COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Elected leaders and public institutions in Mindanao have hailed the Manila Bulletin and its allied group of publications as it marked its 112th founding anniversary Thursday, citing the “great contribution” of the broadsheet in chronicling development efforts and portraying the “Land of Promise” in positive dimension.

Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal “Bombit” Alonto Adiong Jr. attributed the “much improved” public-private sector partnership in his province to the “positive reportage” of their events and undertakings by the Manila Bulletin.

“This is one reason my constituents and I see to it that we get a copy of the Manila Bulletin each day,” the Lanao del Sur governor said.

His younger brother, former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) acting Governor Ansaruddin Alonto Adiong expressed a similar citation.

“Our administration was able to generate a record high investment in the ARMM of P1.5 billion in investments last year due to the region’s improved image – an achievement the Manila Bulletin shares plaudits,” said the younger Adiong.

While Governors Jum Akbar of Basilan, Abdusakur Tan of Sulu, Sadikul Sahali of Tawi-Tawi, and Toto Mangudadatu of Maguindanao, through their respective information officers, also hailed the Manila Bulletin for providing substantial spaces for positive news about their provinces.

The information offices of the provincial governments of Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Surigao del Sur and Norte, North and South Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, Davao del Sur, Norte and Oriental, and the cities therein said their respective development undertakings have national publicity mainly through Manila Bulletin’s Mindanao Page.

“Truly, the Manila Bulletin lives by its touted role as an exponent of nation-building and progress,” Sultan Kudarat Governor Teng Mangudadatu was quoted by his information office as saying.

On the day of the broadsheet’s 112th anniversary, the City Council of Manila passed a resolution hailing the Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation for being an essential partner of Manila in improving governance and better service.

The citation was contained in a resolution approved Tuesday by the Manila City Council.

“This simple yet very symbolic resolution manifests Manila’s solidarity with the hardworking and dedicated people of the Manila Bulletin, and is also our way of giving honor and thanks for their significant contribution to the progress and development of the city and the country,” the resolution said.

The Manila Bulletin was founded on February 2, 1900, as the Philippines was about to enter the twentieth century.

From a newspaper publishing local shipping and commercial news, it is now serving one of a few centenarian publications in the world recognized as the country’s leading newspaper and one of the leading English dailies in Asia.

Meanwhile, housing officials of the ARMM are pushing for the completion in April of initial units in the first-ever housing project for the regional government’s workers, in keeping with the first 100-day targets of ARMM caretaker-Governor Mujiv Hataman.

Amihilda Sangcopan-Abdulhakim, ARMM’ chief of staff and chairperson of the Regional Housing and Rural Development Authority, said they embarked on completing 10 of the 95 proposed houses as well as perimeter fencing, drainage system, and road networks of the housing project, in three months – in time for Hataman’s first 100 days report.

“We’ve placed priority on the project considering its importance to (ARMM) employees,” Abdulhakim said.

The administration of former ARMM acting Governor Adiong had allotted P16 million for the housing project and launched its construction last December 16, about a week before Hataman took over the regional leadership.

Members of the region’s housing board visited the project site in Barangay Capiton, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, about 15 to 20 minutes drive from this city, Wednesday, and checked on the progress of the construction being made.

According to Norkhalila Mambuay-Campong, ARMM Cabinet secretary, the entrance gate and a guardhouse are already in place, while works on the remaining 17 percent of the perimeter fence around the 2.14-hectare housing compound is still ongoing.

Campong said they are now scouting for an area suitable for a second phase of the housing project.

She said they hope to announce the good news to the ARMM employees when Hataman delivers his report on his first 100 days in office.