DATU SAUDI AMPATUAN – Mayor Edris A. Sindatok presented the accomplishments of this municipality from January to December 2020, during this year’s State of the Municipality Address.
In his introduction, he said that despite the ongoing health crisis, the local government officials and staff still “pursue and work rigorously to combat poverty and unstable peace and security to realize our vision of peaceful and developed community.”
“As a public servant, I am duty bound to report to you my performance and annual accomplishment report anchored on the Philippine Development Plan and as mandated by the provision of the Local Government Code of 1991,” he added.
Embedded on the annual report are developments in six fields of governance such as local bureaucracy, social welfare and basic services, economy, infrastructure, environment, and peace and security.
Transparent and grounded service
Sindatok emphasized transparency and accountability in service, which promotes active participation of local officials in democratic processes.
“I also affirmed strong adherence to the principle of transparency and accountability. As a neophyte in the field of politics, I promote a consensus kind of governance where I welcome clash of divergent ideas from among of my department heads in order to come up with a shared decision-making, because two heads is better than one,” he said.
He also urged his constituents to align all programs towards achieving the municipality’s shared vision in combating deep-rooted problems.
“The programs we instituted are directed towards achieving our shared vision, mission and goals of improving peace and security. The perennial problems that hampered development initiatives, that in spite of hundreds of millions of pesos spent by the government in infrastructure projects and social services, we still remain at the bottom list of the most impoverished municipality in the country,” he said.
Despite the efforts exerted by this local government, Sindatok forthright said that less activities were conducted last year due to the burdening effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“We have done less activities as compared to the other year due to the unexpected economic crisis. The funds which were supposed to be utilized for social services and infrastructure support programs were diverted to combat the COVID-19,” he said.
“Economic activities were regulated and restricted due to the observance of the minimum health protocols,” he added.
Local strategic thrust
To achieve its vision, Sindatok said internal efforts were intensified to mitigate the problems on crime and terrorism; promote local development; enhance approaches in education; build sustainable and resilient infrastructures; strengthen mechanisms for environmental protection; and implement outcome-oriented public service grounded on moral governance.
At the institutional level, this local government focused on strengthening the capability of its bureaucratic leadership and organization.
Some of the initiated plans include personal capacity development, fiscal management, and program development.
The said sectoral plan also promotes participation of civil society organizations in the preparation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation in the conduct of various programs and activities.
For the delivery of social services, this local government aims to achieve social development through the provision of basic services, targeting health and nutrition, education and social welfare.
These developments, the mayor said, are to implemented by the different line agencies, local government officials and staff, and participating civil society groups and non-government organizations, to cater and address the needs of the communities.
Growing economy
Sindatok said this municipality intends “to create a favorable climate for private investments through a combination of policies and public investments to enable business and industry to flourish, and ultimately, assure the residents of a steady supply of goods and services, jobs, and households’ income.”
He added that the support to agriculture, aqua-marine and other food production activities and the promotion of tourism programs, will be reinforced.
Also, tourism will be boosted to attract more visitors. Its Pink Masjid will remain as a tourist attraction of the municipality.
Other economic programs include: increased revenue collection; conduct of business sector organization and tax forums; update of general revision and tax declaration; intensified distribution of notice of assessment and ownership; proper accounting of collections; inauguration of businesses such as gasoline stations to boost economic activities; and conduct of demo farm under the general funds of the municipal mayor.
Environmental protection
This municipality also aligns its development programs with environmental protection by assessing industrial impacts and implementing preventive measures for possible damages to the environment.
Through the strict imposition of legislations such as water and sanitation code, environment code, health code, market code, and solid waste management plan, the mayor said the municipality is geared towards sustainable environmental protective measures such as maintaining the cleanliness of air, water and land resources, and rehabilitating and preserving the quality of natural resources to support the requirements of economic development and ecological balance across the generations.
Peace and security
With regards to peace and security, the mayor said the municipality is generally safe, despite the presence of terror groups.
“Though we are still dealing with the local extremist groups especially in the far-flung barangays, the peace and security situation is stable,” he said.
Along with surrounding barangays, the local government here declared the members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters “persona non grata”.
The mayor added that security forces such as the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines, along with members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams, are prompt and responsive in their service.
A peace and order council was also established to settle rido through the powers granted to the Council of Elders to achieve reconciliation and unification among affected families.
The Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the mayor said, is also committed to ensure safety, peace, security in the municipality. (J. Cabig, Jr./Anne B. Acosta)
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