Philippines

Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao News December 2016

→ → 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

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 members of kidnap-for-ransom group arrested in Lanao

(TVJ)

LINAMON, Lanao del Norte — Four members of a kidnap-for-ransom group operating in the Lanao provinces were arrested in Barangay Mantapuli in Marantao, Lanao del Sur, the police said Friday.

Senior Superintendent Faro Antonio Olaguera, the Lanao del Norte police chief, said a joint police and Army team enforced an arrest warrant against the suspects—in connection with the series of abduction in the province in recent months—on Thursday.

The group’s latest kidnap victim was a gasoline station owner here, who was taken on September 12. ADVERTISEMENT

Clarita Belisario, 60, was later freed after her family paid ransom amounting to P750,000.

Olaguera identified the arrested suspects as Nabil Balabaga Balowa, the KFR leader, Edris Said Sultan Angne , Nohair Ali Fanda and Jalil Lagiin Ismael. Balowa was once apprehended and detained at the Lanao del Norte provincial jail but authorities were forced to release him when the family of an earlier victim withdrew the case against him.

During the operation in Marantao, the arresting team also confiscated an AK-47 assault rifle, an MK2 fragmentation hand grenade , bandolier, a wallet with a Moro Islamic Liberation Front ID tucked inside, two 57-millimeter recoiless rifles, a .45-caliber pistol, a rifle grenade, two blue polo shirts marked with CIDG, and other personal belongings, according to Olaguera.

“The suspects were brought to the Regional Intelligence Unit of the PNP Region 10 in Cagayan de Oro City while charges for kidnapping and illegal possession of firearms and explosives were being prepared against them,” he said.

MARINA: Additional vessels needed to serve Zamboanga-Basilan routes

(PNA), NYP/TPGJR/RGAAG/

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) -- The management of shipping firms here had been advised to add the number of Zamboanga-Basilan and vice-versa trips to cope with the increasing volume of passengers brought about by the yuletide season.

Lawyer Irving Saipudin, Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) regional director, on Wednesday said that an additional of four vessels are needed to ply the Zamboanga-Isabela and Zamboanga-Lamitan routes to better serve the public.

There are five ships, including a fast craft ferry and three Roll-on, Roll-off (Roro) vessels, owned by two shipping firms that are servicing the two routes at present.

Three of the five vessels ply the Zamboanga-Isabela and vice-versa route while the remaining two serve the Zamboanga-Lamitan and vice-versa.

The coastguard on Sunday (December 18) has denied departure clearance to one of the three Roro vessels due to loading of passengers beyond its capacity.

The vessel’s capacity is 900 passengers.

“There is a need for additional vessels,” Saipudin said citing there is an increase in the number of passengers traveling from and to this city from Basilan province.

He said that talks are ongoing with shipping firm owners from other regions to temporarily ply the Zamboanga-Basilan routes.

He said his office would issue special trip permits once they agree to temporarily serve the two routes from this city to Basilan province.

MARINA, meanwhile, has opened a passenger assistance desk at the local port to assist passengers traveling this Yuletide Seasons.

Saipudin said there are complaints from passengers that they were denied to board the vessel despite they were issued traveling tickets.

Saipudin also advised passengers to be at the port at least two hours before their scheduled departure.

Basilan holds CRDA Summit on infra, economic development

By Rene V. Carbayas (ALT/RVC/PIA9-Basilan)

ISABELA CITY, Basilan (PIA) – Programs and projects worth billions were proposed at the Summit on infrastructure and economic development on the Comprehensive Reform and Development Agenda (CRDA) for ARMM.

Around 70 stakeholders composed of government agencies, local government units in Basilan, the military, non-government organizations, business and cooperative groups, and some sectors have gathered on December 12 at the Farmland Resort, Lanote in Isabela City to draft proposed infrastructure and economic development programs.

Through workshops, the participants were divided according to sectors on agri-infrastructure development, infrastructure development and tourism, industrialization and job generation, environmental preservation, and industrialization and product export.

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Lanao del Sur Provincial Director Tarhata S. Mapandi said that the one-day consultation intended to gather programs based on felt needs and aspirations of the Bangsamoro and other people in Mindanao like the Lumads and Christians to put an end to the perennial insurgency issue and poverty problem in conflict-affected areas.

“The Duterte administration recognizes the limitation in government resources to bankroll all the interventions and initiatives being propounded hereof, hence the need to generate support from well-meaning donor agencies and Muslim countries, especially those belonging to Gulf Cooperation Countries in the Middle East,” she said.

In his message, TESDA Director General Alvin S. Feliciano who spoke on behalf of TESDA Secretary Guiling A. Mamondiong, reiterated the intention of the Duterte administration, that is, to exercise inclusive governance where “lahat kasali, lahat bida sa TESDA (everyone is involved, all are protagonists).”

He announced that TESDA is allocating some 15,000 slots for scholarship trainings in Basilan alone.

The national government has tasked TESDA to hold consultations and validation on CRDA programs in conflict-affected areas identified.

However, some participants observed that the one-day summit is not enough for this kind of planning workshop. Some claimed that no substantive output is generated with the limited time for discussion.

Facilitators from the Mindanao State University of Marawi City assured that all the inputs from the workshop will be consolidated into a comprehensive plan for implementation until 2022 poverty incidence in ARMM is envisioned to be reduced from 48.2% in 2015 to 33.1%.

DAR-ARMM confers 237 CLOAs to beneficiaries in Sulu

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Dec. 27 (PNA) -- The agrarian reform office in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) conferred Tuesday a total of 237 Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) to beneficiaries under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in the town of Siasi in Sulu.

Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR-ARMM) Regional Secretary Amihilda Sangcopan, said reform partners from Tulling Farm Workers Multi-Purpose Cooperative of the Tulling Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) formally received their land ownership certificates.

She said local conflicts arising from land disputes due to ambiguous boundaries of individual lots hampered cooperative activities and thus exacted a toll on the area’s productivity in the past.

Sangcopan said her office has initiated a relocation survey by erecting monuments leading to the turnover of CLOA seen as a landmark intervention by the regional government in solving agrarian reform issues in the community.

Provided for under Republic Act 6657, or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, CLOA is intended to promote social justice among the marginalized, specifically workers in the agricultural sector, through land tenure.

It is a legal document that serves as an evidence of ownership, subject to restrictions, and secures the tenure of the farmers to the agricultural land they till.

Among its basic restriction is that the beneficiary could not sell, transfer, or donate the land awarded to him over a period of 10 years after he received the certificate.

The land area covered by Tulling ARC used to be owned by Filagro Corporation before it was covered by CARP in 1991. The farm workers then were considered as agricultural laborers who do not have the rights over the land they till.

The Tulling ARC is situated in the northern part of the island municipality of Siasi. The town is composed of five barangays namely Tulling, Siundoh, Manta, North Manta, Minapan.

