Difference between revisions of "ARMM News"

From Philippines
Jump to navigation Jump to search
→ → Go back HOME to Zamboanga: the Portal to the Philippines.
Line 42: Line 42:
</div>
</div>
<!--- DO NOT EDIT ABOVE THIS LINE --->
<!--- DO NOT EDIT ABOVE THIS LINE --->
==4,000 coffee seedlings awarded to 500 graduate farmers==
*Source:http://armm.gov.ph/14000-coffee-seedlings-awarded-to-500-graduate-farmers/
*Monday, December 16, 2013
:(arrm.gov.ph)
A total of 14,000 coffee seedlings and certificates were awarded to more than 500 farmers who completed the course on Coffee Production and its Utilization during the Mass Graduation of School-on-the-air last December 16 held in the Shariff Kabunsuan Hall, ARMM Complex, Cotabato City.
Regional Governor Mujiv S. Hataman graced the occasion along with Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Secretary, Atty. Makmod Mending Jr.
In his speech Governor Hataman reiterated the importance of farming, particularly coffee farming, on the economic progress of ARMM. Hataman challenged the farmers to apply the knowledge and technologies that they have acquired in developing the lands that they till. He also stated that he is willing to allocate PhP 700,000 from his Special Purpose Fund (SPF) to provide the farmers capital.
Five farmers received a spot-cash of PhP1000 each from the Regional Governor after they have provided correct answers to the quiz he initiated.
The School-on-the-air on Coffee Production and its Utilization is a program spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF-ARMM) through the leadership of Atty. Mending Jr.
==IPHO-Maguindanao conducts medical mission in 2 Samar towns hardly hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda==
==IPHO-Maguindanao conducts medical mission in 2 Samar towns hardly hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda==
*Source:http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=1211387025042
*Source:http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=1211387025042

Revision as of 15:04, 16 December 2013

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

ARMM Photo Gallery
ARMM Realty
Philippine News Headlines
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.

4,000 coffee seedlings awarded to 500 graduate farmers

(arrm.gov.ph)

A total of 14,000 coffee seedlings and certificates were awarded to more than 500 farmers who completed the course on Coffee Production and its Utilization during the Mass Graduation of School-on-the-air last December 16 held in the Shariff Kabunsuan Hall, ARMM Complex, Cotabato City.

Regional Governor Mujiv S. Hataman graced the occasion along with Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Secretary, Atty. Makmod Mending Jr.

In his speech Governor Hataman reiterated the importance of farming, particularly coffee farming, on the economic progress of ARMM. Hataman challenged the farmers to apply the knowledge and technologies that they have acquired in developing the lands that they till. He also stated that he is willing to allocate PhP 700,000 from his Special Purpose Fund (SPF) to provide the farmers capital.

Five farmers received a spot-cash of PhP1000 each from the Regional Governor after they have provided correct answers to the quiz he initiated.

The School-on-the-air on Coffee Production and its Utilization is a program spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF-ARMM) through the leadership of Atty. Mending Jr.

IPHO-Maguindanao conducts medical mission in 2 Samar towns hardly hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda

By Leonilo Lopido (PIA-8)

MARABUT, Samar, December 15 (PIA) – The Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) of Maguindanao led by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Tahir Sulaik extends its humanitarian operations as they arrived this municipality Thursday along with more than a hundred health and support workers to extend free health services in this typhoon Yolanda-devastated town.

In an interview with Dr. Sulaik, he said that their medical mission will cover the whole of Marabut in terms of public health until Monday together with a number of health professionals from different hospitals in Magundanao plus equipments ferried in 14 big vehicles and a truckload of medicines.

Services offered include vaccines, comprehensive surgical, medical, obstetrics, gynecological, dental pediatrics, among others, Sulaik said.

With the traumatic effect brought by the typhoon, the team also offered psycho-social counselling for both children and adults as well as reproductive health services among pregnant women in disaster situation.

Asked why they chose Marabut, he said that they requested assistance from the Department of Health in identifying least-served areas affected by the typhoon.

“We are very particular in assisting areas which are actually the least served or underserved,” he said.

Apart from the above-mentioned services, the team also does nutrition works to determine the nutritional status of the residents in communities after Yolanda.

He said that aside from medical services, they are also providing food assistance to all clients specially the underserved.

On Friday, they distributed toothbrush, 1,000 hygiene kits for pregnant women and 1,000 copies of mother and child booklet.

