Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao News September 2014

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Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao Archived News
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Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

Maguindanao MNLF men plants ‘bananas for peace’

(PNA), CTB/TPGJR/UTB

Hundreds of former guerrillas on Thursday reaffirmed commitment to the Mindanao peace process as they launched their 500-hectare self-sustained community Cavendish banana farm project in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in the province.

The project, which involves members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), is Maguindanao’s first ever large-scale communal farming venture funded only with cooperative capital, without any support from foreign investors.

Datumama Guiaman, chair of the Barangay Bago Inged Multi-Purpose Cooperative, told reporters the members of the peasant communities in their largest enclave in Central Mindanao, Camp Ebrahim, will help each other put up the banana farm with seedlings from local donors.

Guiaman said what emboldened them to embark on their self-sustained farming project was their failure to avail of a capital loan from different banks for apparent lack of trust.

“It was so hurting not to be trusted like that. We decided to forge ahead with the help of our leader and his friends in the business community,” Guiaman said, referring to former Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema, chairman of the MNLF’s largest and most politically active faction.

Camp Ebrahim, scene of fierce military-MNLF clashes in the 1970s, is located in the southwest of Barangay Bago Inged, now a government-recognized “peace zone,” where former rebels thrive as farmers.

Thursday’s launching of the banana farm project was led by Sema and spouse, Sandra, who is incumbent Maguindanao first district congressional representative, and Chinese couple Leo and Rhea Lai, who are both engaged in Cavendish banana exportation business.

The event was capped off with the renewal by former rebels belonging to the MNLF-Sema group of their commitment to Malacañang’s peace overture with Moro sectors and to the peaceful resolution of misunderstandings on the implementation of their September 2, 1996 final peace pact with government.

The government-MNLF truce was brokered by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, a bloc of more than 50 Muslim states, including petroleum exporting countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

Entrepreneur Eduardo Dela Fuente, Jr., a trading consultant of the MNLF-led cooperative, said the Sema couple is now trying to establish contacts with banana buyers abroad through friends in OIC-member nations.

The MNLF’s top commander in Camp Ebrahim, Eddie Taup, who saw combat action during the 1970s, said Thursday’s ceremonial kickoff rite for their cooperative banana farming was also a manifestation of faith in their now 19-year truce with government.

“We will not plant bananas if there is no continuing tranquility in our surroundings. We in the MNLF-Sema group are not at war with our brothers in the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) so why worry? We have strong faith in the GPH-MNLF peace agreement too,” Taup said.

The MILF also has dozens of scattered enclaves in Maguindanao, which hosts the group’s main bastion, Camp Darapanan.

Taup, who has hundreds of armed followers, was among the first to condemn the brigand MNLF renegades involved in the siege of several coastal barangays in Zamboanga City in September 2013.

MNLF members in Central Mindanao, including the group of Datu Dima Ambil in North Cotabato, who also has more than a thousand armed followers, just calmly stayed in their camps while their misguided comrades loyal to Nur Misuari were pre-occupied with their deadly forays last year in Zamboanga City.

DOST turns over PH standard time clock to Sulu

(PNA), CTB/TPGJR/UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Sept. 19 (PNA) -– The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has turned over a Philippine Standard Time Clock to the provincial government of Sulu as part of the agency’s campaign to synchronize time in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the rest of the country.

Sulu Vice-Gov. Abdusakur Tan said Friday they have displayed the digital clock at the provincial capitol building.

Tan received the clock on behalf of Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan, II. The DOST turned over the clock last Monday.

Tan said the province of Sulu is the first to receive the Philippine Standard Time (PST) clock.

The other ARMM provinces--Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Tawi-Tawi--will received the same clock later on, he said.

The distribution of the PST is in compliance with the Republic Act 10535 otherwise known as the Philippine Standard Time Act of 2013.

President Benigno Aquino, III signed R.A. 10535 into a law on May 15, 2013.

DOST’s PST campaign, dubbed as Juan Time (Pinoy Ako On Time Ako) is aimed to synchronize all timepieces in the country and promote the new definition of “Filipino Time” which is on time.

DILG-ARMM confirms assumption of Maguindanao town acting mayor

(PNA), CTB/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Sept. 18 (PNA) – The Department of Interior and Local Government in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DILG-ARMM) Thursday confirmed the assumption of Vice Mayor Marop Ampatuan of Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao.

“The DILG-ARMM now recognizes Vice Mayor Ampatuan as the acting mayor of Shariff Aguak,” Lawyer Anwar Malang, DILG-ARMM regional secretary, told DXMS Radyo Bida Cotabato Thursday morning.

Malang said his office was furnished a copy of the Shariff Aguak Sangguniang Bayan resolution declaring Mayor Sahara Upam-Ampatuan incapacitated for not reporting for work for more than three days.