DENR axes illegal logging in Lanao del Sur

(BPI/PIA-10)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur --- At least P1.4 million worth of illegal logs were confiscated and turned over to the Anti-Illegal Logging Task Group of Lanao del Sur, December 17.

Approximately 28,730 board feet of premium assorted logs were seized as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DENR-ARMM) closed three illegally operating sawmills from three barangays in Maguing town, this province.

DENR-ARMM Secretary Forester Kahal Kedtag said the operation was immediately conducted by the department after proving through a series of investigations that illegal cutting of trees has been happening in the watershed area.

Massive cutting of trees in the ARMM, Kedtag said, is strictly prohibited in pursuant to the Regional Governor's Executive Order No. 1 series of 2012 or the Total Logging Ban.

Out of the three sawmills closed, only two immediately qualified for illegal logging. As for the one sawmill, "We could not yet classify this as illegal logging kasi as we can see parang clearing lang ang ginagawa nila," Kedtag said.

"They are converting the forest land into agricultural land, but still it is prohibited since this is a watershed area", he added.

The owners of the seized sawmills are given a two-week grace period to answer before an adjudication about their operation.

Kedtag said if the operations are proven indeed illegal, the seized logs will be used for government projects such as arm chairs for public schools.

Marawi youths raise fund for war victims in Aleppo

By Sittie Ayeesha Dicali (SAD/PIA Lanao del Sur)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA) --- More than a thousand Muslim youths coming from the cities of Marawi City, Iligan and Cagayan de Oro joined in the Aleppo fund-raising and awareness campaign activity held in Dimaporo Gymnasium in Mindanao State University (MSU) Marawi Campus on December 18.

The fund-raising activity was sparked by one single chat via Facebook last week after tweets from Aleppo trended in social media that civilians trapped in the eastern part of the Syrian city were indiscriminately murdered by the Assad regime, said organizer Mohammad Aiman Langlang.

The youths collected cash donations and held garage sale. Similar activities were held in Manila, Cebu, Davao, and Zamboanga.

Youth leader Mohammad Jamal Batugan said that the proceeds will go to One Solid Ummah which is a non-profit organization that gives humanitarian aid to Syrian war victims and refugees. One solid Umma neither supports the rebels nor the Assad regime, he said.

The organizers have already collected P46,000 in cash from Marawi and P60,000 from Davao city.

The gathering also featured discussions from Sheik Abu Annas Angni on the conflict in Syria and Dr. Hamid Barra, who provided an in-depth analysis on the situation and how it affects the world at large.

The gathering concluded with a prayer for the safety and well-being of the civilians in Aleppo.​

Dev't in Mindanao seen after CRDA consultation -- TESDA

(PNA), LGI/MCCA/EDS

MANILA (PNA) -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Regions 9, 10 and 12 can now expect development following the successful consultation for the Comprehensive Reform and Development Agenda (CRDA) in the region, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) said on Wednesday.

TESDA Director General, Secretary Guiling Mamondiong said the program would help uplift the lives of the residents in the region and other conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.

Last October 29, President Rodrigo Duterte launched the CRDA program in Mindanao.

Areas that would benefit from CRDA are the towns of Jolo (Sulu), Bongao (Tawi-Tawi), and Marawi City (Lanao del Sur), as well as the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao.

Aside from ARMM areas, other beneficiaries of the initiative are: Region 9 - Zamboanga City, Ipil (Zamboanga Sibugay), and Pagadian (Zamboanga del Sur); Region 10 – Tubod (Lanao del Norte) and Lanao del Norte province; and, Region 12 – Isulan (Sultan Kudarat) and the cities Kidapawan (North Cotabato), Koronadal (South Cotabato) and General Santos City.

The second phase of CRDA would involve infrastructure development while the third phase would focus on economic development.

Mamondiong said that various government agencies are helping the poor residents of Mindanao.

Through the CRDA, the national government could easily identify the projects needed to be funded for the region under the General Appropriation Act from 2016 to 2022.

Among the government agencies coordinating with the CRDA are the local government units heads/representatives; provincial/municipal/city planning officers; provincial/municipal engineers; civil society organizations/people’s organizations; ARMM region heads and counterpart; concerned national government agencies/inter-agency; industry groups; TVET association/academe; regional provincial TESD committees; TVET partners and stakeholders, media partners, among others.

ARMM agri office aligns programs with DA-National to ensure food security

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Dec. 21 (PNA) -- Agriculture and Fishery Regional Secretary Alex Alonto Jr. of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DAF-ARMM) said Wednesday his office has started implementing programs aligned with the priority programs laid down by Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol.

Speaking during the "Tapatan sa ARMM Program" of the ARMM Bureau of Public Information, Sec. Alonto confidently told the press that under his stewardship, the DA-ARMM has undertaken agri-fishery programs aligned with that of the DA-national office, according to the priority programs laid by National Secretary Piñol.

He cited the launching of "Pagkain sa Masa" during President Duterte’s visit last October of this year; BROWNRICE4Good Campaign; Food and Nutrition Security programs; and technical assistance/intervention to farmers.

He also announced the launching and implementation of livelihood programs funded by the ARMM Government through the initiative of ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv S. Hataman such as the PAyapa At MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA), ARMM- Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace & Governance, Synergy (ARMM-HELPS), Humanitarian and Development Action Plan (HDAP) or nationally funded/regular programs of the Rice, Corn, Livestock, High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP); partnership with donor agencies such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), United Nations-Food and Agriculture Organization and convergence with other line agencies were some of the accomplishments since Alonto took office.

Alonto confidently answered reporters' inquiry on issues ranging from ranging from irrigation system, poverty alleviation, agricultural production, pest infestation, interventions to El Nino and conflict-stricken areas in the region, distribution of farm equipment and machineries, disbursement of funds and long-term plans.

Alonto admitted that a huge part of the 2016 Funds is yet to be released by the national government after the recent memorandum of agreement signing between the DA-National and DA-ARMM.

Thus the payment of incentives of the agricultural extension workers (AEWs) and other payables and transactions such as agri-intervention to farmers were delayed. He vowed it will be released once funds are available.

He also explained that when leadership changes at the national level, fund releases are delayed due to scrutiny and accounting procedures to align the ARMM programs with the national priority programs.

Asked what he can boast among DA-ARMM’s programs as his achievements, Alonto said he is happy that the office is functioning well (operational), existence of open-communication line between the stakeholders including the media and there’s office transparency which is essential for every government entity.

The Tapatan sa ARMM Program is conducted through the Bureau of Public Information-ARMM led by Director Amir Mawalil to provide the ARMM constituents and nearby places with information, programs and happenings in the region.

The DA-ARMM Regional Agriculture & Fisheries Information Division (RAFID) regularly coordinates with the BPI-ARMM to bring agricultural information and concerns to stakeholders and listeners in and out of ARMM.


