THE Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao earned P144.2 million in development assistance from foreign and local sources, 96 percent of which came from Turkey, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Taiwan and Singapore.
ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said the P144.2 million, which amounted to P36 million annually, was generated over four years, a record feat in the more than 25 years of ARMM’s existence.
Hataman, who introduced various reforms in the regional government, said that before, the average annual generated resources of the ARMM-Manila Liaison Office reached just over P1 million coming from donations during Islam’s month-long Ramadan fasting period.
Under various reforms initiated by the Hataman administration, the ARMM-MLO has set up its Direct Community Services in 2012.
“The program links with Moro communities, with civil society groups, and with various government agencies, including the military and the police in Metro Manila,” Hataman said.
He said the money will be used to fund programs to benefit communities and constituents in the ARMM, which comprised the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, and the cities of Lamitan and Marawi.
Among those funded by foreign assistance are the acquisition of dialysis machines, hospital beds, mammograms, cryostat machines, refrigerated centerifuge machine, operating room surgical equipment, ophthalmology sets, orthopedic equipment, gynecological instruments, personal computers and printers, and other medical equipment and instruments.
“A portion of the foreign donation went to Hajj or pilgrimage assistance and palm dates during Ramadan,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao hired 562 teachers in the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.
A total of 562 teachers signed on April 25 their appointment papers and deployment orders for assignments to different public elementary and secondary schools in the region.
ARMM Education Secretary Dr. John Magno, chief of staff Atty. Rasol Mitmug Jr., and other DepEd-ARMM officials attended the mass signing. Of the 562 newly hired teachers, 238 will be deployed in Maguindanao and 324 in Lanao del Sur.
“More quality teachers are now being hired because our department (DepEd-ARMM) has improved its hiring and screening process,” Sec. Magno said. Before signing their appointments, the teachers had to pass competency examination, panel interview and teaching demonstration.
“This mechanism guarantees that only quality teachers will be hired and we want teachers that will guide the students on the right road towards a progressive future,” he added.