“By operation of law, if the mayor is absent or incapacitated for more than three days, the vice mayor may assume as acting mayor,” he said, quoting the Local Government Code.

Malang explained that this provision of the local government code is anchored on the two principles.

First, if the elected mayor is absent for more than three days, and, second, even if the mayor is in town but cannot function, the vice mayor can assume in an acting capacity.

“Especially, if the town legislative council passed a resolution declaring the mayor is incapacitated,” Malang said.

He said the role of DILG-ARMM is “only to issue recognition.”

“This is all temporary. If Mayor Sahara Upam-Ampatuan officially informs the town council she can now perform her duties, she can re-assume and the vice mayor have to pave the way,” Malang said, adding that as acting mayor, Vice Mayor Ampatuan can only perform administrative works.

“He cannot hire or fire employees,” he said.

The DILG regional secretary also said his office has limited information as to why Mayor Sahara could not function.

“What we have is she is facing various charges, that’s only what we have,” he said.

Vice Mayor Marop assumed as acting Mayor on Tuesday.“We hope Shariff Aguak situation will be settled peacefully and will not resort to violence,” Malang said.

PNP-ARMM disaster team to compete in nationwide drill contest

(PNA), LAM/NYP/EOF

CAMP SK PENDATUN, Maguindanao, Sept. 17 (PNA) – As part of the building efforts to enhance the skills of police personnel in disaster preparedness, a team from the Philippine National Police in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PNP-ARMM) will compete in the Disaster Preparedness and Response Drill competition in Davao City.

To be participated by PNP disaster teams from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, the event will be held in Camp Quintin M. Merecido, Buhangin District, Davao City on September 25.

Chief Supt. Noel Delos Reyes, ARMM police regional director, said an 8-man Search, Rescue and Retrieval Team (SSRT) from the Regional Public Safety Battalion of PRO-ARMM will showcase their skills and capabilities in terms of preparedness and response during disaster and calamities.

The competition aims to apply and enhance the acquired skills of the Search, Rescue and Retrieval Teams (SRR) and interoperability/camaraderie in preparation for possible actual deployment in search and rescue operations.

The competition will be clustered into three areas (Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) and will be conducted in two phases.

PHASE 1 will be Elimination Round (Mindanao) which will be conducted on September 25, 2014 in Davao City and will be supervised by Police Director Danilo S. Constantino, Directorate for Police Community Relations, being the Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Disaster Management.

PHASE 2 will be the Final Competition to be held in Subic, Zambales on October 30, 2014 with representatives from Directorate for Police Community Relation (DPCR), Special Action Force (SAF), Maritime Group (MG), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to composed the panel of judges, while the Deputy Chief for Operation (TDCO) will be the Chairman.

Why ARMM students are smiling

By Evelyn D. Añago

Ask the Maguindanao teachers who have been trained under the Support for the Management of an Improved Learning Environment (SMILE) program if their students are any good and they will say, with conviction, that their students are as good as everyone else.

They say teachers do not have to see a rise in National Achievement Test (NAT) scores to know that their students are learning.

SMILE is a training-of-trainers program funded through the Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao (BEAM), a joint undertaking of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s (ARMM) Department of Education (DepEd) and the Australian Agency for International Development. The University of the Philippines National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (UP NISMED) was commissioned to do the first-line training.

A total of 10,878 teachers have participated; in turn, they will train other teachers in science and mathematics.

“Maguindanao children are not stupid. Their intelligence just needs to be brought to the fore by their teachers,” says Rakma Duga, Grade 1 class adviser at Dalican Pilot Elementary School.

Duga and her colleagues say the teaching approaches they have learned from SMILE are helping them get their students to improve their academic performance. SMILE is a supplement to the DepEd’s K to 12 teacher training.

Thanks to the program, Apple Grace Cadion says she now teaches science using an inquiry-based approach. She is a first grade science teacher-trainer at Nuro Central Elementary School in Upi town, Maguindanao province.

For example, she starts a lesson by showing her students pictures and asking them what they see. She asks open-ended questions to encourage students to think and answer. She then asks them how they came up with their answers. The process allows the children to discover the lesson by themselves, she says.

“You’ll be surprised at how these young children can give such intelligent answers,” says Tarhata Tarapas, who is also a math teacher-trainer and head of Sarmiento South Elementary School in Parang town.

Besides the inquiry-based approach, SMILE has taught the teachers the problem-based approach to math as well as cooperative or group learning, practical work and multiple intelligence approaches.

In the past, teachers dwelt on theory and lacked analysis, says Tarapas. They used “the traditional multiple choice and fill-in-the-blanks approaches that require only memorization.”

