Marawi traditional leaders push for involvement in the enormous task of Marawi rebuilding
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| @TNRS Photofile: Sultan Sampaco and His First Lady, the Bailabi of Marawi. |
By ROCAYA SUMNDAD OTICAL
Iligan City, Philippines
August 13, 2017
Sultan Nasser D. Sampaco, chair of Marawi Sultanate League, has urged for the involvement of Maranao traditional leaders in the enormous task of the rebuilding, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of the sieged city.
Sampaco shared his thoughts on the present Marawi crisis and the enormous task of restoring the City, during the launching of "Paghiusa sa Lanao," on Saturday, August 12, 2017, at Radyo Iligan 88.1 FM.
He said it is important that the government should involve the traditional leaders of Marawi and Lanao in the great task as they are the ones who know well the cultural and traditional values of the residents of Marawi.
The Sultan also gave the information that already civil society organizations and other sectors of the Marawi and Lanao communities have submitted their proposals and that the three Maranaos in the President Rodrigo Duterte’s cabinet namely, Secretary Abdullah Mama-o, Mindanao Development Authority chairman Abulkhayr Alonto and TESDA Director General Guiling Momondiong, have made an initial meeting of the different groups who have demonstrated their interest and eagerness to cooperate in the Marawi Rebuilding process.
As chair of Marawi Sultanate League, Sampaco further took time to extend, on behalf of the people of Marawi City, his thanks and gratitude to the hospitality and generosity of Iligan City Mayor Celso G. Regencia in welcoming and accommodating with open arms the evacuees from Marawi who are now in Evacuation Centers and homes of relatives in the City.
He assured the Mayor that he and the people of Marawi will help ascertain the peace and order in the City.
Moreover, Sampaco asserted that the Maute Group and their terrorist allies are not from Marawi City.
“The people of Marawi do not share the beliefs and sentiments of these terrorist groups. They want to live in peace and harmony with all peoples,” Sampaco said.
The present chairman of Marawi Sultanate League is a Certified Public Accountant, Master in Management and Coordinator on Muslim Concerns of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) and Muslim Concerns headed by Secretary Abdullah Mama-o, Office of the President, Malacanang.
Sampaco is also president of the prestigious higher education institution, the Jamiatu Marawi Al-Islamia Foundation (JMIF) in Marawi City.
The Sarimanok Press Club, the most prestigious organization of Radio and Newspaper men in Marawi, Iligan and the two Lanao Provinces, launched yesterday, August 12, Paghiusa sa Lanao, a radio program aired 3:00 – 4:00 o’clock in the afternoon every Saturday over Radio Iligan 88.1 FM.
It is aimed to strengthen the bond that binds the people of Marawi, Iligan and the two Lanao provinces as demonstrated during the evacuation of thousands of inhabitants of Marawi and Lanao del Sur to Iligan and Lanao del Norte due to the crisis brought about by the Maute group starting on May 23, this year,” said Prof. Masiding Noor Yahya, Club President.
Hosted by veteran journalist, Frank E. Dosdos, Jr. and renowned academician Prof. Asa Madale, the program is brought on air by Sarimanok Press Club in collaboration with Philippine Muslim Star, based in Metro Manila and the Ranao Star in Marawi City.
It is also supported by Aba Al-Khael Computer School and the Marawi Sultanate League. TNRS