1st Maranaw woman tops licensure exam for teachers

By Richel V. Umel

A GRADUATE of Philippine Muslim Teachers’ College (PMTC) in Marawi City is the first Maranaw woman in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) to top the licensure examination for teachers or LET.

Sittie Airah Farida Abdulhalim, 20 years old, who hails from Masiu town, Lanao del Sur is on top 5 for elementary level with a rating of 87.20 percent. After Abdulhalim, 147 elementary and 19 secondary board passers also came from PMTC.

The teachers took their oath before the Professional Regulatory Commission on Saturday, December 17.

Life struggles were never an obstacle for Abdulhalim. “I am the only child in our family and my father left us few days before my graduation day when I was in Grade Six in Ednu Abbas Integrated School in Masiu town, kaya di na ako umattend sa graduation ko (that’s why I did not attend my graduation). My mother Farida Hadji Alawi took care of me as she was my lawyer when I was oppressed, my mentor, guardian and my inspiration,” said Abdulhalim.

“After my graduation in high school my mother died. From then on itinuring ako ng mga aunties, uncles, cousins and the Mustafa family na tunay na nilang anak and at sila yung nag insist na mula yung namatay ang Mama sila na yung tumayong Mama ko at tinulungan ako (My aunties, uncles, cousins and the Mustafa family treated me like their own child and they were the ones who insisted when my mother died, they acted like my mother and helped me) until I finished my college degree in Education in Marawi City, during my review in Iligan City until I passed the LET,” Abdulhalim said.

“My experiences and challenges in life gave me more strength, courage with a brave heart to pursue my dreams in my education career,” added Abdulhalim. Abdulhalim urged President Rodrigo Duterte to help the Armm particularly Lanao del Sur and Marawi City, to resolve once and for all the ongoing armed conflict that triggered the unstable peace and order in Marawi City and the town of Butig in Lanao del Sur which displaced hundreds of families and school classes were temporarily stopped. “I am in favor of Duterte's plan to implement the Federalism particularly in Bangsamoro land for it will give the better opportunity to the deserving Muslim teachers to avail the teaching items and not for those who are not qualified,” said Abdulhalim.

By December 24, Abdulhalim will start her job opportunity offered by the Al Bangsamoro Topnotchers Review Center at the same time do some part time teaching at PMTC her Alma Mater in Marawi City.

Adulhalim is one of those students who joined the Bangsamro rallies held in Plaza Cabili in Mrawi City in pursuit to the approval of supposedly Bangsamo Basic Law and fought their right for self-determination.

PMTC President Hadji Datu Mohammad Agakhan Sharief said “in spite of these armed conflict, unstable electric power supply services from the electric cooperative, poor accessibility in internet connection due to telecommunication instability, we will continue to pursue our plans and program to sustain our high standard in education.”

The PMTC management tendered a “Kanduri” or thanksgiving for to the LET board passers after their oath-taking.

Aldulhalim has received a P50,000 cash incentive from the management. Sharief pledged P100,000 incentive for the examinee who could make it to the top for the next LET in 2017.

Health dept. delivers first CT scan to Maguindanao

(PNA), CVL/MARO-CONTENT/EBP

MANILA, Dec. 19 (PNA) -- Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial graced the inauguration of the first-ever computerized tomography (CT) scan machine provided by the Department of Health to the Maguindanao provincial hospital in Shariff Aguak last December 17.

”It is brand new! It is the first (CT scan machine) in Maguindanao and the ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao)," Ubial said.

Aside from Maguindanao, the CT scan facility can also accommodate patients from nearby provinces, such as South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani.

”The CT scanner is needed here in the province. Patients in Maguindanao who usually go to Cotabato and GenSan (General Santos City) will no longer need to travel too far for CT scan check-ups,” Ubial said.

According to the health chief, this initiative is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s agenda of strengthening the operational capabilities of government hospitals and health facilities.

ARMM sets PHP10.1-B for 2017 infra projects

(PNA), CVL/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY (PNA) -- Officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Friday approved PHP10.1 billion worth of infrastructure projects to be implemented next year, officials said.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman and members of the Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA), the region's lawmaking body, on Friday signed Public Works Act of 2017 that authorizes the appropriation of PHP10.1 billion for infrastructure projects in ARMM.

The region’s Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-ARMM), through its district engineering offices across the region, will implement the approved projects.

Hataman said the projects include the construction of major roads and bridges, water supply, seaports, shores, drainage canal, flood control, strategic infrastructure projects in support of tourism, agriculture, peace and security, public health or sanitation, and other socioeconomic development activities and those in conflict- or calamity-affected areas.

He said the appropriation will be effective even beyond Fiscal Year 2017 until fully released, obligated, and disbursed for the purpose. The infrastructure funds, Hataman stressed, will be properly distributed to the region's five provinces and two cities.

“We will make sure that all the provinces will receive development projects from the regional government,” Hataman said.

DPWH-ARMM Secretary Don Mustapha Loong noted that the implementation of the projects will be undertaken through competitive public bidding with the local and national media in attendance.

To effectively oversee the projects, the Regional Project Monitoring Committee, inclusive of the legislative assembly members or representatives, will conduct periodic checks and validation of the status of the project's implementation, based on the approved program of work, project specifications, and time frame of completion.

Since Hataman assumed office as officer in charge and eventually as elected governor, members of the local and national media, along with ARMM watchdogs, have been well-represented to ensure transparency and accountability.

He urged the local media to monitor and report any anomaly they observe in the implementation of public works.

ARMM investment stakeholders craft industry roadmap to make region grow and competitive

(PNA), JMC/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Dec. 16 (PNA) -- Investment and economic players in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) gathered at a local hotel here to craft localized version of national industry roadmaps to achieve further growth and competitiveness, officials said.

Participants to the “Industry Roadmaps and the AEC Gameplan: Roadmaps Localization for Competitiveness,” were officials of ARMM’s Regional Board of Investments (RBOI), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-ARMM) industry development and investments promotion arm.

It aimed at capacitating the region’s various industry players, businesses, local government units and government agencies.

The regional conference also aimed at building the capacities of local industries and stakeholders including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in crafting their localized industry roadmaps aligned with the national industry roadmaps.

Lawyer Ishak Mastura, RBOI-ARMM head, discusses the economic opportunities and potentials for local industries and sectors in ARMM and how they can take advantage of the many opportunities with the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) already in place.

Mastura who delivered the opening remarks this morning emphasized the importance of crafting customized industry roadmaps for the region considering the ever-growing and fast changing development in the competitive business environment.

“In an age where there are no more borders in trade, our industries in the region should shape up and move up. Though we are independent from the rest of the regions in the country, it is important to link and align our strategies with that from the national level,” Mastura said.

Trade and Industry Regional Secretary Anwar Malang conveyed gratitude to BOI and DTI national for introducing the Industry Roadmapping Program to the region.

“At least our region, though independent from central government, is not neglected at all. Here in ARMM, we can craft our localized roadmaps,” he said.