Now, her students are thinking critically and communicating better. Both skills are among the 21st-century skills included in the DepEd’s Enhanced K to 12 Basic Education Program to prepare the youth for employment, entrepreneurship or higher education.

Demia Uko, teacher-trainer at Beto Primary School in Datu Odin Sinsuat town, says students in math are now asked to act out problem-solving operations with teaching manipulables for better comprehension. They use plastic cups on strings, for instance, to measure weight and size. They have magnets with which to count sets of ones and tens.

“They can’t seem to put down the devices, even after class,” says Cadion. By using tactile things and with practice, students get to understand math concepts better. “Where I live, the people who are good in math are those who work in the wet market because they get to practice it,” she says.

As teachers, they used to do all the talking, says Tarapas. “We gave all the instructions. Now, we are merely learning facilitators. No more spoon-feeding. We are less stressed and our students are less suffocated.”

The students are more eager to learn. “The Grade 3 teacher in the next classroom was surprised our class was so happy,” Taragas says.

Duga says, “We now have more freedom in our classrooms.” Teachers learn together with their students.

Uko, Cadion and Duga hope that eventually, all teachers in all grade levels would be trained in the SMILE approach.

Grade 8 science teacher-trainer Ferdinand Valdez from Parang National High School is hoping for more teaching materials. BEAM is responding with equipment for science laboratories, secondary school technical-vocational workshops and computer and language labs. It is also establishing school libraries and materials development centers in the region.

The ARMM teachers have high hopes that soon, their schools would no longer be “first from the bottom in NAT results.” And they have even higher hopes—to see their students grow up to be good and competent leaders of the new Bangsamoro.

PIA, DENR install LakasLikasan billboard in Turtle Islands

By Emmanuel D. Taghoy (FPG/EDT/PIA9-Zamboanga Sibugay)

TURTLE ISLANDS, Tawi-Tawi, Sept. 15 (PIA) – During its recent visit here on Sept. 5-10, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-9 in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has installed the LakasLikasan billboard, the first in Western Mindanao.

It bears the logo of “Karagatan,” as Turtle Islands municipality consists of seven small islands, which may be affected by seawater rise wrought by climate change. It also bears the thematic slogan “Nagbabago Na Ang Panahon, Panahon Na Para Magbago.”

LakasLikasan is the brand of PIA’s climate change advocacy campaign in partnership with the DENR.

“There is a big difference in us advocating climate change and the media announcing and reporting it,” DENR-9 Regional Director Arleigh J. Adorable said during the Zamboanga Peninsula regional launch of the Climate Change Advocacy Campaign last July 19 at the Sibugay Grand Plaza Hotel, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.

“This is the reason why,” he said, “the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) tapped the PIA as its partner to help promote the Climate Change Advocacy Campaign.”

Adorable disclosed that the DENR had been conducting various activities to advocate climate change years before its recent launch but he stressed that “with the media, the information sticks more in the mind of the people than the information drive done by our experts who seem to be more scientific in their presentation.”

The campaign is also designed to weaken public’s apathy to climate change and strengthen adaptation and mitigation measures as a response to it.

It also hopes to inspire and motivate active cooperation and participation, and foster partnerships with public and private communities involving the youth, academe, local government units and civic organizations, among others.

On the same occasion, PIA-9 conducted a climate change advocacy forum to more than 100 students of Turtle Islands National High School with some teachers and policemen.

2 freak tornadoes destroy 15 houses in Central Mindanao

By John Unson (philstar.com)

Two freak tornadoes separately hit Maguindanao and Koronadal City villages Friday, damaging at least 15 houses, disaster agencies said.

In Parang, Maguindanao, a strong tornado swept through the coastal village of Magsaysay and destroyed business establishments along the coast, the Office of Civil Defense in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (OCD-ARMM) reported Saturday.

OCD-ARMM said the freak tornado smashed the coastal area of Barangay Magsaysay (Talipapa site), Parang, Maguindanao at 3:30 p.m. while moderate rains coupled with thunderstorm and lightning.

No casualty was reported.

At least eight houses were also damaged after a tornado hit a barangay in Koronadal City, Friday.

The tornado that struck the residential areas of Purok Masagana II in Barangay Zone III destroyed an estimated Php200,000 worth of properties.

Now homeless, Raymund Patricio recalled that holding his three-month-old child, he ran for safety along with his wife when strong wind blew off the roof of their house.

The City Social Welfare and Development Office is now assessing the damage to property to determine the amount of help each family will receive from the city government.

Nena Salafrancia, Social Welfare Assistant of CSWD Koronadal, said initial food assistance have been given to the affected families.

3 more multi-million businesses enter ARMM

By John Unson (philstar.com)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — The Regional Board of Investments (RBOI) accredited three more private companies to operate multi-million businesses in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

In a statement Friday, the RBOI-ARMM said the regional government recently gave imprimatur to the Darussalam Mining Corporation, the Al Mujahidun Agro-Resources and Development Inc. and the Bangsamoro Oil and Fuels Corporation to proceed with their operations in the region.

