Constituents
of the Province of Sultan Kudarat together with 1stdistrict
Congressman Sultan Pax S. Mangudadatu, Al Haj, and 2nd district
Congressman Arnulfo F. Go; Vice Governor Donato Ligo members
of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan; municipal mayors; barangay
officials; heads of the provincial departments; and heads
of national line agencies, converged at the Sangguniang
Panlalawigan Session Hall at the New Provincial Capitol
Building on January 14, 2008 to listen to the State of the
Province Address (SOPA) of Gov. Suharto “Teng”
T. Mangudadatu, Al Haj.
Divided
into two parts, the first half of Gov. Mangudadatu’s
SOPA detailed the achievement of Sultan Kudarat for the
2007.
The
second part revealed the plans and priorities of the present
administration for 2008 and beyond.
Mangudadatu
said a large number of Sultan Kudarateños benefited
from his goal of eradicating poverty and hunger; achieving
the universal primary education; promotion gender equality,
and women empowerment; reducing child morality; improving
women’s reproductive health; battling HIV/AIDS, malaria,
and other diseases; and ensuring environmental sustainability.
He
cited the just-concluded “Pamaskong Handog”
Program of Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo which aimed at
alleviating the plight of the poor and benefited 24, 921
Sultan Kudarat resident beneficiaries.
On
the plans and priorities of his administration in 2008 and
the coming years, the governor committed to thresh out poverty
and promote economic growth; intensify environmental protection;
ensure food security and nutrition; focus on health care;
improve education sector; reduce dependency on Internal
Revenue Allotment (IRA), improve infrastructure projects,
and promote cooperatives.
Transparency
and accountability, anchored on the byword “Higit
sa Lahat Tao,” are the best governing principles to
serve the people.
Governor
Teng also committed to enhance the delivery of services;
intensify the “SMILE” policy at the workplace;
advocate the synchronization program at all levels; adopt
the 4x4x4 strategy; promote love, peace, and unity; and
employ the Serbisyong Tapat at Maasahan (STM).
The
achievements of the province last year, and the plans and
priorities of the incumbent administration for the year
2008 are both aligned with the national directive towards
the attainment of the national goals and in line with the
Millennium Development Goals (MIDGs).
Being
inhabitants of Sultan Kudarat, touted as SIKAT from the
main “SK, Sikat Ka!,” Governor Teng Mangudadatu
is again soliciting maximum support from the honorable members
of the legislative body, national government agencies, provincial
department heads, employees, and the populace of Sultan
Kuadarat for the attainment of such goals. (ajph/PDDO-SK)
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