Malang, a lawyer, told participants of the multi-sector conference of ARMM’s Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Program (AICCEP), a partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) which aims to capacitate the industry stakeholders of the region on clustering and provide mapping for various industries: Maguindanao for coconut and palm oil, Lanao del Sur for cassava and abaca, Tawi-Tawi for seaweeds, Basilan for coffee, Sulu for coffee and cacao, among others.

”Our vision is for our industries to be competitive and to improve the lives of our people in the region. I do hope there will come a time when we will no longer need the 4Ps and that we will have freedom from hunger by providing better incomes for our people through livelihood and business programs,” he said.

Rafalita Aldaba, DTI Assistant Secretary for Industry Development, discussed the Philippines’ new industrial policy and linking local producers to the global value chains (GVC).

She noted that ARMM offers a lot of economic opportunities and potentials given its inherent strengths in the agriculture.

“There is no reason for ARMM to be poor. We can transform the region by moving from traditional agriculture into a more modern agribusiness to allow us to confidently participate in GVCs,” Assistant Secretary Aldaba said.

Based on latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), ARMM’s poverty incidence remained at 53.7 percent in 2015, while unemployment is at 3.5 percent in 2015.

At the localization of roadmaps conference, RBOI Chairman Mastura also presented BOI ARMM’s 2017 Investment Priorities Plan (IPP)—a listing of priority industries that will be given investment incentives in the region.

RBOI ARMM’s IPP Listing will be joined with the BOI National’s IPP Listing and will then be endorsed to President Rodrigo Duterte for approval.

RBOI ARMM’s preferred investment activities include: export activities; agriculture, agribusiness, aquaculture and fishery; basic industries; infrastructure and services; industrial services facilities; engineering industries; logistics; BIMP-EAGA-related investment enterprises; tourism; health education services and facilities; Halal industry; banking and non-bank financial institutions and facilities; and energy/power generation.

The localization of roadmaps in ARMM focused on coffee, cacao, rubber, and palm oil production as these were earlier identified as agriculture-based products with potentials for growth and can be aligned and linked with the national industry roadmaps.

Under the Industry Roadmap, stakeholders assess an industry’s performance, opportunities, and challenges, outlines the vision, goals and objectives, strategies, timelines, and various interventions it needs to be globally-competitive.

Industry players are the ones to craft and implement roadmaps with the guidance from BOI and other government agencies.

A total of 42 sectoral roadmaps submitted to the BOI as of December 1. Of this number, 35 roadmaps have been completed and are currently being implemented or for implementation, while the rest are still subject to enhancement/finalization.

ARMM remains last on list of HIV-infected regions in PH

(BPI/PIA-10)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Dec 15 --- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) remains at the bottom of the list among regions with cases of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

This comes as the region’s prevalence rate on the disease and infection stayed still at less than one percent by end of October this year.

Despite these figures, the Infectious Diseases Cluster (IDC) of the ARMM Department of Health (DOH) warned citizens not to be complacent.

“Whether we like it or not, we have HIV cases in ARMM,” Soraida Amilil, Cluster head of IDC said. It is still important for the public to be properly informed for their prevention and cure, Amilil said, noting the region is targeting zero HIV/AIDS case each year.

As of October this year, 13 cases of HIV have been reported while none emerged as an AIDS case. Nineteen percent of the HIV cases come from the heterosexual demographics, while 81% come from the homosexual demographics, mainly from men who have sex with men.

In 2014, the region has reported two AIDS cases, while seven were reported with HIV. Since 1984, the region’s Health department has reported a total of 76 positive cases of HIV while 11 were reported to have led to AIDS.

None of these cases were diagnosed within the region as the provincial health units still lack social hygiene clinics for HIV diagnostic testing, hence these cases were referred to regions 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), 10 (Northern Mindanao), and 11 (Davao Region) who have the capability to do the screening. This is about to change in 2017 the IDC of DOH-ARMM noted.

Amilil said the agency has been working on the establishment of social hygiene clinics in the region to serve as satellite treatment centers for HIV.

This will be piloted in the province of Tawi-Tawi by 2017, and then in Sulu, being the farthest islands to the mainland. The agency, she added, is currently complying with the requirements set for the treatment centers to be operational by next year.

DOH-ARMM continues to strengthen its AIDS/HIV Prevention and Control Program through campaigns that aim at educating the public, as well as to eliminate the stigma and discrimination associated with people living with HIV and AIDS.

Doctors have been reiterating that the virus is not transmittable by merely socializing with them as it only thrives inside the body and cannot be transmitted by mere skin-to-skin contact.

“Hindi ito dapat ikahiya,” Amilil said, noting it is not acquired only through unprotected sexual activities. 90 to 98% of transmission is through blood transfusion, organ transplant, sharing used needles and needle pricks.

There are also preventive measures for HIV leading to AIDS and this is provided free to people living with HIV and AIDS.

GSIS offers emergency loan to members, pensioners in Datu Piang, Maguindanao

(GSIS)

MANILA, Dec. 14 - The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has earmarked around Php14 million in emergency loan for some 300 active members and old-age pensioners in Datu Piang, Maguindanao who were affected by flash floods that hit the municipality in November.

The deadline for loan application is December 27, 2016.

Emergency loan is payable in 36 equal monthly instalments at 6 percent interest rate per annum computed in advance. It is covered by a loan redemption insurance, which deems the loan fully paid in case of demise of the borrower, provided that loan repayment is up to date.

Active members working or residing in the area are qualified to apply for the loan if they are not on leave of absence without pay, have no arrears in paying premium contributions, and have no unpaid loans for more than six months.

They may apply for a Php20,000 loan. If with existing emergency loan, they may avail of up to Php40,000, from which their outstanding balance will be deducted.

Active members may apply through the GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (GWAPS) kiosks located in all GSIS branch and extension offices; provincial capitols; city halls; selected municipal offices; large government agencies such as the Department of Education; Robinsons Malls; and selected SM City branches in North EDSA, Manila, Pampanga, Cebu, and SM Aura in Taguig.

Old-age pensioners in the area must apply in person to avail of the Php20,000 emergency loan.

Pensioners who are also active members (after having reentered government service) may apply for the loan only once.

Loan proceeds are electronically credited to the borrower's GSIS eCard or unified multipurpose identification (UMID) card.

Members with inquiries on the loan may visit the GSIS website, www.gsis.gov.ph; call the GSIS Contact Center at 847-4747;or email gsiscares@gsis.gov.ph.

Month-long ARMM anniversary festival draws huge crowd

(Desk Man, Bureau of Public Information)

COTABATO CITY – Hundreds of people continue to flock and participate in the celebration of the 27th founding anniversary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao here as it highlights the festival with cultural competitions showcasing the region rich and colorful heritage.

