Difference between revisions of "Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao News September 2014"

From Philippines
Jump to navigation Jump to search
→ → Go back HOME to Zamboanga: the Portal to the Philippines.
m (Protected "Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao News September 2014" (‎[edit=autoconfirmed] (indefinite) ‎[move=autoconfirmed] (indefinite)))
Line 12: Line 12:
</div>
</div>
<!--- DO NOT EDIT ABOVE THIS LINE --->
<!--- DO NOT EDIT ABOVE THIS LINE --->
==OWWA-ARMM scholarship examinees get free review==
*Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=2411410316134
*Wednesday, September 10, 2014
:By Oliver Ross V. Rivera (ORVRivera-PIA12)
COTABATO CITY, Sept 10 (PIA) – The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration-ARMM is set to conduct free review sessions for its scholarship examinees.
OWWA-ARMM officer-in-charge Habib Malik said, the review is for the Education for Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) and Congressional Migrant Workers Scholarship Program (CMWSP) applicants who will take OWWA’s qualifying examinations set on September 21.
“The review sessions aims to prepare the examinees and to increase the number of OWWA scholars in the autonomous region next school year, said Malik
“Through this review, we hope that more OFW dependents in ARMM will pass this year’s scholarship qualifying examinations,” Malik added.
Malik said some 200 examinees from the province of Maguindanao will have their review session on September 13 at Cotabato City State Polytechnic College audio-visual room.
“We will also conduct review classes for examinees from the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi through our provincial satellite offices and in partnership with DOST,” Malik added.
Malik added that there are designated testing centers all over the region, namely: Notre Dame University in Cotabato City,
Lamitan Central Elementary School in Lamitan, Basilan, Mindanao State University-Main Campus in Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur, Notre Dame of Jolo for Girls in Jolo, Sulu and Mindanao State University-TCTO in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.
EDSP is a scholarship program offered to qualified dependents of active OWWA-member OFWs who intend to enroll in a four to five-year baccalaureate course in any CHED accredited college or university of their own choice, while CMWSP is for children of inactive OFWs not more than 21 years old.
==DPWH to extend Tunggol bridge in Maguindanao to avert collapse==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=681519
*Monday, September 8, 2014
:(PNA), FFC/NYP/EOF
COTABATO CITY Sept. 8 (PNA) –- The government’s public works office will extend the length of Tunggol bridge in Datu Montawal, Maguindanao to prevent the vital link of Cotabato and Davao City from falling, a ranking Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) official said Monday.
The DPWH-ARMM office is waiting the result assessment and design by the team he deployed to figure out the damages of the bridge.
“At least 170 to 210 meters will be extended, we will be constructing temporary detour bridge to continue the flow of transportation,” Sadain said. “That’s our proposal for now.”
Rep. Jesus Sacdalan of North Cotabato’s 1st congressional district, said repair works will soon start with motorists passing through the bridge one at a time.
“All vehicles should be moving one at a time, to avoid further damages to the bridge’s approaches,” Sacdalan said DXMS Radyo Bida.
Sacdalan said government engineers have quickly responded following reports the Tunggol Bridge was threatened by floods.
“Action has been taken, comprehensive final design to be submitted to DPHW Sec. Rogelio Singson,” Sacdalan said, adding that the national public works secretary tasked DPWH-12 Reynaldo Tamayo and DPWH National Usec. Romeo Momo to assess, draft design and submit report quickly.
Sadain said his office is considering P120 to P150 million budget for the extension and repair of Tunggol Bridge which, lately, had been showing cracks and damages on its approaches due to floods.
Earlier, DPWH-National Assistant Secretary Dimas Soguilon, during his meeting ARMM officials last week has assured DPWH will act urgently on the release for emergency fund.
Both Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Maguindanao Governor Esmael Toto Mangudadatu have vocal concerns over the status of the bridge that connects ARMM to North Cotabato’s second district and Davao region.
Local residents here said they fear more than any one because they were the ones to be directly affected.
A mother, clutching her three-year-old son and identify herself as Sumayra, said it would be added cost daily for her because her children need to pay their way to school.
“Tatawid ang mga anak ko sa ilog, sasakay ng bangka, siyempre may bayad na, papunta at pabalik (In going to and from school, my children need to take banca that entails fare),” she said.
Village watchman Mautin Kudang, also of Barangay Tunggol and a pump boat owner-operator, said he had mixed reactions, that is, both happy and sad.
Happy because he will have additional income in ferrying the passengers and, sad, because definitely the prices of fuel and other basic commodities will rise as well, Kudang said.
