Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao News January 2018

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Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao Archived News
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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.

P371-M Maguindanao road projects up for completion in 2018

By Noel Punzalan (PNA)

COTABATO CITY – A total of 30.1 km. of paved roads in 10 conflict-affected towns in Maguindanao are set for completion this year, the provincial engineering office reported Thursday.

Latest data show 22.5 km. of 30.1 km. have been paved out of the total span of road projects under the Humanitarian and Development Action Plan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM-HDAP) for 2018 under a budget of PHP371.1 million.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman led the drafting of HDAP following the Jan. 25, 2015 Mamasapano misencounter between elite police forces and Moro Islamic Liberation Front elements that also led to the displacement of some 125,000 residents in the area.

ARMM-HDAP aims to address the immediate needs of the affected families, as well as provide follow-through interventions in the affected communities. It also aims to establish a systematic and a coordinated approach in addressing and mitigating the effects of future disasters and calamities, leading to a more peaceful and resilient autonomous region.

The infrastructure projects implemented by the Maguindanao 2nd district engineering office cover the municipalities of Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Mamasapano, Shariff Aguak, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Piang, Datu Salibo, and Talayan, which suffered from both man-made and natural disasters in previous years. The projects included the concreting of the Nunangen-Tungal and Nunangen-Tungal Phase II roads in Datu Anggal Midtimbang; Philippine Trade-Duguengen-Tukanalipao, Malingao-Malibutan Phase II, and Dado-Muntay Phase II roads in Mamasapano; Timbangan-Labu-Labu, Kayakaya-Tukanalugong, Guinibon-Sugadol, and Talisawa-Mao roads in Datu Abdullah Sangki. Also up for paving are the Dilembong-Duguengen road in Shariff Saydona Mustapha; municipal road in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan; Kitango-Maganoy and Sitio Taguan-Panaang-Balanakan roads in Datu Saudi Ampatuan; Sambolawan-Madia road in Datu Salibo; and South and North Binangga road in Talayan.

James Mlok, chief of the 2nd district engineering office, said the road improvement projects in these towns would help address peace and development issues and boost local economy.

“The projects would help much in making transporting farm produce easier, thereby increasing profits,” Mlok stressed. The HDAP has helped elevate the lives of poor constituents in 15 municipalities of Maguindanao, even as it continues to contribute in creating stable and sustainable communities across the region.

Rice, corn sufficient in ARMM amid calamities

By Noel Punzalan (PNA)

COTABATO CITY -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is enjoying sufficiency in rice and corn harvests despite man-made and natural calamities that severely hit two of its provinces in 2017, the regional agriculture office said.

In rice harvests, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries – ARMM Secretary Alexander Alonto Jr. said the region still managed to produce 577,973 metric tons of rice yields last year compared to 544,486 metric tons in 2016.

It’s a mere six percent increase but the ARMM maintained its sufficiency in rice production,” he stressed.

In corn production, however, the region chalked a whopping 43 percent increase in harvests at 850, 063 last year compared to 590,579 metric tons the previous year.

This came about despite the Marawi City siege incident that affected rice and corn production in the entire Lanao del Sur province and the two tropical storms, Vinta and Wilma, which inundated huge tracts of agricultural lands in Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao both situated in mainland Mindanao.

At least 5, 063 and 1, 135 hectares of rice lands in Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao, respectively, were inundated by the storms last year.

Maguindanao, for its part, is also pestered by intermittent attacks on remote farming communities by IS-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters with planters leaving behind their farms unattended for quite some time as government troops clear their areas of militants.

Other ARMM areas are Lamitan City and the island-provinces of Basilan, Tawi-tawi and Sulu situated in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

This developed as DAF-ARMM is pushing for the production of white corn variety in the region.

Accordingly, the white corn variety, which is much cheaper than yellow corn, is rich in protein, minerals, carbohydrates, and antioxidants that fight cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes, among others.

“It is also good for pregnant women because it contains folate, which is rich in Vitamin B that helps form the baby cell inside the mother’s womb,” Edna Bajao, DAF-ARMM rice and corn specialist, said.

She added that the white corn variety would be fully introduced to farmers in the region this year.

The DAF-ARMM is operating on a PhP460, 545 - million budget for 2018, some PHP6-M lower than last year’s PhP466, 301-M allotment.

10K visitors eyed to witness Magundanao's Inaul Festival

By Digna D. Banzon (PNA)

DAVAO CITY -- The top tourism official of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is targeting 10,000 tourists and investors to witness the second Inaul Festival in Buluan, Maguindanao next month.

Tourism Secretary Ayesha Dilangalen of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in ARMM is moving around to promote the holding of the festival.

Inaul is a Maguindanaon word that literally means "woven”. It is a unique fabric manually and meticulously woven mostly by Maguindanaoan women weavers.

Dilangalen, who met Davao reporters in a press conference here, said Inaul is more than just a piece of textile used traditionally as a "malong" but it is considered as a "Bara-Bangsa", a term synonymous with royalty, dignity, and nobility.

Inaul in Muslim Mindanao is a status symbol and worn always with pride and respect.

Dilangalen said Inaul Festival is a weeklong celebration from February 5 to 14 with the theme "A Fabric of Peace: Weaving Diversity, Connecting Boundaries".

She said the festival is a celebration of peace and unity among Maguindanaoans featuring the woven fabric, which is intricately designed with different thread colors of the Inaul symbolizing uniqueness and resilience of the Maguindanaoans.

She said weaving signifies unity amidst the diversity of the people.

