Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao News May 2016

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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 guv calls for unity, peace after elections

• Source:http://www.philstar.com/nation/2016/05/10/1581806/armm-guv-calls-unity-peace-after-elections
• Tuesday, May 10, 2016 12:17 pm

By John Unson (philstar.com)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - The upbeat reelectionist Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Tuesday urged his constituent-voters to start tearing down the partisan walls that separated them during the just concluded 30-day campaign period.

Hataman and running mate ARMM Vice Gov. Haroun Al-Rashid Lucman are now both leading by over 200,000 votes each in initial separate online tallies by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas and a television network of election results for ARMM governor and vice governor, respectively.

As of dawn Tuesday, Hataman already has 569,320 votes, based on partial, unofficial tallies, as against the 213,903 votes garnered by his less influential challenger, Sulu Vice Gov. Sakur Tan.

Lucman, who hails from the second district of Lanao del Sur, already has 474,000 votes in initial unofficial tallies. His closest rival, Kagui Haron Bandila, an ethnic Maguindanaon, only has more than 60,000 votes.

The autonomous region, covering Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur in mainland Mindanao and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, has 1,863,230 registered voters, but only about 60 percent of them cast vote during elections due to security and geographical constraints.

“Let us now mend fences and bury the hatchets for good. It is in unity that we can proudly show how we value peace in the Bangsamoro homeland," Hataman said. Nation ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

"Peace and interfaith unity are very important commodities we can use to secure our liberation from poverty and feudal politics,” he added.

Hataman said he is offering his hand to Tan, Sulu’s political kingpin, who has been in politics for about three decades now.

Hataman said he will continue his effort to help local leaders in Sulu rebuild the island province from devastations wrought by armed conflicts through public works, social welfare, education and health interventions.

Hataman and Tan were originally both members of the Liberal Party (LP) but the vice governor turned renegade and filed his candidacy for ARMM’s governorship in October last year without any permission from the LP’s national directorate.

Most of the 116 mayors in ARMM and its four provincial governors, the LP stalwarts Esmael Mangudadatu of Maguindanao, Nurbert Sahali of Tawi-Tawi, Mamintal Adiong Jr. of Lanao del Sur and Jum Akbar of Basilan, were irked by his unilateral move, which was for them a total defiance of LP rules.

They immediately tagged Tan as an “independent candidate” for ARMM governor and announced they could not support his candidacy for his misbehavior.

ARMM governor casts vote in Basilan hometown

• Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=883568
• Monday, May 9, 2016

(PNA), BNB/TPGJR

ISABELA CITY, Basilan, May 9 (PNA) – Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has led the 1.8 million registered voters in the region in choosing the leaders of the country for the next six years.

Several supporters, while chanting, have lined up along the roadside as they saw Hataman arrived in the nearby municipality of Sumisip, his hometown, to cast his vote.

Amir Mawallil, ARMM’s Bureau of Public Information (BPI-ARMM) director, said Hataman voted around 9:30 a.m. Monday in Barangay Buli-Buli, Sumisip.

Mawallil, who accompanied the regional governor, said Hataman is a registered voter of Precinct No. 0091A.

Hataman is seeking re-election under the administration’s Liberal Party (LP).

Hataman is known for the reforms and development projects implemented in this province as well as in the entire ARMM under his administration.

Last March, Hataman accompanied President Benigno Simeon Aquino III who led the inauguration of the Basilan circumferential road.

The construction of the circumferential road started several years ago and was completed during the presidency of Aquino and governorship of Hataman.

PNP, AFP ready for May 9 election in Lanao del Sur

• Source:http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1521462420856/pnp-afp-ready-for-may-9-election-in-lanao-del-sur
• Sunday, May 8, 2016

By Apipa Bagumbaran (APB/PIA-10)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA) --- The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) here are now ready in carrying-out security measures this coming May 9, 2016 election.

Police Senior Superintendent, Rustom C Duran, PNP provincial director, gave the assurance during the Provincial Coordinating Conference of the PNP, AFP, Department of Education, and Commission on Elections recently.

PSSupt Duran said they will deploy more than 1,100 PNP personnel in the all voting centers in the province during elections.

He said PNP has also created 14 quick reaction forces (QRF) to respond quickly to security problems and augment the security forces in identified areas of concerns.