Lawyer Ishak Mastura, chairman of RBOI-ARMM, said the capitalists behind the three business entities seem to have confidence in the region's business climate, now improving as a result of the continuing Mindanao peace process.

The autonomous region, which covers Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, both in mainland Mindanao, and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, generated P3.3 billion-worth of investments in the past 36 months, according to a RBOI-ARMM report last August.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman said investments upswing can be partly attributed to the reforms his administration introduced into the regional bureaucracy to stamp out corruption and inspire public confidence on the regional government.

"Add to that the absence of major conflicts in the ARMM in the past four years as a dividend of the government and MILF's bilateral peace efforts," Hataman said.

The Darussalam Mining Corporation in the island town of Languyan, Tawi-Tawi posted an initial capital input of P192 million for nickel mining explorations in the province.

The mining activities involve 310 skilled workers, said the RBOI-ARMM.

The Bangsamoro Oil and Fuels Corporation poured in P848 million capital for a petroleum exporting venture in the autonomous region. The firm has trading links with Malaysian petroleum exporting companies.

The Al Mujahidun Agro-Resources and Development, Inc. started establishing on July 30 an "all organic" 1,500-hectare Cavendish banana plantation in Barangay Masalay in Ampatuan municipality in Maguindanao.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, who helped put up the multi-million Cavendish banana project, said foreign benefactors of the newly-established firm promised to construct a medical dispensary and an Islamic school in Ampatuan as part of its corporate social responsibility.

"The company will also establish diversified demonstration farms which local folks can duplicate in their communities," Mangudadatu said.

The banana firm has infused P570 million-worth of initial capital for the project, expected to employ more than 2,000 workers.

"We have conveniently exceeded by many folds our investment target this year which is only P700 million," said Mastura, who studied international petroleum trading laws in the United Kingdom.

Mastura said the RBOI-ARMM is thankful to Hataman for his extensive support to the investment attraction programs of the board and the regional government's trade and industry department.

ARMM tops P3-B investment in 3rd Quarter

By Danilo E. Doguiles (DEDoguiles-PIA 12)

COTABATO CITY, Sept. 12 (PIA) -- Investments in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has reached P3.372 billion in the third quarter of 2014, according to a report from its Regional Board of Investments (RBOI).

ARMM-RBOI also noted that current investments are more than twice the total registered investments they received in the entire 2013.

In its meeting on Sunday, September 7, the joint Board of Governors’ and Management Committee of the RBOI approved for the registration of three firms with a total investment portfolio amounting to P848 million with potential jobs for at least 1,210 individuals.

These firms are Darussalam Mining Corporation, Al Mujahidun Agro-Resources and Development, Inc. and Bangsamoro Oil and Fuels Corporation.

Based in Tumbagaan, Languyan, Tawi-Tawi, Darussalam Mining Corporation is engaged in a P192.87- million mining and quarrying operation of nickel ore for export to China.

Meanwhile, Bangsamoro Oil and Fuels Corporation, which is engaged in importation, distribution and sales of petroleum products has poured in P85.85 million in the region. It is also set to construct an oil deppt at the Polloc Port in Parang, Maguindanao.

Al Mujahidun Agro-Resources and Development, Inc. is a new player in the region’s banana industry.

Recently, it planted 550 hectares of Cavendish banana in Barangay Salman in Ampatuan, Maguindanao as initial step to develop a total of 1,500 hectares of banana plantation in the area.

The company has infused P570 million in the said project. Based on the firms’ projections, annually the project could produce two million boxes of banana intended for export to United Arab Emirates, Middle East, and Europe.

ARMM –RBOI also disclosed that as of 3rd quarter this year, investments in the region has already generated 2,994 jobs, about 72 percent higher compared to jobs generated from investments last year.

“We have achieved our investment target for this year and we hope that we will continue to attract more businessmen to invest given our strong agri-based economy,” said RBOI Chairman and Managing Head, Atty. Ishak V. Mastura.

He added that the submission of the draft Bangsamor Basic Law to the Congress could mean positive signals to the business community that the peace process is on track.

"However, we are aware that any change in government or structural changes usually brings about a period of adjustment as the business community evaluates the impact of new policies,” he said.

“So this may mean that investment growth in 2015 could be affected. If impediments to doing business are reduced and if the security environment continues to improve, this could result to robust business and jobs creation in the region. ”

Meanwhile, ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said that in the midst of the BBL discussions, the regional government will continue to promote open governance and transparency in the region and that will provide a conducive business environment to businessmen by offering fiscal incentives and technical assistance which is being granted by RBOI.

