File photo of Sultan Kudarat town ABC president Norman Otto. (Photo courtesy of DXMS Radio Cotabato)
COTABATO CITY – Local leaders in Maguindanao del Norte’s Datu Odin Sinsuat (DOS) and Sultan Kudarat towns have expressed opposition to bills in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) proposing the creation of three townships carved out from the two municipalities.
In DOS municipality, Bai Ivie Rose S. Sinsuat, chairperson of Barangay Tamontaka and president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC), said carving out two more local government units (LGUs) in the area would create discord among residents.
Sinsuat said the decision should be left for the constituents to decide. The town has 34 villages under its jurisdiction.
“Listen to us, instead of dividing DOS, we are working for its cityhood,” she said, noting that members of the DOS Sangguniang Bayan (SB) have also expressed opposition to the proposal.
BTA parliament members Lanang Ali Jr. and Baileng Mantawil have earlier filed separate bills for the formation of more towns out of DOS and Sultan Kudarat, respectively.
Ali filed on June 19 before the BTA Bills No. 190 and 191, proposing the creation of the towns of Datu Balabaran Sinsuat and Sheikh Abas Hamza, respectively, from the DOS municipality.
Mantawil, on the other hand, filed on June 26 BTA Bill No. 223 proposing the creation of Nuling town out of Sultan Kudarat municipality.
Village officials in Sultan Kudarat town opposed the measure.
Chairperson Norman Otto, Sultan Kudarat ABC president and ex-officio SB member, said there was no reason to divide the town and that all the municipality's 39 village chairpersons also opposed the move.
Otto said there was no consultation conducted for the purpose and that they only learned of the proposed creation of a new town out of Sultan Kudarat villages through radio and social media. (PNA)
