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)