The Datu Montawal municipal building is no stranger to floods, it being situated in a low-lying area and about 300 meters away from Tunggol Bridge.
==Landslide victim thankful for gov't support==
*Source: http://www.philstar.com/nation/2014/09/06/1366075/landslide-victim-thankful-govt-support
*Saturday, September 6, 2014 5:26 pm
:By John Unson (philstar.com)
COTABATO CITY, Philippines - A peasant from Maguindanao whose daughter sustained a fractured leg when a landslide hit their shanty last week is delighted with the outpouring of support for the victim’s medication.
Winifredo Toniakao, of Barangay Blensong in North Upi town, on Saturday told The Star they now have adequate supply of medicines for her injured daughter, 4-year-old Reina Mae, who is still confined at the orthopedic section of the Cotabato Regional Medical Center (CRMC) in Cotabato City.
“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa mga tumulong sa amin,” an emotional Toniakao said.
The latest to extend assistance to the Toniakaos was Maguindanao First District Rep. Sandra Sema, who has a contingency fund deposited in the CRMC, intended for medical expenses of her indigent constituents.
Sema on Saturday said the CRMC’s finance department can deduct from the fund P5,000 to pay for the hospital bill of Reina Mae.
Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu said he had ordered the provincial government’s relief team, led by his budget staff, Lynette Estandarte, to attend to the needs of all flood and landslide victims in North Upi.
The governor’s office had earlier dispersed 50 bags of rice and other food provisions to affected North Upi residents, delivered by a group, accompanied by health workers who also facilitated free medical services.
Mangudadatu said employees of the provincial government have repacked into individual ration kits in the past two days more than 5 tons of food supplies for distribution to more than 20 flooded towns in the province.
The provincial board on Friday declared under state of calamity 26 of the 36 towns in the province as floodwaters spawned by heavy rains continued spreading through low-lying areas that are criss-crossed by rivers and dotted with swamps that connect to the 220,000-hectare Liguasan Delta.
The Humanitarian Emergency Assistance and Relief Team (HEART) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao donated last Thursday P10,000 for the medicines of Toniakao through Shirley Salik, chief of the CRMC’s social welfare office.
ARMM officials and the mayor of North Upi, Ramon Piang Sr., had also collected donations for the construction of a low-cost core shelter for the Toniakao family.
Reina Mae’s twin sibling, Ranin, perished in the landslide, which was caused by heavy downpours two days before.
Ranin was buried alive when mud and rocks loosened by heavy rains cascaded from a nearby hill and covered their house, made only of bamboos and coconut palms.
==PIA, DENR to launch Climate Change Advocacy Campaign in Tawi-Tawi==
*Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=1431409843052
*Friday, September 5, 2014
:By Franklin P. Gumapon [ (FPG/PIA9)]
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Sept. 5 (PIA) – A group of personnel of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-9 and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-9 will leave today for the province of Tawi-Tawi to formally launch the Climate Change Advocacy Campaign (CCAC) in this southernmost part of the country.
In a pre-departure meeting held here last night, it was learned that the Protected Area Management Board (PMAB) would also be holding a meeting at the Turtle Islands in Tawi-Tawi.
Aside from the CCAC launching, Mr. Cidur Julsadjiri of the DENR-9’s Protected Area and Wildlife Division (PAWD) said, a CCAC forum will also be also conducted to the students in Taganak Island.
Also joining the group to the Turtle Islands are representatives of the Biodiversity Management Office (BMO), Turtle Conservation Society of the Philippines (TCSP) and Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
A naval boat will take them from Bongao town, the capital of Tawi-Tawi province, to Taganak Island where a CCAC billboard will be erected. They will be back to Zamboanga City on Sept. 10.
==BEAM-ARMM to give opportunities for TESDA certification to 15k OSYs, senior high school students==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=1&rid=680344
*Thursday, September 4, 2014
:By Jade D. Miguel [(PNA), SCS/JDM]
MANILA, Sept. 4 (PNA) -- Located in the outskirts of Maguindanao province, Barangay Pilar is a far-flung area about two to three hours travel from Cotabato City.
During the rainy season, commuters need to go through a long stretch of dirt road to get to the remote barangay.
In spite of its distant location, however, Barangay Pilar has been reached by an educational program initiated by the Australian government in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The program, called Basic Education Assistance for Muslim Mindanao (BEAM-ARMM), aims to provide opportunities for Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) certification to around 15,000 out-of-school youths (OSYs) and senior high school students.
The project has been coordinated by the Australian government with the Department of Education (DepEd) and TESDA.
A fourth-year high school student from Pilar Integrated Technical Vocational High School (PITVHS) in South Upi, Maguindanao, 17-year-old Judy Ann Lozada has expressed her gratitude as the program has been able to reach far-flung areas like their place.
