Tawi-Tawi News

From Philippines
Jump to navigation Jump to search
→ → Go back HOME to Zamboanga: the Portal to the Philippines.

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

Share your Photos

Tawi-Tawi Realty

Philippine News

Tawi-Tawi - Archived News

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.

Chinese fish trader snatched

By Al Jacinto


ZAMBOANGA CITY: A Chinese fish merchant was kidnapped in the remote town of Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi, officials said on Thursday. Officials initially identified the foreigner only as Pang, who was seized by four gunmen on Wednesday near the village of Larap. The gunmen escaped with the hostage aboard a speedboat, said Army Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbang, a spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command.

He said the boat has markings “AKP” and “AKRHO.” One of the gunmen was identified as Mirham, but it was not immediately known whether he is a member of the Abu Sayyaf which has been tagged as behind the spate of kidnappings of foreigners in the southern Philippines.

“The Philippine National Police in (the capital town of) Bonggao coordinated with the Naval Intelligence Security Group-Western Mindanao and (Naval Patrol) Task Force 62 personnel. The TF62 is currently taking appropriate action,” Cabangbang told reporters.





US-funded overpass plan to couple Tawi-Tawi islands

By Julmunir I. Jannaral

ISABELA CITY, Basilan — A United States-funded highway and overpass plan will shortly bond a dual vital islands of Tawi-Tawi and is approaching to coax growth and significantly boost a province’s economy.


The bridge-road plan is being finished here by inhabitant and informal agencies, with assistance from a U.S. government, and will directly couple Sanga-Sanga Island, where a internal airfield is located, with a mainland of Tawi-Tawi.

The plan is a partnership involving a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), a Tawi-Tawi Provincial Government, and a Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program of a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Tawi-Tawi Gov. Sadikul Sahali pronounced a bridge-road tie will capacitate internal growers to ride their crops and other products some-more well and during reduce cost to a collateral city of Bongao, that is located on Sanga-Sanga Island and is a core of blurb activity in a province.

“This will severely urge a provision of farmers, quite in a municipalities on Tawi-Tawi Island, such as Panglima Sugala, Sapa-Sapa and Languyan,” Governor Sahali said.

“Upland growers will have an easier time removing their harvests to markets,” he added.

“This has been a longtime dream here, to have a land tie between a dual largest islands,” pronounced Nazrullah Masahud, clamp boss of a Tawi-Tawi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Masahud pronounced he approaching growers to start expanding prolongation and diversifying their crops, following a infrastructure improvements.

“Previously, farmers had told me that they hesitated to rivet in new ventures since ride was undependable,” Masahud also said.

He combined that a bridge-road connectors would also promote a designation of H2O pipelines and electric energy connectors to offer fast flourishing communities between a city of Bongao and Panglima Sugala municipality.

Through a GEM Program, USAID has helped to urge a island-province’s economy by 51 barangay infrastructure projects, including a construction of 26 vessel landings.

Six incomparable infrastructure projects finished by GEM in Tawi-Tawi embody a prolongation and widening of a Bongao airfield runway, that enabled Airphil Express to settle a Zamboanga-Bongao route, now plying 4 times weekly by a 77-seater Bombardier Q400.

Tawi-Tawi cops seize suspected tellurian trafficker; rescue 4 victims

By PNA and U.S. News Agency / Asian


Tawi-Tawi military executive Supt. Rodelio Jocson pronounced a 4 victims of tellurian trafficking were discovered around 3 p.m. Thursday in Barangay Basyagan, Bongao, a collateral of Tawi-Tawi province.

Jocson funded a victims’ identities solely in observant they were aged 16s and 17s and all from Sindangan municipality, Zamboanga del Norte.

Jocson pronounced a victims were discovered by policemen led by Insp. Jeseryl Dela Cruz aboard a motorized banca that was about to skip Bongao en track to Sandakan.

Jocson pronounced Dela Cruz and his crew unsuccessful to detain a suspect, who unexpected left on saying a participation of policemen during a time a victims were rescued.

However, he pronounced a suspect, who carried 3 opposite names, was arrested shortly after 7 a.m. Friday aboard a vessel that was scheduled to leave Bongao to Zamboanga City.

The think was arrested nearby a boat’s canteen when one of a victims, who was during that time were eating their breakfast, famous him, he said.

