Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao News January 2017

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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.

P1-B infra projects seen to boost Tawi-Tawi economy

By Nonoy E. Lacson

Zamboanga City – In a bid to position Tawi-Tawi as the next trading hub in the southern Philippines, the Department of Public Works and Highways of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DPWH-ARMM) has implemented about P1 billion worth of infrastructure projects and infrastructure support programs in the province last year.

DPWH-ARMM Sec Don Mustapha Loong, who visited the province Tuesday and arrived here yesterday said that many of the major infrastructure projects that the DPWH-ARMM District office implemented last year in Tawi-Tawi have been completed while several others are ongoing and nearing completion.

Loong said the projects are all geared towards preparing the province to become responsive to the needs of local and foreign traders.

Among the completed or nearly completed projects are the concreting of roads and the rehabilitation of some roads, fish landing sites, construction of deep wells and the construction of a 50-meter ro-ro berthing slot at the Bongao port.

He also reminded DPWH-ARMM Tawi-Tawi District Engineer Tony Kamlani to make sure that all infrastructure projects implemented by the DPWH-ARMM in the province are in accordance with all the standard specifications.

Loong said that with the various infrastructure projects and programs now in place, trade and commerce and other economic activities in the province will get a significant boost.

ARMM officials inaugurate new town hall building in Maguindanao

(PNA), CVL/NYP/EOF

ANGGAL MIDTIMBANG, Maguindanao (PNA) -- Government services are expected to improve after officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) inaugurated the town's municipal building on Wednesday.

The town hall was funded under the Humanitarian and Development Assistance Program (HDAP) of the ARMM.

The construction of the municipal hall was implemented by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-ARMM with a total approved cost of PHP7.33 million.

ARMM’s HDAP aims to address the immediate needs of the affected families as well as provide follow-through interventions in affected communities.

It also aims to establish a systematic and a coordinated approach in addressing and mitigating the effects of future disasters and calamities, towards a more peaceful and resilient autonomous Muslim region.

Among the projects under the ARMM-HDAP is the development of town government centers. The ARMM has earmarked a total of PHP30 million for the construction of three town hall buildings and the rehabilitation of two existing buildings located in the towns of Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Salibo, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Datu Piang and Talitay, all in the second district of Maguindanao.

In her message, Mayor Maryjoy Estephanie Uy-Midtimbang expressed her gratitude to the ARMM government for the realization of the project. Mayor Midtimbang encouraged the people of her town to work together and cooperate in taking care of the new government building.

Engr. Baintan Ampatuan, executive director of the Regional Planning and Development Office and program manager of the ARMM-HDAP Project Management Office, congratulated the local officials and DILG-ARMM for the town hall’s completion.

Ampatuan said this is the first to be completed among the projects being implemented under ARMM-HDAP.

“The government center is one of the basic requirements for a functional local government unit. A conducive working environment for the municipal officials and personnel will result in better delivery of basic services,” Ampatuan said.

The national government and ARMM have allotted more than PHP2 billion in the implementation of projects for 15 conflict-affected municipalities in Maguindanao.

Atty. Noor Hafizullah “Kirby” Matalam Abdullah, regional secretary of the DILG-ARMM, asked the town officials and the community to work together in maintaining the government center.

ARMM mulls construction of concrete evacuation centers in flood-prone areas

(PNA), LAP/NYP/

COTABATO CITY (PNA) -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is mulling over plans to build concrete evacuation centers for flood-prone areas of the region.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said he has advised the region’s Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to come up with a tangible plan for the erection of such centers following the recent evacuation of some 6,000 families in Datu Montawal and Pagalungan towns in Maguindanao due to heavy rains the past several days.

“We plan to build solid, concrete (evacuation) centers in high grounds near the houses of villagers because most of them refuse to leave their houses and lands behind as it maybe looted by unscrupulous individuals,” Hataman said during a press conference here Thursday.

