Ampatuan underscores peace, education, health, and environment on his 5th SORA

Cotabato City - Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao once again reaffirmed his administration’s full support to the peace process and emphasized the regional government’s recommendations to the Government peace panel to help make the peace consultations succeed.

In his 5th State of the Region Address (SORA) before the members of the Regional Assembly he delivered at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex inside the ARMM Regional Center here, Amapatuan commended the renewed efforts of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front for the early resumption of the stalled peace talks.

Ampatuan, who is the first ARMM regional governor reelected ever, has been supporting the government peace initiatives in Mindanao particularly the full implementation of the September 2, 1996 Final Peace Agreement between the Government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the immediate conclusion of the ongoing peace negotiations with the MILF.

“The recent suspension of military operations and actions on both sides was a big step to restore normalcy and there is no doubt we are now enjoying an atmosphere of peace and stability that must be sustained on the ground,” he said.

Ampatuan said that a total of 230,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) were served by the regional government and that 24,000 families have already returned to their respective places and assisted by the regional government and donor agencies with livelihood and financial support.

The regional government will continue to provide a package of early recovery and rehabilitation assistance for the remaining IDPs for their eventual return to their places of origin through the Cluster Approach Cum Early Recovery Plan drafted to provide mechanism for relief and rehab support for IDPs, according to Ampatuan.

Ampatuan’s administration is also addressing the P1 billion Government Service Insurance Service premium arrears of ARMM incurred during the previous administrations and is currently negotiating with the Department of Budget andf Management and the National Government to write-off the remaining balance of 300 million pesos.

The regional government is continuously upgrading the capacity of human resources and strengthens the implementation of the Anti-Red Tape Act to further promote the regional government’s policy for transparency and accountability and the effective delivery of public service in ARMM.

Ampatuan also underscored in his 5th SORA his administration’s efforts to enhance delivery of basic social services especially to the less fortunate, disadvantaged sectors including women and children.

He said that the Regional Basic Education Development Plan and the recently concluded ARMM Basic Education Donors’ Forum is a solid step for a focused intervention for better quality of education in ARMM.

He also announced ten thousand scholarship slots given to deserving beneficiaries and another 113 grantees for One Town One Scholar Program under Commission I Higher Education-ARMM.

He also announced that the Autonomous Regional Government had recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the DepED national office for the implementation of 2008-2009 school building Program.

He said as of 2008, 153 school buildings were completed and more are still under construction and another 285 additional classrooms and 507 teaching and non-teaching positions have been recently approved by DBM for DepEd-ARMM.

He also announced the distribution of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and laboratory equipment to different elementary schools to further enhance their skills and knowledge in Science and Technology.

The ARMM-wide Investment Plan for Health (AIPH) with the Department of Health National Office which includes funding and technical assistance will be a big boost to the delivery of health services in the region, according to him.

“Construction and renovation of our hospitals, health facilities, and the continuous allocation of medicines and supplies to local health stations especially in IDP-host areas are one of my priorities,” he said.

The regional governor also affirmed the region’s preparations to take on climate change and environmental concerns.

“The continuing protection and management of our watersheds, lakes, rivers, forests, and marshes for a long term requirements of the next generations is on top of our priorities,” he said.

He also announced that the Presidnetial Task Force on Mindanao River Basin which he co-chairs is now in the process of crafting the Mindanao River Basin Master Development Plan. (bpi-armm)