ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Elected government officials in the provinces of Tawi-Tawi and Sulu lauded President Aquino for declaring that his administration will continue to sustain clean and honest governance, spur economic growth, and attain rice self-sufficiency in his second year in office.

Tawi-Tawi Gov. Sadikul Sahali said the pronouncement of the President during his second State-of-the-Nation Address (SoNA) on Monday should now serve as warning to those engaged in malpractice in government.

Sahali said President Aquino’s direction to put an end to the “culture of entitlement” in the bureaucracy and facilitate a government “that truly works for the Filipino people” is very laudable.

The move, Sahali said, will lead to confidence-building that would attract investors, and at the same time, it will ensure that the government’s money is placed in its rightful spot.

Sahali said the President is now walking on the right track towards development, as he anchored Mr. Aquino’s pronouncement during the SoNA that the national government will finance more infrastructure projects to secure and sustain economic growth, which will generate more jobs, and promote public service.

For their part, Rep. Habib Tupay Loong (1st District, Sulu), and Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan were one in saying that after a year in office, President Aquino have shown a laudable direction in governance.

Major and critical steps have been taken to ensure transparency, lessen waste of resources, and curb corruption in the government top the list of his accomplishments for the past 12 months as leader of the Filipino people, the two officials said.

Both Loong and Tan claimed that the government is now moving forward to becoming more efficient, and responsive to the needs of the people, not only in the capital city but also in the countryside where it become an instrument in providing equal opportunities to the less fortunate Filipinos.

Also, Tan asked the President to include in his short list the development of Sulu, in an effort to promote trade and commerce in southern Philippines.

Adding that Sulu has been in trading with the neighboring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia.

While Banguingui (Sulu) Mayor Abdulwahid Sahidulla and his wife Rep. Nur Anna Sahidulla (2nd District, Sulu) lauded Mr. Aquino, saying the President is steering the government towards a clear direction where opportunity is available to everyone, where those in need are helped, where everyone’s sacrifices are rewarded, and where those who do wrong are held accountable.