New Maguindanao towns' caretakers to assume office

COTABATO CITY , Philippines   – Caretakers of three newly created towns in Maguindanao province are to assume office next week and will run the infant local government units until each would have regular officials elected in next year’s May local polls.

Engineer Norie Unas, provincial administrator of Maguindanao, declined to name the caretakers pending their formal oath-taking, but Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Datu Zaldy Ampatuan is to sign anytime now their appointments.

Unas said Ampatuan, who is authorized by the ARMM’s charter, RA 9054, will designate an acting mayor each for the newly established Datu Hofer, Saidona Mustapha and Salibo towns in the second district of Maguindanao.

“Acting vice mayors and acting municipal councilors shall also be appointed to comprise the municipal legislative branches of these three new municipalities,” Unas said.

He said the caretakers of the three new towns, created through separate laws passed by the ARMM’s 24-seat Regional Assembly last year that were, subsequently, ratified through a plebiscite in barangays to comprise their respective territories on June 30, were chosen based on consultations among religious and political leaders in the province.

The creation of the three new towns was spearheaded by Ampatuan as part of his administration’s effort to decentralize governance and politically empower marginalized sectors in far-flung areas in the autonomous region.

The caretakers of the three new towns, according to Unas, have limited powers and will, thus, manage their respective LGUs under the guidance of the office of Maguindanao’s provincial governor and the ARMM’s local government department.