Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao News April 2014

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Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao Archived News
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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.

Empowerment venture benefits Lanao Sur out-of-school youth

(Manila Bulletin)

Cotabato City – The National Youth Commission (NYC) has included Lanao del Sur among the selected provinces participating in a country-wide program that seeks to reintegrate the out-of-school youths (OSYs) to both formal and informal educations, and provide them opportunities to gain decent employment and develop entrepreneurship.

Undersecretary Leon Flores III, NYC chairman, and Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Alonto-Adiong Jr., alongside other stakeholders, recently launched the “ABOT ALAM” program in Marawi City to kick off various enabling activities for the benefit of the youth sector, particularly the OSYs in the province.

At the launching rite, Adiong lauded the NYC for making his turf as the first province of the 24-year-old Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to be part of the program.

The Muslim governor said his administration fervently adheres to the popular adage that the youth is the “hope of the motherland,” and that the “ABOT ALAM” program is a stimulant to the dream cum saying,

“While we have high hope on our young generations, we are wary that instances of abuse and neglect beset the youth sector. The ABOT ALAM program should be nurtured to make the difference,” Adiong said.

For his part, Flores said that ABOT ALAM is being assisted by the Department of Education (DepEd) as “the biggest integrated program for helping community-based OSYs.”

The program is a three-year national strategy “harmonizing efforts for OSYs, affording them opportunities to go back to school, gain decent employment, and become entrepreneurs,” Flores said.

The program has two phases – the first phase seeks to create database for profiled OSYs and register them to the program, while the second part involves reintegrating processes that include orientations and training on various community undertakings of their choice, ABOT ALAM project coordinator Christabel Bautista said.

At the launching rite, program implementing personnel provided youth sector representatives with related documents, which include primers in English and Filipino, registration forms, and copies national edicts governing the project.

Maguindanao’s ALIM reaffirms support to prov’l leadership

(Zamboanga Times)

Leaders and peace activists from across Maguindanao comprising the “tri-people” Alliance of Lumads Iranons and Maguindanaons (ALIM) renewed their support to Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu’s leadership and agreed to intensify their patronage of the peace efforts of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Members of ALIM even gave credence to their commitments of support to the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB) by pledging over the Qur’an to protect and nurture the gains of the GPH-MILF peace initiative.

The founding chairman of ALIM, Maguindanao Vice Gov. Lester Sinsuat, said they embarked on the “spiritual session” to allay public speculations sparked by rumors being spread by certain quarters that the bloc, a staunch supporter of the Mindanao peace process, had been weakened by irreconcilable political differences among members.

He said it would be difficult for them to support the peace process if people would believe in the rumors and, as consequence, lose their trust and confidence in ALIM as a peace-oriented organization.

The meeting of ALIM’s new and pioneer members at the Al-Nor Convention Center in Cotabato City on Tuesday afternoon was jointly presided over by Sinsuat and Mangudadatu.

The activity was attended by a senior ALIM member, North Upi Mayor Ramon Piang, an ethnic Teduray tribal chieftain, who, as member of the government’s peace panel, helped draft the wealth-and-power sharing annex to the government-MILF Oct. 15, 2012 Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro.

Sinsuat and Mangudadatu both reiterated to reporters, during the meeting, their commitment of support to the peace overture between the government and the MILF.

The CAB, which was signed by GPH chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, and her MILF counterpart, Muhaquer Iqbal, last March 27 in Malacañang, is the final peace deal between the government and the rebel group, a product of 17 years of painstaking negotiations.

Sinsuat had repeatedly refuted, in a message to ALIM members and supporters, among them officials of various civil society organizations, what he called gossips that are being spread by certain camps, purporting that his alliance with Mangudadatu had been cut by irreconcilable administrative and political misunderstandings.

Sinsuat also denied mounting speculations he will contest the governor’s bid for a third term in 2016.

Sinsuat declined to comment when asked by reporters if “peace spoilers” could have spread the rumors, incensed by his being so outspoken, just like Mangudadatu, of his support to the on-going government-MILF effort to establish a new Bangsamoro political entity that would replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao before the 2016 ARMM regional polls.

He said Mangudadatu, who is his uncle by blood, remains to be his political principal and that their solidarity have never been wedged even since they ran as a tandem, under the banner of the Liberal Party, during the May 13, 2013 local elections.

The appointed deputy governor of Maguindanao, Ramil Dilangalen, who helped organize Tuesday’s gathering, said one purpose of the event was to show the cohesive support of local officials and peace activists to the efforts of Malacanang and the MILF to foster lasting peace and development in Mindanao’s Moro communities, which both sides wants to group together under a new Bangsamoro political entity.

“We ought to thank our governor and our vice governor for exemplifying genuine unity even if the former is from the first district of Maguindanao, and the latter comes from the second district of the province, just for them to become effective in helping the government and MILF establish tranquility in our communities,” Dilangalen said.