The think was usually identified by a dual newcomer tickets he carried as he was not bringing any other marker papers when arrested by a police, Jocson said.

One of a newcomer tickets seized from a suspect’s possession bears a name of Ian Reyes while Ian Balmendras on a other ticket, Joscon said.

Jocson pronounced they were sensitive by a victims that a think had introduced himself as Rey Garcia when he recently recruited them in Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte.

The think is a proprietor of Liloy municipality, Zamboanga del Norte, Jocson said.

The victims pronounced that a think hired them to work to a Chinese employer in Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia though it was not transparent what would be their work “as they were told that they will know what are their jobs on arrival,” Jocson disclosed.

The discovered victims were incited over to a control of a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) while a think was incarcerated and charges were being readied for filing in court, Jocson said.

Tawi-Tawi cops nab suspected human trafficker; rescue 4 victims

By (PNA) RMA/Teofilo P. Garcia/utb


ZAMBOANGA CITY, Sept. 30 (PNA)) – Police arrested Friday the suspected illegal recruiter of four underage women who were rescued a day earlier in Tawi-Tawi.

Tawi-Tawi police director Supt. Rodelio Jocson said the four victims of human trafficking were rescued around 3 p.m. Thursday in Barangay Basyagan, Bongao, the capital of Tawi-Tawi province.

Jocson withheld the victims' identities except in saying they were aged 16s and 17s and all from Sindangan municipality, Zamboanga del Norte.

Jocson said the victims were rescued by policemen led by Insp. Jeseryl Dela Cruz aboard a motorized banca that was about to depart Bongao en route to Sandakan.

Jocson said Dela Cruz and his personnel failed to arrest the suspect, who suddenly disappeared upon seeing the presence of policemen at the time the victims were rescued.

However, he said the suspect, who carried three different names, was arrested shortly after 7 a.m. Friday aboard a vessel that was scheduled to leave Bongao to Zamboanga City.

The suspect was arrested near the boat's canteen when one of the victims, who was at that time were eating their breakfast, recognized him, he said.

The suspect was only identified through the two passenger tickets he carried as he was not bringing any other identification papers when arrested by the police, Jocson said.

One of the passenger tickets seized from the suspect's possession bears the name of Ian Reyes while Ian Balmendras on the other ticket, Joscon said.

Jocson said they were informed by the victims that the suspect had introduced himself as Rey Garcia when he recently recruited them in Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte.

The suspect is a resident of Liloy municipality, Zamboanga del Norte, Jocson said.

The victims said that the suspect hired them to work to a Chinese employer in Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia but it was not clear what would be their work “as they were told that they will know what are their jobs upon arrival,” Jocson disclosed.

The rescued victims were turned over to the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) while the suspect was detained and charges were being readied for filing in court, Jocson said.

Tawi-Tawi hosts local film festival

By PhilStar.com


ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The Sineng Pambansa opened Wednesday a three-day film festival in Tawi-Tawi as part of its commitment to bring local films to Filipinos.

The Sineng Pambansa is a program of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).

“The decision to hold a Filipino film festival in Tawi-Tawi underscores the commitment of the FDCP to bring Filipino films to Filipinos, wherever they may be in the scattered islands of the archipelago, or in their overseas communities,” FDCP said in a statement.

The event is also the first ever cultural activity of its kind to be staged in the province, which in the past was considered a remote outpost.

It said the Memorandum of Agreement for the festival was signed on July 19 by Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali and FDCP Chairman Briccio Santos and Executive Director Jose Miguel de la Rosa at the FDCP office in Makati City.

The film festival in Bongao town, which ends on Friday, is the third location site of Sineng Pambansa in Mindanao. The first was in Zamboanga City on February and the third location would e in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur province on June 28 next year.

The list of films included in the festival were Limbunan (Teng Mangansakan, 2011), Hospital Boat (Arnel Mardoquio, 2009), Last Journey of Ninoy (Jun Reyes, 2010), Alab ng Lahi (Robin Padilla, 2003), Bagong Buwan (Marilou Diaz-Abaya, 2001), Ang Panday (Fernando Poe Jr., 1980) and Tum (My Pledge of Love, 2010).

The Sine ng Masa (mobile People’s Cinema) will feature Badjao (Lamberto Avellana, 1957), Emir (Chito Roño, 2010), Perlas ng Silangan (Fernando Poe Jr., 1969), Home Along da Riles I and II (Efren Jarlego, 1993 and 1997).