Bangsamoro autonomy eyes new areas outside ARMM

By Nash Maulana (Inquirer Mindanao)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – The proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law will definitely redraw the political map of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and nearby areas because it aims to establish a larger area for Moro governance.

This was made clear this week by Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, chair of the government peace panel in negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), when she talked about the provisions in the draft BBL for the inclusion of areas from outside the ARMM.

Aside from the present-day geographical area of the ARMM, the process of “popular ratification” will also be held in “the municipalities of Baloi, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan and Tangkal in the province of Lanao del Norte and (in) all other barangays in the Municipalities of Kabacan, Carmen, Aleosan, Pigkawayan, Pikit and Midsayap (that voted) for inclusion in the ARMM during the 2001 plebiscite; and the cities of Cotabato and Isabela,” she said during a forum here on Tuesday.

But Ferrer said the draft BBL has been given several distinct features that would make the envisioned Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) distinct from the ARMM.

“Significantly, the proposed BBL provides that the Bangsamoro government shall be parliamentary in form. This would allow for a broader base of political representation and participation in governance. It would compel the formation of competitive and sustainable political parties in the region,” she said.

She said the BJE would “enjoy significant powers over and above the powers granted to the ARMM today, all on the basis of the powers given to autonomous regions in our Constitution, and the creative spaces or flexibilities found therein.”

Unlike the ARMM, which is dependent on the national government, the BJE will have fiscal autonomy through its revenue-generating powers.

With more powers and resources come more responsibilities, according to Ferrer.

“It is an opportunity that must be made available for the common good,

but also one that must not be squandered,” Ferrer added.

Meanwhile, civil society groups in Mindanao said they would engage in educational debates to ensure that the Bangsamoro Basic Law that Congress would pass would promote the interests of the stakeholders.

“We must be grateful and at the same time, vigilant against spoilers. May we ask the Muslim, Christian, and the indigenous people to engage in spirited discussions and debates,” Samira Gutoc of the People Development Initiative for the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro said.

“Amid our diversity, the Filipino people should be in one alliance for the success of the Bangsamoro accord, which will benefit all through the basic law. We look forward to reading the BBL and participate in its success,” said Datu Alexander Mama-o, president of the Filipino Alliance for Integrity and Reform (FAIR Movement-Philippines).

OWWA-ARMM scholarship examinees get free review

By Oliver Ross V. Rivera (ORVRivera-PIA12)

COTABATO CITY, Sept 10 (PIA) – The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration-ARMM is set to conduct free review sessions for its scholarship examinees.

OWWA-ARMM officer-in-charge Habib Malik said, the review is for the Education for Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) and Congressional Migrant Workers Scholarship Program (CMWSP) applicants who will take OWWA’s qualifying examinations set on September 21.

“The review sessions aims to prepare the examinees and to increase the number of OWWA scholars in the autonomous region next school year, said Malik

“Through this review, we hope that more OFW dependents in ARMM will pass this year’s scholarship qualifying examinations,” Malik added.

Malik said some 200 examinees from the province of Maguindanao will have their review session on September 13 at Cotabato City State Polytechnic College audio-visual room.

“We will also conduct review classes for examinees from the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi through our provincial satellite offices and in partnership with DOST,” Malik added.

Malik added that there are designated testing centers all over the region, namely: Notre Dame University in Cotabato City,

Lamitan Central Elementary School in Lamitan, Basilan, Mindanao State University-Main Campus in Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur, Notre Dame of Jolo for Girls in Jolo, Sulu and Mindanao State University-TCTO in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

EDSP is a scholarship program offered to qualified dependents of active OWWA-member OFWs who intend to enroll in a four to five-year baccalaureate course in any CHED accredited college or university of their own choice, while CMWSP is for children of inactive OFWs not more than 21 years old.

DPWH to extend Tunggol bridge in Maguindanao to avert collapse

(PNA), FFC/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY Sept. 8 (PNA) –- The government’s public works office will extend the length of Tunggol bridge in Datu Montawal, Maguindanao to prevent the vital link of Cotabato and Davao City from falling, a ranking Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) official said Monday.

The DPWH-ARMM office is waiting the result assessment and design by the team he deployed to figure out the damages of the bridge.

“At least 170 to 210 meters will be extended, we will be constructing temporary detour bridge to continue the flow of transportation,” Sadain said. “That’s our proposal for now.”

Rep. Jesus Sacdalan of North Cotabato’s 1st congressional district, said repair works will soon start with motorists passing through the bridge one at a time.

“All vehicles should be moving one at a time, to avoid further damages to the bridge’s approaches,” Sacdalan said DXMS Radyo Bida.

Sacdalan said government engineers have quickly responded following reports the Tunggol Bridge was threatened by floods.

