The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is set to hold public fora from Sept. 12 to 15 for candidates in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to present their legislative agenda.
DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo said the public fora would require the candidates to enunciate their respective plans and programs, as well as, positions on various issues affecting the region.
He said the fora will allow people in ARMM to have a glimpse of the character, perspective and priorities of the said nominees, as well, as obtain their commitment for reforms in the region.
On Sept. 12, a simultaneous provincial public forum will be conducted in the five provinces of the region, namely: Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, and Basilan.
The venues for the provincial fora are as follows: Shariff Kabunsuan Complex in Cotabato City for the two districts of Maguindanao, Mindanao State University (MSU) campus in Marawi City for the two districts of Lanao del Sur.
Patikul town for the two districts of Sulu, Jaafar Convention Hall inside MSU-Bongao campus in Tawi-tawi province, and Basilan State College in Isabela City, province of Basilan.
Similarly, fora will also be held at Office of the Regional Governor (ORG) Complex in Cotabato City and Ateneo de Zamboanga University on September 13 and 15, respectively.
Press conferences are also slated on Sept. 13 and 15 to provide information to the media relative to the on-going screening of candidates and the result of the provincial fora.
The DILG, meanwhile, is inviting members of the media to provide coverage to said events as recognition of their important roles in elevating public awareness and gaining public trust in the process of selecting the officers-in-charge (OICs) for the ARMM government.
In a related development, the ARMM Screening Committee has called on all nominees who did not submit personal application to submit a written confirmation accepting their nomination and indicating their willingness to be appointed should they be included in the shortlist to be submitted to President Benigno S. Aquino III.
As of press time, there are now 26 applicants and 48 nominees for the post of ARMM Governor, nine applicants and 28 nominees for Vice-Governor and 115 applicants and 249 nominees for the members of the Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA).
The President will be appointing OICs for regional governor, regional vice governor, and 24 members of the RLA, with six members, each, for Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur and Sulu, and three members, each, for Basilan and Tawi-tawi.
The ARMM final list of applicants and nominees is posted the DILG website: www.dilg.gov.ph.
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