A lawmaker from Mindanao has sought the creation of the province of Maguindanao North, and naming the Municipality of Sultan Kudarat as its capital.
Maguindanao Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu, in House Bill 3405, said the creation of the province of Maguindanao North would not only expedite the delivery of basic services to the communities but would also improve the efficiency and effectiveness of promoting development and growth at the local level.
“House Bill 3405 is drafted with the primary intention of bringing services to the people efficiently and immediately,” Mangudadatu said.
He noted that the naming the Municipality of Sultan Kudarat as the provincial capital was the most practical choice due to its accessibility via air, land and sea.
Aside from its viability to all forms of transportation, Sultan Kudarat holds historical significance among Muslims.
“The name of the municipality itself is named after Sultan Mohammad Dipatuan Kudarat who ruled the Sultanate of Maguindanao for more than 50 years. For us, he is our hero, a great leader who fought and defended the Islam faith and our domain from foreign invaders. With this, we hold his memory close to our hearts,” Mangudadatu said.
The creation of Maguindanao North would mean dividing the Maguindanao into two provinces, namely Maguindanao North and Maguindanao.
Mangudadatu rationalized that while Maguindanao is vastly rich in natural resources, it has remained considerably poor because government projects and programs are not equally distributed.
”With the establishment of this new province, its constituents will and can expect a more accessible, accountable and responsive local government unit,’ said Mangudadatu.