Director Duran also said that they have standby personnel, who can act as Special Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs), in case the assigned BEIs will not report to duty.

Meanwhile, three battalion of military personnel will also be deployed in the entire province.

Col Roseller Murillo, commanding officer of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, for his part, said the deployment is part of the security plan that will implemented in the province to prevent election-related violent incidents and ensure that there will be no failure of elections in the province this 2016.

1,000-man Task Force CHOP activated in Maguindanao

• Source:http://www.mb.com.ph/1000-man-task-force-chop-activated-in-maguindanao/
• Saturday, May 7, 2016

By Ali G. Macabalang

And how they rise above them because they’re awesome

Cotabato City — The Maguindanao-based Sixth Infantry Division (6th ID) has activated its 1,000-member security task force to help ensure peaceful proceedings in Monday’s polls in Central Mindanao, especially in areas of electoral concern in the province.

Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, 6ID commanding general, has tapped his division’s chief-of- staff Col. Romeo Brawner as head of the Task Force CHOP (clean, honest, orderly and peaceful elections).

Discussions during the task force’s ceremonial revival said Brawner and his men will be backed by dozens of combat vehicles, tanks and motorized watercrafts for security operations in far-flung areas, particularly in marshlands and polling precincts along rivers across the adjoining North Cotabato and Maguindanao provinces.

Pangilinan said the group, which will also be beefed up by snipers, will operate under the supervision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), which earlier classified Maguindanao as one of country’s eight “areas of immediate concern.”

“These men will engage without any hesitation saboteurs or armed groups out to derail the conduct of the elections in any of the municipalities under the jurisdiction of the 6th ID,” Pangilinan told reporters.

The task force was presented at the 6th ID’s parade ground southwest of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao on Thursday afternoon by Pangilinan and Major Gen. Eduardo Año, the Philippine Army chief.

Pangilinan said the election security duties of the task force would be coordinated properly with the ceasefire bodies of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The MILF had earlier said it will reposition its forces away from guerrilla enclaves near polling centers before May 9 for Comelec personnel and teachers to freely operate and serve voting folks without security apprehensions.

News about the activation of the task force was welcomed by officials and residents of Maguindanao and North Cotabato.

The Army contingent is a revival of the erstwhile Task Force HOPE (honest, orderly and peaceful elections), which was credited for helping restore in the 2010 elections among Maguindanao voters their rights of suffrage allegedly crippled in political exercises prior to the infamous Nov. 23, 2009 election-related Ampatuan massacre.

CDA-ARMM hosts coops summit

• Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=3&rid=882866
• Friday, May 6, 2016

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 6 (PNA) -- As part of comprehensive plans and programs of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) for this year, the agency hosted the 2016 provincial cooperatives summit in Lanao del Sur Wednesday, officials said Friday.

With the theme: “Economic Sustainability and Good Governance Through Cooperativism,” the event was attended by over a thousand leaders of cooperatives in the province.

The summit was hosted by CDA-ARMM headed by regional administrator Dimnatang M. Radia.

"Cooperativism is a priority initiative under the regional government’s poverty alleviation agenda," ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman said.

Also in attendance during the day-long summit were CDA chairman Orlando Ravanera, Central Mindanao CDA director Amenodin Elias, Pama Dimapanat, ARMM secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications; Jehanne Mutin, chairperson of the Regional Commission of Bangsamoro Women (RCBW); and Mocammad Rakiin, Lanao del Sur provincial administrator who represented provincial governor Mamintal Adiong, Jr.

Rakiin said cooperativism is a program fully supported by Gov. Adiong.

For his part, CDA chairman Ravanera said people can be empowered to craft their own destiny as they come together through the cooperative.

“Cooperativism is about empowering the poor and invulnerable especially in taking full control of available resources of Mindanao,” Ravanera said.

“We believe cooperativism is the only effective approach in achieving true peace in the region,” he added.

Mutin said the women’s sector understands the concept of the cooperative, specifically the collaborative efforts of its members.

CDA-ARMM administrator Radia stressed that cooperativism is one of the initiatives of CDA-ARMM in accordance with its mandate to promote the viability, growth and sustainability of cooperatives as instruments for equity, economic development and social justice.

