COTABATO CITY— Newly-appointed officials of the Special Geographic Area (SGA) who took their oath before Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim  on Saturday, July 13, affirmed their preparedness to embark on public service.

 

Eight OIC mayors, eight OIC vice mayors, and 64 OIC municipal councilors took their oath at the Sharrif Kabungsuan Cultural Complex (SKCC) inside the Bangsamoro Government Center in this city.

 

Anwar Zumbaga Saluwang, appointed OIC Mayor of Nabalawag Municipality, said that he and members of his council are all prepared for their new assignment. In fact, he already has a slogan or brand for his municipality.

 

“We are ready to embark on a new journey and we extend our appreciation to our Chief Minister for entrusting this assignment to us,” the new mayor said.

 

With years of experience working for both government and non-government organizations, Saluwang affirmed his commitment to doing his best for the welfare of the Bangsamoro people.

 

On the other hand, Duma Madi Mascud, appointed as OIC Mayor of nearby Kadayangan town also expressed his readiness for his new role citing that the appointment is a trust given to them.

 

“Our appointment is a trust so rest assured that we will do our best to carry out our obligation,” Mascud said.

 

Interior and Local Government Minister and Member of the Parliament Atty. Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba shared in a media interview that while these new municipalities are not yet entitled to National Tax Allocation (NTA), the Bangsamoro government will subsidize their operation.

 

“When we passed our budget in the parliament, we consider their allocation since they are not yet entitled to NTA,” Dumama said.

 

“We are already coordinating with the national government through the Department of Budget and Management for their NTA,” Lawyer Dumama further said, explaining that DBM has already advised them of the requirements needed.

 

Former Cotabato Province Board Member and current Member of the Parliament Mohammad Kellie Antao, who played a key role in the creation of SGA, said that the event represents the realization of the people’s aspirations.

 

“This is the day that SGA constituents are waiting, to have their local government and local officials, “Antao said.

 

SGA is a Moro enclave carved out of Cotabato Province, established through a lawful plebiscite in 2019, carving out 63 barangays from the municipalities of Carmen, Kabacan, Pikit, Midsayap, Aleoosan, and Pigcawayan.

 

Through regional legislations passed in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) parliament, said barangays were clustered and constituted into eight municipalities as follows: Pahamuddin, Kadayangan, Nabalawag, Tugunan, Malidegao, Ligawasan, Old Kaabakan, and Kapalawan.

 

As stipulated in the law governing the creation of SGA towns, appointed officials shall continue to hold office until their successor shall have been elected in the next general elections for local officials. (Abdullah Matucan/BIO)

Source: https://bangsamoro.gov.ph/news/latest-news/new-sga-officials-affirm-readiness-to-serve-the-public/