IPHO Mindanao sent also medical professionals to Basey (also in Samar) considering also that said municipality has limited manpower resources.

“We want to maximize our long travel para sulit naman at kasama ninyo kami sa pagbangon,” the health officer said.

Moreover, Dr. Sulaik, who is also fluent in Waray, said that he informed the Mayor of Marabut that they will not bring back the equipments and supplies they brought for Marabut.

Dr. Sulaik, who has 4,000 people under him, cancelled their year-end conference and Christmas Party in favor of the Medical Mission in Marabut and Basey.

Marabut is a coastal town of Samar composed of 24 barangays with a population of 15,115 (2010 census) and is reached in less than an hour land travel from Tacloban City passing through its neighbor town, Basey.

Security in Lamitan, Basilan improving

By John Unson (philstar.com)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Basilan’s capital Lamitan City has started bouncing back from recent hostilities and bombings that rocked the area and unduly caused underdevelopment in far-flung communities.

Lamitan City is home to mixed Muslim and Christian residents now trying their best to address together domestic peace and security issues through interfaith solidarity and continuing dialogues in support of the Mindanao peace process.

Never has security been felt better by the culturally diverse folks in Lamitan City until local officials, as if 'testing the waters,' opened to the public every night since Thursday the city hall grounds, lit with colourful Christmas lights, adorned with decors.

Lamitan City Mayor Rose Furigay, who led the launching of the night park, said Muslim and Christian folks have peacefully been whiling away time at the city hall compound from dusk to until late at night.

Lamitan City is the capital of the island province of Basilan, a component area of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Furigay said city residents have gradually been reeling off from tension caused by recent bombings, and the September 2013 attempt by rouge Moro rebels to intrude simultaneously into several barangays, while followers of Nur Misuari laid siege in Zamboanga City. Nation ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

The zeal of Furigay and her constituent-community leaders to spruce up the surroundings of the city government compound was not dampened by security issues, such as possible sabotage by extremists and other lawless groups trying to sow terror among the local communities.

City residents have been used to armed conflicts, having witnessed in years past deadly encounters between Moro groups and government security forces.

Local folks, particularly members of the business community, have also been gripped by fear of abductions by kidnap-for-ransom gangs in surrounding towns for many years now.

“But we have been succeeding lately in addressing the peace and security issues besetting our city. We ought to thank the barangay leaders and their constituents for helping the city government address all of these problems squarely,” Furigay said.

Furigay said the city government is grateful to the military and the police for continuously providing protection to barangay folks.

Lamitan City now boasts of infrastructures being built by the office of ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman, through the regional government’s public works department.

“In the meantime, our main concern is how to maintain the momentum of the Muslim-Christian unity in Lamitan,” Furigay said.

Small, medium Muslim weavers boom during ARMM anniversary

By Ayunan Grande Gunting (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines—Unity and culture will take center stage in this year’s celebration of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s (ARMM) 24th founding anniversary.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman says various cultural shows and trade fairs will be conducted during the monthlong celebration of the ARMM’s 24th founding anniversary to depict the unique cultural identities of the region’s Moro and non-Muslim indigenous groups.

Hataman stresses the importance of these cultural shows during their festivities as they will highlight the peculiarities of the region’s local communities, which, despite having different traditions and cultures, are bound by Islam as a common religion.

“The region’s non-Muslim indigenous groups are also related to us. There is no separation, except for religious identities. We are one because we only have one community before the dawn of Islam in this part of the country. One people, one voice, one direction—unity, peace and prosperity,” Hataman says.

The monthlong celebration has already kicked off last November 7 with a parade of traditional attires made from hand-woven fabrics.

Hand-woven producers are happy during this long-month celebration because the demands go high from the distributors. “Very salable sya during ARMM day. Manila and local tourists buy our stuff like Hijabs, Malongs and other consumer Muslim products,” says Hadja Maumina Tamana, a Maranao businesswoman.

“Hand-woven fabrics are essential in our culture to show the richness and diversity of our country and the artistry of the Moro weavers. Hand-woven fabrics are the products of Moro tradition and the inspiration sought from the cultural ethos by the weavers. Innovative weavers, with their skilful blending of myths, faiths, symbols and imagery, provide the fabric an appealing dynamism,” says Amihilda Sangcopan, Chief of Staff and organizer of the event.

Hataman appeals to use hand-woven cloths—a step was taken to help and preserve the Moro weavers.