The three winning films of the Lanao del Sur film festival’s short film competition on the theme of Peace - Margas (Najib Alyhar Benito Zacaria, 2011), Renek (Doss Lucman Pacasum, 2011), and Pagari (Sittie Ayeesha Dicali, 2011). (Mindanao Examiner )

Greece envoy lauds peace situation in Tawi-Tawi

By Becky De Asis


TAWI-TAWI, Philippines – Ambassador Xenia Stefanidou, Greece envoy to the Philippines, commended the peace and order situation of this province as compare to its neighboring areas, saying she can “walk around it without the hesitation of being kidnapped.”

The Greece envoy issued the statement after her weeklong visit here as she graced the 38th Kamahardikaan Day, or founding anniversary, of the province this week.


Greece envoy lauds peace situation in Tawi-Tawi By Becky de Asis Home Updated September 28, 2011 10:00 AM 0 comment to this post TAWI-TAWI, Philippines – Ambassador Xenia Stefanidou, Greece envoy to the Philippines, commended the peace and order situation of this province as compare to its neighboring areas, saying she can “walk around it without the hesitation of being kidnapped.”

The Greece envoy issued the statement after her weeklong visit here as she graced the 38th Kamahardikaan Day, or founding anniversary, of the province this week.


Stefanidou also disclosed her positive impressions on the province’s richness of natural resources, saying “the good ambiance and the sparkling seawaters of the province added flavor to the hospitalities of the islanders.”

“My whole family in Greece is all islanders and I love islands like Tawi – Tawi because this province is just like my home,” she said after an inter-island tour in various municipalities here.

She also lauded the development of the islands here especially on its peace and order situation, saying “I can walk around Tawi Tawi without hesitations of being kidnap because I smell a good peace and order here unlike the other provinces in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.”

Meantime, the celebration of the annual seaweed festivities here has started last week with Governor Sadikul Sahali headed the showcasing of the province’s cultural heritage and natural resources.

The four-day celebration kicked-off with a colorful fluvial parade from different island-municipalities, displaying the colorful attires that boosted the uniqueness of the province’s multi-culture society.

“I am very thankful to the people here on their dedications and support to the provincial government in uplifting their living conditions by respecting the cultures and rights of every resident here,” said Sahali.

The various activities lining-up for the yearly event are different sports competitions, search from Miss Budjang or Tawi-Tawi 2011, fluvial parade, and Agar–Agar festivals, among others.

The famous seaweed festivals also coincided on the province’s 38th Kamahardikaan or founding anniversary celebrations, which honored the leading source of livelihood here - the Agar–Agar.

Sahali noted that the event also renewed the people’s reflection to their culture.

The province is one of the top producers of seaweeds in the country, citing that the area produced thousands of tons of Agar-agar every week to cater to the demand in the Philippines and other countries.

‘Agar-Agar’ draws thousands of visitors

By BLOGTOPIA


BONGAO, Philippines – The “Agar-Agar Festival” and a “Kamahardikaan Tawi-Tawi,” a annual festival imprinting a 38th initial anniversary of a range rigourously non-stop here over a weekend with a colorful march showcasing a several informative and racial groups of people entrance from a 11 municipalities in a province.

With a really colorful pageantry, signaling a wish for a improved tomorrow, this year’s celebration, that captivated thousands of visitors and commission members, carries a thesis “Sustaining Peace and Responsive Local Governance: Paving a Way to a Progressive Tawi-Tawi.”

Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul A. Sahali pronounced a jubilee will be featuring a ecotourism potentials, abounding resources, and informative birthright of this colourful range in a southern-most partial of a country.

The prominence in this year’s initial anniversary is a Agar-Agar Festival that non-stop yesterday morning, followed by a informative display during a Datu Amilbahar Cultural Center Gym here.

This will be followed currently by a Fluvial Parade and a Search for a Budjang Tawi-Tawi 2011 or a celebration’s beauty pageant, and a Grand Anniversary Parade will be hold on Tuesday.

The administrator pronounced that as a assimilated and brotherly people of Tawi-Tawi, they also wanted to uncover to a universe a province’s potentials and a people’s genuine end and zeal to be during standard with other provinces and cities in a nation in terms of tellurian growth and advancement.

