BTA chief: New admin to work for ill-free gov’t

• Source: https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1019644
• Wednesday, March 13, 2019

(PIA Cotabato City)

COTABATO CITY (PIA) -- The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) headed by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairperson Al Haj Murad Ebrahim as interim chief minister assured that the newly-established Bangsamoro government will be free from “ills of governance.”

The statement was made Tuesday (Feb 26) during the turnover of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to the Bangasamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

"We will also take oath to Allah over the Quran, this is to ensure to you that we will work for a government that will really be free of all the ills of governance," Murad said.

Murad was recently appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte along with the 80 members of the BTA, taking their oath at a ceremony in Malacañang, days before the turnover.

In his acceptance speech, Murad underscored the incoming government's agenda that will focus on health, education, economic development, strategic infrastructure, and moral leadership.

"Our government shall take responsibility for the education of our children. Our government shall take responsibility for the health of our constituents. Our government shall take responsibility of the economic development of our region. Our government shall take responsibility for the infrastructure development of our areas,”Murad said.

He added that "now that the government that we have long dreamed has finally established, the trust and responsibility is now in our hands. We are accountable to it, to Allah, and to our fellow Bangsamoro."

Outgoing ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman called on all Moro and non-Moro people to support the new Bangsamoro government.

"I have my full support to the 80 members of the BTA. I hope you will support the BTA and the interim chief just like what you did during my stint," Hataman said.

Meanwhile, the following have been named to serve different posts in the new Bangsamoro government: Engr. Edward Guerra, Minister of Budget and Finance; Dr. Zafrullah Dipatuan, Minister of Health; Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo, Minister of Interior and Local Governance; Atty. Raisa Jajurie, Minister Social Service; Timuay Melanio Ulama, Minister of Indigenous Affairs; Mohagher Iqbal, Minister of Education; Mohammad Yacon, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture; Abdulrauf Macacua, Minister of Environment; Murad Ebrahim, Minister of Public Works and Highways; and Hussein Munoz, Minister of Public Order and Safety.

The BTA will govern the Bangsamoro during the three-year transition period until June 30, 2022, when the first set of BARMM officials have been elected.