“If we want to keep this heritage of our country alive, then it is important to improve the socio-economic status of weavers by updating their skills and providing them with essential inputs.

Various schemes and programs are launched by the government that cater to the needs of the handloom sector both at the micro and macro level,” Anak-Mindanao party-list Rep. Sitti Djalia T. Hataman adds.

Maranao float is one of the most highlighted. It showcases the Maranao tradition and culture.

As an example, no less than ARMM Regional Governor Hataman wore traditional ethnic Yakan fabric. He directed all the government employees to wear Moro attire.

The event served as an initial highlight of the celebration of the region’s 24th founding anniversary which will last until Dec. 19, when local residents commemorate the Shariff Kabunsuan Day.

The Kabunsuan Day is a non-working regional holiday observed yearly to honor Shariff Mohammad Kabunsuan, a Muslim missionary from Johore, now an island state in Malaysia, who arrived in the 14th century in what is now Cotabato City to preach Islam.

The start of the celebration of the ARMM’s 24th founding anniversary, meanwhile, coincided with Thursday’s Sheik Karimul Makdum Day.

The Makdum Day is also a yearly regional holiday being observed throughout the autonomous region in commemoration of the arrival 633 years ago in Simunul, now an island town in Tawi-Tawi, of Arab preacher Makdum from the Middle East.

Biometric registration for students piloted in 2 Maguindanao public schools

(PNA), JBP/NYP/WILNARD L. BACELONIA/

PARANG, Maguindanao, Dec. 12 (PNA) -- The Department of Education - Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-ARMM) has tested Wednesday the biometrics registration for students in two schools here as pilot area for the nationwide project.

The Lidasan National High School and Regional Science National High School in Barangay Landasan, Parang, Maguindanao, were the first two schools in the country to undergo biometrics registration for its students.

Jamar Kulayan, DepEd-ARMM secretary said, the project is a part of their campaign to rid the region of “ghost students.”

Kulayan explained that without biometric system, there are possibilities that school population are bloated, requiring the government to shell out unnecessary assistance to non-existing students for extra school budgets.

"We are also planning to have a biometrics registration for teachers after the students and we can have surprise visits on different schools in the region," Kulayan added in an effort to also purge the region of “ghost teachers”.

Kulayan said his office is currently eying the application of the new system in Lanao del Sur province that reportedly has the highest number of ghost teachers and students.

Based on a survey conducted by DepEd-ARMM in partnership with World Bank, 163 of more than 2,000 public schools in the region still have questionable personnel.

Kulayan said reforms initiated by the DepEd-ARMM under ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman led to the huge decrease of 800,000 enrollees in the region to 690,000 at present.

ARMM observes Global Human Rights Day

By MOH I. SAADUDDIN

COTABATO CITY: Human rights violation is not just about the killing of innocent people. It is also about depriving people of basic services and socio economic development.

This point was stressed by Engr. Emil Sadain, Public Works Secretary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao during the celebration yesterday of the International Human Rights Day at ARMM that was attended by thousands of people.

“Depriving society of due basic services and socio-economic development assistance is tantamount to injustice,” he said, hinting at “government ineptitude and negligence.”

Sadain said he does not want this to happen in ARMM. “That’s why we do everything legal and moral to make up for the lapses of government in providing good roads and bridges in ARMM.”

The ARMM celebrated the 10th founding anniversary of the Commission on Human Rights for ARMM and was led by ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman along with his regional cabinet members and other workers.

Lawyer Jamar Kulayan, regional secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), said that his agency reform agenda has brought forth a leap exceeding even an Islamic mandate on human resource management.

Kulayan said Hadith (records of Prophet Mohammad’s deeds and teaching) talks about the Islamic mandate that “workers should receive their wages before their sweats dried up.”

“In our case, we do more than what is mandated. We pay our teachers even before they start sweating,” said Kulayan, referring to the advances and loans privileges of the ARMM teachers, which drawing loud cackles among the audience.

Later, he told The Times that since his administration started, it has resolved the issue of long delays of wages ranging from three-months to one year of 25,000 teachers and administrative workers.

“Since early this year, we release [teachers’] salaries as early as the 15th day of every month,” he said.

In his succeeding speech, Gov. Hataman urged the ARMM’s teachers’ to cooperate and to observe a “high sense of responsibility” to do their mandates as basic source of education.

“You rights are protected and promoted. Please do your responsibility, too,” Hataman said in reference to the regional teaching workforce.