Sahali pronounced Greece Ambassador to a Philippines Stefanidou Polyxeni is also here to declare a anniversary, and to revisit a turtle sanctuaries and other sea stable areas during a Turtle organisation of islands.

As partial of a celebration, stalls offered outlandish fruits and savoury seafood have assigned a vast space in a bustling blurb areas of this town, where vital streets have been embellished with inland decorations regulating colorful panoply done of racial materials.

Meanwhile, Sahali started to accept delegations from a 11 island municipalities given Thursday, where he awarded a P100,000 inducement to Sibutu city for nearing initial in this collateral municipality and has a many series of commission members.

Also, Simunul city was adjudged as a many colorful delegation, while Sitangkai was named as a many behaved and trained delegation.

Simunul and Sitangkai was awarded P50,000 any by a administrator while a remaining 8 other towns were given P10,000 each.

Kamahardikaan Tawi-Tawi is an annual eventuality that brings together Tawi-Tawians to this city to applaud and commemorate a origination of a province, pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 302 antiquated Sep 11, 1973.

The jubilee is approaching to pull thousands of internal and unfamiliar tourists to declare a colorful Muslim presentations and attires during a grand parade, that will be assimilated by a member of a 11 municipalities.

Hja. Juana Sahali, a province’s initial lady and chairperson of both a Provincial Tourism Council and a Search for Budjang Tawi-Tawi 2011, pronounced a manifestation participants wish to infer that a ladies of Tawi-Tawi also posses beauty and talent, like their counterparts in other vital cities in a country, including a civic areas.

“We have so many pleasing and gifted immature ladies in a province, and this is what we are exploring now,” Hja. Sahali said.

The contestants together with Mrs. Sahali paid a pleasantness call on a administrator Friday morning during a Provincial Capitol building.

They will strive for a pretension of Budjang Tawi-Tawi 2011 currently during a Department of Education Gymnasium here.

Seaweed festivities in Tawi-tawi start

By Becky De Asis


TAWI-TAWI, Philippines – The celebration of the annual seaweed festivities here has started today in Bongao town with Governor Sadikul Sahali headed the showcasing of the province’s cultural heritage and natural resources.

The eight-day celebration kicked-off with a colorful fluvial parade from different island-municipalities, displaying the colorful attires that boosted the uniqueness of the province’s multi-culture society.

“I am very thankful to the people here on their dedications and support to the provincial government in uplifting their living conditions by respecting the cultures and rights of every resident here,” said Sahali.

The various activities lining-up for the yearly event are different sports competitions, search from Miss Budjang or Tawi-Tawi 2011, fluvial parade, and Agar–Agar festivals, among others.

The famous seaweed festivals also coincided on the province’s 38th Kamahardikaan or founding anniversary celebrations, which honored the leading source of livelihood here - the Agar–Agar.

Sahali noted that the event also renewed the people’s reflection to their culture.

“I am also thankful to Ligaya Amilbangsa, the mentor of this very prestigious festival, who studied and teach the Agar–Agar dance to the young generation,” he said, while lauding the support of the 11 mayors here.

Professor Felimon Romero, festival chairman, said the province is one of the top producers of seaweeds in the country, citing that the area produced thousands of tons of Agar-agar every week to cater to the demand in the Philippines and other countries.

Seaweed seminar

By BLOGTOPIA


BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi (PNA) – The Philippine and United States (US) Navies conducted a two-day Seaweed Industry Innovation Seminar in Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi, a tip Navy central said. Naval Forces Western Mindanao’s Task Force 62 commander Captain Renato Yongque pronounced a convention was conducted recently during a Naval Station Juan Magluyan.

It was schooled that seaweed tillage is one of a categorical sources of provision among a people of Panglima Sugala. Yongque pronounced they instituted a convention intentionally to assistance a internal proletariat to make a living, raise their believe in this kind of aquaculture project, and minister in boosting Tawi-Tawi’s economy.

