COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Elected Muslim and Christian leaders in Mindanao have lauded President Aquino III’s 4th State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, affirming their support to the thrusts he spelt put therein.
Over a dozen of leaders from Southern Philippines responded to Manila Bulletin’s request for reactions to the SONA, but Governors Esmael Mangudadatu of Maguindanao, Mamintal Adiong Jr. of Lanao del Sur and Emylou Taliño-Mendoza of North Cotabato expressed categorical views on the “sincere” thrusts enumerated and “factual” statistics disclosed on the economy growth in the Chief Executive’s report.
Adiong was elated by the President’s citation of his province in posting for the first time a “zero election failure” in the last synchronized polls, saying the feat came about because “a straightforward President sowed a pure seed of reform and buoyed concerned people to work together in nurturing its fruition of virtuous outcome.”
The Maranao governor was hinting at local notions that failure of elections in his turf and other areas of the country happened in past elections due to alleged “collusions of national and local partisan groups for vested interests.”
Gov. Mangudadatu expressed similar view, saying that Maguindanao has turned around sharply from the “politics of the few” towards “true democratic” processes under President Aquino III’s watch.
Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao, both components of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, are reaping initial successes in massive farming of staple crops and high value plants like rubber and palm oil trees with the profound backing from the current national government, the two governors said.
ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman, whom the President consistently praised in his four SONAs, said that “more dramatic reforms” are expected in the invigorated collaborations of regional and local officials for positive changes.
“For the moment, the President can rest assured that ARMM rallies his thrusts and commitments for better Philippines, especially in the age-old quest for lasting peace and sustainable development in the south through various initiatives including the government’s intensified talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and other revolutionary movement,” Hataman said.
Gov. Taliño-Mendoza, for her part, said she was “thankful for President Aquino’s prop-people programs and projects.
“With his sincere desire to institute reforms and eliminate irregularities under his watch, the agenda for ‘daang matuwid’ would be easier to achieve,” the lady governor said, adding that the Aquino regime’s act of “prioritizing the needs of the people (against) the value of money guarantees a better future for the next generation.”
“As governor of Cotabato province, amidst all the difficulties brought about by man-made and natural calamities as well as partisan politics, I am committed to do my share for the fulfillment of the goals of ‘daang matuwid.’ I am a proud Cotabateno, proud Filipino,” Taliño-Mendoza added.
The four interviewed governors also shared the accolades given to the Philippines by the World Bank and the British government as acknowledged by the President in his latest SONA.
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