Thousands attend opening of much-awaited Sulu sports fest

1 – Governors Mujiv Hataman, of the Muslim autonomous region, and Sakur Tan, of Sulu province, show the agreement they signed for the construction of a school building in Sulu province. (Mark Navales) 2 – Governors Mujiv Hataman, of the Muslim autonomous region, and Sakur Tan, of Sulu province, during the ground breaking of a school project in Sulu province. (Mark Navales) 3 – Governors Mujiv Hataman, of the Muslim autonomous region, and Sakur Tan, of Sulu province, flash the L sign – which stands for Laban, former political party of President Benigno Aquino’s mother, Corazon Aquino – as they pose with some athletes in Sulu province. (Mark Navales) 4 – Governors Mujiv Hataman, of the Muslim autonomous region, and Sakur Tan, of Sulu province, wave to a crowd at the opening of the sport festival in Sulu province. (Mark Navales) 5 – Governors Mujiv Hataman, of the Muslim autonomous region, and Sakur Tan, of Sulu province, present a book to an unidentified teacher during the opening of the sport festival in Sulu province. (Mark Navales) 6 – Governors Mujiv Hataman, of the Muslim autonomous region, and Sakur Tan, of Sulu province, share a light moment during the opening of the sport festival in Sulu province. (Al Salinas)

SULU (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 16, 2012) – Thousands of students and teachers gathered in Patikul town for the opening of the five-day Sulu Provincial Athletic Association Meet 2012.

Provincial Governor Sakur Tan led the opening ceremony at the Sulu Sports Complex also attended by local residents.

The annual sports festival is one of the most awaited events in the province because it opens the opportunities for local athletes to compete with each other and for the champions to battle the best in the regional meet and eventually to national competitions.

“Our athletes are capable champions and this sports festival brings together the best of the best. The event also promotes camaraderie and professionalism among all athletes and those behind them,” Tan told the Mindanao Examiner.

Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman and Education Secretary Jamar Kulayan, along with Public Works Secretary Emil Sadain and other regional officials, also flew on a private jet from Cotabato City to attend the ceremony.

Hataman praised Tan for the successful opening of the sports competition and also took the opportunity to reward outstanding teachers for their dedication and professionalism.

“We are proud of our teachers who devote their time to provide quality education to our students and I am sure these young men and women will be a responsible citizen and our partner in nation building and in peace and progress,” Hataman said in a separate interview.

Hataman also released P47,000 for building maintenance for each of 97 government schools in Sulu and signed several memorandum of agreement with Tan for the construction of a two-storey, 10-classroom school building at the Capitol site and P60 million more in stimulus fund for farm-to-market roads in 7 towns in the province.

The money for the projects is part of the Aquino administration’s P8.5 billion stimulus fund for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao which is composed of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, including Marawi and Lamitan cities.

He released at least 13,000 reference books for elementary and high school as part of the government’s literacy program; and vegetable seeds for the military in Sulu to support its greening program.

Tan said there is a shortage of school classroom and teachers in Sulu and asked Hataman and the Aquino government to address the problems.

“We do admit that the shortage of teachers and classrooms is a perennial national
problem; but coming to terms with the situation does not mean that we will remain in stagnant acceptance of the state of education which is far below the national standard not only in terms of passing rates but also in educational facilities both for the educators, the pupils and students,” he said.

He asked Hataman, whose term is to end in June next year, to help the province. “We call on the Regional Government to work doubly hard that the shortage ofClass rooms in Sulu be addressed as soon as possible for we don’t have the luxury of time.”

Tan also appealed to the ARMM to hire more teachers for Sulu. “As we call for the provision of ample classrooms for the students, we likewise call for better working facilities and, when possible, amenities for teachers. Conditions which are conducive to the rudiment of teaching and learning must be made available or else there will be a disruption or decline in the result of any educational exercises,” he said.

Hataman said they are working on the problems on the shortage of teachers and schools in the ARMM. “We are working on it and we assure that the government is addressing all these problems we are facing in the ARMM,” he said.

He also announced that teachers may soon be able to get a livelihood loan as much as P500,000 from the Land Bank of the Philippines. “We are doing all these progress step by step and little by little as part of the government’s reform agenda in the ARMM,” Hataman said. (With reports from Mark Navales and Al Salinas)