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Mayor
Dr. Solaiman M. Sandigan, Al-Hadj
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DATU
SALIBO, Maguindanao --- Folks in this town would likely endear their new mayor
when it comes to education and manpower resource development having elected
last May midyear poll a professional educator.
Mayor-elect
Dr. Solaiman M. Sandigan holds a doctoral degree having earned this high
academic credential from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, Quezon
City (1995 to 1997).
He is
also the founder and owner of Southern Philippines Academy College, Inc., now the Bangsamoro University of the
Philippines, located at Datu Ugalingan
Piang Street in Datu Piang, Maguindanao province.
In
politics of education, the learning process and skills development are
paramount in the executive and legislative agenda so to push onwards the needed
progress in a community setting other than development thrusts.
“As an
educator and a graduate of a prestigious university, I should say education is
the most powerful weapon of our young generation of today for them to be on top
and live a better life in society. I
believe that education is a strong foundation for each and every one of us and
the means of eradicating poverty and criminalities that we are confronted with
right now in our community,” Sandigan said.
Mayor-elect
Sandigan said that education is the very reason he is back to his place of
origin “where my parents brought me out in this very wonderful world on
December 15, 1968.”
“Education is the one that motivated me most
to push through my dream of putting up a
school from kinder up to college and this was realized when it was established
in the year 2003,” he said.
As of present, the enrolees in basic education
in the university has reached some 20,000 in clustered classes and consortium.
Some students have come from Region-12, Compostela Valley in Davao, Caraga
Region, and Balot Island.
He said
many have been enticed to enrol in this university because of quality education
and mentors and the high standard school facilities. Tuition and other miscellaneous fees are free
for deserving students, especially those qualified for subsidies.
“I am
doing this because this is my own way of helping my fellow constituents living
in a far- flung community and who are in dire need of attention by a true
leader in uplifting their way of living. I have only one vision in life --- the
good and betterment of this locality, which is to make this into a more
developed, progressive, and peaceful place where people could be secured in the
spirit of unity and cooperation,” he said of his mission in life and public
service.
Program
of gov’t
In thanking
his constituents for the political mandate along with his line-up in Datu
Salibo, Sandigan said he will pursue development initiatives that are pro-poor
in a bid to uplift the folks’ living conditions.
Among
local government efforts as first priorities within 100 days of assumptions in
office, he cited, are the installation of street lights from Barangay Magaslong
in Datu Salibo up to the boundary of Datu Saudi Ampatuan and re-assignment of
personnel to offices based on their qualifications and in accordance with the
service code as mandated by the Civil Service Commission.
He said
the 150-watt street lights have to be illuminated nightly for certain
necessities and security purposes.
Further,
he said favoritism and nepotism have no place in his administration. (Anne
B. Acosta)