“Action has been taken, comprehensive final design to be submitted to DPHW Sec. Rogelio Singson,” Sacdalan said, adding that the national public works secretary tasked DPWH-12 Reynaldo Tamayo and DPWH National Usec. Romeo Momo to assess, draft design and submit report quickly.

Sadain said his office is considering P120 to P150 million budget for the extension and repair of Tunggol Bridge which, lately, had been showing cracks and damages on its approaches due to floods.

Earlier, DPWH-National Assistant Secretary Dimas Soguilon, during his meeting ARMM officials last week has assured DPWH will act urgently on the release for emergency fund.

Both Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Maguindanao Governor Esmael Toto Mangudadatu have vocal concerns over the status of the bridge that connects ARMM to North Cotabato’s second district and Davao region.

Local residents here said they fear more than any one because they were the ones to be directly affected.

A mother, clutching her three-year-old son and identify herself as Sumayra, said it would be added cost daily for her because her children need to pay their way to school.

“Tatawid ang mga anak ko sa ilog, sasakay ng bangka, siyempre may bayad na, papunta at pabalik (In going to and from school, my children need to take banca that entails fare),” she said.

Village watchman Mautin Kudang, also of Barangay Tunggol and a pump boat owner-operator, said he had mixed reactions, that is, both happy and sad.

Happy because he will have additional income in ferrying the passengers and, sad, because definitely the prices of fuel and other basic commodities will rise as well, Kudang said.

The Datu Montawal municipal building is no stranger to floods, it being situated in a low-lying area and about 300 meters away from Tunggol Bridge.

Landslide victim thankful for gov't support

By John Unson (philstar.com)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - A peasant from Maguindanao whose daughter sustained a fractured leg when a landslide hit their shanty last week is delighted with the outpouring of support for the victim’s medication.

Winifredo Toniakao, of Barangay Blensong in North Upi town, on Saturday told The Star they now have adequate supply of medicines for her injured daughter, 4-year-old Reina Mae, who is still confined at the orthopedic section of the Cotabato Regional Medical Center (CRMC) in Cotabato City.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa mga tumulong sa amin,” an emotional Toniakao said.

The latest to extend assistance to the Toniakaos was Maguindanao First District Rep. Sandra Sema, who has a contingency fund deposited in the CRMC, intended for medical expenses of her indigent constituents.

Sema on Saturday said the CRMC’s finance department can deduct from the fund P5,000 to pay for the hospital bill of Reina Mae.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu said he had ordered the provincial government’s relief team, led by his budget staff, Lynette Estandarte, to attend to the needs of all flood and landslide victims in North Upi.

The governor’s office had earlier dispersed 50 bags of rice and other food provisions to affected North Upi residents, delivered by a group, accompanied by health workers who also facilitated free medical services.

Mangudadatu said employees of the provincial government have repacked into individual ration kits in the past two days more than 5 tons of food supplies for distribution to more than 20 flooded towns in the province.

The provincial board on Friday declared under state of calamity 26 of the 36 towns in the province as floodwaters spawned by heavy rains continued spreading through low-lying areas that are criss-crossed by rivers and dotted with swamps that connect to the 220,000-hectare Liguasan Delta.

The Humanitarian Emergency Assistance and Relief Team (HEART) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao donated last Thursday P10,000 for the medicines of Toniakao through Shirley Salik, chief of the CRMC’s social welfare office.

ARMM officials and the mayor of North Upi, Ramon Piang Sr., had also collected donations for the construction of a low-cost core shelter for the Toniakao family.

Reina Mae’s twin sibling, Ranin, perished in the landslide, which was caused by heavy downpours two days before.

Ranin was buried alive when mud and rocks loosened by heavy rains cascaded from a nearby hill and covered their house, made only of bamboos and coconut palms.

PIA, DENR to launch Climate Change Advocacy Campaign in Tawi-Tawi

By Franklin P. Gumapon [ (FPG/PIA9)]

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Sept. 5 (PIA) – A group of personnel of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-9 and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-9 will leave today for the province of Tawi-Tawi to formally launch the Climate Change Advocacy Campaign (CCAC) in this southernmost part of the country.

In a pre-departure meeting held here last night, it was learned that the Protected Area Management Board (PMAB) would also be holding a meeting at the Turtle Islands in Tawi-Tawi.

Aside from the CCAC launching, Mr. Cidur Julsadjiri of the DENR-9’s Protected Area and Wildlife Division (PAWD) said, a CCAC forum will also be also conducted to the students in Taganak Island.

Also joining the group to the Turtle Islands are representatives of the Biodiversity Management Office (BMO), Turtle Conservation Society of the Philippines (TCSP) and Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

A naval boat will take them from Bongao town, the capital of Tawi-Tawi province, to Taganak Island where a CCAC billboard will be erected. They will be back to Zamboanga City on Sept. 10.