Radia revealed CDA-ARMM’s accomplishments that included the Computerized Registration System and Kapit-Bisig Program as a one-stop shop converging three major programs of CDA-ARMM, namely registration, regulation and development of cooperatives.

Radia said such convergence was aimed at convening cooperatives in every municipality as well as in harmonizing programs and projects supporting cooperatives in various national line agencies.

ARMM kicks off 2016 Lanao del Sur cooperatives summit

• Source:http://mindanaoexaminer.com/armm-kicks-off-2016-lanao-del-sur-cooperatives-summit/
• Thursday, May 5, 2016 5:58 pm

(Desk Man, Bureau of Public Information)

MARAWI CITY – The Cooperative Development Authority of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CDA-ARMM) hosted the 2016 provincial cooperatives summit in Lanao del Sur held here on Tuesday as part of the regional agency’s comprehensive plans and programs.

With the theme: “Economic Sustainability and Good Governance Through Cooperativism,” the event was attended by over a thousand leaders of cooperatives in the province. The summit was hosted by CDA-ARMM headed by regional administrator Dimnatang M. Radia.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman who spoke before the summit’s participants said cooperativism is a priority initiative under the regional government’s poverty alleviation agenda.

Aside from Gov. Hataman, other officials who graced the event include: Orlando Ravanera, CDA chairman; Amenodin Elias, Central Mindanao CDA director; Pama Dimapanat, ARMM secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications; Jehanne Mutin, chairperson of the Regional Commission of Bangsamoro Women (RCBW); and Mocammad Rakiin, Lanao del Sur provincial administrator who represented provincial governor Mamintal Adiong, Jr.

Rakiin said cooperativism is a program fully supported by Gov. Adiong. For his part, CDA chairman Ravanera said people can be empowered to craft their own destiny as they come together through the cooperative.

“Cooperativism is about empowering the poor and invulnerable especially in taking full control of available resources of Mindanao,” Ravanera said. “We believe cooperativism is the only effective approach in achieving true peace in the region,” he added.

RCBW chairperson Mutin, meanwhile, said the women’s sector understands the concept of the cooperative, specifically the collaborative efforts of its members. The summit, said CDA-ARMM administrator Radia, is one of the initiatives of CDA-ARMM in accordance with its mandate to promote the viability, growth and sustainability of cooperatives as instruments for equity, economic development and social justice.

Among CDA-ARMM’s accomplishments are the Computerized Registration System and Kapit-Bisig Program as a one-stop shop converging three major programs of CDA-ARMM, namely registration, regulation and development of cooperatives. Such convergence is aimed at convening cooperatives in every municipality as well as in harmonizing programs and projects supporting cooperatives in various national line agencies.

DOH-ARMM gets recognition for successful deworming campaign

• Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=7&rid=882364
• Wednesday, May 4, 2016

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 4 (PNA) -- Health workers in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are now inspired, committed and determined to perform better after the Department of Health’s (DOH) central office awarded the Department of Health in ARMM (DOH-ARMM) as the most improved region in terms of coverage of the national de-worming campaign’s second round held in January this year.

Dr. Kadil Sinolinding, DOH-ARMM regional secretary, said ARMM has de-wormed 98 percent of its target, or over one million school and community-based children, elevating the region to the top of the government’s drive that focuses on children’s health.

Deworming is done twice a year, the first round in July of every year.

“This is the first time that the DOH central office recognized the region in a deworming period, and it is because of the continuous effort of the DOH-ARMM,” said Soraida Amilil, regional program coordinator and deputy infectious disease cluster head.

Amilil underscored the importance of the drive, which is aimed at combating the nutritional impact of soil-transmitted helminthiasis, a type of helminth infection caused by roundworms, whipworms, and hookworms.

During the deworming drive, children aged one to four and five to 12 are given a single dose of chewable 400-milligram albendazole anti-worm tablets by school nurses and community health workers.

DOH-ARMM’s report showed that a total of 343,885 children, aged one to four and 135,716 aged five to 12 in communities received deworming tablets.

It further noted 568,076 children enrolled in public elementary schools were also served during the campaign period.

Health workers said that just like other medication, deworming drugs may have nominal side effects such as dizziness, nausea, headache and vomiting. These effects are transient, minor, self-limiting and would disappear after some time and can easily be managed with remedies like resting for a few hours and drinking water mixed with sugar.

