Datu Montawal elected officials take mass oath

MCTC Presiding Judge Angelito V. Rasalan, (3rd from right) officiates the mass oath taking of elected and re-elected local government officials of Datu Montawal, Maguindanao  led by Mayor-elect Ohto C. Montawal (4th from right) and Vice Mayor-elect Vicman K. Montawal (extreme right). --- Photo by Anne Acosta 

DATU MONTAWAL, Maguindanao  --- The newly elected municipal officials of this town  formally took their oaths before  Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) Judge Angelito V. Rasalan, the officiating Judge,  last June 11 held at the Datu Montawal Sangguniantg Bayan (SB) Session Hall.

The  Mass Oath Taking was led by the outgoing municipal vice mayor and now the  newly elected Municipal Mayor Datu Ohto C. Montawal  together with their newly elected and re-elected  Sangguniang Bayan members headed by the outgoing municipal mayor  and now Vice Mayor-elect  Datu Vicman K. Montawal, son of the elected mayor. 

To sit as SB members are Mubarac Abubakar, Jasmerudin M. Mangadad, Bai Annie C. Montawal, Yussof M. Montawal, Jr., Jolicies B. Montawal, Bai Bebing M.Paglas, Robin Mindalagat,  and Hussain Esmael with  Nestor S. Salama,  the municipal president of the Liga ng mga Barangay. 

The ceremony was attended by representatives from different line-agencies, department heads, staff and employees, and barangay chairmen of Datu Montawal Municipality.

The father and son team and the elected officials gave their messages of gratitude to their fellow constituents for the unconditional support extended to them. 

“Without you and your votes last May2019, local and national elections, we are not here in front of you to take our mass oath taking,” said the newly elected municipal officials in unison.

        Vice Mayor-elect Datu Vicman C. Montawal, in his message, said: “Today, June 11, 2019, is the most important occasion to us because we are going to have our Mass Oath Taking and it is officiated by no less than our MCTC Judge Angelito V. Rasalan and is attended also by our Election Officer Esmael L. Lidasan. This is indeed a big event and a challenge, too, in our life because, as we all know, being an elected local official is not an easy task.  This is a mandate of the people and we are so lucky because they gave us the votes for us to become their leader and public servants.  The trust and confidence are definitely entrusted unto us.”

“So, this time, I am calling the attention of the eight re-elected and newly elected municipal councilors to be united as we go to work hand-in-hand for the future and progress of our locality and for our young generation as well. We are here as elected local officials with one common --- to make this place into a more progressive, developed, and peaceful community to live in,” he further said.

        Mayor-elect Datu  Ohto C. Montawal, in his message, emphasized the importance of being an honorable or an elected politician.  “Our role is not just like a basketball game that if you want to pass it through to your playmates, you can easily do it. Our task as elected officials of this town is to serve the people the best we can, to work-hand-in hand in unity for the betterment of our locality.”

“As a leader and a public servant, we have to be united in order to pursue our vision and mission of this municipality. As much as possible, I don’t want to have any miscommunication or misunderstanding between and among our elected officials that could probably distract our future plans and programs for this town. I want all of us to work together in unity for our common goals and in accordance with the mandates of our national government,” he stressed. 

We have to continue working together as one in serving the needs of our people. We have to implement the projects we have promised to them during the campaign period. More development, progress, peace and order, and a peaceful community are my priorities,” Mayor Montawal said.  (Anne Acosta)   

Cotabato City in festive mood on its 60th charter anniversary

COTABATO CITY --- This city marks its 60th Araw ng Cotabato or diamond charterhood on June 20 with festivities lined up by the local government and its development partners.

Along with the annual "Independence Day" observance, the city government  opened its doors to the public last June 12 for the month-long "Remembering Cotabato City Exhibit" at the Old City Hall, displaying photos and artificacts from different decades of Cotabato City 60 years ago.

The exhibit was organized by the city government together with the City Tourism Office and the Local Arts Council (LAC), featuring the works and research of Datu Omar B. Patadon and Gilmhar A. Lao.

City Tourism Officer Frondoza City Tourism Officer  has earlier invited every "Cotabateño" to visit the Old City Hall and "witness our very own history.”

City Juanday said the exhibit is one way of strengthening the advocacy on history preservation. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE.....