Among the highlight of the celebration is the Kapag Inaul weaving competition, the Inaul Expo, Palamatu Nu Maguindanao, the Alugan sa Maguindanao or cookfest, Sippa sa Manggis, Sagayan Competition, Cultural, Dance Drama Competition, Socio-Ethnic competition, Kulintang Ensembles Competition, Kagkuya na Kalabaw, Maguindanao Singers Competition, Float Design Competiton, A Night with Moro Idols, the Airsoft Tournament, Kambayuka Exhibition and Governor's Night with Inaul Fashion Show.

Dilangalen said the first Negosyo Center in Maguindanao would also be launched and inaugurated on February 8 in Buluan town.

Meanwhile, Dilangalen bared that women weavers of Maguindanao received an initial 10 looming machines.

Another 70 machines are set for release to other municipalities. The weavers are organized into associations in the municipalities in Buluan, Sultan Kudarat, Kabangkalan, Paglat, Datu Piang.

They are now into entrepreneurial activities since their fabrics have found a market not only in the Philippines but abroad.

Dilangalen said the weavers also tied up with Muslim Chinese nationals in China as their partners to supply silk and cotton threads.

She also bared that a Muslim based in New Jersey is now sourcing malong requirements from the weavers of about 30 to 50 malongs monthly which are made into customized gowns, dresses and other products with condition that the fabric can also be used as an accent in other products except on shoes and slippers.

"It is not allowed in our culture to use the fabric for shoes and other footwear because it is a show of disrespect," she explained.

The Inaul is no longer confined to "amallong" and other traditional garments as it is now made into modern outfits, like gowns, long and short sleeved shirts for men, trousers, accessories, and others, Dilangalen added.

"The modern evolution of the Inaul is the fashionable and glamorous ball gowns worn by the Miss Universe candidates during the Mindanao Tapestry Show in Davao City last year," she said.

Currently, there is only one weaving center in Maguindanao but the number of weaver-organizations is now 15. Each organization has 30 members or a total of 450 women weavers. Some weavers are home-based while others use the facilities at the weaving center.

P3.9-B cash grant released to CCT beneficiaries in R-12, Marawi

(PNA)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) released some P3.9 billion in cash grant last year to beneficiaries of the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program in Region 12 and parts of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Juliet Clavel, DSWD-12’s CCT regional project coordinator, said Monday the cash grant benefitted a total of 231,150 “poorest of the poor” households in the area covered by the initiative, which is also known as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps. She said the grant was directly received by the beneficiaries on monthly basis through the issued cash cards.

Part of the funds went to the P600 monthly rice subsidy for each household-beneficiary, she said.

“Our clients were also provided skills training, psychological counselling and livelihoods assistance,” Clavel said.

She assured that the grants were only released to eligible beneficiaries as set in the programs guidelines.

In 2017, DSWD-12 delisted around 2,200 households from the CCT due to eligibility problems.

Most of those delisted were families that no longer have members who are qualified to avail of the assistance program.

The agency also found some names who had double entries in their database and were immediately removed.

CCT is a poverty reduction and social development strategy of the national government that provides conditional cash grants to “poorest of the poor” households to improve their health, nutrition and education.

It provides beneficiaries cash grants of P500 a month for health and nutrition expenses and P300 a month per child for educational expenses, as well as P600 in monthly rice subsidy.

The program is being implemented by DSWD-12 in 1,287 barangays in Region 12’s four provinces and five cities, and in Marawi City in the ARMM.

Region 12 comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato as well as the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Cotabato, Kidapawan and Tacurong. Clavel said based on their assessment, most of the household-beneficiaries were able to comply with the program’s requirements.

She cited the provision for children aged 3 to 18 have to stay in school and maintain class attendance of at least 85 percent each month.

Pregnant women are also required to avail pre- and post-natal care, and delivery must be assisted by skilled health personnel, while parents are mandatory to take “family development sessions” to enable them to become better parents, she added.

Teachers’ recruitment in ARMM undergo strict vetting

By Edwin Fernandez (PNA)

COTABATO CITY -- The newly-designated secretary of the Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-ARMM) said recruitment of teachers follow high standards and only those who are qualified would get the appointment.

DepEd-ARMM Secretary Rasol Mitmug Jr, said Sunday his office filled out all vacant teaching positions of the ARMM provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi and the cities of Marawi and Lamitan in time for the school opening in June.

“Only licensed applicants willing to work in far-flung areas shall be considered for employment,” Mitmug said in a statement.

Mitmug, a lawyer, was appointed by ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman last week after his predecessor’s resignation last December. He was Hataman’s chief of staff prior to his DepEd assignment.

Hataman has been addressing underdevelopment in impoverished areas through extensive educational interventions. Mitmug said teaching applicants must pass rigid examinations required to test their competencies and mental abilities.

“Teachers play a key role in community-building, in nation-building, so we have to make sure that the teachers we are to hire are qualified and committed to helping address illiteracy in remote areas in the autonomous region,” Mitmug said.

Last January 4, Hataman appointed 192 teachers for Sulu and 75 more for Maguindanao in an effort to address the problem of lack of teachers while the number of enrollees continues to rise.

Hataman also ordered an investigation on reports that some teacher-applicants in Sulu have previously received their deployment orders. He asked how can an applicant be deployed to public schools when he or she had no appointment yet.

ARMM starts Maguindanao land titling to settle disputes

By Edwin Fernandez (PNA)

COTABATO CITY -- To address land conflicts that often result in clan wars in Maguindanao, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DENR-ARMM) has begun surveying lands in preparation for the free distribution of land titles in conflict-affected towns of the province.