ARMM's 'Little Congress' donates cash, relief supplies for 'Yolanda' victims

By John Unson (philstar.com)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - Members of the “Little Congress” of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Monday donated cash and relief supplies to the Red Cross for distribution to the victims of super typhoon Yolanda (Hainan) in the Visayas.

The cash and relief donations were turned over to Bai Fatima Sinsuat, chairperson of the Red Cross chapter here, by members of the 24-seat Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) representing Speaker Datu Ronnie Sinsuat.

Sinsuat, who has been working for the Red Cross since the early 1970s, said she will have the donations immediately delivered to their counterparts in Leyte.

“We are thankful to the RLA for extending help to the victims of typhoon Yolanda,” Sinsuat told RLA members present in the simple turn over rite held at their session hall inside the 32-hectare ARMM compound here.

The RLA is comprised of 24 lawmakers, three from each of the seven congressional districts in the autonomous region.

Sinsuat said the Red Cross is grateful to many Muslim local officials who had promptly responded to the humanitarian crisis in Leyte, among them the provincial governors of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat provinces, and Gov. Mujiv Hataman of ARMM.

Sinsuat said Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu had provided two truckloads of frozen Tilapia harvested from the Lake Buluan, and several truckloads of food, non-food relief supplies, and medicines to thousands of typhoon victims in Tacloban City and adjoining towns.

She said Mangudadatu’s cousin, Sultan Kudarat Gov. Suharto Mangudadatu, also extended help to Leyte residents through the Red Cross.

OFW Family Day celebration in Buluan, Maguindanao to be held this week

(ORVRivera-PIA12)

COTABATO CITY, Dec 9 (PIA) – Over 1500 Overseas Filipino Workers and their families are expected to attend the OFW Family Day Celebration in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

This year, the OFW Family Day in ARMM will be held at BBGM Buluan, Maguindanao on December 12, 2013.

According to OWWA-ARMM OIC Habib Malik, they have prepared a fun-filled program for the whole day activity.

The participants will be composed of OFW Family Circles from different parts of Maguindanao.

These includes the Mindanao Sustainable Association for Development, Quipolot OFW Association, Midconding OFW Kalilintad Organization, OFW Magungaya Farmers Organization, Tonggol OFW Maguyaga Organization, Lapok OFW Association, and United Bangsamoro OFW Association.

Participants will have the chance to win different prizes like grocery items, kitchen wares and surprise items courtesy of OWWA and other sponsors.

Further, Globe Telecoms will also set-up a one-stop hub to offer Libreng Tawag to OFWs and their relatives.

Among the guests of honor are Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu, DOLE-ARMM Sec. Muslimin Jakilan and Buluan Mayor Lorena Mangudadatu are also expected to grace the event.

This year’s OFW Family Day has the theme “Hawak-kamay sa mithiing tagumpay at asenso ng Pamilyang OFW.”

OFW Family Day is an annual celebration of the OWWA aimed at providing avenue for OFWs and their families to spend quality time, strengthen family ties and values and develop camaraderie among OFW communities. It is also OWWA’s way of thanking our modern day heroes for their invaluable contribution in boosting up our economy.

GPH-MILF nego on Power-Sharing: only one issue left to resolve

By Carolyn O. Arguillas (MindaNews)

KUALA LUMPUR (MindaNews / 08 December) — The government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panels were supposed to have ended talks here on Saturday but agreed to extend it by another day to try to hammer out an agreement on “Bangsamoro waters,” the last contentious issue that needs to be resolved so they could sign the Annex on Power-Sharing.

Both panels are pressed to finish negotiations on the Annexes on Power-sharing and Normalization, the last two annexes to the October 15, 2012 Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) that would complete the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and pave the way for the creation of the “Bangsamoro,” a new autonomous political entity that would replace the 23-year old Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) by 30 June 2016, the same day the Aquino administration bows out of office.

Counting from December 8, 2013, the parties have only 30 months or 935 days left to June 30, 2016.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda and ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman have been attending the negotiations since Saturday, with Danilo Augsto Francia, Defense Assistant Secretary for Plans and Programs.

“Substantial progress has been made on both annexes,” Deles told MindaNews Saturday night.

Deles and Lacierda were present in July when the Annex on Wealth-Sharing was signed but Lacierda left for Manila prior to the signing. He told MindaNews Saturday night that he was staying on for the Sunday session.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman described the mood during the negotiations on Saturday as “light.” He said many were cracking jokes but he could see both panels had the drive to find ways to resolve the issues.

