Waterfront Insular Hotel, Davao City
12 February 2014
President Benigno S. Aquino III urged local chief executives and officials in Mindanao to fully support the realization of a Bangsamoro Region during his attendance at the 2nd Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Summit on Governance and Development in Davao City.
“Nananawagan po ako sa sambayanan Pilipino, lalo na sa mga kapatid nating nandito: nawa’y bigyang-daan po ninyo ang mga hakbang nating ito. Makakaasa po kayong sa bawat kasunduang ating nilalagdaan ay nakataya ang aming dangal at pangalan. Hinihimok ko po kayong tumaya rin sa pag-asang makakamit natin ang malawakan at ganap na pagbabago sa ARMM,” he said.
ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman, on the other hand, expressed his deepest gratitude to President Aquino for pushing the Bangsamoro Government and for the funds allotted to various infrastructure and agriculture projects that will revitalize ARMM.
“Salamat sa kapayapaan na ibinigay mo. Ikaw lang ang tanging pangulo, at ang nanay mo, ang naglakas loob na nakipagusap ng one on one sa mga rebelde. At siguradong, sigurado po ako Mr. President kung hindi ikaw ang Presidente, hindi ko alam kung kailan matutuldukan ang hidwaan sa aming rehiyon,” Hataman said.
As an expression of support to the President’s political will and to the Bangsamoro transition government, Hataman submitted the final resolution of the ARMM LGU Summit to President Aquino—the last summit resolution to be submitted and attended by the President once the Bangsamoro Government takes over.
The Bangsamoro Transition Commission, which is tasked to draft the charter for the Bangsamoro Government, will be responsible to create the Bangsamoro Organic Act to be approved by the Congress into a Bangsamoro Basic Law and ratified by a plebiscite. Once ratified, ARMM will be abolished and the Bangsamoro Government will be formally established with its officials to be elected in 2016.
With the theme “Strengthening Regional Stakeholders”, the two-day summit is attended by more than 400 participants that constituted the local officials in ARMM. It hopes to promote good governance at all levels and to accelerate development in the region in preparation for the Bangsamoro transition.
Also joining the President were Presidential Peace Process Adviser Teresita Quintos-Deles, Interior Secretary Manuel ‘Mar’ Roxas II, Mindanao Development Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla and MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino.
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