ARMM fails anew to help develop poor provinces

SULU, Philippines – Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan expressed alarm Friday after sensing that new leaders running the affairs of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao allegedly resembles the shadow of management of the past administration led by detained ARMM Governo Zaldy Ampatuan.

Tan lamented that ARMM acting Governor Ansaruddin Adiong is seemingly just “duplicating the management system and attitude” of detained Ampatuan in the distribution of infrastructure projects and funds for the delivery of basic services to the people of the region.

He said Adiong allegedly failed to assist Sulu and bring development and progress and alleviate poverty in the impoverished province.

“I am sad to inform you that Sulu failed to receive the needed assistance from ARMM led by Governor Adiong since he sat as acting governor of the ARMM,” Tan lamented.

Adding that “the way he (Adiong) handles things and manage the affairs of the region, is more of a duplication on how detained Governor Ampatuan takes care of it when he was still the governor of ARMM.”

He said his government had continued to beg the ARMM government for infrastructure projects and funds to finance the livelihood assistance program of Sulu aimed to uplift the living condition of the people in the province.

Tan accused Adiong of playing favoritism by pouring more funds to provinces in the region were his relatives are the top officials.

“How can our people in Sulu have a better living when the ARMM officials led by Adiong do not help us,” he asked.

He said funds for infrastructure development and livelihood programs coming from the national government coursed through the ARMM, aids from the international communities for development and livelihood including funds for development coming from the ARMM do not reach them.

President Arroyo has directed last year all her Cabinet secretaries to give special attention to the Sulu government in its program for development, peace and progress.

Aside from Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi also did not get any development projects from the new administration. Adiong also failed to visit the provinces since he assumed as acting governor and is always on travel. (Nonoy Lacson)