COTABATO CITY – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) under Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan joins the whole nation in the celebration of the 111th Independence Day.

In his Independence Day message, Ampatuan paid tribute to the “men and women, especially those who fought valiantly to gain our freedom and independence.” He said “Let us not lose sight of the true significance of their sacrifices and victory.

“Our heroes have fought to achieve sovereignty and to bring honor and glory to the nation. They have fought to gain freedom from foreign oppressors in the hope that one day we, the Filipinos, will be prosperous and strong nation,” he added.

But he said fight for freedom still continues this day although in a different manner. He said the war in today’s modern time against poverty, illiteracy, deadly diseases, still needs similar gallantry and sacrifices that our heroes have shown in the past.

“My administration, with the support of the national government and partners in the donor community, is working hard to help our people gain freedom – freedom from poverty, freedom from illiteracy and freedom from deadly diseases. I hope the celebration of the Independence Day will serve as inspiration to all of us. Let us do more to take the region to greater heights,” he stressed.

ARMM Executive Secretary Atty. Oscar Sampulna said highlight of the celebration will be the awarding of services and assistance and the formal opening of Jobs and Livelihood Fairs for the constituents of the region.

Sampulna said national officials from Manila will join officials and employees of the region in celebrating the 111th Independence Day Celebration here.

Secretary Nasser Pangandaman of the Department of Agrarian Reform and officials from the Historic Commission will lead the awarding of assistance and services to agrarian beneficiaries from the region.

According to Bai Cabayan Bacar, Provincial Agrarian Reform Office-DAR, Maguindanao, Secretary Pangandaman will be awarding 242 land titles to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries in eight (8) municipalities in Maguindanao such as Datu Odin Sinsuat, Pagalungan, Matanog, South Upi, North Upi, Talayan, Shariff Aguak and Datu Abdullah Sangki totaling to 427 hectares.

DSWD-ARMM Secretary Bai Soraya Biruar said they will also award livelihood support assistance to three (3) associations in Maguindanao. Beneficiaries will be given checks amounting to P125,000 each. The assistance is under the department’s pro-poor program.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-ARMM in partnership with the Civil Service Commission –Regional Office No. 16 (CSC) –ARMM will be conducting a “Mega Job and Livelihood Fairs. The said Jobs Fair for Government Offices will be held at the CSC Regional Office-ARMM function room and lobby while the POEAs Fair will be at the Shariff Kabunsuan Complex at the ORG Compound, ARMM here.

The CSC-ARMM calls all government agencies to join in the conduct of the recruitment activities for the unfilled plantilla positions in their respective offices.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA)-ARMM said they have invited 10 recruitment agencies both from local and Manila to conduct manpower pooling and recruitment activities. They said that they have at least 1000 job openings for local and overseas employment.

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in the ARMM will also award 1,500 pockets of assorted vegetable seeds, 100 plus bags of certified palay seeds and 50 bags of OPV Cord seeds to farmer beneficiaries in the region.

The Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-ARMM will award scholarships from the Pangulong Gloria Scholarship Program while the Department of Health will present employment contracts to qualified nurses to the Nurses Assigned to Rural Services (NARS) Program. (bpi-armm)