The festival, launched on November 19, is being held at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex and is now on its final week. Dubbed ‘Pakaradjaan sa ARMM,’ the final celebration kicked off December 12 with colorful dances and wonderful music from the province of Maguindanao.

Performers from an ensemble of around 30 Maguindanaon students and professionals trained by the Kutawato Dance Bureau (KDB), played songs, drama and at least 12 dances, including ‘Kapeg-Islam’, ‘Kapegkawing’, and ‘Kapamalong-malong’

Accompanying their performances were ethnic musicians who played ‘kulintang’, ‘agong’, ‘gandingan’, and the now venerable ethnic instrument the ‘kutyapi’ played by very few today.

Esmail Ahmad, a 71-year old blind man, who played the instrument, is one of only three known players of the kutyapi in Maguindanao and in the region. He is often invited by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts to perform in Manila during special occasions.

Maguindanaons constitute the biggest Muslim group in North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, and South Cotabato – the four provinces constituting the then Cotabato Empire.

The word Maguindanao was derived from ‘Maguin’, meaning one who has suffered from flood, and ‘Danao’ meaning flood by lake. The people of Maguindanao, known as the Maguindanaons, are referred to as the “people of the flood plains”.

KDB director and choreographer Arvie Roa Macmud-Sinsuat said she conceptualized the Maguindanaon cultural night in performances that bound together the history and tradition of the locals in a very authentic, creative, and colorful execution. That is why, she said, her ensemble has a high chance of besting out the other competitors this week.

For this year’s Pakaradjaan, the province of Maguindanao is being represented by 21 ARMM agencies, headed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG-ARMM) under Regional Secretary Kirby Matalam Abdullah. The province of Maguindanao is the reigning over-all champion in last year’s competitions and it hopes to retain the title this year.

Performing on December 13 is the province of Lanao, followed by the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi respectively, from December 14 until December 16. The cultural night presentations are part of the celebration of the 2016 Pakaradjaan sa ARMM.

Previous competitions like the Dulang Cultural Parade, Tribal Cuisine Competition, and various sports competitions, were previously held in line with the celebration. The winners of all the competitions will be announced during the closing ceremonies of this year’s Pakaradjaan on Monday, December 19.

DILG: ARMM LGU summit to serve as model for other regions

(BPI/PIA-10)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Dec 12 --- Citing lines from a song, Secretary Ismael Sueno of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shared how he used to feel as a government official from Mindanao.

"Kami'y mga Muslim lamang, kami'y mga taga-Mindanao lamang," he said. When he was faced with the prospect of leading his political party, he initially raised if he had what it took to lead at the national level.

Much has changed since then.

"This same feeling has become a challenge to many of us. We must prove to the entire nation that Mindanaons can perform as well, if not better, than our counterparts in Luzon and Visayas," Sueno said as he addressed local executives from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) attending the 3rd ARMM Local Goverment Summit.

The two-day summit was held in the SMX Convention Center, Davao City.

"Pagkamulat... Pagbabago, Pag-unlad" was the theme for the said event, highlighting the importance of raising awareness about the region.

Sueno noted the negative perception outsiders have regarding communities in the ARMM. When it comes to discussions about the region, outsiders usually "worry" about governance.

But noting reforms in the region in recent years, especially the marked absence of ghost projects, he said that "transparent, accountable, and moral governance" is present in the ARMM.

The secretary said that cooperation of local executives on peace and order initiatives is perceived by people outside the ARMM as a concern, especially with regard to lawless elements.

The national government, however, believes that governors and mayors in the ARMM can face these challenges, Sueno said.

The local government units (LGUs), he noted, are strong partners against lawless elements in the region.

The national and local government's joint success against lawlessness depends on the "willpower of leaders," Sueno said.

He also mentioned that a number of the poorest provinces are found in the ARMM, and that the president wants to help uplift the quality of life in these areas.

"If we are to implement projects in ARMM, I will be the project manager in ARMM. Let us implement projects there," Sueno quotes Duterte as saying.

The President has even proposed a trip to Jolo, Sulu to his cabinet members, if only to help dispel negative perceptions on the ARMM.

Despite the recent incident in Marawi, Sueno mentioned that the president insists on pushing through with his scheduled visits in Mindanao and that this is a sign of the president's commitment to the region.

The DILG has earlier hosted a national event tagged as Sulong Pilipinas: LGU Consultations on Peace and Order, and Social Development. However, Sueno intends to conduct LGU consultations at the regional level and to use the ARMM LGU Summit as a model.

"We have seen Gov. Hataman's sincerity in his desire to conduct this consultation, and how strongly he wants to battle negative perceptions against the ARMM," Sueno said.

"We will also do this for other regions," he added.

Maguindanao rehab center construction in full swing

By John Unson (philstar.com)

MAGUINDANAO — The construction of central Mindanao’s first ever P50 million drug reformatory center is in full swing and pledges of support to professionalize its operation keep pouring in.

The center, now rising in Buluan town, the capital of Maguindanao, is a landmark project of the provincial government in support of the anti-narcotics campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Engineer Wahab Tunga, provincial administrator, on Sunday said construction workers are now busy laying the foundations of the permanent shelters and other structures in the reformatory complex.

The project is being bankrolled with a P50 million allocation from a P1.7 billion peace and development loan the Land Bank of the Philippines started releasing to the provincial government in tranches early this year.

Among the first to commit humanitarian interventions for inmates is the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

ARMM Vice Gov. Haroun Al-Rashid Lucman, the region’s concurrent social welfare secretary, on Sunday said the center, also to function as the new provincial jail of Maguindanao, will boost the government’s effort of providing drug offenders a chance to change for good and become productive citizens.

“It’s a good project because it will help usher drug users back into their communities as reformed individuals,” Lucman said.

The facility shall have Muslim and Christian worship sites, function rooms for psycho-social and rehabilitation activities, an open ground for sports engagements and enough spaces for the propagation of crops to augment the supply of food for detainees.

The project was jointly launched in late November by Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman and Maguindanao 1st District Rep. Sandra Sema.

Also present in the event were members of the Maguindanao league of mayors led by their president, Freddie, a younger brother of Mangudadatu and incumbent mayor of Mangudadatu town in the second district of the province.

Hataman and Sema, also both promised then to help in programs needed to hasten the return to the mainstream of detained drug offenders.

The facility is now being built on a tract of farmland, donated by the Mangudadatu family, in southeast Buluan.

Maguindanao is a component province of ARMM, which also covers the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Chief Supt. Agripino Javier, director of the ARMM regional police, earlier said there are Islamic scholars in their ranks who can help provide religious formation lectures to detainees in the now rising drug reformatory center.

Now in his third and last term as governor, Mangudadatu, chairman of the provincial peace and order council, said he is grateful to the officials who assured to help his office run the center efficiently.

Cotabato City bans use of firecrackers

By John Unson (philstar.com)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — The iron-fisted mayor signed an edict that outlawed the use of firecrackers for New Year and Eid'l Fit'r revelries.

Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, chairperson of the city peace and order council, also regulated the use of pyrotechnics in special events as part of her administration's community-protection efforts.

Local peace advocacy groups and religious blocs were elated with the mayor's move, the first ever in the city's more than 50-year political history.

Halima Satol Ibrahim, city information officer, told The STAR Friday the local police had been ordered to enforce the ban strictly based on Executive Order 185 which the mayor signed recently. Close Ad X

She said the measure applies to all city residents, the Christians, the Muslims and non-Muslim indigenous people.

Guiani-Sayadi, a practicing lawyer, also asked the police and the Army's 5th Special Forces Battalion helping secure the 37 barangays here to arrest revelers who would use guns to greet the New Year.

Local residents have for generations been fond of firing pistols and assault rifles overhead as they celebrate the New Year's Day and the Eid'l Fit'r that marks the culmination of the Ramadhan season.

There have been recorded deaths from stray bullets and cases of serious firecracker injuries in past decades.

Guiani-Sayadi was elected vice mayor during the May 9, 2016 local polls and assumed as city mayor after the demise in September of her brother, Japal, more known here as "Jojo," then serving his third and last term.

Muslim clerics said the ban on sale and use of firecrackers in the city was rational and attuned to Islamic teachings on simplicity in celebrating special events and religious holidays.

Ustadz Esmael Ebrahim said nowhere in the Qur'an and in the teachings of Mohammad, touted as "progenitor of Islam," can one find a phrase urging Muslims to commemorate holidays and special events extravagantly.

"There is nothing about the need for Muslims to be 'noisy' in merry-makings either," Ebrahim said.

Leaders of the Catholic congregations here also positively welcomed the ban on firecrackers.

In an advisory, the mayor's office said local residents have to secure permission first from the city government for the use of regulated pyrotechnics at nighttime.

The permitted use of pyrotechnics shall be supervised by local personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection.

DILG cites ARMM as most improved region in peace and order, financial administration

(Mindanao Examiner EIC, Bureau of Public Information)

COTABATO CITY – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has been cited as the most improved region in terms of peace and order as well as financial administration.

On Tuesday, December 6, the national government’s Bureau of Local Government Supervision (BLGS), headed by Director Manny Gotis, bestowed awards to regional offices and Seal of Good and Local Governance, or SGLG, to focal persons in a ceremony held in Makati City. BLGS operates under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

In the awarding ceremony, the ARMM was cited as the most improved region in the areas of peace and order and financial administration. From being a zero passer in SGLG in 2015, the region also scored six SGLG awardees this year, indicating significant improvement in local governance.

Undersecretary for Local Government Austere Panadero personally conferred the awards to the recipients. Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Ismael Sueno delivered his message in the ceremony dubbed ‘Maaasahang Katuwang sa Pamamalakad.’

Noor Hafizullah Abdullah, DILG-ARMM secretary, noted the citations are in “recognition of the (region’s and local government unit awardees’) good performance.” Last year, not one local government unit (LGU) in the region passed the SGLG requirements. “This year, however, the region has six,” Sec. Abdullah said.

The 2016 SGLG awardees in the ARMM are the province of Maguindanao, the city of Lamitan in Basilan, and the towns of North Upi and Parang in Maguindanao, Wao in Lanao del Sur, and Jolo in Sulu.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said good governance practices should be emulated by other LGUs in the region. He urged the region’s LGUs to focus on improving their performances and overall operations in order to the deliver services to their constituents.

The DILG describes the SGLG, also known as ‘Pagkilala sa Katapatan at Kahusayan ng Pamahalaang Lokal,’ as the conferment of a seal to LGUs that adhere to performance criteria, namely, improvements on performance, accountability, transparency, and participation.

These requirements encompass three core assessment areas: Good Financial Housekeeping, Social Protection and Disaster Preparedness, and at least one from the essential assessment areas, namely, Business-Friendliness and Competitiveness, Peace and Order, or Environmental Management. The most prestigious awards to LGUs echo DILG’s mantra ‘Matino, Mahusay at Maaasahan’. Sec. Abdullah expressed the region’s hope to have more awardees in the region as they continue their commitment as partners for change.

DILG-ARMM Assistant Secretary Sharifa Pearlsia Dans said the region looks forward to double, or even triple, the number of awardees next year. “We cannot thank enough the local chief executives and our provincial, city directors and (other local officials) for their unwavering commitment and participation in the success of this program,” she said.

“Let us continue to spread the seeds of good local governance so that the ARMM constituency would benefit from these efforts,” she added.

ARMM magnifies ICT for good governance

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY (PNA) -- The information technology chief in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) said information and communications technology (ICT) has greatly improved over the years in the region, thereby improving governance.

Abdelnur Campong, chief of the ARMM governor’s ICT office, said there were no efforts in establishing ICT in the regional government before 2011.

"Better and brighter compared to previous years," Campong said, adding that there were no efforts in establishing ICT in the regional government before 2011.

Today, all regional line agencies have their own websites and instituted database systems even as the ARMM government created an ICT office through an executive order.

When ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman assumed office in 2011, among the the first reforms he introduced was bringing the regional bureaucracy into the internet world.

Campong said the regional government continues its efforts to further develop and improve ICT in the region.

To further develop ICT in ARMM, the 1st ICT Summit starts today to make the stakeholders knowledgeable of the latest trends and technology that could be used in the efficient delivery of government services.

“Our focus here is to improve the services in the ARMM, particularly in the regional government,” Campong said.

The summit gathered all industry stakeholders, especially those from the government and the academe, as well as professionals and students to discuss current trends and challenges facing the ICT sector in the region and in the country.

“We established systems at the office of the ARMM governor such as human resource information system, Electronic New Government Accounting System, Database, Radio-Frequency IDentification, and many other systems,” Campong said.

“Definitely, mas brighter at maganda ang estado ng ICT ngayon ng ARMM kaysa dati (Definitely, we now have brighter and better state of ICT in the region unlike before),” Campong added.

Five speakers are to discuss topics relevant to governance in the regional government. Campong said the development and effective integration of technology to government services pave the way to better governance in the region.

The ICT chief said the summit focuses more on data management. "It will also deal on topics how to establish our baseline data to be used in the present and future administrations for decision-making, and program proposal drafting,” Campong said.

Among the partners of the ARMM government in the ICT event were the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Philippine Computer Society Foundation, Trend Micro, Indra Philippines, and Microsoft Philippines.

ARMM readies investment plan to boost economy

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL (TMT)

The Regional Board of Investments (RBOI) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is drafting the latest Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) or the 2017-2019 ARMM List.

The ARMM IPP enumerates the economic activities to which the ARMM government should give incentives to meet regional development goals.

Lawyer Ishak Mastura, RBOI chairman said that before finalizing the ARMM List, a series of IPP consultations were conducted throughout the region.