The governor said nothing is final yet on the plan, as the DPWH-ARMM has yet to come up with a study as to where to put the flood evacuation centers and the needed allotment for the initiative.

Between Jan. 19 – 25, various government agencies, in coordination with the ARMM–Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team, rushed to the aid of thousands of families in Datu Montawal and Pagalungan municipalities after neck-deep waters brought about by torrential rains submerged its 12 and nine villages, respectively.

The incessant rains, brought by a Low-Pressure Area that affected Mindanao and Visayas as well, caused the Kabacan River, which emanates from Pulangi River in Bukidnon, to swell and inundate the Datu Montawal and Pagalungan areas through the tributaries of Malitubog and Maridagao.

The two towns were immediately placed under a state of calamity, as most of the affected families moved beside the Cotabato–Davao national highway.

Though the weather improved, the evacuees have yet to deal with the thick mud that invaded their homes after the floods.

Aside from Maguindanao, flooding was also reported in Lanao del Sur, another ARMM province component.

Hataman said they also have yet to get an update on the implementation of the Mindanao River Basin project, which Congress appropriated with P6.5 billion in 2015 to end perennial inundations from the 220,000-hectare Liguasan Marsh that borders Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat provinces.

The river basin master plan proposed the construction of structural and non-structural flood control interventions such as dredging, solid riverbanks mounting and reforestation as long-term solutions to the perpetual flooding around the marshland.

PEZA plans to build economic zone in Tawi-Tawi

By Kris M. Crismundo [(PNA), RMA/KMC]

MANILA, Jan. 25 (PNA) -- The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) aims to establish an economic zone in Tawi-Tawi, an island province located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

PEZA Director General Charito Plaza told reporters that Tawi-Tawi has big economic potential which can be facilitated by putting up an economic zone in the area.

“We are still doing the planning. That’s one of our big potential economic zone,” said Plaza.

The PEZA chief also highlighted that Tawi-Tawi has strength in producing products from carrageenan -- an ingredient from algae or seaweeds -- abaca, and cassava.

Its location is also near Sabah, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Indonesia.

She also mentioned that some 13,000 ships are passing by Tawi-Tawi annually.

“The only concern is the security issue. So we will cooperate with the military forces to strengthen security and safety in Tawi-Tawi so that we can attract investors in the area,” Plaza added.

This initiative of PEZA is in line with the administration’s goal to spur economic growth outside Metro Manila, particularly in the poorest provinces in the country.

PSA updates ARMM on PH statistical dev't program

(BPI/PIA-10)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Jan. 25 --- The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) conducted a forum on Wednesday, Jan. 24, in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) regional seat to update ARMM constituents on the 2011-2017 Philippine Statistical Development Program (PSDP).

National Statistician and PSA Head Lisa Grace Bersales said there is gradual decline in poverty incidence in the region but the figure is lower than what was expected by the ARMM regional government.

Based on data covering 2014-2015, poverty incidence in the region was estimated at 48.2 percent close to figures monitored in previous years.

“The basis of our poverty statistics is income, and incomes of households respond very slowly to the interventions; but I feel that it’s a good start,” said Bersales.

“Poverty statistics is the most controversial because poverty is multi-dimensional, very complex situation, and our official poverty statistics for now focuses on one dimension, which is income,” she said.

She said that the government interventions to trickle down to household level income take much time and this is the reason for the disappointment sometimes of local governments on the poverty statistics that PSA releases.

In recognition of this, Bersales said the PSA listens and knows the needs of their partners and try to address these needs as much as possible.

“We hope to develop multi-dimensional statistics which will capture the improvements in health and education, not just the income statistics,” she said.

During the forum, PSA-ARMM regional director Abubakar Asaad stressed the importance of data in the regional government’s planning.

The PSDP activity here was described as a regional dissemination forum that also provided updates on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for both the ARMM and Soccsksargen or Region 12.

Candido Astrologo, assistant national statistician, discussed highlights of the PSDP while Wilma Guillen, assistant national statistician for the social sector statistics service, provided the overview for the SDGs.

