ARMM starts 'last' foundation anniversary activities

COTABATO CITY-- Officials and personnel from different departments of the the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) kicked off early Monday morning the regional government’s 25thFoundation Anniversary sports festival with afun-run led by the Regional Sports Coordinating Office (RSCO). The three-kilometer run for men and two-kilometer for women were spearheaded by Regional Governor Mujiv S. Hataman and other cabinet officials.Participated by hundreds of runners and sports enthusiasts, the activity caps the beginning of the inter-agency cluster competition dubbed as Pakaradjaan sa ARMM 2014.The yearly sports peacetivities” highlightteam sports such as basketball, volleyball, badminton, lawn-tennis, table tennis, and dart, among others. Board games like chess and scrabble will also be played in line with the sports fest.The Regional Governor Open Basketball Cup will highlight the ball games and is expected to draw a crowd offans to witness the star-studded event. This sports festival is aimed to provide amusement in a way to further foster unity among our work force now that a new political entity will be replacing the ARMM and this anniversary will be our last,” Hataman said. We have two major reasons to celebrate. First is the quarter of existence for the ARMM, and second is the realization of the peace aspiration of the Bangsamoro that will give way to the creation of the new Bangsamoro entity,” he added.The sports competition will bolster solidarity and camaraderie of the ARMM work force and provide a setting for personnel to unwind from the usual office routines.The ARMM sport peacetivities, anticipated to provide cheers and entertainment, is a yearly activity featured on the month-long anniversary celebration of the autonomous region.Prizes and trophies are at stake for emerging victors in the different sports categories which will be awarded during the culmination of the month-long event.It could be the last foundation anniversary of ARMM if the new Bangsamoro government comes next year.