Forester Kahal Kedtag, DENR-ARMM Secretary, said the PHP42-million “free land titling and survey” project of the department was formally launched Thursday in Rajah Buayan, one of the 15 municipalities out of Maguindanao’s 36 towns that will benefit from the project.

“Land dispute hinders development,” Rajah Buayan Mayor Zamzamin Ampatuan said. “This project will provide bigger opportunities for our people.”

Ampatuan said the people were hoping for a fully secured land ownership, especially for his town, which relies on farming.

Kedtag said the massive distribution of land titles would also help combat poverty and stimulate progress and development in the province.

He said the project was under the region’s Humanitarian Development and Assistance Program (HDAP) aimed at demarcating properties of landowners in the region.

HDAP, a project of the regional government under the Hataman administration, is tasked to implement various government initiatives, specifically relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction, both horizontal (roads and bridges) and vertical (school buildings, houses, and health centers).

The project also covers livelihood programs that will promote peace and help the situation in calamity-affected communities, especially in 15 Maguindanao towns.

Kedtag said the distribution of free land titles was one of the priorities of Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman to help reduce conflicts in Maguindanao, many of which were fueled by land disputes.

The initiative has the full backing of local government executives and their respective constituents.

In 2016, the region granted a total of 1,800 hectares of land to residents of the conflict-torn “SPMS box”, which stands for Shariff Aguak, Pagatin, Mamasapano, and Salibo.

The SPMS box remains under the close watch of the military due to the presence of Islamic State-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. It is now being developed into productive areas.

Meanwhile, DENR-ARMM reported that it is also gearing up to distribute 4,500 hectares of land to pilot barangays in the 15 target municipalities.

“We want to give what is due to the people in the region,” Kedtag said.

ARMM gov't working to fill teaching vacancies

By John Unson (philstar.com)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will fill out all vacant teaching positions in its five provinces this year in support of the literacy agenda of the southern peace process.

Rasol Mitmug Jr., regional secretary of the Department of Education-ARMM, said Saturday only licensed applicants willing to work in far-flung areas shall be considered for employment.

Mitmug, a lawyer, was appointed by ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman only last week, replacing John Magno, who resigned in December after a three-year stint as regional education secretary.

Mitmug was the chief of staff in ARMM’s Office of the Regional Governor before he got to the helm of the regional education department.

The ARMM government, covering Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, both in mainland Mindanao, and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, has been addressing underdevelopment in impoverished areas through extensive educational interventions.

Mitmug said as a requisite, applicants for teaching positions in the region’s five provinces must pass rigid examinations required to gauge their competencies and mental abilities. Nation ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

“Teachers play a key role in community-building, in nation-building, so we have to make sure that the teachers we are to hire are qualified and committed to helping address illiteracy in remote areas in the autonomous region,” Mitmug said.

Hataman appointed 192 teachers for Sulu on January 4. He hired 75 more for Maguindanao about a week later.

Hataman said all of the newly-appointed teachers were tested and screened according to DepEd ARMM’s competency assessment rules.

“They were taken in based on how they fared in examinations and actual teaching demonstration drills. There was no `palakasan’ in their placement to permanent DepEd teaching items,” Hataman said on Saturday.

Hataman said they are also addressing claims by applicants in Sulu that they received last year from certain education officials “deployment orders” as prelude to their appointment to permanent positions.

The governor said they are now investigating on the issue.

“How can an applicant be given a deployment order without being appointed first? Apparently, there was a misunderstanding on that. We will address that fair and square,” Hataman said.

Hataman has removed, via a cleansing process initiated from 2012 to late 2013, thousands of “ghost teachers” from the payrolls of DepEd-ARMM that proliferated during the time of his predecessors.

The governor said the regional government’s introduction of reforms in its education department is meant to complement the normalization and literacy objectives of the Mindanao peace process.

The ongoing peace overture between the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is partly focused on the empowerment of Moro communities through socio-economic and education support.

“That is something we in the ARMM have been doing since 2012,” Hataman said.

Besides Mitmug, Hataman also appointed last week his executive secretary, lawyer Laisa Alamia, as regional social welfare secretary.

Alamia, also a registered nurse since 1993, took over from Hataman’s deputy, Regional Vice Governor Haroun Al-Rashid Lucman.

Lucman was concurrent regional secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-ARMM since 2016.

Lucman, a Maranaw, resigned as social welfare secretary for him to freely support the government’s rehabilitation efforts in conflict-stricken Marawi City, capital of Lanao del Sur.

DOH-ARMM bares national nutrition plan for 2017-2022 to stakeholders

(Bureau of Public Information-ARMM/PIA-10)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur – The Department of Health of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DOH-ARMM), in partnership with the National Nutrition Council (NNC), conducted a regional dissemination of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2017-2022 on January 11 in Cotabato City.

During the program, ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman led the symbolic turnover of PPAN 2017-2022 documents to various stakeholders.

The five-year Philippine nutrition plan is an integral part of the Philippine Development Plan covering 2017 to 2022.

It is consistent with the Duterte administration’s 10-point Economic Agenda, Philippine Health Agenda, the development pillars of ‘malasakit’, ‘pagbabago’, and ‘kaunlaran’, and the Ambisyon2040 program.

It aims at improving the situation of nutrition in the country as contribution to the achievements of AmBisyon 2040 that seeks to improve the quality of the country’s human resource base, reducing inequality in human development outcomes, and reducing child and maternal mortality.

The nutrition plan consists 12 programs: eight are nutrition specific, one is nutrition sensitive, and the remaining three enabling support programs.

