Palace to name 24 assemblymen for ARMM

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang is set to name this week the 24 members of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) regional legislative assembly (RLA), Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said yesterday.

Robredo however said he could not name the assemblymen until he is given clearance by the Palace.

The 24 appointed assemblymen were given the go-signal by the Palace to serve as transition team in ARMM until the May 2013 elections.

The RLA has virtually failed to serve for four months as regional lawmakers tasked to determine how to spend their annual budget amounting to P12 million appropriated by Congress.

The assemblymen were appointed four months after the appointment of ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman as head of the transition team last Dec. 18.

President Aquino appointed members of the transition team in ARMM after the Supreme Court ruled on the legality of synchronizing ARMM elections with the national polls in 2013. The transition team will implement ARMM Roadmap for Reforms and Good Governance until May.

Robredo said the roadmap aims to stem chronic absenteeism among officials and employees and the existence of “ghost employees” in the region and end collusion between and among unscrupulous local officials and “ghost suppliers” for “ghost projects.”

He said that the DILG, in coordination with the ARMM government, would ensure that the regional government and LGUs under its supervision strictly comply with laws.

Robredo noted that the local government must also comply with its full disclosure program to promote transparency in all government transactions.

Hataman said his core objectives for ARMM include peace and order, education, capacity-building among line agencies, and support from all stakeholders.