The MILF also brought in three senior members of its Central Committee. Jun Mantawil, head of the MILF peace panel secretariat identified them as Khalifa Nando, Zainoden Bato and Abo Ubaida Pacasem.

When the talks on the Annex on Wealth-Sharing were coming to an end on July 12 and 13, MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim convened the Central Committee in the conference room of the MILF Peace Panel office in Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, “so there will be fast and effective consultation process” with its peace panel in Kuala Lumpur.

He assured civil society leaders in a dialogue at the same conference room on July 25 that the Central Committee will help fast-track the peace negotiations.

“We are always ready for whatever is necessary in the peace process because … we are all fully supportive.. we are fully sold out (to) this peace process and everybody is supportive. So we can always do the same and even more than that if necessary, as the situation dictates,” Murad said.

“Most likely”

Government peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer told MindaNews Sunday morning that the panels will be discussing the power-sharing annex and normalization annexes “the whole day.”

She expressed optimism the Power-Sharing annex would be signed Sunday. “Most likely,” she said, but added she wants to be cautious just like in a Pacquiao boxing fight: “big chance but not 100%.”

“There is much progress today,” MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal said of the negotiations on Saturday.

Both Ferrer and Iqbal confirmed that Bangsamoro waters is the remaining issue to resolve in the Power-sharing annex.

“Revisit,” “Refine”

“Yes, only one remains to be resolved, Bangsamoro waters. But government wants to revisit five issues, which we the MILF did not agree to discuss in the plenary session,” Iqbal said.

Ferrer refered to the “five issues” as “refinements” to “clean up the text” of the power-sharing annex.

This round of talks was scheduled for December 4 to 7 but formally opened on December 5 upon the request of the GPH panel. The technical working groups on Normalization, however, met on December 4.

Under the FAB, the parties committed to work on the Annexes on Power-Sharing, Wealth-Sharing, Transitional Arrangements and Modalities, and Normalization, to “complete the comprehensive agreement by the end of the year.”

The signing of the comprehensive peace agreement, already set back by a year, is a major step in the 15-step Roadmap to the Bangsamoro” that both parties had agreed to.

The panels are still on Step 5 with the Bangsamoro Transition Commission drafting the Bangsamoro Basic Law but cannot proceed further because the Annexes on Power-Sharing and Normalization, equally important in the crafting of the Basic Law, have yet to be finished.

From 8 to 5 to 3 to 1

Iqbal on November 30 told MindaNews the panels are “on the final stretch on the Annex on Power-sharing as five of the remaining eight issues had been resolved in the executive session held on November 21 in Kuala Lumpur.

He said the five issues settled by the panels were “ancestral domain and natural resources, ancestral land and agrarian structure, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, land management distribution and reclassification, and all other powers not stated in the FAB and other annexes that are relevant to the FAB to be transferred to the Bangsamoro.”

The parties have yet to divulge the final text of the resolved issues.

Iqbal said the three issues that were to be settled in the December talks were: Bangsamoro waters, transportation and communication, and electoral system suitable to ministerial form of governance.

The issue on transportation and communication was settled on December 5.

MindaNews sources said the issue was resolved with both parties “agreeing on principles and letting the Basic Law allocate the appropriate powers for Bangsamoro Government and Central Government.”

The issue on electoral system was resolved by lifting the text from the FAB.

Stuck on waters

The panels are stuck on how to resolve the issue on Bangsamoro waters although sources told MindaNews that government on Friday proposed a “creative” way of moving ahead by signing the Annex on Power-Sharing with a provision that the panels would craft an addendum to both annexes on power-sharing and wealth-sharing, on the Bangsamoro waters.

The MILF as of Saturday night, however, appeared lukewarm to the idea of signing the power-sharing annex without resolving the Bangsamoro waters issue.

The issue involves what the Iqbal refers to as “political contiguity and connectivity.

MindaNews sources said one of the formulations offered is for the Bangsamoro waters to be defined as an area up to 22 kilometers from the shoreline or seven kilometers more than municipal waters.

Another suggestion was to have a zone or area of cooperation deal with the issue of waters on the Moro Gulf and the Sulu Sea. For example, within the Moro Gulf are areas that are not part of the proposed core territory of the future Bangsamoro while the Sulu Sea, although part of the Bangsamoro, is Philippine territory even as Sulu claims ancestral domain over the Sulu Sea.

The issue on shares from oil and gas explorations in the Sulu Sea is also being discussed, with proposals of 60-40 sharing in favor of the Central Government, while another proposal is on royalty payment.