“We would like to improve our health services,” ARMM Health Secretary Dr. Kadil Sinolinding, Jr. said as he presented the region’s state of nutrition. “Our health services will only improve with your participation. Pag hindi po kayo nakialam at hindi nakipagtulungan, kaunti lang po ang ating magagawa,” he added.

The program was attended by members of the National Nutrition Council and Regional Nutrition Council as well as representatives of provincial health offices and local government units of the ARMM’s five provinces, namely Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Representatives from non-governmental organizations such as the World Food Programme and the United Nations Children’s Fund were also present during the program.

ARMM pushes Halal chevon to address demand

(PR)

COTABATO CITY -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is bent to further improve production of Halal chevon or goat meat. This is to address the growing demand of the trade market, describing it as a “sunshine industry” due to its huge potential.

On Monday, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-ARMM, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF-ARMM), conducted a workshop for entrepreneurs involved in Halal chevon industry.

Lawyer Anwar Malang, DTI-ARMM secretary, said the workshop was directed in line with the government’s efforts to make the ARMM as the country’s “Halal Hub”.

“The workshop was also aimed at exploring the wide array of market potential for Halal chevon production and to identify the gaps in its supply chain from production to marketing aspects,” Malang said.

Lawyer Ranibai Dilangalen, DAF-ARMM Undersecretary, said Halal was not only limited to the absence of pork ingredients in food as people should also be enlightened about Halal production for them to fully understand its basic principles.

The activity was conducted through the Philippine Rural Development Program I – Plan. It was attended by participants involved in the processing, production and marketing of goat meat within the region and government and nongovernmental institutions mandated to boost the development of the Halal industry in the region.

Meanwhile, as part of the region’s efforts in the development and promotion of the Halal industry, the Office of the Regional Governor released a memorandum directing all its offices and agencies to create programs, projects, missions and visions anchored on the ARMM Vision.

The ARMM Vision states that: “By 2040, the people in the Bangsamoro are self-governing with predominantly middle-class society living in safe communities, having a dynamic economy including a Halal ecosystem, enjoying inclusive peace and diverse cultures, who shall enhance sustainable development ensuring that responsibilities and benefits are shared by all.”

Support to fisherfolks, farmers ensure food security in Basilan

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

ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Jan 17 (PIA) -- Food security remains to be one of the top concerns of the provincial government of Basilan.

As an island province surrounded by bodies of water, the island is blessed with natural resources both on land and seas. However, recent developments reveal that climate change, population explosion, and the ongoing industrialization and technological development have depleted much of the earth’s natural resources. And this has also affected the island.

Production and domestication of food is threatened by strong winds, typhoons, flooding, and landslides because of extreme weather events brought about by climate change, which is also attributed to increased human activity.

According to recent reports, aside from facing an uphill battle in terms of agricultural and fisheries production, the Philippines is also suffering from natural-resources depletion and is struggling to contain the rapid rate of biodiversity loss.

Forest degradation caused by destructive human activities, including irresponsible agriculture, mining, logging, timber poaching and wildlife trafficking remained a big challenge for the local government.

Somehow, the presence of militant and rebels in the hinterlands may have slowed down the loss of forest and other natural resources. Unfortunately, these bandits have also engaged in illegal logging as an extra source of livelihood.

What future this situation holds to the economy of Basilan remains uncertain.

However, hope looms when Basilan Governor Jim Hataman committed to take concrete steps to address the impending food crisis. Hataman saw the need to engage all stakeholders of the fishery and aquatic resources and provide all the necessary support that these sectors need and enjoined all local chief executives and government agencies to help.

The Provincial Government of Basilan through the Department of Agriculture and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)–ARMM provided continues livelihood support to fisherfolks and farmers in the province.

Governor Jim Hataman Salliman with BFAR-ARMM has recently turned-over some 101 fiberglass motorized banca at the village of Balas, Lamitan City. An initial capital of P5,000 was also given to the beneficiaries.

The first batch of 100 motorized banca was released during the First Basilan Fisheries and Aquaculture Summit in September last year. It can be recalled that during the said summit BFAR National Director Eduardo Gongona promised to support the fisheries sector in the province through the provincial government.

Meanwhile, Lamitan City Mayor Rose Furigay together with Miss Olivia Ablao, head of City Agriculture’s Office, distributed fishing paraphernalia to 43 beneficiaries and sets of garden tools and sprayers to 23 farmers, as part of the 20% Agriculture Banner Program of the City Government of Lamitan.

These were only some of the many engagements of the provincial government and local government units. Aside from providing livelihood support to agriculture and fisheries sectors, the province also pushes for the strict implementation of environmental laws to curb illegal fishing and logging. The provincial government also strongly encouraged municipalities and cities to maintain cleanliness and order in their respective communities with the “paglisin sin kauman project”.

The ‘paglisin sin kauman’ or the community clean-up drive is the government’s way of reminding the public that each and everyone has a role in taking care of the entire ecosystem of Basilan.

Providing livelihood support is one of the government interventions to address poverty experienced by the farmers and fisheries sectors today in the province. The government is also pursuing to educate the public in environment conservation and protection. All these are expected to contribute to the improvement of fisheries and aquatic resources in the hope that sufficient supply and harvest will ensure food security and sustainability in Basilan.

Armm hires 75 new teachers for Maguindanao

By Bong Garcia (SunStar Philippines)

AUTONOMOUS Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) Governor Mujiv Hataman has reminded the teachers to exert best efforts in imparting knowledge to the youth citing “teaching is more of service and commitment that livelihood.”

Hataman issued the statement signed on Monday, January 15, the appointment of 75 newly-hired teachers for the province of Maguindanao.

