Release of Sulu rehab fund sought from ARMM

SULU, Philippines - Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan on Sunday expressed dismay over the alleged delay in the release of the P10-million fund for the rehabilitation of an ice and cold storage facility in the capital town of Jolo which will benefit marginal fishermen.

Tan said the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao allegedly failed to release to the provincial government the fund for the immediate repair and rehabilitation of the ice and cold storage facility here despite being released already by the national government to the ARMM.

According to Tan, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Department of Agriculture released the funding to the ARMM during the time of former Governor Zaldy Ampatuan.

As this developed, Tan urged ARMM acting Governor Ansaruddin Adiong to direct the BFAR to release the funds for the project and not to show his alleged “fear” on the former administrator of ARMM.

“Governor Adiong should exercise his power and prerogative as ARMM governor this time and not to show fear on the official who is keeping custody of funds for the fishery projects in the provinces under the ARMM,” Tan said.

Tan said Adiong is allegedly hesitant to address some failures of a BFAR official in the implementation of some fisheries projects in the region.

Tan had earlier accused Adiong of duplicating the system of Ampatuan in running the government affairs of the ARMM, an accusation Adiong has already vehemently denied. (Nonoy Lacson)