Foreign-trained clerics officiated the traditional swearing over the Qur’an by the ALIM members, before representatives of different media outfits in Mindanao and in Metro Manila.

Dilangalen said Mangudadatu was elated with the participation of new ALIM members to the ritual, among them local officials from the second district of the province.

Among the new Alim members that participated in the ritual were Board Members Bobby Katambak of the second district of Maguindanao, and Asnawi Sinsuat Limbona, and Russman Sinsuat, Jr., both from the first district of the province.

The ALIM started in 2013 with only local officials from the first district of Maguindanao as its members.

MSU graduates urged to help make CAB successful

(PNA), SCS/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, April 18 (PNA) -- A member of the peace panel of the Moro Islamic Liberation Frot (MILF) has urged graduates of a state-run university in Mindanao to actively take part for the successful implementation of the Bangsamoro government and help make their Alma mater a world-class university.

Professor Abhoud Syed Mansur Lingga, MILF peace panel member and executive director of Institute of Bangsamoro Studies, was commencement exercises speaker of the 49th Baccalaureate Services and Awarding Ceremonies of the Mindanao State University in Marawi City on Thursday.

"You as graduates of this great institution have important roles to play, stand up and be counted," Lingga told the 1,175 graduates.

"Help make MSU a world-class university and in the successful implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB)," he said. "Please make use of the education you earned in this prestigious university in the making of the Bangsamoro government," Lingga said.

He also told the graduates that the CAB and the Bangsamoro government that will be entrenched are not for the MILF but for the entire Bangsamoro people.

"As graduates, you have many things to offer in building a successful Bangsamoro entity – you have the ideals, innovative and creative ideas and capacity to think outside the box," he stressed.

He also urged the MSU to play active role in the building of a new Bangsamoro.

Specifically, he mentioned policy formulations on governance and the exercise of the 58 exclusive powers of the Bangsamoro government and to provide training for the human resource needs of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) and the regular Bangsamoro government where MSU can contribute so much.

He said the CAB is a unique approach to resolve the decades-old armed conflict between the Bangsamoro people and the Philippine government.

“The CAB is all about system change and building of institutions to support the new political and economic arrangements for the Bangsamoro,” Lingga said.

He told the graduates, 17 of whom graduated magna cum laude, 81 cum laude and 13 with honors, that the successful implementation of the CAB will not only end the armed conflict but will usher in a new era in the Bangsamoro homeland where there will be no more evacuees, no more Bangsamoro children out-of-school, no Bangsamoro constituent will die without seeing a doctor or go hungry.

"In the new era, every Bangsamoro will be free from fear of violence, and free to exercise his/her democratic rights. The young Bangsamoro will have the opportunity to engage in entrepreneurial activities that will drive the Bangsamoro economy towards growth and prosperity," Lingga said, adding that a successful Bangsamoro government will "certainly bolster the bid of MSU for world-class status."

After the graduation ceremonies, MSU president Macapado A. Muslim told Lingga that MSU is organizing a national academic conference next month that will focus on what should be done to make the CAB work.

"The CAB is a superb peace formula to resolve the Mindanao conflict,” Muslim said.

Army, PNP support Maguindanao reforestation project of 2 fraternities

(PNA), FPV/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, April 17 (PNA) -- Military and police authorities in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have vowed to support a common environmental project of two fraternities in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-ARMM), officials said Thursday.

Members of Alpha Sigma Phi (Alphans) and the Alpha Phi Omega (APO) and DENR-ARMM have jointly launched a project aimed at protecting a critical watershed area in the southwest of Maguindanao.

Environmentalist Army Colonel Noli Orense, chief of the Army’s 603rd Brigade, said his unit is ready to cooperated with DENR-ARMM and two fraternities organization in preserving and reforestation of the denuded areas at the mountain ranges in the borders of Datu Odin Sinsuat and North Upi towns.

Secretary Kahal Kedtag of DENR-ARMM, said Alphans and APO have signed a memorandum of agreement with his office for the joint project to preserve the watershed area.

The area is where the Cotabato City Water District gets water for city residents and the towns of Datu Odin Sinsuat and Sultan Kudarat.

The MOA was signed by Kedtag, Alladin Sumael of Alphans and Maguindanao provincial board Russman Sinsuat Jr of APO.

Kedtag said he was certain the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will help push the initiative "because everybody benefits from it."

"Since the idea is noble, I don't think anyone would oppose it," he added.

Chief Supt. Noel Delos Reyes, ARMM police regional director, said all police units in his area of command were strictly under instructions to provide support for all environmental protection program of any group or individuals.

"Police Kalikasan" is very active in the ARMM, he said. "Police Kalikasan" is a program initiated by PNP national office to let policemen help preserve the environment in their areas of assignment.

