Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao News August 2015

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Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao Archived News

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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: 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. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

ARMM census of population starts

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=791763
• Monday, August 10, 2015

(PNA), LAM/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Aug. 10 (PNA) -- More than 3,100 service contractors have been deployed by the Philippine Statistics Authority in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PSA-ARMM) to conduct the 2015 Census of Population (PopCen) in the region.

Enumerations and census have started today and will end on September 6, according to Hji. Abdulkareem Suod Barodi, PSA-ARMM interim regional director.

Barodin explained the importance of census to policy makers and "to all of us."

“It provides government planners, policy and decision makers with updated population counts on which to base their social and economic development plans, policies and programs,” Barodi said.

The contracted personnel are composed of 2,402 enumerators, 604 team supervisors and 139 census area supervisors or a total of 3,145. The listing and enumeration for PopCen 2015 started Monday, August 10.

The census was in pursuat to Republic Act No. 10625, or the Philippine Statistical Act of 2013. The PSA = known in the past as National Statistics Office – is the lead agency tasked to take an inventory of the population in the Philippines.

ARMM has 3.2 million registered inhabitants based on the last census done in 2010. The region is composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Sulu.

PopCen 2015 is a complete enumeration of households in the country and is designed to take an inventory of the population of the entire country.

It also collects information about basic characteristics of the population such as age, sex, marital status, religious affiliation, highest grade/year completed and usual occupation, among others.

It will also gather selected housing data such as type of building and construction materials used, especially roofs and walls, as well as barangay characteristics like presence of selected facilities and informal settlers.

Barodin explained that the data and information gathered in the census will be the local government units’ official basis when preparing and filing ordinances.

To ensure the success of the census of population, Barodi urged the public to support and cooperate in the population survey by supplying complete and correct information.

Section 27 of RA 10625 cited that “respondents of primary data collection activities such as censuses and sample surveys are obliged to give truthful and complete answers to statistical inquiries. The gathering, consolidation, and analysis of such data shall likewise be done in the most truthful and credible manner.”

Barodi explained that failure to provide truthful and complete answers to statistical inquiries, the residents will be penalized with a fine of P100,000 and one year imprisonment.

The population count by province, city, municipality, and barangay will be submitted to the Office of the President for proclamation as official census counts in January 2016.

ARMM officials launch road concreting projects in Lanao Sur

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=791309
• Sunday, August 9, 2015

(PNA), CTB/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Aug. 9 (PNA) -- Officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have launched PhP 220-million worth of road projects that would connect municipalities to major commercial centers in Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman and Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. signed on Saturday a memorandum of agreement for the implementation of the project -- a road concreting that will connect the towns of Kapai and Tagoloan, Lanao del Sur.

Also present was Engr. Don Mustapha Loong, regional secretary for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-ARMM).

Lanao del Sur is a component province of ARMM along with the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. Bukidnon, on the other hand, is part of Administration Region 10.

Both Hataman and Loong urged the residents to help monitor the project implementation, as practiced in the region, to allow transparency and accountability in project implementation.

The new road network will interconnect Marawi City to nearby towns in Bukidnon and the rest of Region 10.

Loong said more projects are already in the pipeline for implementation with funds to be taken from the PhP 1.4 billion infrastructure budget for 2015.

Present during the launching were officials from Lanao del Sur and the local government units that stand to benefit from the project.

Tausug, Maguindanaon foods showcased in ARMM food fest

• Source: http://zamboangatimes.ph/top-news/15706-tausug-maguindanaon-foods-showcased-in-armm-food-fest.html
• Saturday, August 8, 2015 10:44

(Daily Zamboanga Times)

Cotabato City residents on Thursday witnessed a showdown of Moro chefs in a food festival that showcased centuries-old ethnic cuisines bearing tribal identities never been sidelined by modernity.

The food festival was held in the mock Tausug and Maguindanao villages inside the 32-hectare compound of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao southeast of Cotabato City.

The tribal enclaves, which include the Samah, Maranaw and Iranun simulated dwelling sites, is an initiative of the ARMM administration, intended to educate the public on the region’s culturally-pluralistic settings.

The designated Maguindanaon chieftain, ARMM Natural Resources Secretary Kahal Kedtag, and his retinue on Thursday served their guests native foods made of ground rice, such as kumukunsi and wagid and the renowned pastil.

The Maguindanaon pastil is boiled rice, topped with sautéed shreds of chicken meat, wrapped in fresh banana leaves.

Visiting dignitaries, among them ARMM’s chief executive, Gov. Mujiv Hataman, were also served with sinina, also a longtime Maguindanaon recipe, while at the Maguindanao village.

Hataman is an ethnic Yakan from Basilan province, which also has its mock village in the northeastern side of the ARMM compound in Cotabato City.