"Our barangay is in a far-flung area, and yet the assistance from BEAM-ARMM has reached us," she said.
The BEAM-ARMM aims to assist students in remote areas to acquire TESDA certification through technical-vocation training. The program also provides students a potential source of income.
The program has chosen inaccessible areas as students in these places are said to be the ones who usually experience utmost difficulty in accessing training and certification.
The ARMM is also said to have high concentration of unemployed and underemployed youth.
"The main objective is to provide opportunities for acquiring certification right at the community level," said Corazon Magaute, DepED-ARMM Regional Technology and Livelihood Education Coordinator.
The target of 15,000 OSYs and senior high school students to be benefitted by the program are expected to be accomplished by June 2015.
The BEAM-ARMM is geared to provide with market-sensitive and inclusive technical-vocational education, training and skills development throughout the ARMM.
Magaute also said that the program provides a better accessibility to students as they would not go to farther places anymore just to acquire TESDA certificates.
"You won't have to go far just to earn TESDA certificates since you already have a tech-voc school in your municipality," she said.
Last Aug. 13, the BEAM-ARMM provided dressmaking tools and equipment to PITVHS which includes 25 units of household sewing machines, five units of high-speed sewing machines, flat irons, and other equipment.
PITVHS is one among the 23 senior high schools being given assistance by the program. The school hosts three diverse cultural groups: the indigenous T'duray peoples, the Muslim Maguindanaons, and the Christian settlers.
"The dressmaking tools and other equipment will make a huge impact on our youth," said South Upi Mayor Abdullah Campong, ensuring that the tri-people of South Upi will benefit from the program.
Campong added that PITVHS will soon become the center of the town's tech-voc programs and projects.
"Thanks to the Australian government, this project will further strengthen the ties of my people" he remarked.
Apart from the new goal of BEAM-ARMM to provide TESDA certifications to both OSYs and senior students, the Australian-funded program also delivers accessible learning facilities, quality teachers, learning materials, and a protective environment for children in need and out-of- school youths.
Being identified as the flagship of the Australian aid program in the country, education has been the primary focus of Australia which has been the Philippines' long-standing development partner and largest bilateral grant donor for education.
Australia also supports the government in its K to 12 education reform program and other high-impact education projects.
==JICA, DAP launch workplace improvement program in ARMM==
*Source: http://www.philstar.com/nation/2014/09/03/1364974/jica-dap-launch-workplace-improvement-program-armm
*Wednesday, September 3, 2014 1:36 pm
:By John Unson (philstar.com)
COTABATO CITY, Philippines - Hundreds joined Tuesday’s symbolic launching of the “5s program” to ensure the orderliness of all offices in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The 5s means seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitzuke, which mean sort, systematize, sweep, standardize, and self-discipline, respectively, in Nihongo. 
The ceremonial application of the 5s program in the autonomous region was led by ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman and representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP).
The 5s program was pioneered in Japan, whose citizens are known for their cleanliness, orderliness, resilience and discipline in maintaining wellness in their workplaces and homes.
The DAP and JICA are both helping the Hataman administration carry out its comprehensive reform agenda intended to improve the regional government, known in the past as hotbed of corruption and where thousands of “ghost employees” were listed in old payrolls.
Secretaries of different line agencies and support offices under the Office of the Regional Governor, touted as “Little Malacañang” of the autonomous region, and their subordinates helped each other clean their offices and disposed off everything that are not needed to maximize the utilization of spaces in their respective workplaces.
The ARMM’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, which has the largest office compound inside the 32-hectare regional government center in Cotabato City, had the most number of employees that joined in Tuesday’s 5s launching program.
Kadiguia Rakman Abdullah, DAF’s regional information chief, said their regional secretary, Makmod Mending Jr., led them in cleaning and rearranging all offices under the department in compliance with the ORG’s 5s implementation directive.
“Now we can see and feel the good effect of this program. We ought to practice this even in our homes,” Abdullah said.
A team comprised of 5s experts had earlier rated as “5s compliant” the office of John Magno, assistant regional education secretary for operations, even before the regional government could launch the program in all ARMM departments and support offices.