This includes surveillance and prevention of cutting of trees by poachers and illegal loggers.

44 scholars complete TESDA training under Sajahatra Bangsamoro Program

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

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, April 16 (PIA) --- A total of 44 scholars in the province have completed skills training offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) under the Sajahatra Bangsamoro Program.

Datu Omar Shariff Jaafar, executive director of TESDA in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), said the 44 graduates undertook programs in baking and pastry, dressmaking, electrical installation and maintenance, computer hardware servicing and automotive servicing.

“The graduates will also be given toolkits that will pave the way for them to become gainfully employed or self-employed, if they choose to do so,” he said.

The 44 graduates received their certificates of completion in a graduation ceremony held Monday, April 14, at TESDA training center, this city.

Bangsamoro Development Authority (BDA) Ranao Regional Coordinator Aleem Khair Hanafi, TESDA Deputy Director General Irene Isaac, TESDA-ARMM Executive Director Jaafar, and Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Director Arvin Chua attended the graduation rites.

Aleem Hanafi said the graduation ceremony is a realization of the program that signifies the desire of President Benigno Aquino III and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim to immediately deliver quick-impact projects to conflict-affected communities to reinforce confidence in the GPH-MILF peace process.

Sajahatra Bangsamoro which means “Peace Bangsamoro” is a development program intended to uplift the health, education and livelihood conditions of priorirty Bangsamoro communities and targeted individual beneficiaries through quick-gestation, high-impact and social protection-type programs and services.

It is jointly implemented by the government and the MILF through the Task Force on Bangsamoro Development and Task Force Sajahatra, respectively.

For her part, TESDA Deputy Director Isaac congratulated the graduates and stressed that peace is not only laying down of arms and stopping the armed struggles but also in terms of economic activities. “And so, we offered the training program to provide Bangsamoro communities livelihood opportunities,” she added.

OPAPP Director Chua also extended his greetings to the graduates for completing the training program.

He reiterated that Sajahatra Bangsamoro program is a clear manifestation of the sincerity of the government and the MILF to fulfil the promise of peace and prosperity in the Bangsamoro communities.

Aside from TESDA, Chua said they also partnered with other government agencies to deliver the promise of peace and development in the Bangsamoro.

The agencies involved in the implementation of the Sajahatra program are Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

ARMM relief agency sends aid to displaced families in Basilan

(PAN), LAM/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, April 15 (PNA) -- The Humanitarian Emergency and Action Response Team (HEART) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (HEART-ARMM) has dispatched a 10-man team for a relief mission in Tipo-tipo, Basilan following recent skirmishes between government forces and members of the rebel Abu Sayyaf group.

“We’re sending off 400 food packs in aid for 264 families as validated by our volunteers from the area,” Ramil Masukat, head, regional disaster risk reduction management office, said in a statement released by ARMM Bureau of Public Information.

Following government encounter with the lawless group suspected of kidnapping and attacks against government forces in Basilan's interior villages, civilians from villages of Silangkong and Baguindan fled for safety, taking refuge with relatives in neighboring barangays.

The 2-day relief mission was to provide immediate assistance over a number of house-based evacuees affected with the recent constraints.

The team, consisting of personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the ARMM-HEART operation center, had distributed the relief food Tuesday.

Masukat said the food packs, consisting of basic commodities such are five kilos of rice, canned goods, and other food stuff is expected to supplement family provisions while volatile situation is still closely monitored in the area.

“We are to ensure food and health situation of the evacuees will be given preferential attention, with the mandate of the ARMM-HEART, we see to it that we are always prepared to respond to situations such as this,” Masukat said.

HEART-ARMM was organized by Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman to respond to victims of natural and man-made calamities which is very common in the ARMM.

The region is composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, which is the country's poorest.

DepEd-ARMM implements new program for special students

(PNA), FPV/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, April 14 (PNA) – The education department of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao continues to improve the education programs as it prepares for transition from current regional government set-up to the new Bangsamoro government.

Jamar Kulayan, regional secretary of Department of Education (DepEd-ARMM), the program aims to improve literary among public school students in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

DepEd-ARMM aims to establish special education centers in Maguidanao, Lanao del Sur and Basilan as part of its improved literacy program.

Currently, DepEd-ARMM has only two special education centers found in Jolo town in Sulu and in Bongao in the island of Tawi-Tawi.

To start the project, Kulayan signed over the weekend an order activating special education program and to ensure that special schools are available in the region, the country’s poorest.

Convinced that education should be given to all, regardless of political, economic and status in life of Filipinos, Kulayan said the program will specifically cater to Moro pupils with special needs or physical disabilities.

”This is mainstreaming and integration into society and would include profiling and mapping of differently-able, school-aged children, establishment of special education centers, identification and training of qualified teachers and trainers, provision of support system, regular monitoring and evaluation,” Kulayan said in a statement.

