By NONOY E. LACSON
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) hosted in this city last week its first “Health and Education Summit” aimed at professionalizing the system of education and improve the basic health services in the region.
ARMM Officer-In-Charge (OIC) Regional Gov. Mujiv S. Hataman met here on Wednesday with the region's town mayors, governors, health and education officials as well as private partners from Synergeia Foundation Inc., to tackle pressing issues to improve the services of the ARMM government in health and education.
During the summit, Hataman centered his discussion on the issues affecting education and health services in the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi.
Hataman also cited programs designed to meet the challenges in basic education and those that promote maternal and child health care.
He likewise exposed the anomalies and corruption in the education sector in the ARMM region, pointing out the so-called ghost students, ghost employees, ghost schools and padded payrolls.
“Isa sa pinakamalaking problema sa ARMM ay ang DepEd. Kaya nuong umupo po tayo ang unang pinagtuunan ko ng pansin ay ang Department of Education," he said, as he stressed that education affects health.
Hataman said he is convinced that educational reform cannot be carried out by the DepEd alone, and that the latter needs the involvement of the community.
The ARMM chief executive also announced the many vacant teaching and health care positions in the ARMM but stressed that applicants must possess all the qualifications for the posts.
Tawi-Tawi Gov. Sadikul Sahali, upon learning the many vacant posts in the Department of Health (DoH) and DepEd offices here, suggested that volunteers should first be accommodated for the vacant positions in the two departments.
Hataman agreed on condition that the volunteers should possess the needed requirements like civil service eligibility or education board passers for teachers.
“If we want to professionalize the heath and education sectors, we must employ people who are qualified to handle the post and not just employ them because they were recommended by top political officials of the province,” Hataman said.
He also urged his constituents in the ARMM to report to him directly, through text or call, any perceived anomalies involving government officials in their locality.
Hataman also cited a recent study that showed that out of 10 elementary students, only three graduated in grade six in ARMM.
Among the resource speakers during the summit were Sarangani Province Gov. Miguel Dominguez, Mayor Hussin Amin of Jolo, Sulu; ARMM DepEd Secretary Jamar Kulayan, Mayor Allandatu Angas of Sultan Sabarongis, ARMM Health Secretary Kadil Sinolinding and ARMM DILG Secretary Haroun Alrashid Lucman.