Navy conducts Seaweeds Industry Innovation Seminar in Tawi-Tawi

By LTJG Ian Sagge, Public Affairs Officer, Naval Forces Western


Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi – In coordination with a internal supervision officials of Panglima, Sugala, a Naval Forces Western Mindanao thru a Naval Task Force 62 ordered by Capt Renato B Yongque conducted Seaweed Industry Innovation Seminar aboard Naval Station Juan Magluyan final Sep 14-15, 2011


Panglima Sugala is a fourth category municipality in that seaweed tillage is one of a categorical sources of provision among a people. Given this aspect, a navy instituted a control of a convention intentionally to assistance a internal proletariat to make a living, raise their believe in this kind of aquaculture plan and eventually contributes to boosting of Tawi-Tawi’s economy.

Part of this initiative, a Navy together with a US Navy member from LCE TYPHOON collected and distributed dull bottles to a participants of a convention for their use in tangible tillage of seaweed.

A sum of 143 internal residents from 13 barangays of Panglima Sugala benefitted in this Navy’s program.

Radm Armando L Guzman, a Commander of Naval Forces Western Mindanao has presided a shutting ceremony. He speedy all a participants to put into actions what they have gained from a convention and to share a believe they have schooled with their kin and friends in sequence for seaweed tillage in Tawi-Tawi will continue to flourish.

Governor Sahali, who is also benefaction in a shutting ceremony, extended his intense appreciation to a Philippine Navy for initiating a control of a convention in his area of concern.

Tawi-Tawi gears for 'Seaweeds Festival

By Nonoy Lacson


BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi, Philippines – The provincial government of Tawi-Tawi expressed its readiness to host the 10th Seaweeds Festival this year, as it assured visiting local and foreign tourists that the celebration would be better and more exciting than the previous years.

Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali Monday said the provincial government has undertaken an extensive preparation for this year’s festival.

The Seaweeds Festival has been integrated the 38th founding anniversary of the province that is scheduled to kick off on Saturday, September 24.

Dubbed “Kamahardikaan Tawi-Tawi,” this year’s four-day celebration carries the theme “Sustaining Peace and Responsive Local Governance: Paving the Way to a Progressive Tawi-Tawi.”

According to Sahali, he expects a bigger number of domestic and foreign tourists to witness the festival, as seaweed farmers from the municipalities of Sitangkai, and the nearby Sibutu committed to participate and grace the twin celebration.

Sahali said Sitangkai accounts for about 70 percent of the country’s seaweed output, producing at least 4,000 metric tons of dried seaweed monthly.

Seaweed farming in the island-town covers about 15,000 hectares, with 60,000 more hectares are being readied for high-quality seaweeds, Sahali said.

In an effort to boost the seaweed industry in the province, Sahali said the provincial government has already drafted a scientific scheme in planting seaweeds, which they intend to implement next year – aimed at increasing the production and income of farmers in their respective localities.

The new method, Sahali said, will provide farmers a projected average income of between P40,000 to P60,000 per hectare per year.

With good farming methods and infusion of new technology to produce good quality seaweed, local farmers will now have a better chance of selling their produce at a higher price, the governor said.

Sahali said the global prices of seaweed continue to remain high, but seaweed farmers here are still trapped in poverty despite the strong demand for their product in the global market.

Roughly about 80 percent of the population or about 20,000 individuals in Sitangkai rely on seaweed farming for their living, and while the resources are there, this has not translated into an uptrend economic development for the marginal sectors,” according to the governor.

But with an aim to develop the industry and improve the life of the seaweed farmers, Sahali had adopted a new system in the planting of seaweeds in Tawi-Tawi to overcome the farmers’ fear that the local production may be overtaken by other major seaweed exporting countries like Indonesia and Malaysia.

Tawi-Tawi produced an estimated 500,000 metric tons of dried seaweed, supplying close to 60 percent of the world market, making the Philippines one of the world’s top seaweed producer, and world’s top carageenan producer.

Tawi-Tawi to celebrate 'Kamahardikaan' Festival

By Nonoy Lacson


Tawi-Tawi – The capital town of Bongao is now in a festive mood after the provincial government of Tawi-Tawi declared on Tuesday that “all systems are go” for the holding of the “Kamahardikaan sin Tawi-Tawi” festival as part of the celebration of its 38th founding anniversary.

Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali said the celebration, which will start from September 24 and ends on September 27, will feature a colorful parade showcasing various ethnic groups and tribes in the province.

Various kinds of exotic fruits and colorful hand-woven materials are expected to flood Bongao's busy commercial district.

With the theme “Sustaining Peace and Responsive Local Governance: Paving the Way to a Progressive Tawi-Tawi,” Sahali said the annual event would bring together the people of the province to commemorate its creation, pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 302, dated September 11, 1973.

