JOLO, Sulu, 27 August 2007 — Despite the sporadic eruption of fighting on Jolo, Sulu archipelago’s main island is making significant improvements in peace and order as well as economic development, the provincial governor said yesterday.

Gov. Sakur Tan urged the media to spread the word about the bigger happenings as he expressed concern about the wrong perception that fighting between government troops and separatist forces is all that’s going on in the southern island.

“We appeal to the media to report the positive gains that we have achieved and help us promote peace and development and lure investments and more trades with our neighbors,” Tan said.

He appealed to the press not to sensationalize the security problem in the island, where troops are pursuing the Abu Sayyaf group, blamed for terrorism and kidnappings in southern Philippines.

“The government operation is limited to the mountains and everybody can come here and see for themselves the progress that we are now enjoying and the development projects that are ongoing.”

“President Arroyo is pouring a lot of humanitarian and government projects in the province and the military and police are doing a great job in maintaining peace and order,” he said.

He said beaches are full everyday of picnickers and the local economy is growing steadily.

“Trade with neighboring provinces is also picking up. We deliver fruits, like durian and lanzones and also coffee beans and rubbers by the boats everyday to Zamboanga and other places in Mindanao and as far as Manila, Cebu and abroad and we are growing,” said Tan, a peace advocate who reluctantly ran for Sulu province’s governorship in May.

Sulu is one of six provinces under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) — the others are The other provinces are Basilan, Lanao Del Sur, Maguindanao, Sharif Kabunsuan and Tawi-Tawi — and is famous for its pristine beaches and rich in heritage and culture.

PRC and PMA

For the first time in Sulu’s history, the Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC) yesterday conducted licensure examinations for school teachers in Jolo and 2,000 teaching graduates participated.

At the same time, the elite Philippine Military Academy (PMA) conducted its admission test in the island, returning after 17 years of absence.

School Superintendent Delfin Unga said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered the PRC to hold the licensure test in Jolo upon the request of Gov. Tan.

“We were able to save money and time. We hope this will continue in the coming years,” Unga told Arab News.

Tan said the holding of the licensure examinations in Jolo shows the government’s concern for the welfare of the teachers.

“We owe this to President Arroyo and she assured us of her administration’s continued support to the people of this province,” he said.

“We are really excited to come here and conduct the licensing examinations for teachers and we hope that in the future we will be able to hold other licensing examinations here to service the people,” said Perla Sayana, PRC head of delegation to Jolo.

Col. Antonio Supnet, commander of the army’s 104 th Infantry Brigade, said some 100 graduates from different high schools took the PMA examination yesterday.

“There were so many who wanted to join the military academy, but we have rules to follow,” he said, referring to the qualification process.

By holding the exams in Jolo, he said, the country’s premiere military school gives more students from the remote province a chance to try their luck in joining the top military school.

“This will give equal opportunity for everyone — Christians and Muslims — to become part of the Philippine Military Academy,” Supnet said.