”We would like to prepare the department for the new Bansamoro government expected to come by 2016,” he added.

He said the program is in close coordination with the DepEd central office and in line with the national government’s policy of “matuwid na daan.”

Kulayan said his aim is to establish one education center per schools division and directed all school divisions to identify possible sites where the special schools may be established and to coordinate with the local office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development for initial listing and hiring of prospective teachers for specialized training.

The DepEd regional secretary said the ARMM education program, since Gov. Mujiv Hataman assumed office in late 2012, have special programs but were not as extensive as the new program.

TACE approach tapped to boost teachers’ competency in ARMM

By Noel Y. Punzalan [(PNA), CTB/NYP/]

COTABATO CITY, April 13 (PNA) - - The Department of Education-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-ARMM) is banking on a fresh approach called Teachers Assessment and Competency Exam (TACE) to evaluate teaching proficiency and boost quality education in the region.

In a method to assess teaching applicants, the process requires aspirants to undergo competency examinations, panel interviews and teaching demonstrations.

John Magno, DepEd-ARMM assistant secretary for operations, said this mechanism would ascertain that quality teachers would be hired for a regionally competitive ARMM.

Aside from passing the teacher's licensure examination, new applicants will be ranked based on their TACE results.

To date, DepEd-ARMM has conducted a series of competency exams to nearly 500 teacher applicants from the provinces of Basilan, Maguindanao and Tawi-Tawi.

Commencing with 35 examinees in Lamitan, Basilan, a massive turnout of 121 teaching aspirants in Tawi-Tawi last March 1, the bulk of applicants came from Maguindanao 1 and 2 schools division with 142 each who took the exam recently.

“We are yet to finalize the schedule for Sulu which will definitely be conducted in Zamboanga City this May," Mubarak Pandi, DepEd regional information officer, said.

“This is a ‘no pass or fail’ test, but a method to rank our teacher-applicants as to how they fare with the assessment results, TACE will serve as an equal opportunity for all applicant to cut away the ill practice of ‘palakasan," he added.

Magno reiterated the essence of quality education, citing that to be at par with other regions the DepEd-ARMM would ensure quality teaching by starting with the proficiency of ARMM educators.

ARMM takes new approach to rate teachers, improve competence

(PNA), JBP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, April 12 (PNA) -- The education department of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has taken new approach to improve teachers' proficiency and boost quality education in the region.

A new approach, dubbed as Teachers Assessment and Competency Examination (TACE) has been used by the Department of Education in the ARMM (DepEd-ARMM) to measure competency of some 3,000 teachers in the autonomous region to make them competitive and at par with other teachers in Mindanao.

A method to assess teaching applicants, the process requires aspirants to undergo competency examinations, panel interviews and a teaching demonstrations.

Dr. John Magno, DepEd-ARMM assistant secretary for operations, said this mechanism would ascertain quality teachers will be hired for a regionally competitive ARMM.

Aside from passing the teachers licensure examination, new applicants will be ranked based on their TACE results, Magno said.

The education department has already conducted series of competency exams to almost 500 teacher applicants from the provinces of Basilan, Maguindanao 1 & 2, and Tawi-Tawi.

Commencing with 35 examinees in Lamitan, Basilan, a massive turn-out of 121 teaching aspirants in Tawi-Tawi last March 1, the bulk of applicants came from Maguindanao I and II with 142 each who took the exam conducted recently.

“We are yet to finalize the schedule for Sulu which will definitely be conducted in Zamboanga City this May," Mubarak Pandi, DepEd-ARMM regional information officer, said.

“This is a ‘no-pass or no-fail’ test, but a method to rank our teacher-applicants as to how they fair with the assessment results, TACE will serve as an equal opportunity for all applicant to cut away the ill practice of ‘palakasan'," he added.

For his part, Magno reiterated the essence of quality education, a thrust in line with the reform agenda of the current regional administration.

“We would like to be at par with other region, we are in the right track and we would like to ensure quality education and we are starting with the proficiency of our educators in ARMM," he said.

Magno said the DepEd would like to prepare the department at its competitive level ahead of the coming of the new Bangsamoro government in 2016.

ARMM, DSWD to launch P150M anti-poverty program

With a report from Cheng Ordonez (Solar News)

To strengthen the foundation of the incoming Bangsamoro government, the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has set aside P150 million for various projects in the region.

Lawyer Laisa Alamia, ARMM executive secretary, told Mindanao reporters that the project is part of the transition mechanism from the current ARMM government to the incoming Bangsamoro government by 2016.

Dubbed as ARMM Bangsamoro Regional Inclusive Sustainable Development with Growth Equity (ARMM-BRIDGE), the program aims to implement development projects in selected pilot areas in the region to address poverty and help Bangsamoro people improve living conditions ahead of the coming of the new political entity.