==OWWA-ARMM holds computer training for Maguindanao OFWs==
*Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=2411409630608
*Tuesday, September 2, 2014
:By Oliver Ross V. Rivera (ORVRivera-PIA12)
COTABATO CITY, Sept 2 (PIA) – Some 35 members of OFW Family Circles (OFC) from the province of Maguindanao participate in a computer assembly and basic troubleshooting training courtesy of OWWA-ARMM.
OWWA-ARMM OIC Habib Malik said the capacity building training aims to upgrade the skills of former OFWs as a means to boost their employability here in the country and abroad.
“The OFWs and their families can use the skills they learned during the training to apply for a job or start their own business,” Malik said.
Through this activity, OWWA is able to equip OFWs in the region with much needed trainings to improve their skills and competencies and in a simple way help them in enhancing their livelihoods or add to their income, he added.
Malik also said they have invited trainers from TESDA-ARMM to equip the participants with much needed skills in computer repair and troubleshooting.
The module coverage include history and uses of computer, PC overview, types of connectors, parts of computer, occupational health and safety procedures, installing windows xp, installing windows 7, basic problems of computers and basic troubleshooting.
After their graduation, the participants will be given a kit containing star and flat screw drivers, installer of windows xp, windows 7 and other programs including Microsoft Office, and anti-virus.
The training dubbed as “OFWs aangat sa pagsulong ng bagong teknolohiya” is held at the AlNor Hotel and convention center will be until Thursday, September 4.
==Australia's BEAM turns over dressmaking tools to Maguindanao upland town==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=678973
*Monday, September 1, 2014
:(PNA), LAM/NYP/EOF
COTABATO CITY, Sept. 1 (PNA) -– A remote public high school in the mountain town of Maguindanao has received tools and equipment for dressmaking as education aid to pupils, officials said Monday.
The equipment were handed over by the Australian Government through the Basic Education Assistance for Muslim Mindanao (BEAM-ARMM) and implemented through DepED-ARMM, to Pilar Integrated Technical Vocational High School (PITVHS) in South Upi, Maguindanao.
The tools and equipment included 25 units of household manual sewing machines, five units of high speed sewing machines, flat irons, among others.
Judy Ann Lozada, 17, a fourth-year high school student at PITVHS, was thrilled when she learned about the assistance to their school.
“Malayo ang barangay namin sa kabihasnan pero nakarating dito sa amin ang tulong mula sa BEAM-ARMM (Our barangay lags behind in terms of development and remote yet BEAM-ARMM found us),” she said.
Barangay Pilar is located in the outskirts of Maguindanao province, about three hours away from Cotabato City.
While a provincial road passes through the barangay, commuters must traverse a long stretch of dirt road in and out of the area which worsens travel during rainy season.
“We are so grateful,” the obviously excited Losada said, showing her eagerness to hone her skills in dressmaking and tailoring.
DepED-ARMM Regional Technology and Livelihood Education Coordinator Corazon Maguate, who was also at the handover program, stressed that the Technology Vocational (Techvoc) program’s main objective in South Upi was to provide its high school students the opportunity to acquire a TESDA National Certificate (NC) at the community level.
“You don’t need to go to Cotabato City or somewhere else just to earn TESDA certificates since you already have a Techvoc school in your municipality,” said Maguate.
PITVHS is one of 23 senior high schools assisted through improved curricula and increased competence of teachers.
Barangay Pilar in South Upi, Maguindanao is host to three major tribal groups: the T’duray, the indigenous people of the area; the Maguindanaons or the Moro group; and the Christian-settlers.
South Upi Mayor Abdullah Campong said during the handover ceremony that the dressmaking tools and equipment “will make a huge impact on their youth.”
“I will ensure that the tri-people of South Upi will benefit from this program,” he said, adding that PITVHS will become the center of the town’s Techvoc programs and projects.
Campong said the tri-people of the town live harmoniously.
“Thanks to the Australian Government, this project will further strengthen the ties of my people,” he said.
Through June 2015, BEAM-ARMM is providing 15,000 OSYs and senior high school students with market sensitive and inclusive technical vocational education, training and skills throughout ARMM where there are high concentrations of unemployed and underemployed youth.
BEAM-ARMM is a comprehensive education and youth development program that enables children and youth in Muslim Mindanao to develop and reach their potential.
The Program delivers accessible and healthy learning facilities, quality teachers, learning materials, and a protective environment for children in need and out of school youth, through effective, transparent and accountable management systems.
The Program contributes to the alleviation of poverty in ARMM and, in the longer term, to the emergence of sustainable peace through closely targeted investments in basic education that prepare ARMM to engage productively with economic opportunities.

