6 ARMM cabinet members confirmed

SIX members of the cabinet of Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao were confirmed Wednesday by the powerful Commission on Appointments of the Regional Assembly in many observers say an unprecedented mass confirmation in the history of the RA.

In a marathon session presided by RA Speaker Paisalin Tago, the CA confirmed without delay and objection the nomination of Secretary Camid Gandambra of the Department of Transportation and Communication, Secretary Kabuntalan Emblawa of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Secretary Ishak Mastura of the Department of Trade and Industry, Secretary Macacuna Pangandaman of the Department of Tourism, Secretary Ruby Sahali of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Secretary Sajid Druz Ali of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

"We thank the honorable members of the Commission for this confirmation. I think this is unprecedented in the history of the Regional Assembly because in two weeks' time that they scrutinize and discuss our nominations, they were able to confirm en mass six members the regional cabinet," DTI Secretary Mastura told the Bureau of Public Information-ARMM.

"At last we are now confirmed and we can function without some legal impediments. We are happy and we thank the honorable members of the Commission for their trust and confidence in us and in our capability to lead our respective department," said Agriculture Secretary Ali.

For her part, Secretary Sahali said "Now that we are confirmed the more we need to work hard and show our worth."

The DSWD is one of the busiest departments of the ARMM in terms of project implementation. Aside from its regular programs, the DSWD­ARMM is also implementing the Community Development Assistance (CDA) component of the ARMM Social Fund Project.

During the session, two members of the Commission credited Regional Governor Ampatuan for the easy and early confirmation of the six members of his cabinet.

Assemblyman Bonggarsa Tomawis of the First District of Maguindanao stressed that easy passage of nomination of the six cabinet members is due to the good relationship of Regional Governor Ampatuan with the members of the RA.

"The cabinet members deserved to be confirmed because of their competence and dedication to work, besides, Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan has a very good relationship with the members of the Regional Assembly," he said.

Assemblywoman Hadja Rajam Akbar from Basilan also said the confirmation of the six cabinet members clearly shows the good relationship between the executive and the legislative departments of the ARMM.

"Never in the past that the executive department under the leadership of Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan and the Regional Assembly has this kind of relationship," Akbar said.

With the confirmation of the six secretaries, only the secretaries of the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Agrarian Reform and Department of Labor and Employment are not yet confirmed.

Secretaries of the Department of Health, Department of Public Work and Highways and Department of Education will not pass through confirmation because they were only appointed on an acting capacity. (BPI-ARMM)