Weather stations put up in ARMM

By Charlie Señase (Inquirer Mindanao, Philippine Daily Inquirer)

COTABATO CITY— The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) now hosts 26 automated weather stations that can help forecast storms so that more lives can be saved during natural disasters, a ranking ARMM official said.

Myra Alih, secretary of the Department of Science and Technology in the ARMM, said 10 more weather stations would be installed in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan and Sulu in the coming days, as the region had been identified as a pilot area in Mindanao for Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards).

Alih said Project NOAH was officially launched in the five-province region on Monday, with the turnover of the 26 weather stations.

Alih said the weather stations were equipped with advanced devices that could detect wind velocity and direction, and rainfall level.

Alih said the stations would be used to gather data to project storm paths and strengths, and for long-term research studies, particularly on climate change.

ARMM awards 9 infra projects to bidders

By John Unson (philstar.com)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - The bidding process for nine new infrastructure projects worth P363 million has helped the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao saved money.

The contracts for the projects --- reblocking of damaged portions of highways in Maguindanao, concreting of roads in the second district of the province, and construction of roads and seaports and a water system in Basilan --- were awarded to winning bidders last November 29.

Hadji Emil Sadain, regional public works secretary of ARMM, said the bidding process for the nine projects, made open to the media and representatives of different civil society organizations in the autonomous region, resulted in savings worth P520,000.

Sadain said they will seek clearance from the national government to spend the savings either for other projects, or for the procurement of engineering equipment.

Sadain said the program of works and all tranches of funds to contractors implementing the nine projects will be open to media scrutiny.

The ARMM’s Department of Public Works and Highways, whose coffer is being managed jointly by Sadain, Gov. Mujiv Hataman, and auditors from the Commission on Audit, earlier saved P136 million from unspent project funds it received from the national government from early 2012 to middle of 2013. Nation ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

Hataman's office, the Office of the Regional Governor, exercises ministerial control over more than a dozen line agencies devolved by the national government, and more than 20 other support offices.

The P136 million the DPWH had earlier saved was spent, with permission from COA and the Department of Budget and Management, for the procurement of road building and maintenance equipment for the district engineering offices in the autonomous region.

The autonomous region covers Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, which are both in mainland Mindanao, the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, and the cities of Lamitan and Marawi.

ARMM strengthens output, program info campaigns

(Daily Zamboanga Times)

Information officers of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s (ARMM) line agencies will intensify the dissemination of the region’s accomplishments complementing the southern peace process, officials said.

Amir Mawallil, executive director of the ARMM’s Bureau of Public Information, said their objective is to educate local folks that good governance — as a vehicle to achieve socio-economic growth and political stability in the region — can only be possible with public support and cooperation.

ARMM officials are keen on turning over, between 2015 to early 2016, to the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front a reformed regional government and its accomplished projects, as a prelude to the region’s replacement with a new, MILF-led Bangsamoro political entity.

“Only by way of making the people understand the relevance of good governance, through effective dissemination of the ARMM’s reform initiatives and accomplishments, to peace-building in Moro communities will they realize that participatory governance is so important in nation-building,” Mawallil said.

He said the autonomous region will, in fact, upgrade its communication strategies to maximize the dissemination to the public of its accomplishments and in keeping with Gov. Mujiv Hataman’s policy of transparency and accountability in managing the affairs of the regional government.

“This means revitalizing the communication strategies since the old, traditional strategies of communicating with the ARMM’s mixed Muslim, Christian and highland communities may no longer be usable, or viable,” Mawallil said.

More than 50 information officers from different support offices and line agencies under the Office of the Regional Governor, touted as “ARMM’s Little Malacanang,” held last week in Davao City an “effective communications” workshop as an initial step to expanding the dissemination of the activities of the regional government.

The workshop delved on issues and concerns besetting the information thrusts of the ARMM and how modernization and the so-called “cyber age” brought in more convenient and readily available mediums that can connect the regional government to its constituents, communication-wise.

Mawallil said Kael de Lara Co, Malacanang’s undersecretary for communications, was among the speakers who provided participants vital insights during the workshop sessions in Davao City, which was bankrolled by the office of Hataman.

Amihilda Sangcopan, Hataman’s chief-of-staff, said they have been trying their best to be as prompt as they can in dispersing information about the activities of the regional government.