Revision as of 09:17, 25 September 2014

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Create Name's page

Regions | Philippine Provinces | Philippine Cities | Municipalities | Barangays | High School Reunions

Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao Archived News
ARMM seal.png
Seal of ARMM

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

OWWA-ARMM scholarship examinees get free review

By Oliver Ross V. Rivera (ORVRivera-PIA12)

COTABATO CITY, Sept 10 (PIA) – The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration-ARMM is set to conduct free review sessions for its scholarship examinees.

OWWA-ARMM officer-in-charge Habib Malik said, the review is for the Education for Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) and Congressional Migrant Workers Scholarship Program (CMWSP) applicants who will take OWWA’s qualifying examinations set on September 21.

“The review sessions aims to prepare the examinees and to increase the number of OWWA scholars in the autonomous region next school year, said Malik

“Through this review, we hope that more OFW dependents in ARMM will pass this year’s scholarship qualifying examinations,” Malik added.

Malik said some 200 examinees from the province of Maguindanao will have their review session on September 13 at Cotabato City State Polytechnic College audio-visual room.

“We will also conduct review classes for examinees from the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi through our provincial satellite offices and in partnership with DOST,” Malik added.

Malik added that there are designated testing centers all over the region, namely: Notre Dame University in Cotabato City,

Lamitan Central Elementary School in Lamitan, Basilan, Mindanao State University-Main Campus in Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur, Notre Dame of Jolo for Girls in Jolo, Sulu and Mindanao State University-TCTO in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

EDSP is a scholarship program offered to qualified dependents of active OWWA-member OFWs who intend to enroll in a four to five-year baccalaureate course in any CHED accredited college or university of their own choice, while CMWSP is for children of inactive OFWs not more than 21 years old.

DPWH to extend Tunggol bridge in Maguindanao to avert collapse

(PNA), FFC/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY Sept. 8 (PNA) –- The government’s public works office will extend the length of Tunggol bridge in Datu Montawal, Maguindanao to prevent the vital link of Cotabato and Davao City from falling, a ranking Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) official said Monday.

The DPWH-ARMM office is waiting the result assessment and design by the team he deployed to figure out the damages of the bridge.

“At least 170 to 210 meters will be extended, we will be constructing temporary detour bridge to continue the flow of transportation,” Sadain said. “That’s our proposal for now.”

Rep. Jesus Sacdalan of North Cotabato’s 1st congressional district, said repair works will soon start with motorists passing through the bridge one at a time.

“All vehicles should be moving one at a time, to avoid further damages to the bridge’s approaches,” Sacdalan said DXMS Radyo Bida.

Sacdalan said government engineers have quickly responded following reports the Tunggol Bridge was threatened by floods.

“Action has been taken, comprehensive final design to be submitted to DPHW Sec. Rogelio Singson,” Sacdalan said, adding that the national public works secretary tasked DPWH-12 Reynaldo Tamayo and DPWH National Usec. Romeo Momo to assess, draft design and submit report quickly.

Sadain said his office is considering P120 to P150 million budget for the extension and repair of Tunggol Bridge which, lately, had been showing cracks and damages on its approaches due to floods.

Earlier, DPWH-National Assistant Secretary Dimas Soguilon, during his meeting ARMM officials last week has assured DPWH will act urgently on the release for emergency fund.

Both Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Maguindanao Governor Esmael Toto Mangudadatu have vocal concerns over the status of the bridge that connects ARMM to North Cotabato’s second district and Davao region.

Local residents here said they fear more than any one because they were the ones to be directly affected.

A mother, clutching her three-year-old son and identify herself as Sumayra, said it would be added cost daily for her because her children need to pay their way to school.

“Tatawid ang mga anak ko sa ilog, sasakay ng bangka, siyempre may bayad na, papunta at pabalik (In going to and from school, my children need to take banca that entails fare),” she said.

