President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his message during the ceremony of the Pambansang Kongreso ng Wika at the Leong hall,Ateneo de Manila University(ADMU) in katipunan ave. q.c. with Theme “WIKA NATIN ANG DAAN MATUWID . (MNS Photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – President Benigno S. Aquino III cited peace and development reforms in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) during the 2nd Local Government Summit in Davao City on Wednesday.
In his speech, the President mentioned that the ARMM is among the places in the country which have apparently been left behind by progress but eventually caught its pace because of government initiatives to spearhead progress.
“Hindi rin po lingid sa kaalaman nang marami na kabilang ang ARMM sa mga lugar sa bansa na tila napag-iwanan ng kaunlaran,” he said.
“Ito po mismo ang dahilan kung bakit nakatutok tayo hindi lamang sa kapayapaan at seguridad kundi maging sa mga inisyatibang magpapa-arangkada rin sa inyong pag-unlad,” he added.
ARMM is composed of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
President Aquino cited 2013 data from the Department of Health-ARMM which showed that a total of 45,659 women from ARMM were given services for prenatal visit and 36,876 for post-pregnancy, in addition to 14,179 babies who underwent newborn screening.
Under the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps), the President noted that at least 389,656 individuals from ARMM became members since the beginning of 2014.
He explained that the national government’s goal is that whatever level or amount of attention Filipinos from the National Capital Region (NCR) are getting, citizens from the ARMM would also equally receive.
“Ang hangad po natin, kung ano ang antas ng kalinga sa ospital na kailangan ng isang pasyente sa Quezon City ay ganon ding pag-aaruga ang matatanggap sa ospital sa Lamitan City sa Basilan,” the President stressed.
“Kapag nag-aaral ka sa public school sa Cebu, magkatulad na kalidad din ng edukasyon rito ang maaari mong makamit sa munisipalidad ng Tubaran sa Lanao del Sur,” he added.
“Kung naglalakad ka naman sa isang kalsada sa Mandaluyong, parehong seguridad din ang mararamdaman mo sa pamamasyal sa munisipalidad ng Pandag sa Mt. Maguindanao,” he further said.
The President also lauded ARMM Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman for believing that progress is the work of the whole community and not one person alone and for having contributed to progress by making sure that mistakes in the past are not repeated.
“Isa po sa mga pinakamainam na halimbawa ng kaisipang ito ang napipintong paghahari ng kapayapaan sa inyong rehiyon,” President Aquino said.
He said that after the signing of the different parts of the proposed Bangsamoro Framework Agreement, it brings the country a step closer to achieving Mindanao’s lasting peace.
“Nalalapit na po tayo sa araw na maipasa na ang Bangsamoro Basic Law upang tuluyan nang mabuksan ang bagong kabanata ng kasaysayan sa Muslim Mindanao,” he added. (MNS)