The sinina is an indispensable course in Maguindanaon inspired banquets. It is made up of small cuts of chevon cooked in heavy coconut cream laced with burnt coconut shavings, ginger and hot pepper.

The Tausug village, on the other hand, served guests with spanner crabs, most known as curacha, which thrives only in the ocean floors around ARMM’s island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Village chieftain Engineer Don Loong, who is ARMM’s public works secretary, said he is grateful to Tausug employees of different regional line agencies for helping him put up a good show of their native foods.

Traditional Tausug foods are mostly harvested from the sea. Besides rice, cassava is also an alternative staple for Tausugs, which is grated and cooked either as pyutu, which is puto in most dialects, or sianglag, which is similar to the generic Filipino sinangag.

Engineer Don Mustapha Loong, who is ARMM’s public works secretary, said he is thankful to Tausug employees of different regional agencies for helping put up on Thursday a good show of their native cuisines.

So unique is the Tausug village inside the ARMM compound that visitors could see there a replica of the astana (royal house) of the early sultans in the island province.

It was in the astana in Sulu that sultans received visitors and from where they ruled a sultanate that once covered the disputed Sabah, now an island state in Malaysia, the Zamboanga peninsula and Tawi-Tawi.

The Tausug village also has a makeshift mosque made of indigenous materials such as bamboos and palm leaves as roofing.

“Visitors that come at nighttime can also watch Tausug dancers perform the `pangalay,’ which is one of our very old dances,” Loong said.

Among the visitors to the Tausug village last Thursday were the chief of the ARMM’s Regional Crime Laboratory, Supt. Sajid Hassan, his administrative assistant, Inspector Abdulsaid Alamia, and their forensic chemist, Senior Inspector Larry Villasor.

The visiting police officers were accompanied to the Tausug village by lawyer Laisa Alamia, who is ARMM’s executive secretary.

Thursday’s food festival in the Maguindanao and Tausug villages was preceded with a similar event at the nearby Yakan and Maranaw enclaves, also inside the ARMM compound in Cotabato City.

DOH-ARMM to immunize 200,000 students

• Source: http://mindanaoexaminer.com/doh-armm-to-immunize-200000-students/
• Friday, August 7, 2015 10:56 pm

(Bureau of Public Information)

COTABATO CITY – More than 200,000 students in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will receive free immunization from against measles, rubella, tetanus, and diphtheria.

These are infectious diseases that could cause serious illness and disability and could even cause death in worst cases. Around 55,000 Grade 1 and 157,000 Grade 7 students from different public schools in the region are targeted to receive free immunization.

The school-based immunization program is part of the ARMM-Department of Health’s national drive dubbed “Bakuna para sa Kabataan, Proteksyon sa Kinabukasan.” The program is pursued in coordination with the region’s Department of Education and Department of the Interior and Local Government.

The immunization program was officially launched in the region on Monday, August 3, in Maguindanao province. As of date, DOH-ARMM already immunized students in the provinces of Sulu and Basilan, including the city of Lamitan. The program will run until the end of the month.

DOH-ARMM officials said the vaccines used for the program are safe and effective, approved by the World Health Organization, and are used worldwide. An orientation involving the parents, guardians, as well as teachers, are conducted prior to the actual immunization

Students could experience discomfort due to the painful yet tolerable administration of the vaccine, the DOH-ARMM noted. In addition, the agency said the vaccine might have possible side effects such as fainting, swelling or redness on the injection area, fever, and rashes.

The school-based immunization program targets to immunize over 2.4 million Grade 1 and more than 1.6 million Grade 7 students all over the Philippines. However, only children with consent forms from their parents, or guardians would undergo immunization.

TESDA-ARMM offers free competency assessment, certification to 500 industry workers

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=790065
• Wednesday, August 5, 2015

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Aug. 5 (PNA) -- The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (TESDA-ARMM) is offering free competency assessment and certification to about 500 industry workers in the region, an official today said.

Datu Omar Shariff Jaafar, TESDA-ARMM executive director, said the National Technical-Vocational Competency Assessment and Certification, implemented by TESDA, promotes technical-vocational education and trainings as well as strengthen the competency program for skilled workers to match the industry’s needs.

He explained that the program refers to synchronized conduct of competency assessment and certification at the regional and provincial levels in identified key sectors, or qualifications.

Primarily, it is aimed at expanding the clients’ access to assessment and certification program; enhancing competitiveness, employability and productivity of workers; and upgrading the qualification of existing workers, trainers and assessors.

Jaafar said the project is funded by TESDA’s Training for Work Scholarship Program that seeks to improve the reach quality of technical skills.

He said the assessment and certification program is offered for free by the government.

In fact, he said, TESDA-ARMM office provides all the necessary materials during the examination and skills training. The primary purpose of this exercise is to assist skilled workers in further elevating their competency.