Village watchman Mautin Kudang, also of Barangay Tunggol and a pump boat owner-operator, said he had mixed reactions, that is, both happy and sad.

Happy because he will have additional income in ferrying the passengers and, sad, because definitely the prices of fuel and other basic commodities will rise as well, Kudang said.

The Datu Montawal municipal building is no stranger to floods, it being situated in a low-lying area and about 300 meters away from Tunggol Bridge.

Landslide victim thankful for gov't support

By John Unson (philstar.com)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - A peasant from Maguindanao whose daughter sustained a fractured leg when a landslide hit their shanty last week is delighted with the outpouring of support for the victim’s medication.

Winifredo Toniakao, of Barangay Blensong in North Upi town, on Saturday told The Star they now have adequate supply of medicines for her injured daughter, 4-year-old Reina Mae, who is still confined at the orthopedic section of the Cotabato Regional Medical Center (CRMC) in Cotabato City.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa mga tumulong sa amin,” an emotional Toniakao said.

The latest to extend assistance to the Toniakaos was Maguindanao First District Rep. Sandra Sema, who has a contingency fund deposited in the CRMC, intended for medical expenses of her indigent constituents.

Sema on Saturday said the CRMC’s finance department can deduct from the fund P5,000 to pay for the hospital bill of Reina Mae.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu said he had ordered the provincial government’s relief team, led by his budget staff, Lynette Estandarte, to attend to the needs of all flood and landslide victims in North Upi.

The governor’s office had earlier dispersed 50 bags of rice and other food provisions to affected North Upi residents, delivered by a group, accompanied by health workers who also facilitated free medical services.

Mangudadatu said employees of the provincial government have repacked into individual ration kits in the past two days more than 5 tons of food supplies for distribution to more than 20 flooded towns in the province.

The provincial board on Friday declared under state of calamity 26 of the 36 towns in the province as floodwaters spawned by heavy rains continued spreading through low-lying areas that are criss-crossed by rivers and dotted with swamps that connect to the 220,000-hectare Liguasan Delta.

The Humanitarian Emergency Assistance and Relief Team (HEART) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao donated last Thursday P10,000 for the medicines of Toniakao through Shirley Salik, chief of the CRMC’s social welfare office.

ARMM officials and the mayor of North Upi, Ramon Piang Sr., had also collected donations for the construction of a low-cost core shelter for the Toniakao family.

Reina Mae’s twin sibling, Ranin, perished in the landslide, which was caused by heavy downpours two days before.

Ranin was buried alive when mud and rocks loosened by heavy rains cascaded from a nearby hill and covered their house, made only of bamboos and coconut palms.

PIA, DENR to launch Climate Change Advocacy Campaign in Tawi-Tawi

By Franklin P. Gumapon [ (FPG/PIA9)]

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Sept. 5 (PIA) – A group of personnel of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-9 and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-9 will leave today for the province of Tawi-Tawi to formally launch the Climate Change Advocacy Campaign (CCAC) in this southernmost part of the country.

In a pre-departure meeting held here last night, it was learned that the Protected Area Management Board (PMAB) would also be holding a meeting at the Turtle Islands in Tawi-Tawi.

Aside from the CCAC launching, Mr. Cidur Julsadjiri of the DENR-9’s Protected Area and Wildlife Division (PAWD) said, a CCAC forum will also be also conducted to the students in Taganak Island.

Also joining the group to the Turtle Islands are representatives of the Biodiversity Management Office (BMO), Turtle Conservation Society of the Philippines (TCSP) and Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

A naval boat will take them from Bongao town, the capital of Tawi-Tawi province, to Taganak Island where a CCAC billboard will be erected. They will be back to Zamboanga City on Sept. 10.

BEAM-ARMM to give opportunities for TESDA certification to 15k OSYs, senior high school students

By Jade D. Miguel [(PNA), SCS/JDM]

MANILA, Sept. 4 (PNA) -- Located in the outskirts of Maguindanao province, Barangay Pilar is a far-flung area about two to three hours travel from Cotabato City.

During the rainy season, commuters need to go through a long stretch of dirt road to get to the remote barangay.

In spite of its distant location, however, Barangay Pilar has been reached by an educational program initiated by the Australian government in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The program, called Basic Education Assistance for Muslim Mindanao (BEAM-ARMM), aims to provide opportunities for Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) certification to around 15,000 out-of-school youths (OSYs) and senior high school students.