“You chose this path because it is your passion -- because you are committed and determined that you want our youth to learn. The regional government will not neglect your efforts and will provide what you deserve,” Hataman said.

Hataman said those appointed are qualified and do not have those so-called backers debunking the misconception that appointments in Armm are tainted with corruption.

He said they adopted a mechanism to ensure that appointees are well-distributed to schools that are in need. Along with the appointment order is a deployment order.

Lawyer Rasol Mitmug, Jr., Department of Education in Armm (DepEd-Armm) secretary, has reminded the teachers that the region’s “youth is expecting to receive quality education.”

It was his first appearance as the newly-appointed secretary of DepEd-Armm.

Hataman said Monday’s appointments comprise just the first batch of new teachers in Armm since more appointees are expected to be made this year.

“The process will be easier now. Our main goal is to finish all appointments, including senior high school, by first quarter of this year,” he added.

ARMM sets grand festivals to attract tourists

By Darwin Wally Wee (PNA)

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Department of Tourism in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DOT-ARMM) is staging several festivals to lure more tourists to visit the region, including the newly-renovated majestic Bud Bongao in Tawi-Tawi

DOT-ARMM Secretary Ayesha Vanessa Hajar Dilangalen on Thursday said these festivals scheduled in the coming months “will have active participation from domestic and foreign visitors.”

Dilangalen said these festivals would start in Maguindanao as the province would celebrate its Inaul Festival in February, which would include an international airsoft competition where foreign groups were invited; Kariyala Festival in Wao, Lanao del Sur also in February; and, the Bud Bongao Day in Tawi-Tawi in March.

Bud Bongao or Bongao Peak got further sprucing-up with the completion of the construction of PhP56 million infrastructures to make access to it easier and friendlier.

The infrastructures included an access road, tourist center, concreting of about 750 steps leading to its zenith, installation of railings for support and protection, and resting sheds.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman led the inauguration of the PhP56 million project, which was held on July 3, 2017.

The tourists will have to register at the visitors’ center, where they will get a briefing about the famous eco-tourism park before trekking the Bongao Peak. An entrance fee of P20 is collected for the maintenance budget of the facilities.

Development of the eco-tourism park, aimed at the preservation and conservation of the area, is one of the priority projects of the Hataman administration.

Bongao Peak is one of the 12 key biodiversity sites in the country, protected by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) under its New Conservation Areas in the Philippines Project.

Bud Bongao in Tawi-Tawi and Mount Minandar in Maguindanao are two of the newly-introduced tourist destinations in ARMM.

Meanwhile, Dilangalen noted that the opening of Buluan Boulevard in Maguindanao, which will feature an exquisite display of man-made lights in addition to a river cruise, as well as activities under the One Mindanao tourism campaign, are also expected to lure visitors from other regions.

Based on the latest available data, Lanao del Sur was the top tourist destination in 2016 with close to 70,000 visitor arrivals. This number produced roughly P1.2 billion in tourism receipts.

The 2017 data for Lanao del Sur, however, is expected to slide down due to the Marawi City crisis that started in May.

For at least five months, the province’s visitors were limited to government troops, members of the media, and representatives from civil society groups.

Visitors to the province spent their cash in nearby Lanao del Norte, not in Lanao del Sur where economic activities were almost stagnant.

“Marawi siege’ effect in terms of tourist arrivals is evident,” Dilangalen said.

But she said the rise in tourist arrivals in the four other provinces in ARMM especially in Maguindanao could compensate Lanao del Sur’s decline in tourism receipts.

She said that the town of Maluso in Basilan was also quickly catching up in terms of tourist arrivals.

The region’s fabrics were showcased last year even as the concept of Sarimanok was used at the Miss Universe concept in the first quarter of 2017.

During last year’s State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte, different indigenous textiles were used by the attendees as part of their attire.

“We have high hopes since the tourism component is added to the core areas of Department of the Interior and Local Government’s Seal of Good Local Governance, and many local government units are now giving priority to tourism,” Dilangalen said.

Dilangalen was positive of the year 2018 since her office was able to strengthen its linkages with the national government and with other partners.

An event showcasing tourist attractions in the region is set to be held in April in the walled city of Intramuros in Manila where ARMM products will be exhibited also.

At the same time, scheduled this year is the Tourism Crisis Symposium, which will help ARMM communities learn about proper response in times of need and to capacitate them as well.

Among DOT-ARMM’s plans is to reinforce efforts in community-based tourism.

“We have to strengthen the preparation of our communities in order to have sustainable tourism. Through this, we get to work with the communities in giving our tourists an exquisite experience,” she said.

Maguindanao farmers to benefit from solar dryer projects

By Edwin Fernandez (PNA)

DATU PIANG, Maguindanao -- Some 3,000 farmers here stand to benefit from two multi-purpose solar drying pavements worth Php400, 000 each, which the autonomous regional government provided to farmers’ cooperatives.

On Wednesday, the Humanitarian and Development Assistance Program - Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (HDAP-ARMM) turned over two units of post-harvest facilities for Barangays Poblacion and Dato, both in Datu Piang.

Sonora Dagadas, Datu Piang municipal agriculture officer, said the new drying facilities would directly benefit as many as 3,000 farmers not only from this town but from other areas in the province as well.

“All farmers can use this facility, cost effective and helpful to small farmers. Also, it would mean more profits,” Dagadas said.

The beneficiaries are members of cooperatives who own lands where the solar drying pavements are constructed.

