Shariff Aguak now focused on public service and peace

COTABATO CITY --- The local government unit of Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao is determined to push the development agenda and social services for the poor as well as strengthening the fight against illegal drugs for the benefit of the town constituents.

Mayor Marop B. Ampatuan said the main priority of the local government is the infrastructure.

Ampatuan, who is also a licensed civil engineer, said that only two weeks ago, they have completed the road widening project along the national highway, from Barangay Poblacion to the boundary in Barangay Labulabu.

“Our focus now is with the infrastructure. The heavy equipment of the local government has arrived recently and we would want to show to our constituents that we are serious with our governance.  As what the President earlier said that change is coming, “I must say, change has taken place in Shariff Aguak,” he said.

Ampatuan added that he intends to accomplish until his term in 2019 the road network of the barangays in the town.

“Our constituents are the ones who suffer with the current situation of the roads. Their farm products could not be easily transported to the market and this is the thing we would want to look into for immediate solution,” he said.

Ampatuan said canals which serve as drainages are also being reconstructed to prevent flooding.

“We have extended the width of our canals to prevent flooding at the low-lying barangays,” he said.

Ampatuan also emphasized that they are strengthening the municipal anti-drug abuse campaign. “We have previously listed 330 drug users who surrendered to local authorities. To ensure that they are not going back to their illegal activities, we monitor their daily routines.”

The chief executive added that the surrenderees are also engaged into sports and various activities such as zumba dance exercise, tree planting, and clean-up dive.

“We also provide them livelihood assistance so they can fully turn their backs out of drugs. We provide them with fertilizers for backyard gardening in coordination with the barangay chairmen,” he said.

Shariff Aguak, formerly Maganoy, is politically subdivided into 13 barangays:  Bagong, Bialong, Kuloy, Labu-labu, Lapok (Lepok), Malingao, Poblacion, Poblacion I, Poblacion II, Satan, Tapikan, Timbangan, and Tina. (GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE B. ACOSTA / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)