Sangcopan said Hataman has a standing directive to all regional secretaries and chiefs of different support offices to keep open all of their fiscal records to the public and the media in keeping with his administration’s policy of transparency and accountability.

Consultations on Bangsamoro Basic Law kick off in Lanao del Norte, Iligan

(InterAksyon.com)

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines -- Major public consultations on the Bangsamoro Basic Law kick off Wednesday in Lanao del Norte, parallel to the meeting of the peace panels of government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Kuala Lumpur.

The peace panels meet in a bid to iron out the details on power sharing and normalization that are preventing them from clinching a comprehensive peace accord more than a year after inking a landmark preliminary pact.

The first consultations will take place in two clusters covering at least four of the province’s 22 towns on December 4 with former Iligan City mayor Franklin Quijano serving as one of the facilitators.

All the towns plus Iligan City will hopefully be covered by December 7, said Gimaidee Ann Cadotdot of the Pailig Academy for Grassroots Democracy, secretariat of the Lanao del Norte consultations.

The civil society-led consultations in Lanao del Norte are part of a Mindanao-wide effort to solicit inputs from grassroots communities regarding the charter of the future Bangsamoro self-governance entity that will replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

This is covered by a memorandum of agreement between the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, which has been tasked by President Benigno Aquino III to draft the Basic Law, and at least 40 nongovernmental organizations and networks. Primarily, these consultations will take place in every legislative district of the provinces of the ARMM and provinces that have localities that can potentially become part of the Bangsamoro.

Thematic consultations, like those among indigenous people, women and youth, are also planned.

The 22 towns of Lanao del Norte have been grouped into 10 clusters while the 44 barangays of Iligan City constitute another cluster.

Some 100 participants will be convened per cluster.

The results of these consultations will be forwarded to the BTC as well as the government and MILF peace panels, said Cadotdot.

“We have especially targeted grassroots leaders because we believe that the effort to improve the Moro autonomy setup must redound to the greater benefit of the ordinary Bangsamoro,” Cadotdot stressed.

More than 30 local civil society organizations are participating in the consultation, which is supported by the GIZ Civil Peace Service program, Cadotdot added.

“We aim that the conduct of this democratic exercise provides a hopeful contrast amid the historical backdrop of Lanao del Norte being a key trigger for war in the 1970s, 2000 and 2008,” explained Quijano.

The Moro autonomy experiment began in 1977, founded on the 1976 Tripoli Agreement of Peace inked between government and the Moro National Liberation Front.

Consultations on its design were first done in 1987 through the Mindanao Regional Consultative Commission, which drafted the original Organic Act of the ARMM.

But much of these consultations, according to Mindanao historian and MRCC member Rudy Rodil, never went down to the grassroots. The effort to involve grassroots leaders in designing Moro autonomy is therefore the first in its 36-year history.

DPWH sets aside P194 million for Cotabato major bridge rehab

(PNA), PDS/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Dec. 3 (PNA) --The Department of Public Works and Highways in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DPWH-ARMM) has set aside P194 million for the rehabilitation of Quirino Bridge that connects Cotabato City to North Cotabato and other provinces in Mindanao.

Quirino bridge, constructed by Americans 50 years ago, has been dilapidated and its steel beams are corroded.

Its load capacity had been reduced to only 2.5 tons last week and starting this week, only four-wheeled vehicles will be allowed to pass to avoid accident and tragedy, according to DPWH officials.

National DPWH assistant secretary and concurrent DPWH-ARMM regional secretary Emil Sadain, the P194 million will be used to completely rehabilitate the bridge.

"We need to destroy the old bridge and replace it with new and more modern one," Sadain told reporters.

DPWH-12 engineers who conducted the assessment and study on the strength of the bridge has recommended the closure of Quirino Bridge but due to unavailability of alternate route, it recommended the reduction of load capacity.

Sadain said it will take six to eight months to complete the demolition and construction of the bridge.

By next year, the East-West circumferential road in the city will be completed by mid-year of 2014 and it will serve as alternate route.

The East-West road is part of the Mindanao Road Improvement Project (MIRP) under the administration of President Aquino.

Human Rights Day fun run raises funds for IDPs, typhoon victims

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran (APB/PIA-10)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Dec. 2 (PIA) --- The green light is on for the staging of the human rights day fun run in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) slated this coming December 10 here in the city.