“IPP consultations were organized as early as middle of last year when we started the review in Lamitan, Basilan Province. Multi-sectoral groups that were consulted other than those from Basilan were from Cotabato City, Parang and Upi in Maguindanao, Tawi-Tawi; the next will be in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur,” Mastura said.

He added they are set to submit this month the final ARMM List, which will be consolidated with the National IPP from BOI-Manila before the year ends for the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The ARMM IPP, Mastura stressed, will be the basis for granting incentives to qualified companies that will put investments in the region.

Recently, the RBOI had its IPP Consultation in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, one of the most beautiful islands in the country. The province, with its rich history and culture, could become a top tourist destination in the country if fully developed.

Hence, the development of the tourism industry is a must in the ARMM List. About 80 percent of people from Tawi-Tawi are into seaweed farming and establishing seaweed processing plants is a good investment priority project that would allow these farmers easy access to a market that could give them good returns.

Shipbuilding was also recommended in the IPP because of the presence of skilled craftsmen who make customized wooden ships.

Officials also said to align with the ARMM government’s effort to revitalize its link with the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asia Growth Area), it is essential to retain cross-border trade in the IPP. The promotion of energy projects under the IPP is also encouraged since Tawi-Tawi experiences daily power shortages.

Other economic activities identified for inclusion in the ARMM List were related to transshipment, virgin coconut oil plantation/processing, aqua-marine industries and the halal industry.

OCD-ARMM trains disaster responders on Basic Incident Command System

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Dec. 6 (PNA) -– To equip disaster first responders, the Office of Civil Defense in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (OCD-ARMM) kicks off today, (Dec. 6) a three-day Basic Incident Command System (ICS) Training for the key players in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM), officials said.

The training is being conducted at El Manor Hotel here and will end on Dec. 8, Thursday.

The ICS enhances disaster response by ensuring the protection of first responders and the victims, the achievement of tactical objectives, and the efficient use of resources.

Applying ICS at all levels will help avoid the same mistakes that responders did in the past incidents, Myrna Angot, OCD-ARMM reginal director, told reporters.

At the end of the training, the participants are expected to be able to: enhance understanding of Incident Command System as a vital tool for effective disaster response; provide an overview of ICS, its background, concepts, principles and features, capabilities, organization, facilities and common terminologies, and demonstrate knowledge on basic ICS functions through exercises & class discussion context.

Angot said the Philippines is exposed to disasters because of its geographical location.

She cited Maguidanao and Lanao del Sur which are prone to recurring disasters like flash floods, landslides aside from man-made calamities.

Armed conflict was present in Maguindanao, Lana del Sur, Basilan and Sulu. As to the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi located near the Sulu Trench, OCD officials are aware of hazards such as earthquake and tsunami.

"We need to identify gaps in order to address the problems that hamper our works. ICS trainings will maximize resources to fast track research and rescue operations. Agencies and individuals must proactively participate in this endeavor. As public servants, commitment, perseverance, dedication and hard work are necessary for us to be effective and efficient in our efforts particularly on DRRM," Angot said.

To stress a point, Angot quoted the words of global philanthropist Petra Nemcova: “We cannot stop natural disasters but we can arm ourselves with knowledge. So many lives wouldn’t have to be lost if there was enough disaster preparedness.”

Ramil Masukat, director of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Coucil (RDRRMC) ARMM-Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team (HEART), emphasized the need to complete the training and involve participants fully in the discussions.

He added ICS is vital in emergency crises and during big events where famous personalities are present.

The lectures in the training will be given by ‘Cadres’ or experts on ICS and DRRM.

Mr. Ranny Magno, National Cadre and Chief, Subic Bay Metropolitan Agency (SBMA), will serve as course monitor for the duration of the training.

Along with him are other cadres who will also deepen the discussions by sharing relevant experiences and contextual examples.

Among them are Lita Enok, Cadre and Former Regional Director of OCD Regions 12 and ARMM and Carmelito Lupo, former director of OCD Regions 9 and 12.

ARMM ecozones planned to legalize barter trading, for halal hub

By Carmelito Q. Francisco (Correspondent)

DAVAO CITY -- Special economic zones (ecozones) are being eyed in the island provinces under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), partly to legalize the continuing barter trading with neighboring countries, said ARMM Gov. Mujiv S. Hataman. “The main purpose in the setting up of these economic zones is for us to be able to legalize barter trading,” Mr. Hataman told a group of journalists Tuesday evening, refering to the exchange of goods, which do not get taxed, through the so-called backdoor areas in the region.

At the senior officials meeting of the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) in Puerto Princesa in Palawan this week, the Philippines identified two potential freeport ecozones within the ARMM, one of them in Tawi-tawi, and the other in either Basilan or Sulu.

Mr. Hataman said the traditional barter trading has been economically advantageous to the three provinces, given their proximity to Sabah in Malaysia and Manado in Indonesia.

“So what must be done now is to set up a legal one by setting up economic zones,” he said, noting that there is an existing policy allowing a private company or a government entity to apply for the conversion of at least 50 hectares of land into an ecozone.

Ishak V. Mastura, ARMM-Board of Investments (BoI) head, said setting up these two ecozones will also provide a focal point for economic development and allow these island provinces to grow faster.

“We hope that our proposal for the establishment of special economic zones in the region, possibly with Malaysian investors, can ease cross-border trade restrictions and provide for more secure cross-border channels,” Mr. Mastura said.

He noted that with the Philippine chairing the BIMP-EAGA next year, it would be an opportune time to give a boost to cross-border trading.

The ARMM-BoI also recently released a statement quoting President Rodrigo R. Duterte as saying that “the establishment of special economic zones and the revival of the BIMP-EAGA trade and investment groupings” are among the pillars of his Mindanao economic development strategy.

POLLOC PORT

Meanwhile, Mr. Hataman said the regional government is also looking into developing the Polloc Port in Maguindanao, which is adjacent to the Polloc Freeport and Ecozone, into a hub for halal products.

“It is always credible if a Muslim place becomes a halal hub... because of the belief that the locators process their products in adherence to the halal rules,” he said.

Halal is an Islamic practice that mandates adherence to lifestyle regulations, not just in food processing.

Food festivals, supermodel search at ARMM’s 27th founding celebration

By Ayunan G. Gunting-Al Hadj (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

A kaleidoscope of colors will be unleashed as Muslim Mindanao celebrates the founding of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with a splash.

Now on its 27th year, the ARMM is pulling all the stops to showcase its Muslim heritage in a series of events that locals and tourists will enjoy. Food festivals, film screenings and a supermodel search are being organized.

The anniversary celebrations, which started in November, continue this month in Cotobato City, the ARMM’s regional center since 1990 when the autonomous government was established.

Its elective chief executive is reformist Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman, whose wife is Anak-Mindanao Partylist Rep. Sitti Djalia Turabin.