"We need to relive our rich history and make the younger generation realize its importance," Juanday emphasized.

Aside from the annual search for "Mutya ng Cotabato 2019" on the eve of the charter day, the June 12 to 20 Araw fest offers activities such as the DepEd Cultural Show at the city plaza, "KalayaanBandigmaan" Battle of the Bands, "Flavors of Cotabato Administrator Dr.Danda City" Food Fair, Filipino Brand of Service Excellence Seminar, Spoken Poetry Competition, Digital Film Making Training, Mobile Legend Tournament, 3rd JiuJitsuNogi Tournament and Superfight, Rap Musika 2, Float Parade Competition, Tinig ng Cotabato 2019, Cotabato Battle of the Bands, "Iron Chef" Culinary Cup, free legal counseling, Mayor CynZumba, Kainan sa Kalye, Disco sa Kalye, Diamond Fest, Companion Animals Wellness Day, Agrikultura sa iyong Bayan Binhi para sa Masa, Cotabato City Negosolusyon 2019, Cotabato Motocross Competition, 60th Testimonial Dinner and Kulintang Award, Sky Diving, and the 60th Foundation Anniversary culmination program.

In greeting the populace, Mayor Atty. Frances Cynthia J. Guiani-Sayadi said: "In recent years, Cotabato City became better than ever. Thank you for always giving your trust to the  law and order efforts of the city government.

On our 60th year, we continue to move as one to be better than where we are at the moment, to be the best that we can be. A Cotabato City is built on hard work, perseverance, and utmost dedication to progress. May this year's celebration of our diamond year further strengthen our commitment to promote our city and our heritage and our aspirations. "

Meanwhile, the law and order efforts of the city government paid off when no less than the Philippine National Police (PNP) declared recently Cotabato as the second safest city in the country and the first in Mindanao.

"As we hold a joyous celebration, rest assured our local authorities remain on full alert and ready to protect the city's residents and tourists from any form of violence," the lady mayor stressed. (GILMHAR A. LAO – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Editorial

Cotabato City’s dynamism

        How many marriages have reached the diamond year beyond the golden jubilee? If so, the couples’ ages are in the 80s and over at the longevity backdrop of Filipino average life span of 67 years. But surely the family life is a continuing cycle when a new generation replaces the old one for the most basic social institution to be sustained. 

Cotabato City is cruising its diamond year as it continues to sustain thousands of families at a time when it celebrates on June 20 its 60th year of charterhood or founding anniversary. By sustenance, it means the local government’s continuing, much improved, and added delivery of vital services… not only for its own population but enticing the entry of economic investments for commerce and trade as  one requisite for sustainability. The people or population, too, has to contribute to the nursering of the habitat. 

Many have witnessed the growth of the city through the years at a time when it has emerged as the center of services that also flow to the adjoining geo-political territories. In our geographical space, the city has become the political seat of the then Lupong Tagapagpaganap ng Pook XII and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and now the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. As a result of socio-politico-economic dynamism, money continuous to flow and circulate, the reason for the branching of commercial banks and other business outlets… and so with the rising rate of employment. Interplay of forces and sectors have come into play through the years that uplifted the state of the city affairs.

Mindfully, we are so keen on the mushrooming of economic investments as our city turns 60 and more are coming and shaping with promising offer of varied opportunities to the populace. Yes, one leads to another… when an economic venture opens, this triggers the opening of allied services. Economic dynamism augurs well to the take in of revenues, hence, the local government’s viability to expand its services.

But sustenance is not the contribution of only one sector but the collective efforts of  the populace to make the city worth its name --- Kuta Bato,  whose derivative signifies strength. Cotabato City derives its strength from the dynamism of the different sectors, the sacrifices of the people who have not left their homes but giving their hopes to make the place livable amid cultural diversity. Yes, Cotabateños believe in the adage: unity in cultural diversity. To exist, we have to act and live collectively so we can sustain ourselves. For the city to continue its dynamism, sectors have to believe they can sustain the essence of livability and act for accomplishment.

The contribution of each and everyone, though varied as they could be because of different needs, for the longevity of the city is already an accomplishment. More are at stake and inhabitants have to be positively dynamic for change. People have to be receptive to change, preserving and heightening those moves that contribute to the mainstay of a progressive city.

We have to move onwards. Happy charter anniversary, folks!