BEAM-ARMM to give opportunities for TESDA certification to 15k OSYs, senior high school students

By Jade D. Miguel [(PNA), SCS/JDM]

MANILA, Sept. 4 (PNA) -- Located in the outskirts of Maguindanao province, Barangay Pilar is a far-flung area about two to three hours travel from Cotabato City.

During the rainy season, commuters need to go through a long stretch of dirt road to get to the remote barangay.

In spite of its distant location, however, Barangay Pilar has been reached by an educational program initiated by the Australian government in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The program, called Basic Education Assistance for Muslim Mindanao (BEAM-ARMM), aims to provide opportunities for Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) certification to around 15,000 out-of-school youths (OSYs) and senior high school students.

The project has been coordinated by the Australian government with the Department of Education (DepEd) and TESDA.

A fourth-year high school student from Pilar Integrated Technical Vocational High School (PITVHS) in South Upi, Maguindanao, 17-year-old Judy Ann Lozada has expressed her gratitude as the program has been able to reach far-flung areas like their place.

"Our barangay is in a far-flung area, and yet the assistance from BEAM-ARMM has reached us," she said.

The BEAM-ARMM aims to assist students in remote areas to acquire TESDA certification through technical-vocation training. The program also provides students a potential source of income.

The program has chosen inaccessible areas as students in these places are said to be the ones who usually experience utmost difficulty in accessing training and certification.

The ARMM is also said to have high concentration of unemployed and underemployed youth.

"The main objective is to provide opportunities for acquiring certification right at the community level," said Corazon Magaute, DepED-ARMM Regional Technology and Livelihood Education Coordinator.

The target of 15,000 OSYs and senior high school students to be benefitted by the program are expected to be accomplished by June 2015.

The BEAM-ARMM is geared to provide with market-sensitive and inclusive technical-vocational education, training and skills development throughout the ARMM.

Magaute also said that the program provides a better accessibility to students as they would not go to farther places anymore just to acquire TESDA certificates.

"You won't have to go far just to earn TESDA certificates since you already have a tech-voc school in your municipality," she said.

Last Aug. 13, the BEAM-ARMM provided dressmaking tools and equipment to PITVHS which includes 25 units of household sewing machines, five units of high-speed sewing machines, flat irons, and other equipment.

PITVHS is one among the 23 senior high schools being given assistance by the program. The school hosts three diverse cultural groups: the indigenous T'duray peoples, the Muslim Maguindanaons, and the Christian settlers.

"The dressmaking tools and other equipment will make a huge impact on our youth," said South Upi Mayor Abdullah Campong, ensuring that the tri-people of South Upi will benefit from the program.

Campong added that PITVHS will soon become the center of the town's tech-voc programs and projects.

"Thanks to the Australian government, this project will further strengthen the ties of my people" he remarked.

Apart from the new goal of BEAM-ARMM to provide TESDA certifications to both OSYs and senior students, the Australian-funded program also delivers accessible learning facilities, quality teachers, learning materials, and a protective environment for children in need and out-of- school youths.

Being identified as the flagship of the Australian aid program in the country, education has been the primary focus of Australia which has been the Philippines' long-standing development partner and largest bilateral grant donor for education.

Australia also supports the government in its K to 12 education reform program and other high-impact education projects.

JICA, DAP launch workplace improvement program in ARMM

By John Unson (philstar.com)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - Hundreds joined Tuesday’s symbolic launching of the “5s program” to ensure the orderliness of all offices in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The 5s means seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitzuke, which mean sort, systematize, sweep, standardize, and self-discipline, respectively, in Nihongo.

The ceremonial application of the 5s program in the autonomous region was led by ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman and representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP).

The 5s program was pioneered in Japan, whose citizens are known for their cleanliness, orderliness, resilience and discipline in maintaining wellness in their workplaces and homes.

The DAP and JICA are both helping the Hataman administration carry out its comprehensive reform agenda intended to improve the regional government, known in the past as hotbed of corruption and where thousands of “ghost employees” were listed in old payrolls.

Secretaries of different line agencies and support offices under the Office of the Regional Governor, touted as “Little Malacañang” of the autonomous region, and their subordinates helped each other clean their offices and disposed off everything that are not needed to maximize the utilization of spaces in their respective workplaces.

The ARMM’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, which has the largest office compound inside the 32-hectare regional government center in Cotabato City, had the most number of employees that joined in Tuesday’s 5s launching program.

Kadiguia Rakman Abdullah, DAF’s regional information chief, said their regional secretary, Makmod Mending Jr., led them in cleaning and rearranging all offices under the department in compliance with the ORG’s 5s implementation directive.

