRAM IS ALSO PART OF SUSTAINING PEACE AND ORDER IN THE REGION.
ALSO, THROUGH MENRE’S IBGP, 14,806 HECTARES OF BARMM FORESTLANDS WERE REFORESTED AND REHABILITATED FROM 2019-2021
WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT NO ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS ARE BEING VIOLATED. IN FACT, JUST LAST DECEMBER, A TOTAL OF 344 RED LAUAN FOREST PRODUCTS MEASURED AT 792 BOARD FEET WERE APPREHENDED IN MAGUINDANAO.
WE ALSO RECORDED SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN THE REVENUES OF BARMM FROM MINERAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT. HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE OF THE REVENUE GENERATED FROM THE PREVIOUS YEARS UNTIL THE ASSUMPTION OF BARMM SHOWED AN INCREASED OF 61% WHEN COMPARED FROM 2016-2018 AND THE COLLECTED REVENUE OF BARMM FROM 2019-2021 TOTALED TO PHP561,393,159.65.
PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT IS NOT JUST A REGIONAL CONCERN. THIS IS WHY WITH OUR ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS AND POLLUTION CONTROL PROGRAM (ERPCP) WE LOOK INTO THE COMPLIANCE OF BARMM LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS TO THE PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9003 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ECOLOGICAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2001. FORTY FOUR (44) BARMM LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS HAVE ALREADY APPROVED AND OPERATIONALIZED 10-YEAR INTEGRATED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN.
AGRICULTURE REMAINS TO BE ONE THE BIGGEST SECTOR OF THE REGION’S ECONOMY AND THEREFORE WE HAVE BEEN LAUNCHING KEY PROGRAMS AND INTERVENTIONS FOR OUR FARMERS AND FISHERFOLKS.
MAFAR, UNDER THE BINHI RICE PROGRAM HAS DISTRIBUTED 236,976 BAGS OF ASSORTED SEEDS TO THE FARMERS IN THE BARMM REGION. FOR THE FIRST TIME, BARMM WAS ABLE TO HIT THE HIGHEST PALAY YIELDS WITH A TOTAL OF 36.46% INCREASE (310,012 METRIC TONS). UNDER CORN PROGRAM, ON THE OTHER HAND, WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED A TOTAL OF 456,150 BAGS OF CORN SEEDS TO THE IDENTIFIED FARMERS ALONG WITH A TOTAL OF 750,000 BAGS OF FERTILIZERS. THE CORN ALSO YIELDS AN INCREASE OF 12.58% (365,042 METRIC TONS).
IN TERMS OF FISHERIES PRODUCTION SUPPORT, PARTICULARLY THROUGH THE ISDA PROGRAM, WE WERE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE MORE THAN 90,000 TILAPIA FINGERLINGS TO FISHERFOLK-MEMBERS OF 34 COOPERATIVES. WE ALSO INAUGURATED THE BIGGEST RESEARCH OUTREACH STATION IN TAWI-TAWI AND PARTNERED WITH MSU-TAWI-TAWI FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH PRIORITIES IN THE AREA.
AS PART OF MAFAR’S MANDATE, WE ALSO VOW TO PROTECT OUR FISHERFOLKS. AS OF DECEMBER 2021, WE HAVE APPREHENDED A TOTAL OF 33 BOATS ILLEGALLY FISHING IN THE BARMM WATERS WITH A TOTAL OF 94 RECORDED VIOLATIONS. ONE OF WHICH IS A FOREIGN FISHING BOAT.
TO DATE, WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED A TOTAL OF 803 EMANCIPATION PATENT AND CERTIFICATE OF LAND OWNERSHIP AWARD TO 913 AGRARIAN REFORM BENEFICIARIES COVERING A TOTAL AREA OF 2, 472.924 HECTARES.
THE BANGSAMORO GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO CONSIDERED THE PRIME IMPORTANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN RECALIBRATING THE STATUS OF OUR REGION.