Amilil said the regional health office first tried to bring down the prevalence rate of worm infestation among children to less than 20 percent in 2014. To achieve it, the region’s Health department conducted parasite prevalence survey in the provinces of Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Lanao del Sur.

The result of the survey showed 36.7 percent of school children aged six to 12 in the region are suffering from this problem.

“Hopefully, with the efforts of our department (DOH-ARMM), we can lower the number of children suffering from worm infestation,” she added.

She further explained that deworming can substantially improve the health and school participation of children and can reduce absenteeism.

The campaign will also help address other health problems among children such as anemia, malnutrition and impaired mental and physical development.

Prior to giving the prescribed dosage, school nurses and health workers informed the parents on the importance of the campaign specifically in improving the general health of the children.

DOST issues IT certificates to 38,045 Mindanao teachers serving on national, local polls

• Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=881728
• Tuesday, May 3, 2016

(PNA), LDV/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 3 (PNA) -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Tuesday announced it issued certification as information technology (IT)-capable to a total of 38,045 Mindanao teachers serving as members of the May 9 Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs).

An IT-capable certification means the certified election inspector has the required skills to operate and run the vote counting machine (VCM), which the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will use for the coming political exercise.

In a statement released here, Secretary Mario Go Montejo said DOST had conducted the certification process in the 17 regions of the Philippines from March 1 to 30 this year, processing a total of 183,105 BEIs, including 43,291 teachers in Mindanao's six regions.

DOST and Comelec signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) in January this year for the certification of members of the BEIs.

Montejo said the role of DOST "is to certify that one of the BEIs is technically capable of operating properly our automated voting system," as he referred to the need for BEIs to have the necessary skills to operate the VCM.

Nationwide, a total of 17,839 BEIs did not meet the requirements needed to be certified IT-capable.

Mindanao-wide, 5,246 BEIs of the 43,291 processed by the DOST failed to earn a certification. It means they cannot serve as BEI on Monday’s elections.

The successful teachers will serve in Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula); Region X (Northern Mindanao); Region XI (Davao Region); Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN); Region XIII (CARAGA); and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

For Southern Philippines' six regions, the figures are Region IX (6,797 BEIs, 5,725 certified); Region X (8,677 BEIs, 8,256 certified); Region XI (8,211 BEIs, 6,801 certified); Region XII (6,884 BEIs, 5,072 certified); Region XIII (5,333 BEIs, 5,279 certified); and ARMM (7,389 BEIs, 6,912 certified).

Montejo said DOST has fielded many of its IT experts nationwide to perform the certification process.

In the national tally, 165,268 BEIs earned their certification out of the 183,105 election inspectors who underwent the DOST-conducted training, written and actual examinations, and certification for the operation of the VCM.

The Automated Election System (AES) Law stipulates that an AES is one that uses "appropriate technology for voting and electronic devices to count the votes and canvass/consolidate results."

Republic Act No. 9369 or the AES law mandates the DOST to perform the certification of BEIs in all the 17 regions of the Philippines.

In an AES, at least one of the three members of the BEIs in all the 95,000 clustered precincts across the country must be IT-capable.

ARMM had 7,389 BEIs processed, with 6,912 certified for a 93 percent passing rate.

DOST also conducted the certification process for the overseas absentee voting (OAV), covering 317 BEIs, with 279 certified for a passing rate of 88.0 percent.

Teachers serving as members of the BEIs are entitled to a Php4,500 honorarium during the election, as well as an additional Php2,000 for those who underwent technical training, Comelec said.

ARMM holds IPP consultations in Maguindanao

• Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=881663
• Monday, May 2, 2016

(PNA), BNB/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 2 (PNA) -- The Regional Board of Investments (RBOI), of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Monday conducted the third leg of its region-wide 2016 ARMM Investments Priorities Plan (IPP) Consultation and Roadshow.

The third leg was held in municipality of Upi which is 38 kilometers away from Cotabato City.

IPP discussions focused on the investment opportunities in Upi which is an agriculture rich area with tri-people culture (Teduray, Moro and Settlers).

