By Edwin O. Fernandez
COTABATO CITY, Dec 2 (PNA) — Government and private officials as well as civil society organizations hailed the second State of the Region Address (SORA) of Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) for its substance and concrete indicators of reform happening in the region.
Father Eliseo “Jun” Mercado, OMI, executive director of the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG), led the people in lauding Hataman for his passion to bring the them to a unified direction through a solid roadmap.
“The SORA was very impressive. Pinakita niya kung saan siya nagsimula, kung ano ang pinatutupad, at kung saan siya patutungo. Yun ang pinakaimportante,”Fr. Mercado said, underscoring the concrete milestones achieved under the Hataman administration.
Gauging the Hataman leadership on a performance scale of one to 10, Fr. Mercado said Hataman deserves a 9.
Guiamel Alim, chairperson of the Consortium of the Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), also commended Hataman for introducing reforms and building the foundation for change in ARMM governance.
“The social contract with the civil society is continuing. We laud the Hataman administration for the instituted reforms,” Alim said.
Meanwhile, Mohaquer Iqbal, chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said “all systems go” for the establishment of the Bangsamoro new political entity.
“We will build on the gains of the ARMM under Hataman, then, we’ll see to it, that when the Bangsamoro is established, there will be much improvement as far as the life of our people is concerned,” said Iqbal during a news conference following Hataman’s SORA.
On the challenge posted to continue the reforms, Iqbal said “that remains a challenge to cope with,” affirming that the ARMM has moved forward with the Hataman leadership.
Secretary Teresita “Ging” Quintos-Deles of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process, said the ARMM administration records and accomplishments attest that Hataman has carried the responsibilities expected of him.
“Masaya talaga tayo na itong term ni Regional Governor Hataman from the time na na-appoint siya na OIC and his elective term na iyun na nga ang ginagawa, ang maitawid ng husto ang ARMM doon sa inaasam-asam na Bangsamoro (We are happy that during the term of Gov. Hataman he managed to lead the region into what it is today and achieve what the Bangsamoro desires),” she said.
Deles, together with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin of the Department of National Defense, were among the national dignitaries present during the delivery of the SORA.
Hataman has cited the cooperation of all ARMM officials and its employees, refusing to claim credit for the successes the region has achieved.
The major indicators of the gains are the massive infrastructure and peace and development projects coupled with the accumulated P5 billion investments poured in the region since Hataman assumed in late 2011 as caretaker to date. (PNA)