Alamia said the P150M budget is for this year alone. It will become P1.2 billion once the new government assumes leadership.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will be the lead agency in the implementation of ARMM-BRIDGE, backed by other concerned government agencies.

To ensure success of the project, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank will conduct capacity training workshop for stakeholders after the Holy Week celebration.


ARMM, UN agency launch corn farming project

By John Unson (philstar.com)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines --- Hundreds of ethnic Maguindanaon peasants stand to benefit from a 300-hectare joint corn farming project of the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Makmod Mending Jr., ARMM’s regional agriculture and fisheries secretary, said the project will cover 300 hectares of arable lands in the adjoining Barangays Sefaran and Kurintem, both in Maguindanao’s nearby Datu Odin Sinsuat town.

“This WFP-assisted project is another `vote of confidence’ to the ARMM regional leadership,” Mending said.

Mending and WFP’s representative to the Philippines, Aomo Asaka Nyangara, signed on Tuesday a memorandum of agreement (MOA) outlining the details of the corn farming project.

Mending said 300 Moro farmers will be involved in the agricultural venture.

The MOA also detailed how the ARMM’s agriculture department and the WFP are to implement the corn farming project.

Mending and Nyangara signed the MOA in the presence of Ceasar Galvan of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Office (UNFAO) and WFP’s personnel based in Cotabato City.

The signing of the document was capped off by the distribution to 33 different farmers’ organizations in Maguindanao of P2-million worth of post-harvest facilities which the UNFAO helped put up.

Groups want to plant million trees around ex MILF camp

By John Unson (philstar.com)

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines --- The military aims to plant a million forest trees in the surroundings of the 20,000-hectare former main bastion of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front before the proposed establishment of the Bangsamoro entity in 2016.

Col. Noli Orense, commander of the Army’s 603rd Brigade, which is based in Camp Abubakar and also now known as military's Camp Iranun, said the re-implementation of the “Balik Kalikasan” project in the area supports the environmental protection initiative.

“That may seem a `long shot,’ but absolutely achievable if we in the uniformed security sector, the civil society organizations, and the executive department of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will pool our efforts together towards that goal,” he said.

The 603rd Brigade, whose headquarters sits on the center of the MILF’s former Abubakar Assidik Complex, has been implementing community reforestation projects since the government's take over of the area in 2000.

The former MILF stronghold, established by the late Egyptian-trained cleric Imam Salamat Hashim, in 1981 after he and his followers bolted from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), was a showcase of the group’s concept of a puritan Islamic community, until it was liberated from rebel occupation in 2000.

ARMM natural resources secretary Kahal Kedtag said their re-activated Balik Kalikasan program aims to reforest the surroundings of the camp, hoping that the MILF-led Bangsamoro entity will declare it a protected forestland and historical site. Nation ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

Camp Abubakar is a fertile plateau surrounded by tropical rainforests, and criss-crossed by rivers that straddle through farming enclaves in lower areas in Maguindanao’s adjoining Barira, Buldon, Matanog and Parang towns, all in the second district of the province.

Kedtag, Orense, representatives of the regional police, and ARMM Vice Gov. Haroun Al-Rashid Lucman launched the reactivated Balik Kalikasan project last week in Camp Abubakar, to kick off a region-wide reforestation project, and to celebrate the March 27, 2014 signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro by the government and the MILF.

The project was first implemented in 2006 but was discontinued.

Kedtag said they are planning to plant enough Mahogany, Antipolo, Narra and other forest tree seedlings in the surroundings of Camp Abubakar to restore its forest cover by the time the Bangsamoro political entity is established.

“By 2016 we must already have planted no less than 10 million or more trees in Camp Abubakar and in other watershed areas in the autonomous region,” Kedtag said.

The ARMM covers the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, which are both in mainland Mindanao, and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, which the MILF wants to group together under a new Bangsamoro government.

Orense said the 603rd Brigade has committed the support of all its enlisted members and commissioned officers to the Balik Kalikasan project.

“This project is parallel with the brigade’s reforestation effort. We will, thus, support it to the best we can,” Orense said.

Gov’t moves for earlier completion of Cotabato airport expansion project

(PNA), FPV/JS-PR/UTB

COTABATO CITY, April 8 (PNA) -– Government officials have assured business leaders here that flight operations at Cotabato (Awang) Airport will resume normal operations in August this year, with the expected completion of runway and taxiway expansion project earlier than the original target.

In a recent dialogue-meeting at the Executive Office of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), officials from key government agencies and local business leaders have reached a consensus for flight adjustments and fastracking of airport expansion work.

The meeting, which sought to address issues arising from the airport’s flight service limitations, was attended by officials from the ARMM, City Government of Cotabato, Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), as well as leaders from the business community.

Currently, flights to and from Cotabato City are reduced to four days-a-week schedule with Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays dedicated for project construction work. Prior to this, the airport has four daily flights to and from Manila.