Intact culture

It was in the 14th century when the Arab trader Karim Makhdum set foot on the islands of the Sulu archipelago, a good 200 years before Ferdinand Magellan arrived at Mactan Island in Cebu. In time, the people of Mindanao embraced Arab culture.

Not even the Spaniards could convert the region, and through the American colonial rule and the Philippine republic, Muslim culture has remained intact.

The anniversary celebrations include festivals highlighting the lifestyles of various ARMM provinces. Celebrated in Basilan, the Pakaradjaan Festival is a colorful street dancing parade held to present the fun side of the island province.

This event happens at the Office of the Regional Center complex, seat of the ARMM. The complex is an attraction in itself, given its unique architecture, a fusion of modern and traditional Muslim styles.

But the best time to experience the celebrations is on the second week of December when ARMM’s provinces present their respective cultural shows.

The province of Maguindanao kicks off the series on Dec. 12 at Cotabato City’s Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex (SKCC), followed by presentations from Lanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

A fluvial procession at Rio Grande de Mindanao in Cotabato on Dec. 19 culminates the celebration.

Sights

In between these presentations, tourists can explore the sights of Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao. There’s the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Masjid, which is the city’s Muslim center of worship. It reportedly cost $48 million to build. One of the most imposing landmarks in the city, the mosque is as tall as a 15-story building.

Christianity is well-represented in the city, too. The oldest church in Cotabato is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Built in 1872 by the Jesuits, the church features classic Spanish architecture.

ARMM local govts pledge P4.2B for program funds

(BPI/PIA-10)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Dec. 2 --- Local government units (LGUs) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) pledged a total of P4.196 billion to fund programs for their constituents in support of the ARMM Regional Development Framework 2016-2019.

Local officials from across the region drafted the programs, projects, services and activities (PPSA) during the 3rd ARMM Local Government Summit held from November 30 to December 1 at the SM Lanang Premier’s SMX Convention Center in Davao City.

Atty. Noor Hafizullah Abdullah, ARMM’s Interior and Local Government Secretary, said the development framework represents the aspirations of the ARMM constituents reflecting different concerns in every province and town.

The plans will be implemented in 2018 and 2019 and would be bankrolled by development funds from each LGU addressing issues of poverty, socio-economic, security, disaster preparedness, and infrastructure.

The PPSA was aligned with the ARMM Regional Development Framework, which is anchored on six fronts: agri-fishery development under rural development; functional LGUs, improved regional government service delivery, and increased people’s participation under good governance at all levels; anti-terrorism, illegal drugs, and crimes under public order and security; health and nutrition, education, livelihood, water and sanitation, and social welfare and protection under basic services for all; disaster preparedness, response and rehabilitation and environmental protection and management under climate change adaptation, and disaster resiliency; and, infrastructure support for all components.

“The framework is a key instrument for the LGUs to properly and equitably allocate development funds to ensure improvements of welfare of communities,” Sec. Abdullah said.

Most of the development funds, he added, were concentrated on alleviating poverty in region, being the poorest in the country.

In the first quarter of 2015, ARMM’s poverty incidence was tracked at 53.4% with Lanao del Sur and Sulu posting 70.2% and 61.8% poverty incidences, respectively.

In the past years, the bulk of funds of the ARMM annual budget went to infrastructure with roughly P20 billion allocated to that sector in 2015.

“In the last three years, nag-focus po tayo sa infrastructure, and in the next three years, we will focus on anti-poverty programs,” ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia said.

By 2019, the region’s poverty incidence will be reduced to 30% through a convergence of government efforts.

For 2017, a total of P111.209 million development funds of LGUs across the region were allocated to four major sectors, namely general services, economic services, social services and environmental services.

The bulk of the fund went to economic services, or 60.12% of the total amount, equivalent to P67 million. General services received the least amount, or P7 million, comprising 6.36% of the total.

Carrying the theme “Pagkamulat, Pagbabago at Pag-unlad,” the event was aimed at upscaling local government performance and determining the state of local development and governance in the region.}

Mindanao women to strengthen role in peace process

(PNA). LAP/LILIAN C. MELLEJOR/LDP

DAVAO CITY (PNA) -- The Mindanao-based women leaders from the Bangsamoro communities went on a three-day workshop to enhance mediation skills through values based dialogue and public conversations vowing to keep the peace tables open amid hardship and struggles in Mindanao.

Coming from as far as Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani and General Santos City), Davao region and Zamboanga, the women leaders showed their solidarity with the peace process. The workshop runs from November 28 to 30 at the Royal Mandaya Hotel.

Among them were the chairperson of the GRP Implementing Panel of the Bangsamoro Peace Accords Irene “Inday Santiago, chairperson of Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women of ARMM Sittie Jehann Mutin, a member of the peace negotiating panel for talks with National Democratic Front (NDF) Angela Librado, Nida Dans of the Mothers for Peace and the different leaders of women local organizations from the indigenous peoples. They were joined by Alma Evangelista, team leader for Resilience and Peace Building Unit of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Alma Evangelista and Election Commissioner Rowena Guanzon.

Dubbed as the Bangsamoro Peace Circle, the three-day workshop will pave the way for open conversations among women through the peace tables.

Santiago emphasized the important role of women in the political processes saying, “Women are a force of change, and should be taken seriously on peace tables.”

“Women and mothers are integral part of the implementation of the peace agreements in the drafting and the passage of the enabling law of the new Bangsamoro Government,” she added.

Santiago was hopeful that after the workshop, the women could organize peace circles effectively in their own communities.

“Woman Peace Tables are going to denounce and announce. They will denounce what makes women and their families and communities feel insecure and unsafe. But they will not stop there. They will also announce the alternative, the solution they propose to bring about peace and security not only for themselves but for the community and country,” Santiago said.

Santiago said there are already 150 peace tables in 45 countries including the countries experiencing armed conflict in Africa and the Middle East.

Librado, who has been a strong voice on women issues in Davao and the only woman in the GRP panel, said the women’s perspective and inputs in the peace agreements are needed as there are topics that should be raised and defended by women. She said women issues are real and only a woman can speak about it. “Women should talk louder and talk seriously about peace so that peace talks can proceed successfully,” Librado added.

According to her, peace tables are significant and a necessity ensuring a strong participation of the women sector.

Dans, who has been leading the Mothers for Peace in Isabela City, Basilan, was hopeful for a fruitful result of the training and workshop. Dans said mediation skills of women is one of the first choice in conflict resolution.

“Let us all keep this table up, no matter how hard it would be for us sometimes because the more we sweat in peace, the less we bleed in war,” Dans said, emphasizing that the women’s peace tables are spaces for values peace conversation.

Mutin welcomed the establishment of the peace circle and opening of the peace table as platform where they can speak out on various issues.

She said the peace talks must be a concern for everybody and not only by one person. Mutin said the women must be given a voice in the peace process.

Retrieved from "http://zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=Autonomous_Region_Muslim_Mindanao_News_December_2016&oldid=979504"