Sahali said this year’s celebration will be simple yet meaningful, and full of entertainment for the local and foreign visitors.

The provincial government also lined up several interesting activities for this year, like the most awaited beauty pageant, sports competition, Qur’an reading competition, and cultural shows that will feature the colorful ethnic cultures of the Sama, Badjao, Jama Mapun, and the Tausug tribes.

Sahali said that most of the activities are centered on the eco-tourism program of the provincial government, including environmental protection, and health agenda, aimed at attracting local and national investors to venture in the province.

Another highlight of the celebration is the “Agar-Agar Festival” that gives emphasis on the number one product of the province – seaweeds.

The province is located in the southernmost of the country, sharing sea borders with the Malaysian State of Sabah, and the Indonesian Kalimantan province.

To the northeast lies the province of Sulu, and to the west is Sabah.

ARMM’s public forum on RLA enunciates nominees’ plans, programs

  • Source: hhttp://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r09&id=54053
  • Wednesday, September 14, 2011
  • by Gideon C. Corgue


BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi, September 14 (PIA) -– The public forum on the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s (ARMM) Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) conducted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) thru the National Screening Committee has offered opportunity for the candidates to present their respective plans, programs and positions to the stakeholders, the ultimate beneficiary of their agenda, as well as to help generate meaningful discussion and possible solutions to different issues and concerns of ARMM, among others. Provincial Director Julgabir I. Sappayan in his message said the forum has provided stakeholders the opportunity to assess strengths and capabilities of RLA candidates. Citizens Coalition in ARMM for Electoral Reform (CICARE) provincial coordinator Cynthia Hassan said “we were grateful that a public forum like this was conducted for the public to know the best candidates to represent Tawi-Tawi in RLA.” The CICARE is a local organization formed and created in 2005 primarily to monitor the conduct of electoral process to include election monitoring, voter’s education and meeting with stakeholders in Tawi-Tawi. Youth panelist, Kamila Masahud, a senior student of Mindanao State University- Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography said she praised the nominees for giving their respective agenda and at the same time, giving good answers raised by the panelists and the audience. “We hope that whoever will be appointed to the RLA will fulfill their promise and represent the voice and true sentiments of the people of Tawi-Tawi,” Masahud added. After the eight (8) nominees were given the time to introduce themselves and their platforms as well, they were asked by the panelists to demonstrate their competence and worth as candidates to the RLA. The panelists were composed of the following: chairman, Prof. Felimon Romero (academe), Bongao Mayor Jasper Que (LGU), Engr. Rolando Lim (business), Babelyn Keno Omar (media), and Kamila Masahud (youth). (ALT/GCC/PIA9-Pagadian)

Nominees for ARRM’s regional legislative assembly sign covenant for good governance

by Gideon C. Corgue

BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi, Sept. 13 (PIA) -– To show support to President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III’s good governance program, nominees for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) on Monday signed a covenant during the public forum conducted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), provincial office at Beachside Inn here. The eight (8) nominees who willfully signed the covenant were Rodolfo A. Bawasanta, Ismael B. Abubakar Jr., Dayang Carlsum S. Jumaide, Nurjay M. Sujali, Hamid K. Ladjakahal, Abdelnooh Hadjirul, Syed R. Bederi, and Eddie M. Alih. ARMM Provincial Director Julgabir I. Sappayan said the covenant is a roadmap of national government that will ensure the introduction and sustenance of needed reforms in the ARMM. This roadmap, Sappayan said being pursued relentlessly and vigorously, a package of strategic key action that includes cleaning up of electoral process, strengthening bureaucratic reforms , accelerating service, delivery and implementation of development projects, ensuring good governance benchmark in ARMM , and fully engaging civil society and people’s organizations in government, and maximizing the potential of the government. “This roadmap for good governance shall be carried out in a manner in which the voice, sentiments and concerns of the people of ARMM , the stakeholders, local officials and even our foreign and local development partners are upheld and respected which are complete expression our strict adherence to the principles of democracy and making it in the region and for the people of ARMM,” Sappayan opined. The covenant signing concluded the 4-hours public forum with the stakeholders from local officials, people’s organization, civil society, academe, etc Among those who attended the public forum were Philippine Information Agency (PIA-9) regional director Noemi B. Edaga, Zamboanga City DILG director Taha Arakama, and Bongao Mayor Jasper Que. (JPA/GCC/PIA9-Pagadian)