“We used to go to other areas to dry our palay and corn crops and that would mean more expenses. Now that dryer is here, we can save and increase our profit,” Saida Ungkakay, 60, chair of the Farmers Association Cooperative in Barangay Poblacion, said.

Started in 2016, the two projects were completed late last year and officially turned over to the beneficiaries.

In a statement, HDAP-ARMM said 18 other solar drying units were also built in the towns of Talayan, Guindulungan, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, and Mamasapano.

The new drying facilities were scheduled for turnover to farmer-beneficiaries this week, HDAP-ARMM said.

HDAP-ARMM was created to address the needs and provide immediate interventions to families in areas affected by violent encounters between the military and rebels in previous years.

DPWH starts P6.9-B infra-projects in ARMM

By Noel Punzalan (PNA)

COTABATO CITY – Additional road projects, amounting to PhP6.889-billion, will be constructed across the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) for 2018.

The new road projects comprise 68 percent of the ARMM’s total infrastructure budget at PhP10.103-B for the current year, data provided by region’s Department of Public Wokrs and Highways (DPWH) indicated.

The DPWH-ARMM’s 2018 infrastructure budget would wcover a total of 472 projects, including 40 seaports, 86 water supply systems, 39 bridges, 17 flood control structures, 20 drainage systems, and 32 other constructions.

“A total of 238 road projects with an overall length of 361.65 kilometers would be funded this year,” Don Mustapha Loong, DPWH-ARMM secretary, said.

DPWH-ARMM earlier projected it would pave a total of 1,922.982 kilometers of roads across the region from 2012 to 2017.

As of December last year, it has completed 1,334 kilometers, while a total of 420.356 kilometers of road concreting projects are still going on.

“With more infrastructure projects, people in the region will have better access to tourism sites, will help boost the region’s economy and uplift people’s lives as transport of goods and products will be cheaper,” Loong said.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman said infrastructure development is one of the regional government’s top priorities as it equates greater impact in improving the lives of the people in the region.

Earlier this month, the governor led the turnover of a Level II water supply system, or communal faucet units, which was turned over to the local government unit of Panglima Estino in Sulu.

The water system now supplies the town with safe and potable water. In the past, Panglima Estino sourced its supply of drinking water from deep wells and water pumps, which put the lives of residents at risk from water-borne diseases.

The DPWH-ARMM is currently embarking on the E-ARMM system aimed at establishing a database containing information on road projects including connectivity conditions and other public infrastructure projects within the region.

The system creates a network involving the regional office and eight district engineering offices that will serve as data repository line-agencies.

“With the E-ARMM system, identification of right projects will be made easy as the public also can easily check paved and unpaved roads in the region,” Loong said.

The DPWH-ARMM now boasts of having evolved from an office previously identified with corruption to a model agency for transparency and efficiency in the region.

70 ARMM students qualify for DOST scholarship

(SJDuerme&LTBolongon-PIA Cotabato with report from BPI-ARMM)

COTABATO CITY (PIA) – Seventy 3rd year college students in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) passed the Junior Level Science Scholarship (JLSS) Program of the Department of Science Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI).

ARMM Science and Technology Secretary Myra Mangkabung said the number was so far the highest the region has recorded, almost threefold as compared to the 24 scholarship qualifiers in 2016.

JLSS is a scholarship program of the DOST-SEI under the Republic Act (RA) No. 7687 (Science and Technology Scholarship Act of 1994), RA No. 10612 (Fast-Tracked S&T Scholarship Act of 2013), and the Merit Scholarship Program.

Scholars of the program may avail of the two to three-year S&T scholarships.

Those who qualify under RA No. 7687 and RA No. 10612 are entitled to subsidy in tuition fee and other school fees, including monthly living allowance, book allowance and among others, in the last two or three years of their undergraduate studies.

Those who qualify under the Merit Scholarship Program will receive the same benefits except for the pro-rated monthly stipend based on the scholar’s family socio-economic status.

The new JLSS scholars will receive their scholarship incentives effective on the first semester of 2018.

Mangkabung attributed the increase of the number of scholarship qualifiers to the region’s ‘Syensiya-bilidad” program, an initiative aimed at developing the skills of the students who would be taking the examinations.

Syensiya-bilidad program is a two-day comprehensive review composed of two parts, namely: Intellective Speed and Intellective Power Test.

It was designed to help students master the skills and concepts needed to pass the DOST-SEI scholarship examination.

DOST-ARMM also conducted an intensive information drive dubbed as “Push 4 Science” to raise awareness on DOST-SEI’s scholarship programs.

“With the continued efforts of the region, we are confident that we will produce more competent S&T students,” Mangkabung said adding that they have also increased the number of testing centers in the region.

ARMM's poor villages get more gov’t services

By Noel Punzalan and Edwin Fernandez (PNA)

COTABATO CITY -- More than 400 villages in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) had availed of health, education, livelihood, peace and governance and synergy (HELPS) program of the regional government, officials said Wednesday.

“As of January 10, we have served a total of 403 villages, a feat never experienced before by poor communities in ARMM,” Anwar Upahm, ARMM-HELPS program manager said in a statement.

“Everyone in the community should be involved in the whole process of making the projects – they are the ones who identify the projects,” Upahm stressed, thereby preventing “white elephants projects.”

Among the services delivered were barangay health stations, provision of medicines and birthing supplies and equipment for its health component.

Development of the Madaris curriculum, as a tool to combat violent extremism, as well as the construction of community learning centers for education, and study tour for teachers were also pursued, Upahm said.

Upahm reported that regional government had strengthened support to efficient governance, new barangay halls with police action centers were built, disaster preparedness and management training were promoted, rescue equipment and other supplies were distributed, and development of Barangay Development Plans, and youth development support programs were given assistance.