The project has been coordinated by the Australian government with the Department of Education (DepEd) and TESDA.

A fourth-year high school student from Pilar Integrated Technical Vocational High School (PITVHS) in South Upi, Maguindanao, 17-year-old Judy Ann Lozada has expressed her gratitude as the program has been able to reach far-flung areas like their place.

"Our barangay is in a far-flung area, and yet the assistance from BEAM-ARMM has reached us," she said.

The BEAM-ARMM aims to assist students in remote areas to acquire TESDA certification through technical-vocation training. The program also provides students a potential source of income.

The program has chosen inaccessible areas as students in these places are said to be the ones who usually experience utmost difficulty in accessing training and certification.

The ARMM is also said to have high concentration of unemployed and underemployed youth.

"The main objective is to provide opportunities for acquiring certification right at the community level," said Corazon Magaute, DepED-ARMM Regional Technology and Livelihood Education Coordinator.

The target of 15,000 OSYs and senior high school students to be benefitted by the program are expected to be accomplished by June 2015.

The BEAM-ARMM is geared to provide with market-sensitive and inclusive technical-vocational education, training and skills development throughout the ARMM.

Magaute also said that the program provides a better accessibility to students as they would not go to farther places anymore just to acquire TESDA certificates.

"You won't have to go far just to earn TESDA certificates since you already have a tech-voc school in your municipality," she said.

Last Aug. 13, the BEAM-ARMM provided dressmaking tools and equipment to PITVHS which includes 25 units of household sewing machines, five units of high-speed sewing machines, flat irons, and other equipment.

PITVHS is one among the 23 senior high schools being given assistance by the program. The school hosts three diverse cultural groups: the indigenous T'duray peoples, the Muslim Maguindanaons, and the Christian settlers.

"The dressmaking tools and other equipment will make a huge impact on our youth," said South Upi Mayor Abdullah Campong, ensuring that the tri-people of South Upi will benefit from the program.

Campong added that PITVHS will soon become the center of the town's tech-voc programs and projects.

"Thanks to the Australian government, this project will further strengthen the ties of my people" he remarked.

Apart from the new goal of BEAM-ARMM to provide TESDA certifications to both OSYs and senior students, the Australian-funded program also delivers accessible learning facilities, quality teachers, learning materials, and a protective environment for children in need and out-of- school youths.

Being identified as the flagship of the Australian aid program in the country, education has been the primary focus of Australia which has been the Philippines' long-standing development partner and largest bilateral grant donor for education.

Australia also supports the government in its K to 12 education reform program and other high-impact education projects.

JICA, DAP launch workplace improvement program in ARMM

By John Unson (philstar.com)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - Hundreds joined Tuesday’s symbolic launching of the “5s program” to ensure the orderliness of all offices in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The 5s means seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitzuke, which mean sort, systematize, sweep, standardize, and self-discipline, respectively, in Nihongo.

The ceremonial application of the 5s program in the autonomous region was led by ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman and representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP).

The 5s program was pioneered in Japan, whose citizens are known for their cleanliness, orderliness, resilience and discipline in maintaining wellness in their workplaces and homes.

The DAP and JICA are both helping the Hataman administration carry out its comprehensive reform agenda intended to improve the regional government, known in the past as hotbed of corruption and where thousands of “ghost employees” were listed in old payrolls.

Secretaries of different line agencies and support offices under the Office of the Regional Governor, touted as “Little Malacañang” of the autonomous region, and their subordinates helped each other clean their offices and disposed off everything that are not needed to maximize the utilization of spaces in their respective workplaces.

The ARMM’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, which has the largest office compound inside the 32-hectare regional government center in Cotabato City, had the most number of employees that joined in Tuesday’s 5s launching program.

Kadiguia Rakman Abdullah, DAF’s regional information chief, said their regional secretary, Makmod Mending Jr., led them in cleaning and rearranging all offices under the department in compliance with the ORG’s 5s implementation directive.

“Now we can see and feel the good effect of this program. We ought to practice this even in our homes,” Abdullah said.

A team comprised of 5s experts had earlier rated as “5s compliant” the office of John Magno, assistant regional education secretary for operations, even before the regional government could launch the program in all ARMM departments and support offices.

OWWA-ARMM holds computer training for Maguindanao OFWs

By Oliver Ross V. Rivera (ORVRivera-PIA12)

COTABATO CITY, Sept 2 (PIA) – Some 35 members of OFW Family Circles (OFC) from the province of Maguindanao participate in a computer assembly and basic troubleshooting training courtesy of OWWA-ARMM.