Suspected drug pushers nabbed

by Gold Star Daily

COTABATO City-- Three persons were arrested when elements of Bongao Municipal Police Station (MPS) conducted recently an illegal drug operation at Maharlika Institute of Technology, Barangay Lamion1,Bongao Tawi-Tawi. The suspects identified as Muhajir Muddasil, Najir Jamali and Almida Wadud, owner of a shanty, while they were in the act of sniffing white crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine hydrochloride also known as "Shabu".

Confiscated in the possession of the suspects were twenty one (21) pieces of transparent plastic straws, and other shabu paraphernalia.

The illegal drugs that were confiscated from the suspects were brought to Tawi-Tawi Crime Laboratory while the arrested suspects are under the custody of Bongao MPS for filing appropriate charges in court.

US-funded bridge project to link Tawi-Tawi islands

by Julmunir I. Jannaral


ISABELA CITY, Basilan — A United States-funded road and bridge project will soon connect the two major islands of Tawi-Tawi and is expected to spur development and significantly boost the province’s economy. The bridge-road project is being completed here by national and regional agencies, with assistance from the U.S. government, and will directly link Sanga-Sanga Island, where the local airport is located, with the mainland of Tawi-Tawi. The project is a partnership involving the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the Tawi-Tawi Provincial Government, and the Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Tawi-Tawi Gov. Sadikul Sahali said the bridge-road connection will enable local growers to transport their crops and other products more efficiently and at lower cost to the capital town of Bongao, which is located on Sanga-Sanga Island and is the center of commercial activity in the province. “This will greatly improve the livelihood of farmers, particularly in the municipalities on Tawi-Tawi Island, such as Panglima Sugala, Sapa-Sapa and Languyan,” Governor Sahali said. “Upland growers will have an easier time getting their harvests to markets,” he added. “This has been a longtime dream here, to have a land connection between the two largest islands,” said Nazrullah Masahud, vice president of the Tawi-Tawi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Masahud said he expected growers to begin expanding production and diversifying their crops, following the infrastructure improvements. “Previously, farmers had told me that they hesitated to engage in new ventures because transport was undependable,” Masahud also said. He added that the bridge-road connections would also facilitate the installation of water pipelines and electric power connections to serve rapidly growing communities between the town of Bongao and Panglima Sugala municipality. Through the GEM Program, USAID has helped to improve the island-province’s economy through 51 barangay infrastructure projects, including the construction of 26 boat landings. Six larger infrastructure projects completed by GEM in Tawi-Tawi include the extension and widening of the Bongao airport runway, which enabled Airphil Express to establish a Zamboanga-Bongao route, now plying four times weekly by a 77-seater Bombardier Q400.

Tawi-Tawi to symbol 38th anniversary

NEWS


BONGAO, Philippines – The provincial supervision of Tawi-Tawi has urged a 11 city mayors to showcase their municipality’s particular ecotourism potentials and destinations, products and furnish during a jubilee of a province’s 38th initial anniversary from Sep 24 to 27.

Dubbed “38th Kamahardikaan impiety Tawi-Tawi,” Governor Sadikul Sahali pronounced a provincial supervision will core a jubilee on a graduation of a province’s eco-tourism potentials and destinations, products and produce.

Sahali pronounced this year’s jubilee can be deliberate one of a best, and an suitable time for a city officials to showcase their particular eco-tourism potentials, and products.

Sahali cited this collateral city as a microcosm of eremite and informative diversity. He pronounced this town’s Bongao Peak offers a monumental perspective of circuitously Sabah in Malaysia, while a Bolobok Cave is one of a oldest caves – given 800 A.D. – that is located in Barangay Lakit-Lakit, and deliberate to be a strange allotment of a early inhabitants.

The city of Simunul, he said, is a site of a oldest Mosque in a Philippines, and home of a worshiped Sheikh Makdum – a colonize for a widespread of a Islamic sacrament in a country.

It was during Tubig-Indangan in Simunul where a initial Muslim companion Sheik Karimul Makdum set feet to build a initial mosque in a nation in 1380 A.D.