Recently, a total of 14 industry workers took the assessment at the Regional Manpower Development Center in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

For ARMM, 500 slots have been allocated under the program; about 175, or 35 percent of this year’s target covers Grades 9 and 10 Technology and Livelihood Education teachers in support of the K to 12 program implementation.

Jaafar added the other 325 slots are for workers, industry practitioners, professionals and career shifters, trainers of private and public technical vocational institutions, public utility vehicle drivers and returning overseas Filipino workers.

“Having a certification in a chosen field can lead to jobs for those seeking employment, high position in their current work, and higher paying jobs locally and abroad,” Jaafar said.

To avail of the free assessment and certification, applicants may visit the TESDA training office in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao or call 064 429-0091 / 09176224409 and look for the administrator, Engr. Bangon S. Sumunsang.

ARMM installs gender-sensitive facilities at Jolo port

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=789642
• Tuesday, August 4, 2015

(PNA), LAM/TPGJR

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 4 (PNA) -- The Regional Ports Management Authority in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RPMA-ARMM) has installed gender-sensitive facilities and amenities at the port of Jolo, Sulu.

Among the amenities like women’s desk, public assistance and information booth, public address system, and a computer and communication station were installed at the modern passenger terminal building of Jolo port.

The other facilities placed at the port terminal included breastfeeding area, interfaith prayer room, first-aid facility, and priority lanes.

“The project is a manifestation of the vision and mission of the government in providing competitive ports and ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and efficient port services to its users and clienteles,” Irene Tillah, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-ARMM) assistant secretary for Sulu convergence, said in a statement Tuesday.

Furthermore, Tillah said the gender and development facilities and amenities in the port of Jolo “are the first, if not the only (such facilities installed) in a Mindanao port.”

She said the facilities were turned-over to the terminal building management last week at the Port of Jolo.

Prior to the ceremony, the DSWD-ARMM has conducted an in-house orientation on gender and development issues for its officials and staffs.

Tillah said the orientation aims at further enhancing their understanding of such concept.

Aside from Tillah, the other officials who witnessed the turnover of the facilities at Jolo port were Suharto Hayudini, persons with disabilities representative; SPO3 Abdullah Sasapan, Maritime Police representative; and, representatives from different shipping lines and stakeholders.

Scholars, parents laud ARMM education assistance program

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=789013
• Monday, August 3, 2015

(PNA),CTB/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Aug 3 (PNA) -- Parents and students in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Monday lauded the ARMM leadership for a special project that benefited poor but deserving students in the region.

“We are very thankful to the ARMM government since this scholarship program helped us a lot, especially to me because my parents can’t send me to school,” Sittie Haya Naga, a 22-year old scholar from Barangay Capiton, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao said in the vernacular.

Naga, is a third year student at the Cotabato City State Polytechnic College taking up Bachelor of Science in Public Administration.

"I will study hard, earn degree and serve my people someday to repay the good deeds done for us poor children," Naga said in Filipino.

A 46-year-old farmer Abdilla Gintawan of Mamasapano, Maguindanao and father of Saguira Gintawan, recipient of ARMM scholarship program, said the educational assistance program really helped poor families in the province. He added education is better for poor Muslim children because "we have something to look up to in the years to come."

"I am happy and lucky my daughter was granted education assistance," Gintawan said in the vernacular. "I thought the government doesn't care for poor like us, I was wrong."

Through the region's "Empowering the Bangsamoro Region through Active Community Engagements in the ARMM (EMBRACE-ARMM)," the regional government has granted financial assistance to scholars in Maguindanao province.

More than a hundred beneficiaries received from the regional government stipend covering the first and second semesters for school year 2014-2015 at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex in Cotabato City.

Releases of financial assistance to other scholars in the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi will take place this week.

Partial scholars received Php10,000 while full-scholars get Ph20,000.

According to John Louie Balagot, ARMM’s deputy executive secretary and concurrent EMBRACE-ARMM program manager, the regional government has earmarked a total of Php24 million for the scholarship.

To date, ARMM has assisted 1,539 students across the region.

Checks were handed over by Balagot, Atty. Rasol Mitmug Jr., ARMM’s chief of staff; Jo Guro, financial management officer of the Commission on Higher Education- ARMM; and Atty. Kirby Abdullah, assistant secretary for Maguindanao convergence.

The scholarship program dubbed ‘Academic Investment for Muslim Mindanao’ (AIMM) is known in the past as ‘Iskolar: Para sa Pagbabago, Para sa Bangsamoro’ (Scholar: agents for change, for Bangsamoro."

It aims at helping underprivileged students pursue college degrees. All valedictorian high school graduates from public and private schools in the region are automatic grante of AIMM scholarship.