THE PUBLIC WORKS MINISTRY HAS BEGUN CONSTRUCTING AN ARRAY OF ROADS, BRIDGES AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURES ACROSS BARMM – CONNECTING TOWNS TO THE REST OF MINDANAO AND VICE VERSA. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE REGION’S HISTORY, EVERY MUNICIPALITY HAS THEIR EQUITABLE SHARE IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
ON ROAD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, THE MINISTRY HAS CONSTRUCTED, PAVED, IMPROVED, AND REHABILITATED 457.748 KILOMETERS OF LOCAL ROAD AND TARGETS TO COMPLETE AN ADDITIONAL OF 1,198 KILOMETERS OF LOCAL ROAD THIS YEAR.
IN TERMS OF BRIDGES, WE HAVE CONSTRUCTED AND, REHABILITATED 34 BRIDGES. AND THE MINISTRY TARGETS TO COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION OF ADDITIONAL 126 BRIDGES THIS YEAR
A TOTAL OF 26 FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS WERE CONSTRUCTED AND REHABILITATED. THIS YEAR, AN ADDITIONAL OF 190 FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS WILL COMPLETE ITS CONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION.
WE HAVE ALSO IMPLEMENTED A TOTAL OF 14 PORT CONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION PROJECTS. THIS YEAR, AN ADDITIONAL OF 56 PORT PROJECTS WILL BE COMPLETED.
ON WATER SUPPLY, A TOTAL OF 170 WATER SYSTEM PROJECTS WERE CONSTRUCTED. THIS YEAR, AN ADDITIONAL OF 215 WATER SYSTEM PROJECTS WILL BE COMPLETED.
THROUGH THE MILG, WE CAPACITATED AND PROVIDED CRITICAL LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT TO LGUS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES SUCH AS 120 BARANGAY HALLS, 27 PUBLIC MARKETS, 7 MUNICIPAL POLICE STATION, 18 MUNICIPAL HALL BUILDINGS, 5 DESALINATION MACHINES, AND OTHER CONSTRUCTION OF GOVERNMENT FACILITIES SUCH AS SANITARY LANDFILL AND PUBLIC TERMINAL THAT ARE ABOUT TO BE FULFILLED WITHIN A YEAR.
THE HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY HAS ALSO REPORTED THAT THERE ARE NOW 1,290 HOUSING UNITS THAT ARE EITHER FINISHED OR SET FOR COMPLETION SINCE ITS CONSTRUCTION LAST MAY 2021.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BASED ON THE LATEST AND OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY, THE BARMM’S POVERTY INCIDENCE WAS REPORTED TO HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASED OVER THE PAST THREE (3) YEARS: FROM 55.9 PERCENT IN 2018 TO 39.4 PERCENT IN 2021. WE RECORDED THE HIGHEST AND THE ONLY DOUBLE-DIGIT REDUCTION IN TERMS OF POVERTY INCIDENCE IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY. WE ACHIEVED THIS DESPITE THE ONGOING PANDEMIC AND DESPITE UNDERGOING THE DIFFICULT TRANSITION PERIOD.
ACHIEVEMENT AND INDICATORS SUCH AS THESE ONLY VALIDATE THAT WHEN ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, WE ARE INDEED HEADING INTO THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THE BIGGER CHALLENGE FOR US NOW IS HOW TO SUSTAIN THIS MOMENTUM AND PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY HOW WE CAN MAKE THESE FIGURES FELT BY EVERY BANGSAMORO.
WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT WE WILL HAVE THREE MORE YEARS TO CONTINUE THE VERY IMPORTANT AND CRUCIAL TRANSITION PERIOD. AS WE ALL KNOW, THE ISSUE ON THE EXTENSION OF THE TRANSITION PERIOD HAS NOW BEEN FINALLY SETTLED. AFTER A GRUELING LOBBYING AND DELIBERATION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE, PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE SIGNED RA 11593, THEREBY EXTENDING THE TRANSITION UNTIL 2025. ALHAMDULILLAH.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE THE CONTINUING SUPPORT OF OUR LEGISLATORS AND OUR DEAR PRESIDENT. LIKE ALL OF US HERE IN THE BANGSAMORO, THEY TOO WANT THE BARMM TO SUCCEED AND CONTINUE ITS MOMENTUM TO SUSTAINABLE PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT. SOME MIGHT THINK THAT THE ADDITIONAL TIME RIGHTLY AFFORDED TO THE TRANSITION PERIOD WOULD MEAN THAT WE CAN BE COMPLACENT. IN THE CONTRARY, I WOULD SAY THAT THE PROPER MINDSET IS THAT WE NEED TO BE EVEN MORE STEADFAST IN OUR WORK. IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF THIS OPPORTUNITY, NOT FOR OURSELVES, BUT FOR OUR BELOVED BANGSAMORO… BANGSAMORO AS A REGION, AS A GOVERNMENT, AND AS A PEOPLE.
LET US NOT TAKE THINGS FOR GRANTED. REMEMBER THAT EVERY PESO WE SPEND, AND THE RESOURCES THAT WE USE ARE FROM THE BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS OF THE MUJAHIDEEN AND THE PEOPLE WHO WENT THROUGH SO MUCH PAIN AND SUFFERING FOR THE SAKE OF THE STRUGGLE. WE MUST, BY ALL MEANS, GIVE JUSTICE TO THESE SACRIFICES.
REMEMBER THAT ACCORDING TO A HADITH, THE PROPHET (MAY PEACE HE UPON HIM) SAID THAT “A LEADER WHO, HAVING OBTAINED CONTROL OVER THE AFFAIRS OF THE MUSLIMS, DOES NOT STRIVE FOR THEIR BETTERMENT AND DOES NOT SERVE THEM SINCERELY SHALL NOT ENTER PARADISE WITH THEM”. (SAHIH MUSLIM, BOOK 20, HADITH 4502).
AS SUCH, LET US ALL CONTINUE TO SERVE THE BANSGAMORO WITH PURE HEARTS AND SINCERE INTENTIONS. WITH THIS, ALONG WITH THE GUIDANCE AND BLESSING OF THE ALMIGHTY ALLAH, I AM CONFIDENT THAT TOGETHER, WE WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE THE LIVES OF OUR PEOPLE FOR THE BETTER AND WE WILL TRANSFORM THE BANGSAMORO INTO A PEACEFUL AND PROGRESSIVE HOMELAND.
BEFORE I CONCLUDE, ALLOW ME TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE VERY IMPORTANT REMINDERS RELATIVE TO THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS. POLITICAL EXERCISES SUCH AS THIS IS MEANT TO MAKE OUR REGION AND OUR NATION STRONGER. IT IS MEANT TO STRENGTHEN; NOT DESTROY THE SOCIAL FABRIC THAT BINDS US TOGETHER. YES, THERE WILL BE WINNERS AND LOSERS, BUT THIS IS NOT JUST A GAME. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHAPE OUR FUTURE AND OUR CHILDREN’S FUTURE.
LET US ALL WORK HAND IN HAND IN ENSURING THAT WE WILL HAVE A FREE, HONEST, CREDIBLE, AND PEACEFUL ELECTION. LET US WORK IN ENABLING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERYONE CAN VOTE WITHOUT FEAR, INTIMIDATION, AND VIOLENCE. AND I FURTHER HOPE THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS COME MAY 2022 CAN WORK WITH US IN PUTTING THE BANGSAMORO PEOPLE ABOVE ANYTHING ELSE… NAWA’Y SILA AY MAGING KATUWANG NATIN SA PANAWAGAN NA ISANTABI ANG PANSARILING INTEREST, BANGSAMORO MUNA.
WABILLAHI TAUFIQ WAL HIDAYAH
ASSALAMU ALAYKUM WA RAHMAHTULLAHI TAALA WA BARAKATUH.