Sahali pronounced that a city of Sapa-Sapa is also a good traveller end given it is famous as a home of descendants of a Malay kingship of a Federal State of Borneo.

Adding that a island-town of Sitangkai is famous as a “Venice of a South.”

Sahali positive a visitors that Tawi-Tawi is a pacific and protected province, citing troops and troops statistics and reports.

First-class fish and crustaceans, like lobsters and coconut crabs, are abounding in a range of Tawi-Tawi due to a satisfactory pleasant climate, a administrator said.

Sahali confirmed that staying in Tawi-Tawi is not a problem given this collateral city hosts several hotels, inns, beach cottages, and restaurants to support a needs of internal and unfamiliar tourists.

US-funded bridge project to link Tawi-Tawi islands

by Julmunir I. Jannaral


ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Sept 6 (PIA) -– A United States-funded road and bridge project will soon connect the two major islands of Tawi-Tawi and is expected to spur development and significantly boost the province’s economy. The bridge-road project is being completed here by national and regional agencies, with assistance from the U.S. government, and will directly link Sanga-Sanga Island, where the local airport is located, with the mainland of Tawi-Tawi. The project is a partnership involving the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the Tawi-Tawi Provincial Government, and the Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Tawi-Tawi Gov. Sadikul Sahali said the bridge-road connection will enable local growers to transport their crops and other products more efficiently and at lower cost to the capital town of Bongao, which is located on Sanga-Sanga Island and is the center of commercial activity in the province. “This will greatly improve the livelihood of farmers, particularly in the municipalities on Tawi-Tawi Island, such as Panglima Sugala, Sapa-Sapa and Languyan,” Governor Sahali said. “Upland growers will have an easier time getting their harvests to markets,” he added. “This has been a longtime dream here, to have a land connection between the two largest islands,” said Nazrullah Masahud, vice president of the Tawi-Tawi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Masahud said he expected growers to begin expanding production and diversifying their crops, following the infrastructure improvements. “Previously, farmers had told me that they hesitated to engage in new ventures because transport was undependable,” Masahud also said. He added that the bridge-road connections would also facilitate the installation of water pipelines and electric power connections to serve rapidly growing communities between the town of Bongao and Panglima Sugala municipality. Through the GEM Program, USAID has helped to improve the island-province’s economy through 51 barangay infrastructure projects, including the construction of 26 boat landings. Six larger infrastructure projects completed by GEM in Tawi-Tawi include the extension and widening of the Bongao airport runway, which enabled Airphil Express to establish a Zamboanga-Bongao route, now plying four times weekly by a 77-seater Bombardier Q400. (BPI-ARMM/ALT/RVC-PIA9 BaSulTa)

Navy rescues vessel in distress off Tawi-Tawi

Mindanews

ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/30 August) – Task Force 62 of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) has rescued a wooden-hull vessel in distress in the province of Tawi-Tawi, belated reports from the Philippine Navy said. Commodore Armando Guzman, NFWM commander, said the vessel loaded with 67 people, including the seven crew, was rescued Thursday 4.8 nautical miles off Pagasinan, Simunul, Tawi-Tawi. Of the 60 passengers, 12 were children, he added.

Guzman said M/L Virginia departed Sipangkot Island and bound for Lamion Pier in Bongao, the capital town of Tawi-Tawi, “when it incurred derangement on her main propulsion.”

The NFWM’s Naval Task Force 62, which is based in Panglima Sugala town, upon receiving a distress call from the M/L Virginia, directed the Patrol Ship-19 (PS-19) to conduct search and rescue operation for the distressed vessel amidst rough seas and strong winds prevailing in the area, Guzman said.

Battered by big waves, he said the vessel was listing on its port side while its crew members were “bailing out” water using pails in attempt to trim the vessel when the task force personnel aboard PS-19 arrived.

He added that the hapless passengers, some throwing up over the sides because of the violent rolling and pitching, were anxiously waiting for help.

Interviewed by the PS-19 personnel, M/L Virginia’s crew confirmed that their main engine incurred technical problem and “that they were already more than four hours dead-on-water,” he said.

Guzman said the PS-19 personnel led by Commander Ernesto Baldovino immediately rendered necessary assistance to the vessel. The PS-19 towed M/L Virginia, which arrived safely at Lamion Pier in Bongao.

Retrieved from "http://zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=Tawi-Tawi_News&oldid=184945"