One of the identified investment potentials in the Municipality of Upi to be tapped and supported is the rubber industry given the area’s fertile lands and good climatic conditions.

Mario Debolgado, Upi Business Club president, said that in order for the rubber industry in Upi to prosper there is a need for a processing plant to process their yields same with coffee which is also a major industry in Upi.

Debolgado further said that Upi now has its Local Investment Code as a policy tool to attract investors.

Lawyer Ishak V. Mastura, RBOI chairperson, said that the Upi is a good place to invest, aside from a its peaceful environment, the local government has been a recipient of various awards, to name a few are the Seal of Good Housekeeping from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Civil Service Commission (CSC) Seal of Excellence, and many more.

“This confirms that this municipality has been practicing good governance, which is exactly what investors want to have in the areas where they intend to put their investments” he said.

“The Upi local government is ready to handle investors. It is also essential to have some push from partner ARMM agencies like RBOI to help promote and link the area to local and foreign investors” Mastura added.

ARMM Governor Mujiv S. Hataman said that bringing these consultations to the local communities is very important.

“This is to reach out to those at the grassroots so we would know what they think, what they want us to do and how they can help us to make it happen. We can include these ideas into our future economic strategies and policies or integrate these in our existing plans” Hataman told reporters.

“Public participation in planning the development of the region is one of our core values in our present system of governance,” Hataman said.

RBOI speakers presented the economic activities in the 2016 IPP ARMM List as basis for the granting of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.

RBOI presentations also included the IPP implementing guidelines and the processes and requirements for RBOI registration.

The Regional Planning Development Office (RPDO) represented by Macro Economic Planning Division Chief, Melanie Indar reported on the current socio-economic developments in ARMM while OIC-Manager of Polloc Freeport and Ecozone and REZA Director, Eshan Mabang encouraged the businessmen from Upi to utilize the Polloc Freeport for their convenience and easy transport of products.

RBOI eyes to surpass its investments in 2015 of PHP3 billion.

ARMM Liaison Office facilitates Php144-M funds for regional dev't projects

• Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=881370
• Sunday, May 1, 2016

(PNA), SCS/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 1 (PNA) -- An agency of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has been working quietly to infuse funds for development projects in the Muslim region through facilitation and representation.

Since 2012, the Manila Liaison Office (MLO) of ARMM managed to bring in a total of Php144,228,000 from local and foreign sources, about 96 percent of which came from abroad, specifically from Muslim countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, including non-Muslim states of Taiwan and Singapore, according to Joli Lais, ARMM-MLO head.

Lais said the development assistance has set a record in ARMM’s 25 years of existence.

“Fund assistance come quickly because of the reform agenda pushed and implemented by ARMM Gov. (Mujiv) Hataman,” Lais said in a statement released here.

Before the Hataman administration, the average annual generated resources through facilitation of the MLO reached just over Php1 million from donations during Islam's month-long Ramadan fasting period.

In 2012, the ARMM-MLO set up its Direct Community Services which links with Moro communities, civil society groups, and with various government agencies, including the military and the police in Metro Manila.

The resources and funding were generated from local and foreign sources for the benefit of communities and constituents in the ARMM, which comprised of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, and the cities of Lamitan and Marawi.

Lais said ARMM-MLO has contributed to the ARMM’s reform agenda, not only in the form of assistance and facilitation but also in reaching out to civil society organizations and in participating in various activities involving government agencies, local government units (LGUs), and international institutions.

Lais said more than 90 percent of the generated or facilitated resources by the liaison office was delivered to agencies operating in ARMM areas while the remaining amount, or around 10 percent, was utilized in Metro Manila and other areas outside the autonomous region.

Among those funded by foreign assistance are the acquisition of dialysis machines, hospital beds, mammograms, cryostat machines, refrigerated centerfuge machine, operating room surgical equipment, ophthalmology sets, orthopedic equipment, genaecological instruments, personal computers and printers, and other medical equipment and instruments.

A portion of the foreign donation went to Hajj or pilgrimage assistance, Lais said, adding that Hataman’s clear cut policy of transparency and accountability was the guiding principle of the MLO.

Hataman is seeking reelection as ARMM governor in the May 9 polls.

The MLO head said proper accounting of funding assistance and above-board implementation of projects have earned the confidence of foreign donors to ARMM.