“That is the reason why we do not implement projects that were not consulted. By helping facilitate their Barangay Development Plans, we ensure that concerns are discussed including economic, health, and educational needs,” he said.

Last year, ARMM-HELPS focused in helping 150 poor villages with program resources equally distributed among the region’s five provinces.

Sadly, Upahm said, the Marawi siege had a major impact on areas covered by the program.

For instance, infrastructures built under ARMM-HELPS in Lumbaca Madaya in Marawi City were destroyed during the five-month war.

As part of its contribution in rebuilding Marawi City and its environs, ARMM-HELPS has earmarked over P300 million for barangay beneficiaries in Lanao del Sur, which suffered from the Marawi crisis.

In 2018, ARMM-HELPS aims to reach another batch of 150 barangays in all the provinces namely Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

“We were able to transform the system of ARMM’s project development from being top-down, to bottom-up,” Upahm said.

“Stakeholders play major roles in shaping their communities, they will help monitor, maintain and protect the projects because they were part of its planning and implementation (as) they owned it,” he said.

ARMM sees more investments this year

By Noel Punzalan (PR)

COTABATO CITY -- The Regional Board of Investments - Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RBOI-ARMM) is projecting higher investment figures for the region this year.

Larzon Santos, RBOI chief investment specialist, says the agency is set to approve up to Php1-billion worth of new projects in the first quarter of the year.

Santos said some of the investors signified interest in setting up projects that would assist the government’s rehabilitation program for Marawi City.

The ARMM government is also exerting efforts to convince private investors who can become partners in rebuilding the country’s only Islamic city.

Last year, the region posted PhP3.2-B worth of investments led by TierOne Communications International, Incorporated.

TierOne’s investments included cellular services, broadband connectivity, wireless Internet, and public Wi-Fi in the region.

The company also offered its service facilities to help in Marawi’s reconstruction.

RBOI officials said the agency was committed to assist in the rehabilitation of Marawi and had organized a site visit for investors on January 11.

Santos said leading investors were also looking into the field of agriculture, considering that Lanao del Sur was an agriculture area.

“We intend to focus more on Marawi City. After the infrastructure, we are also considering the economic side of things,” Santos added.

The list of proposed projects subject for RBOI’s approval included: cacao, pineapple and banana plantations, and palm oil refinery.

The requests for such projects were currently under process, Santos said.

ARMM resumes 4Ps payout in Lanao Sur town

By Noel Punzalan (PR)

COTABATO CITY -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DWSD-ARMM) resumed over the weekend the payout of cash grants to the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in at least 20 barangays in Kapai, Lanao del Sur.

On Jan. 6, a total of 3,276 validated beneficiaries claimed their accumulated cash grants during the payout with each beneficiary receiving as much as Php30, 000, which included the additional P600 monthly rice subsidy introduced by the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

In a statement, DSWD-ARMM said that the payout was delayed because of the need to re-validate the beneficiaries as well as other relevant data in the area.

Also, electric power problems in Kapai and intermittent skirmishes, such as family feuds, had contributed to the delay and accumulation of grant amounts.

Efficient release of the remaining 2017 grants and the utilization of cash cards to distribute the money to the beneficiaries are some of the future plans identified by the department.

These plans would help in the fast and continuous flow of the payout.

The activity was conducted in Barangay Pindolonan and spearheaded by ARMM Vice-Governor and concurrent Social Welfare Secretary Haroun Alrashid Lucman Jr. and DSWD Assistant Secretary on Administrative and Finance Pombaen Karon-Kader.

The local government unit, led by Kapai Mayor Hamza Gaoraki, had organized a municipal grievance committee to address issues and concerns raised by beneficiaries during the payout.

Hataman leads opening of ARMM ‘5S Week 2018’

By Noel Punzalan and Edwin Fernandez (PNA)

COTABATO CITY -- Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv Hataman today led the formal opening of the ARMM "5S Week 2018" in front of the regional executive building here with cabinet secretaries and other officials in attendance.

After the launch of the Japan-inspired workplace routine, Hataman and other officials led regional employees in a Clean-Up Day at the ARMM compound here.

The "5S" or good housekeeping system is a workplace organization method adopted from the Japanese concept that is embodied in these five words: “Seiri”, “Seiton”, “Seiso”, “Seiketsu”, and “Shitsuke” which mean sort, set in order, shine, standardize, and sustain, respectively.

Hataman urged all employees to utilize the "5S" method in order for them to be more efficient, organized and productive.

During the program, Hataman, with the assistance of ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia, also led the unveiling of the new 5S character named Walee that will promote safety and security in workplaces.

This year’s 5S week carries the theme: “Safe and Secured Workplace for Quality Governance in ARMM.”

Sulu town gets 2 high-impact projects

By Teofilo Garcia, Jr (PNA)

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has completed the construction of two high-impact projects in Panglima Estino, Sulu, bringing the total to PhP323.77 million worth of infrastructure the ARMM has poured in that town since 2012.

The newly-completed projects included the Sagay-Sayay Level II Water Supply System and a school building at the Panglima Estino National High School.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman on Thursday led the turnover and inauguration of the two projects.

On Saturday, he said here that the water system supplies safe and potable water to Panglima Estino residents, who in the past, relied on deep wells making them vulnerable to water-borne disease.

For instance, residents of Barangay Marsada, an outlying village, sourced out their drinking water from a deep well with brackish water.

Panglima Estino Mayor Benshar Estino said they plan to establish a water district to further improve delivery of potable water to the residents of the town.