“We are looking into every possible way to ease the inconvenience resulting from the airport expansion work, even as we recognize the impact of this to the business sector,” said MinDA Executive Director Janet Lopoz, adding that, “efforts are geared at hastening project implementation, while ensuring that quality is not compromised.”

According to DOTC’s Lino Dhabi, Assistant Secretary for Project Monitoring and Evaluation, the rehabilitation of Cotabato Airport accords safe and enhanced facility for flights by providing adequate dimension of runway and taxiway, in compliance with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Meanwhile, Lopoz said the DOTC Project Management Unit has committed to submit monthly reports to the concerned agencies to ensure that the new project timeline and the quality standards are strictly followed.

An agreement was also met by the inter-agency group to facilitate a window time of flight schedule from 12:00 PM to 4 PM every Tuesday,Wednesday, and Thursday, with the Philippine Airlines (PAL) Express expressing interest to provide flight services to the proposed window schedule.

The P55-million airport improvement project, which commenced in January this year has drawn negative reactions from the Cotabato flying passengers reporteldy due to lack of public consultation and delays in work. The reduced flights also resulted to double handling and attendant costs.

The original project timeline has set the project completion, including construction of perimeter fence, to December this year.

Acting on the call of the Cotabato business sector and other flying passengers, the Regional Board of Investments of ARMM passed a resolution to convene all the concerned entities to resolve the issues on airport improvement project.

“It was a good thing that MinDA acted immediately on our request to convene all the concerned agencies in this project, even elevating our discussion to the DOTC Central Office,” said RBOI Director Atty. Ishak Mastura.

He added that the meeting has paved the way for revising timeline for project completion and subsequent resumption of daily flights, sooner than planned.

“The completion of the project is seen to significantly improve the business climate in Central Mindanao, as it aims to attract more local and foreign investors by providing the needed business logistics, particularly flight connectivity,” Mastura said.

ARMM starts release of teachers' back wages

(PNA), JBP/NYP

COTABATO CITY, April 7 (PNA) –- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has started releasing the long awaited back wages of public school teachers in the region.

Lawyer Laisa Alamia, ARMM executive secretary, said Maguindanao teachers have started receiving their back wages and they can now start disengaging with loan sharks.

”We are trying our best to bring our teachers away from loan sharks,” Alamia told reporters a day after Department of Education (DepEd-ARMM) had released checks to some teachers.

Sympathizing with the teachers, Alamia said ARMM mentors are forced to “bite” the availability of loan sharks due to low pay. The situation was taken advantage of by money lending traders who collect high interest rates.

After Maguindanao, DepEd will distribute teachers’ checks to Lanao del Sur and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi afterwards.

”We hope our teachers can do away with loan sharks,” she added.

She explained this is the main reason why ARMM is supporting moves in Congress raising the public school teachers’ basic pay from Salary Grade 10 to Salary Grade 20.”

Alamia explained that the payment of back wages of teachers was among the priorities of ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman who was tasked by President Aquino to institute reforms in the natural resources rich but corrupt-ridden regional government.

ARMM Balik-Kalikasan program reactivated to plant over 800k trees for 2014

By Noel Y. Punzalan [(PNA), SCS/NYP/]

CAMP IRANUN, Maguindanao, April 6 (PNA) -- To save its remaining forest covers, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DENR-ARMM) reactivated on Saturday a massive tree-planting program that targets to plant 883,000 trees across the region this year.

The advocacy, aptly dubbed “Balik-Kalikasan,” was spearheaded by the DENR-ARMM, with the Army’s 603rd Infantry Brigade (IB) based in this camp, as partners in the planting of 1,500 tree seedlings.

Over 100 other environmental advocates, including members of the Cotabato media, also joined the activity.

This camp, situated at the heart of Barira town, is the former main bastion of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) called Camp Abubakar that fell into government hands in 2000 during the height of the all-out military operation against Moro insurgents by the then Estrada administration.

More than a decade after its fall, this former rebel fortress has transformed into a center of a greening program by the government, with the 603rd IB watching over the sprawling forest cover straddling the 32,000-hectare Barira-Buldon-Matanog expanse.

The MILF, meanwhile, is currently nearing completion of a comprehensive peace deal with the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III.

“We would be planting mahogany, antipolo, rubber and coffee seedlings this year in the region,” DENR-ARMM Secretary Kahal Kedtag said.

He added that his office has a pending P300-million budget proposal before the DENR headquarters in Manila for this year, some five times bigger that the 2013 budget of P49 million.

“There is barely a 20 percent forest cover left in the entire region and our plan is to at least increase it to 30 percent this year,” Kedtag said.

The “alarming” situation, Kedtag added, has prompted ARMM lawmakers to legislate measures in declaring a “total log ban” in the region since 2010.