“Now we can see and feel the good effect of this program. We ought to practice this even in our homes,” Abdullah said.

A team comprised of 5s experts had earlier rated as “5s compliant” the office of John Magno, assistant regional education secretary for operations, even before the regional government could launch the program in all ARMM departments and support offices.

OWWA-ARMM holds computer training for Maguindanao OFWs

By Oliver Ross V. Rivera (ORVRivera-PIA12)

COTABATO CITY, Sept 2 (PIA) – Some 35 members of OFW Family Circles (OFC) from the province of Maguindanao participate in a computer assembly and basic troubleshooting training courtesy of OWWA-ARMM.

OWWA-ARMM OIC Habib Malik said the capacity building training aims to upgrade the skills of former OFWs as a means to boost their employability here in the country and abroad.

“The OFWs and their families can use the skills they learned during the training to apply for a job or start their own business,” Malik said.

Through this activity, OWWA is able to equip OFWs in the region with much needed trainings to improve their skills and competencies and in a simple way help them in enhancing their livelihoods or add to their income, he added.

Malik also said they have invited trainers from TESDA-ARMM to equip the participants with much needed skills in computer repair and troubleshooting.

The module coverage include history and uses of computer, PC overview, types of connectors, parts of computer, occupational health and safety procedures, installing windows xp, installing windows 7, basic problems of computers and basic troubleshooting.

After their graduation, the participants will be given a kit containing star and flat screw drivers, installer of windows xp, windows 7 and other programs including Microsoft Office, and anti-virus.

The training dubbed as “OFWs aangat sa pagsulong ng bagong teknolohiya” is held at the AlNor Hotel and convention center will be until Thursday, September 4.

Australia's BEAM turns over dressmaking tools to Maguindanao upland town

(PNA), LAM/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Sept. 1 (PNA) -– A remote public high school in the mountain town of Maguindanao has received tools and equipment for dressmaking as education aid to pupils, officials said Monday.

The equipment were handed over by the Australian Government through the Basic Education Assistance for Muslim Mindanao (BEAM-ARMM) and implemented through DepED-ARMM, to Pilar Integrated Technical Vocational High School (PITVHS) in South Upi, Maguindanao.

The tools and equipment included 25 units of household manual sewing machines, five units of high speed sewing machines, flat irons, among others.

Judy Ann Lozada, 17, a fourth-year high school student at PITVHS, was thrilled when she learned about the assistance to their school.

“Malayo ang barangay namin sa kabihasnan pero nakarating dito sa amin ang tulong mula sa BEAM-ARMM (Our barangay lags behind in terms of development and remote yet BEAM-ARMM found us),” she said.

Barangay Pilar is located in the outskirts of Maguindanao province, about three hours away from Cotabato City.

While a provincial road passes through the barangay, commuters must traverse a long stretch of dirt road in and out of the area which worsens travel during rainy season.

“We are so grateful,” the obviously excited Losada said, showing her eagerness to hone her skills in dressmaking and tailoring.

DepED-ARMM Regional Technology and Livelihood Education Coordinator Corazon Maguate, who was also at the handover program, stressed that the Technology Vocational (Techvoc) program’s main objective in South Upi was to provide its high school students the opportunity to acquire a TESDA National Certificate (NC) at the community level.

“You don’t need to go to Cotabato City or somewhere else just to earn TESDA certificates since you already have a Techvoc school in your municipality,” said Maguate.

PITVHS is one of 23 senior high schools assisted through improved curricula and increased competence of teachers.

Barangay Pilar in South Upi, Maguindanao is host to three major tribal groups: the T’duray, the indigenous people of the area; the Maguindanaons or the Moro group; and the Christian-settlers.

South Upi Mayor Abdullah Campong said during the handover ceremony that the dressmaking tools and equipment “will make a huge impact on their youth.”

“I will ensure that the tri-people of South Upi will benefit from this program,” he said, adding that PITVHS will become the center of the town’s Techvoc programs and projects.

Campong said the tri-people of the town live harmoniously.

“Thanks to the Australian Government, this project will further strengthen the ties of my people,” he said.

Through June 2015, BEAM-ARMM is providing 15,000 OSYs and senior high school students with market sensitive and inclusive technical vocational education, training and skills throughout ARMM where there are high concentrations of unemployed and underemployed youth.

BEAM-ARMM is a comprehensive education and youth development program that enables children and youth in Muslim Mindanao to develop and reach their potential.

The Program delivers accessible and healthy learning facilities, quality teachers, learning materials, and a protective environment for children in need and out of school youth, through effective, transparent and accountable management systems.

The Program contributes to the alleviation of poverty in ARMM and, in the longer term, to the emergence of sustainable peace through closely targeted investments in basic education that prepare ARMM to engage productively with economic opportunities.

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