“The scholarship grant was part of ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman’s commitment to help poor but deserving students in the region especially those living in conflict-affected communities,” Balagot told reporters.

He said that it is up to the beneficiary to choose the course and school preference. AIMM program is closely monitoring the scholar’s performance.

"Graduates are expected to render at least two years of service, as qualified employee, to the ARMM after earning college degree,” Balagot said.

WFP to undertake $73.5-M food, nutrition projects in Mindanao

• Source: http://mb.com.ph/wfp-to-undertake-73-5-m-food-nutrition-projects-in-mindanao/
• Sunday, August 2, 2015

By Ali G. Macabalang

Cotabato City – The United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) is set to undertake extensive food and nutrition security interventions in the amount of $73.5 million (or P3.3 billion) in the Philippines, principally in four Mindanao provinces including Maguindanao, according to WFP Country Director Praveen Agrawal.

Agrawal made the announcement after he and his technical staff visited Buluan, the new capital town of Maguindanao, to grace the culmination of the province’s celebration of the Nutrition Month last Thursday.

Under the US$73.5-million package, three projects have been approved for Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte and Sultan Kudarat provinces for implementation this year, he said.

“Food and nutrition security cannot be solved overnight so we need to invest, invest and invest in the future of our children,” Agrawal told reporters.

The WFP intervention “should not and cannot be considered social costs or expenditures (but) a total social investment,” he said, adding that “for every peso invested in nutrition, you will get 16 pesos back (in impacts).”

Agrawal held an executive meeting with Governor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu and his technical staff to map out immediate and long-term measures to address nutrition deficiencies of children who are underweight and experience stunted growth, as well as obesity among adults in Maguindanao.

Maguindanao belongs to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which Agrawal said ranks second to Bicol region in terms of malnutrition average rate.

Agrawal said in his speech in Buluan that there was “a need to empower the mothers to ensure that their children and other household members consume military foods and drinks.”

Mangudadatu said they would tap the parents-teachers associations (PTAs) in Maguindanao’s schools in the campaign for nutrition enhancement, starting with the setting up of makeshift kitchens in campuses to cook nutrient-rich foods for school-children.

Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/wfp-to-undertake-73-5-m-food-nutrition-projects-in-mindanao/#XFKYyX4Xzyi1izsu.99

Mindanao braces for longer brownouts

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=788567
• Saturday, August 1, 2015

(PNA), JBP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Aug. 1 (PNA) -- Power consumers in North Cotabato and elsewhere in Mindanao are bracing for longer power interruptions until at least mid-August, an electric cooperative said Saturday.

Vincent Baguio, speaking for the Cotabato Electric Cooperative, said the preventive maintenance on government-owned hydro power plants in Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur and the shutting down of the STEAG power plant in Misamis Oriental will last until August 16.

"With that, power rationing will continue in the franchise area of Cotelco," he said.

Cotelco serves the city of Kidapawan and the towns of Makilala, Tulunan, Mlang, Magpet, President Roxas, Antipas, Arakan, Matalam and Kabacan.

Agus power plants 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 in Lanao del Sur and the Pulangi 4 hydroelectric power plant in Bukidnon have also slowed down production due to low water level.

Also undergoing preventive maintenance is the Mt. Apo Unit 1 geothermal power plant in Kidapawan City owned by the Energy Development Corporation.

Cotelco has been rationing power from three to four hours a day depending on the amount of energy provided by through the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.

Baguio said Cotelco buys an average of at least 11 megawatts from the National Power Corporation’s hydroelectric plants; 8MW from Therma Marine Incorporated in Maco, Compostela Valley; and 5MW megawatt from the Mt. Apo geothermal plant to meet its power requirement of 24MW.

But in July, the hydropower plants could only provide 9MW.

Power rationing is also being undertaken by all power cooperatives in the island.

Baguio appealed to consumers to start conserving energy.

The Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee reported that the water levels of Lake Lanao and Agus and Pulangi dams have continued to drop the past three days, breaching low critical points based on data from the National Power Corporation-Mindanao Generation.

In another statement, the Mindanao Development Authority said as of July 30 the water level of Lake Lanao was at 699.24 meters above sea level, well below its normal high water level of 701.10 meters and short of its minimum operating level of at 699.15 meters.

The water level of Agus 4 stands at 358.31 meters, near its minimum operating level of 357 meters. The dam has a normal high water level of 359 meters.

MinDA also reported that Pulangi 4 hydropower plant’s water level was 280.40 meters, below its minimum operative level of 282 meters, and is currently producing only 20 MW of its 250-MW capacity.

“The low water levels of the dams, which provide around half of Mindanao’s power supply, have brought down the capacity of the hydropower plants of the Agus-Pulangi Hydropower Complexes,” MinDA said.