The ARMM comprises the cities of Marawi and Lamitan and the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi.

“As early as this time, let us teach the children to care for the environment, as it is their responsibility to take care of what would be handed to them by us environmentalists,” ARMM Vice Gov. AL Rashid Haroun Lucman said here.

For his part, Col. Noli Orense, 603rd IB chief, said that the "balance of nature should be a primary task for everyone to sustain, as God gifted us a balanced, perfect nature to nurture."

Balik-Kalikasan was first launched in 2006 but decommissioned thereafter following succession of changes in the ARMM leadership brought about by past elections and the infamous, election-related 2009 Maguindanao Massacre that toppled down the Ampatuans from power due to alleged involvement in the killing of 57 people, including 33 media personalities, in the carnage.

Work on P500-M community projects in ARMM gets underway

(PNA), JBP/NYP/EOF

KIDAPAWAN CITY, April 5 (PNA) -- Work on the construction of a cluster of public facilities at identified communities in Maguindanao province gets underway following the groundbreaking rites Friday led by Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv Hataman, the ARMM public information office said today.

Pandag, a farming village of around 2,700 people at a town that shares its name, and Dulangan, also a farming village, in Datu Odin Sinsuat town are two of the recipient communities in the province of ARMM’s Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Governance, and Synergy (ARMM-HELPS) program.

In each village, Hataman said the region will put up a barangay hall, covered court, children’s park, health center and day care center.

The project also includes a livelihood program that will be chosen by the villagers themselves through the community driven development (CDD) approach, Hataman said.

Through ARMM-HELPS, the regional government will be investing a total of P10 million in each identified villages or a total of 50 pilot barangays all over the region with 10 in each of the five component provinces.

The P500 million fund allocated for the project is included in ARMM’s 2014 general appropriations.

Basic government services are mostly scarce in these communities. The town of Pandag is one of the municipalities in ARMM that don’t have internal revenue allotment (IRA).

“We want to bring government service to these communities and uplift the living condition of its people,” Hataman said.

During the groundbreaking rites, a number of villagers were happy to see high-ranking government officials, led by Hataman, come to their place for the first time with a package of assistance meant to improve their lives.

Zabidee Abdullah, 46, a farmer and father of six in Pandag, said they all look forward to the completion of the projects.

“We are thankful to the ARMM government. This is really a big help,” Abdullah said in vernacular.

Hataman said these projects are set to compliment the upcoming Bangsamoro government as a result of the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace process.

Hataman, appointed by President Aquino to institute reforms in the graft-ridden but natural rich region, has repeatedly declared he will automatically step down when the new Bangsamoro political entity officials assume office in 2016.

DA’s BUB implementation rolls out in ARMM

(PNA), FPV/NYP/

COTABATO CITY, April 4 (PNA) - - The Department of Agriculture’s Php 1-billion Bottoms Up Budget (BUB) program for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is gaining ground among its constituency.

Lawyer Macmod Mending Jr., ARMM agriculture, secretary, chief, said on Friday that several local government units in the region have started the implementation of livelihood and infrastructure projects funded thru the BUB, also known as Grassroots Participatory Budgeting, after local chief executives have complied with the compulsory requirements and received checks corresponding to their project costs.

The Php 1 billion BUB initiative would bankroll the implementation of 338 proposed livelihood and infrastructure projects in the 104 LGUs in the region earlier identified by the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT) together with the National Anti-Poverty Commission and civil society organizations.

The first batch of local chief executives who received the BUB checks were eight LGUs in Lanao del Sur in the total amount of Php 40.3M and another Php 9.0 million worth of checks for the three LGUs in Maguindanao awarded by DA Secretary Proceso Alcala in the presence of Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman and Mending during the Farmers and Fisherfolks’ Forum held last Feb. 28 in Marawi City and Parang, Maguindanao.

The eight LGUs in Lanao del Sur covered by the BUB implementation include the Municipalities of Ditsaan, Ramain, Taraka, Sultan Dumalondong, Piagapo, Calanogas, Bumbaran and Balindong.

The BUB operation also covered the towns of Parang, Buldon and Barira in Maguindanao.

Late last month, another transfer of BUB funds to the LGUs took place at the Astana Conference Hall inside the ARMM compound in this city.

Checks amounting to PHp16, 754,000 have been awarded by ARMM Executive Secretary Atty. Laisa Alamia and Mending to the five mayors of Lanao del Sur namely Mamintal Razuman of Lumbatan (P4.1M for farm-to-market road and PHp 350,000 for livelihood project); Sahrodin Ampatua of Bayang ( PHp 2.5M FMR and P392,000 livelihood); Jamal Manabilang of Bumbaran (PHp 250,000 cabality training and P1.5M livelihood); Jamal Asum of Lumbayonague (P6.0M FMR) and Misangcud Capal of Tagoluan (PHp 1.66M FMR ).

