New Cotabato governor completes last congressional projects 

NORTH COTABATO --- Congresswoman Nancy Catamco has turned over to beneficiaries nine school buildings she built using congressional allocations for this province where she is now governor.

In a statement Tuesday, governor-elect Catamco said she also inaugurated, in a series of engagements the past four days, a 1.5 kilometer farm-to-market road, a water supply facility and a barangay hall in  Mehao, Kidapawan City.

Kidapawan City, which has more than 40 barangays, is the provincial capital of North Cotabato covering 17 towns scattered in three congressional districts.  

The nine school buildings Catamco constructed while congresswoman are located in interior areas in North Cotabato’s highland Magpet and Makilala towns.

Catamco now in her third term and last term as congressional representative of the second district of North Cotabato, will assume on June 30 as governor of the province.

She defeated a popular and wealthy rival, Carmen Mayor Roger Taliño, during the May 13 gubernatorial race in the province.

Catamco said she will reach out to barangays whose leaders supported Taliño’s candidacy to foster political tranquility in North Cotabato, home to mixed Muslim, Christian and Lumad residents.

Catamco belongs to North Cotabato’s indigenous, non-Moro Ubo-Menuvu group, the first ever tribeswoman to become North Cotabato provincial governor since the creation of the American-era Cotabato Empire Province.

The empire province has fragmented into what are now North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao provinces and the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Koronadal, General Santos and Tacurong.