Estino said the residents will only pay for the transmission and administrative cost of the water supplied to them once a local water district is established.

Hataman said the newly-completed one-unit six-classroom school building will accommodate the senior high school students of the Panglima Estino National High School.

The turnover and inauguration of the two projects on Thursday coincided with the celebration of the 37th founding anniversary of Panglima Estino town.

Panglima Estino, which comprises of 12 barangays, is a fifth class municipality with 28,817 residents as of the 2015 census on population.

Aside from Estino, Hataman was assisted in the turnover and inauguration of the two projects by Engineer Don Mustapha Loon, Department of Public Works and Highways-ARMM (DPWH-ARMM) secretary; Sulu second district Rep. Abdulmunir Arbison; and, Eng’r. Az-Zamier Arbison of Sulu second district engineering office.

ARMM names new DepEd secretary

By Edwin Fernandez (PNA)

COTABATO CITY -- Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv Hataman has named his executive secretary as the new regional secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) as he announced the hiring of 192 new teachers in Sulu.

Hataman has designated lawyer Rasol Mitmug Jr to head DepEd-ARMM, replacing Dr. John Magno who resigned Thursday.

Hataman signed Mitmug’s appointment on Jan. 5. He also signed the appointment papers and deployment orders of teachers who will be assigned in various public elementary and secondary high schools in Sulu. He was assisted by Dr. Tim Undain-Sanchez, Sulu schools division superintendent in signing the appointment of newly-hired mentors.

The hiring process, Hataman said, had the teachers undergo screening process that included validation of their credentials, a comprehensive examination, a teaching demonstration, and a panel interview that guarantees only good quality teachers will be hired.

“I don’t know you personally but you were appointed based on your competence,” the governor told the new teachers. “Hiring of teachers in ARMM is based on competence not whom you know.”

He then challenged the teachers to prove he was not wrong in appointing them to the job.

“If education does not improve in Sulu, that means I erred in appointing you,” he stressed.

Hatmaan said he created a special body to monitor the performance of newly-hired teachers and warned them he will not think twice in removing them from work if they fail of his expectation.

The ARMM is composed of nine DepEd divisions that include Maguindanao I and II, Marawi City, Lanao del Sur I and II, Lamitan City, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

During the forum here, Hataman also addressed several issues and concerns of hundreds of teacher-applicants.

Marawi rebuilding eyes up to P86-B investments

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL (TMT)

COTABATO CITY: The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the poorest region in the country, is expected to generate up to P86 billion worth of investments as plans for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Marawi proceeds this year, an official of the ARMM Regional Board of Investments (ARMM-RBOI) said.

Ishak Mastura, ARMM-RBOI chairman and managing head, quoted Housing Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, Task Force Bangon Marawi chairman, who said that the government has received six proposed master plans for the rebuilding of Marawi City with investment ranging from P38 to P86 billion.

Mastura said, whoever is chosen would be subjected to a Swiss challenge, where other developers could submit a competing bid to match the proposal. The government would select either a lower bid offering the same quality as the chosen proposal, or a “better offer” than the one the lowest bidder proposed.

“Under the Investment Priorities Plan 2017-2019 promulgated by President Duterte, among the investment projects that may avail of fiscal incentives are infrastructure and logistics including LGU-PPP [local government unit–public-private partnership]. This covers the establishment and operations of physical infrastructure vital to the country’s economic development and prosperity,” Mastura said.

He added that since the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Marawi City is a build-transfer or turnkey investment project, it will involve huge up-front investment costs for the developer.

The availment of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives from RBOI can bolster the viability of the project and attract the best developers.

The long lead time for such reconstruction projects would also need some cushion for risks that the incentives from RBOI can help mitigate.

“We certainly welcome the potential big boost in investments to the region and stand ready to evaluate the eligibility of the investments of the developer and other downstream players in the Marawi reconstruction for incentives from our office,” Mastura said.

ARMM strengthens PLEB

By Edwin Fernandez (PNA)

COTABATO CITY -- Report police abuses or wrong doings to the Peoples Law Enforcement Board (PLEB).

This was the advice of Nomaire Madid, director II of the Department of the Interior and Local Government in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DILG-ARMM) to the region’s constituents.

The DILG has been strengthening the PLEB, a mechanism for check and balance organized at the municipal and city level, Madid said.

Normally, he said, victims of abuses by police only report the matter and file complaint before the local police office but not before the PLEB.

This is the DILG’s support to the anti-drug war of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

“PLEB is giving ordinary citizens the power to complain against law enforcers who abuse their authority,” Madid told PNA in an interview.

To ensure the mechanism’s successful implementation, DILG-ARMM has just conducted Capacity Enhancement Training of People’s Law Enforcement Boards in Maguindanao on board members in 18 towns.

The next batch will follow early next year.

Republic Act 6975 or the DILG Act of 1990 provides for the creation of PLEBs in every city/municipality to conduct hearing and adjudication of citizens' complaints against erring uniformed members of the PNP.

The PLEB all over the country is a powerful agency which has the authority to discipline policemen.

Among PLEB’s powers are to investigate and adjudicate all administrative charges formally filed with, or referred to it, against any PNP member, and to impose corresponding penalties that ranges from the withholding of the privileges, restriction to specified limits, suspension or forfeiture of salary or fine, demotion in rank of not more than one rank or dismissal from the service of the erring police.

The PLEBs are also empowered to administer oaths, summon witnesses, and require the production of documents, records, books, and the like under the subpoena “duces tecum.”

The local town and city councils provide annual budget allocation for the operation of PLEB, according to RA 6975.

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