SULU (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 19, 2012) – Provincial Governor Abdusakur Tan on Wednesday called for the rigorous implementation of the provisions of Republic Act 9054 or the Expanded ARMM Law passed on March 31, 2011.
ARMM refers to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to which Sulu and four other provinces – Basilan, Maguindanao, Tawi-Tawi and Lanao del Sur, including the cities of Marawi and Lamitan belong.
Tan, one of the most respected politicians in the southern Philippines, made the call in a speech read by his Chief of Staff, Abdusakur, Jr. during a public consultation on the study and review of RA 9054 held at the Notre Dame of Jolo.
The consultation was organized by the Committee on Amendments, Revisions and Codification of Laws of ARMM’s Regional Legislative Assembly.
“I have been consistent with my espousal for a reformed ARMM and I think I am the first among the governors of component provinces in the region to have publicly called for changes in the autonomous region, and even went as far as calling for its abolition, if only to draw attention to the growing discontentment and displeasure relative to governance or the lack of it,” Tan said.
He said that the ARMM leadership is now racing against time to fulfill the need for substantial reformative initiatives to satisfy the clamor of the constituents for concrete and visible changes.
“For more than two decades the region failed to lift itself from being one of the poorest in the country despite the substantial resources at its disposal,” said Tan, who cited his province’s experience of recovering from the ill-effects of war and security threats and the parallel implementation of the peace process and other development efforts.
“We are proud of our achievement along this line of policy and there is indeed no reason why we in the region cannot replicate this if we move truly as one cohesive autonomous region; united in resolve and determination,” Tan said, adding there are some provisions in the RA 9054 which were intended to open opportunities “that we may showcase our capabilities and qualifications to hold high national positions.”
“We have yet to be fully informed on the steps that have been taken or the steps the Regional Government and the Honorable Regional Assembly will take to rigorously pursue these provisions of the law,” Tan said. (With a report from the Press Office of the Sulu Provincial Government)
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