The fun run dubbed “Run for Your Rights” aims to help internally-displaced person (IDPs) in Zamboanga and survivors of typhoon Yolanda in Visayas, said Atty. Abdel Jamal R. Disangcopan, head of the Provincial Field Office of Regional Human Rights Commission (RHRC) in today’s airing of “Ozor ka, Ranao!” radio program.

“One hundred percent of the proceeds from the activity we will donate to the IDPs in Zamboanga and typhoon victims in Visayas,” he said.

Disangcopan said three categories are available in fun run, the 3K, 5K and 10K, plus a walkathon for those not interested to run but would like to participate for the cause.

Registration fee is the same for all categories, P300 for adult and P250 for students. This is inclusive of the singlet and race kits.

Disangcopan said they also give discounts for those registering as groups like a fee of only P800 for a family of four or P1,200 for friends of five.

Those who do not want to have a singlet can register for only P100.

Interested participants may sign up either at the RHRC Provincial Office located at the Provincial Capitol Compound or Mindanao State University (MSU) College of Public Administration, Philippine Muslim Teachers College, Lake Lanao College, and Jamiatu Muslim Mindanao.

Registration is until Saturday, December 7.

The starting point of the run is at KM0.00 in Amai Pakpak at 4:30 in the morning.

Disangcopan said the event which is in line with the International Human Rights Day celebration is also a venue to promote human rights.

Aside from helping the IDPs and typhoon victims, he said participants can also learn more about human rights through lectures and hand-outs that will be given away during the event.

They can also have picture-taking in a human rights booth and sign a commitment for human rights protection, he added.

Meanwhile, RHRC gave assurance on the safety and security of those joining the fun run.

Disangcopan said they have secured the necessary permit and have coordinated with the provincial and city governments as well as the local police for the staging of the fun run.

“Ozor ka, Ranao!” is a one-hour radio program of Philippine Information Agency and Philippine Broadcasting Service that aims to provide people with information and updates on various efforts to bring development and prosperity in the province. It is being aired live over DxSO Radyo ng Bayan Marawi, 8am to 9am, every first and third Monday of the month.

ARMM has room for 2,640 more teachers

By Antonio P. Rimando (Correspondent)

COTABATO CITY—Acute shortage of public school teachers has long plagued the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), adversely affecting the delivery of quality basic education in the area as evidenced by its consistent low performance in the annual National Achievement Test (NAT) conducted by the Department of Education’s (DepEd) National Educational Testing and Research Center (NETRC).

DepEd records showed that since the NAT was introduced eight school years ago, the ARMM usually ranked the lowest among the agency’s 16 regions.

ARMM Regional Education Secretary Kamar Kulayan said the region’s poor academic achievement is expected to ease soon after Muslim Mindanao was alloted this school year by the DepEd central office with a total of 2,649 new teacher items.

Kulayan said a teacher allocation report his office received in September from the Office of Education Secretary Armin A. Luistro said the new mentor positions are broken down into 120 for kindergarten; 1,374 for elementary; and 1,155 for secondary schools.

He said the teacher items were proportionately distributed to ARMM’s 14 schools division (SD) with Lanao del Sur I receiving the lion’s share with 514 positions followed by the Tawi-Tawi and Maguindanao I which were given 475 and 429 positions, respectively.

The other Muslim Mindanao SD and their respective teacher allotments, Kulayan said, are Lanao del Sur II with 389 tutor posts; Lanao del Sur I-A, 273; Maguindanao II, 267; Lanao del Sur l-B, 241; Lanao del Sur II-B, 214; Lanao del Sur II-A, 174; Sulu II, 144; Marawi City, 121; Basilan, 112, and Lamitan City, 24.

Kulayan said Luistro empowered the concerned SD superintendents in the region to recruit and appoint qualified teacher applicants following DepEd’s hiring rules and regulations which stress the merit and ranking system.

The education chief also enjoined appointing field school executives to comply with the DepEd localization law which stipulates that an applicant who is a resident of a certain barangay or municipality which needs an additional mentor should be given priority over another nonlocal applicant.

Kulayan said Luistro also required qualified applicants for high school should possess the necessary major or specialized subject needed by the secondary school concerned.

For instance, Luistro said, if the school requires a new mentor who is a major in physics or chemistry, then the new mentor should be a specialist in physics or chemistry; otherwise, he argued, if someone who is a major in English or Filipino is taken to handle the subject, the nonspecialist tutor would become a square peg in a round hole to the academic prejudice of their students.


ARMM Archived News

The older news reports are kept here.

Retrieved from "http://zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=ARMM_News&oldid=703210"