OWWA-ARMM OIC Habib Malik said the capacity building training aims to upgrade the skills of former OFWs as a means to boost their employability here in the country and abroad.

“The OFWs and their families can use the skills they learned during the training to apply for a job or start their own business,” Malik said.

Through this activity, OWWA is able to equip OFWs in the region with much needed trainings to improve their skills and competencies and in a simple way help them in enhancing their livelihoods or add to their income, he added.

Malik also said they have invited trainers from TESDA-ARMM to equip the participants with much needed skills in computer repair and troubleshooting.

The module coverage include history and uses of computer, PC overview, types of connectors, parts of computer, occupational health and safety procedures, installing windows xp, installing windows 7, basic problems of computers and basic troubleshooting.

After their graduation, the participants will be given a kit containing star and flat screw drivers, installer of windows xp, windows 7 and other programs including Microsoft Office, and anti-virus.

The training dubbed as “OFWs aangat sa pagsulong ng bagong teknolohiya” is held at the AlNor Hotel and convention center will be until Thursday, September 4.

Australia's BEAM turns over dressmaking tools to Maguindanao upland town

(PNA), LAM/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Sept. 1 (PNA) -– A remote public high school in the mountain town of Maguindanao has received tools and equipment for dressmaking as education aid to pupils, officials said Monday.

The equipment were handed over by the Australian Government through the Basic Education Assistance for Muslim Mindanao (BEAM-ARMM) and implemented through DepED-ARMM, to Pilar Integrated Technical Vocational High School (PITVHS) in South Upi, Maguindanao.

The tools and equipment included 25 units of household manual sewing machines, five units of high speed sewing machines, flat irons, among others.

Judy Ann Lozada, 17, a fourth-year high school student at PITVHS, was thrilled when she learned about the assistance to their school.

“Malayo ang barangay namin sa kabihasnan pero nakarating dito sa amin ang tulong mula sa BEAM-ARMM (Our barangay lags behind in terms of development and remote yet BEAM-ARMM found us),” she said.

Barangay Pilar is located in the outskirts of Maguindanao province, about three hours away from Cotabato City.

While a provincial road passes through the barangay, commuters must traverse a long stretch of dirt road in and out of the area which worsens travel during rainy season.

“We are so grateful,” the obviously excited Losada said, showing her eagerness to hone her skills in dressmaking and tailoring.

DepED-ARMM Regional Technology and Livelihood Education Coordinator Corazon Maguate, who was also at the handover program, stressed that the Technology Vocational (Techvoc) program’s main objective in South Upi was to provide its high school students the opportunity to acquire a TESDA National Certificate (NC) at the community level.

“You don’t need to go to Cotabato City or somewhere else just to earn TESDA certificates since you already have a Techvoc school in your municipality,” said Maguate.

PITVHS is one of 23 senior high schools assisted through improved curricula and increased competence of teachers.

Barangay Pilar in South Upi, Maguindanao is host to three major tribal groups: the T’duray, the indigenous people of the area; the Maguindanaons or the Moro group; and the Christian-settlers.

South Upi Mayor Abdullah Campong said during the handover ceremony that the dressmaking tools and equipment “will make a huge impact on their youth.”

“I will ensure that the tri-people of South Upi will benefit from this program,” he said, adding that PITVHS will become the center of the town’s Techvoc programs and projects.

Campong said the tri-people of the town live harmoniously.

“Thanks to the Australian Government, this project will further strengthen the ties of my people,” he said.

Through June 2015, BEAM-ARMM is providing 15,000 OSYs and senior high school students with market sensitive and inclusive technical vocational education, training and skills throughout ARMM where there are high concentrations of unemployed and underemployed youth.

BEAM-ARMM is a comprehensive education and youth development program that enables children and youth in Muslim Mindanao to develop and reach their potential.

The Program delivers accessible and healthy learning facilities, quality teachers, learning materials, and a protective environment for children in need and out of school youth, through effective, transparent and accountable management systems.

The Program contributes to the alleviation of poverty in ARMM and, in the longer term, to the emergence of sustainable peace through closely targeted investments in basic education that prepare ARMM to engage productively with economic opportunities.

Retrieved from "http://zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=Autonomous_Region_Muslim_Mindanao_News_September_2014&oldid=730816"