Mending urged local chief executives whose municipalities are covered by the BUB to submit immediately to the DA-regional office their project proposals, requirements and other documents for the release of corresponding project cost.

Kidnapped school principal freed; public pressure helped, say local execs

By Julie S. Alipala (Inquirer Mindanao)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A kidnapped school principal was freed by her abductors in Sumisip, Basilan, on Thursday afternoon, police said.

Freed was Betina Latonio, principal of the Manggal Elementary School, who was kidnapped by armed men while she was on her way to school on March 31.

Nuriya Jamaldin, the north district school supervisor, said the 62-year-old Latonio was released where she was taken, in the village of Libug in Sumisip.

“She was just sitting along the streets,” Jamaldin said.

Jamaldin said that a day after Latonio was abducted, kidnappers demanded a P3-million ransom. She said negotiators told the kidnappers that residents of Sumisip and soldiers would march to the kidnappers’ lair if Latonio was not freed.

Senior Supt. Mario Dapilloza, Basilan police chief, said the release at 5 p.m. was made possible “through the concerted effort of Sumisip Crisis Management Committee led by Mayor Gulam Hataman.”

Latonio was immediately brought to the Municipal Social Welfare Office.

“She is very weak and could hardly walk. She needs immediate medical attention,” Dapilloza said.

Latonio is diabetic, according to Jamaldin.

“She is partially blind and the absence of her medication for three days and three nights aggravated her condition,” Jamaldin added.

Latonio, a native of Talisayan village in Zamboanga City, has been serving in the public school of Sumisip for over 30 years now. She was a teacher of ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman.

Marines to pull out from Cotabato; Army SFB to come in

(PNA), LAP/NYP/

COTABATO CITY, April 2 (PNA) -- After augmenting security forces in this city for nearly four years, the 350-strong Marine Battalion Landing Team – 1 is set to leave Cotabato City this weekend for a new assignment.

Replacing the task vacated by the MBLT-1 here is a 5th Special Forces Battalion (SFB) from the Philippine Army, an equally potent force against lawless elements.

The MBLT-1 has been instrumental in the neutralization of kidnapping syndicates operating in this city and the near environs that had preyed on a number of local Filipino-Chinese traders, among others, over the past several years.

“We, Cotabateños, are saddened by the impending departure of the Marines here. The city would not be as it is today, a first class urban center, if not for the vigilance of the community and the Marines against criminality,” Mayor Japal Guiani Jr. said.

Still, Guiani added, the city welcomes much the entry of the 5th SFB as deterrent against criminal groups in the locality.

Lt. Col. Ronaldo Juan, MBLT-1 commander, said a company-size unit of Marine troopers would be retained to help the SFB familiarize with security procedures the Marines undertook here during the duration of their stay.

Initial reports said the MBLT-1 would be assigned in the island-province of Basilan, a component area of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

A turnover ceremony is set to take place between the MBLT-1 and 5th SFB on April 5.

Improve literacy, linkages in Bangsamoro to contribute in economic growth -- ADB

(PNA),PDS/NYP

MANILA, April 1 (PNA) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has urged the government to improve education and enhance linkages in the Bangsamoro in order to unleash the area’s potential to contribute in the economic growth of the country.

ADB Country Specialist Joven Balbosa said in a briefing Tuesday that the Bangsamoro area can share further to the contribution of Mindanao in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) after the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro took place last week.

He mentioned that other parts of Mindanao like General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao region, among others, have been contributing to economic activities of the country.

”Unleashing that growth potential requires time and so you will have to know what the resources Bangsamoro has,” told Balbosa.

He mentioned the strategic location of Bangsamoro as a gateway to ASEAN countries particularly in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and Malaysia wherein the government shall develop linkages to these areas.

Investments in ports and quality roads will be the key infrastructures to enhance connectivity and beef up trade activities in the Bangsamoro, added Balbosa.

Moreover, the ADB economist stressed that the government shall bridge the literacy gap in the Muslim region.

Data of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shows that from the year 2000 to 2008, the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) or the Bangsamoro area has the lowest literacy rate among the 17 regions of the country.

ARMM had 81.5 percent literacy rate in 2008, from 2003’s literacy rate of 70.2 percent, and from 2000’s rate of 68.7 percent.

”On adult literacy, it’s really bridging the gap among about 300,000 illiterates in the area and linking them to productive livelihood training and job matching across the country,” Balbosa further cited on how the Bangsamoro can unleash its economic potentials.

Meanwhile, ADB Philippine Country Office Director Richard Bolt noted that the final signing of peace deal can attract investments in the Bangsamoro as investors appreciate the stability of an area where their investments are put in.

The ADB officials cited key investments that will strengthen the economic growth in Bangsamoro. These are in sectors of infrastructure, agriculture, and agri-products processing.

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