As of latest official statistics, ARMM has a total population of 3,781,387 in 116 municipalities, and 2,490 barangays.

From 2014 to 2015, the region registered an economic growth of 5.3 percent in terms of Gross Regional Domestic Product.

Meanwhile, lawyer Laisa Alamia, ARMM Executive Secretary, said Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman is delighted with the presence of the PSA at the region’s seat.

She said Gov. Hataman looks forward that with the help of the PSA, ARMM can set its direction, thrust and priorities in strengthening statistical development in the region.

The mere presence of PSA in the city, Sec. Alamia added, signals that ARMM is now getting timely and relevant data on the different sectors of the region.

Prior to the Hataman administration, there has been no established communication between the PSA and the regional government, she said.

ARMM prepares investments standards, protocol of Bangsamoro specific investments

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Jan. 23 (PNA) -- Investment officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are preparing business investment standards and protocols for the Bangsamoro specific investments.

Lawyer Ishak Mastura, ARMM Regional Board of Investments (RBOI) chairperson, said ARMM is embarking on the project “Brokering Business Investments in the Bangsamoro to achieve Inclusive Development and Growth” (BRIDGe) aimed at developing a Bangsamoro-specific business investment standards and protocols that will empower both the communities and businesses to engage into sustainable business enterprises.

Mastura said the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and Hineleban Foundation in collaboration with the RBOI-ARMM will be implementing the BRIDGe Project which is being funded by the Australian Government – Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

The formal partnership among the players of the project was sealed today at the ARMM Manila Liaison Office in Makati City through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the ARMM Regional Government (ARG) through RBOI and PBSP.

The MOU cites the roles and areas of cooperation of the project implementers for the successful implementation of the project.

Last week, PBSP conducted a Development Partners’ Meeting with the Program Advisory Committee (PAC) to generate inputs on the formulation and finalization of the Business Sustainability Framework in Bangsamoro (BSFB) and how to improve project implementation.

The BSFB seeks to define the role and behavior of corporations and partner communities who wish to make sustainable and responsible agribusiness investments in the Bangsamoro.

Mastura said part of the project outcome is to strengthen the capacity of RBOI to facilitate business Investments in the ARMM, help capacitate local communities to engage in business development and to promote business investments in the region among local and international investors.

“The project is very relevant and timely because this will prepare us especially on the business aspect from a possible transition from the present form of government to federalism which what the Duterte Administration is pushing now in Congress,” Mastura said in a statement.

ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman witnessed the MOU signing, saying the partnership is expected to fuel more investments in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, the provinces that comprise ARMM.

“In line with the initiative of President Duterte to promote and encourage business investments from big businesses and tycoons to the ARMM, this project will enhance the capacity of our communities to receive those investments,” Hataman said.

DOST-ARMM fast tracks establishment of food innovation center in Basilan

By Rene V. Carbayas

ISABELA CITY, Basilan (PIA) – The food processing industry will soon get a boost with the establishment of the Food Processing Innovation Center (FPIC) in Basilan.

The Department of Science and Technology in the ARMM announced the establishment of the FPIC in Lamitan City as soon as the Mindanao Autonomous College Foundation Inc. (MACFI) completes all the necessary requirements for the installation of equipment.

Frederick F. Cadungong, DOST-ARMM technical staff explained the setting up of the center at the stakeholders meeting last January 17, saying that the project is long overdue, but problems with the previous host in Tawi-Tawi has prompted the accrediting team to transfer the said center to Basilan; however, pending, when all requirements are met.

Cadungong said the facility aims to produce value-added agricultural and fishery food products by becoming the hub for innovations and technical support services for the food processing industry in the ARMM.

Said support services include food testing, information, packaging and labeling design, consultancy services, trainings, and seminars. Through these services, the facility likewise aims to become a springboard for ARMM’s food processors to reach local and global standards in processing technology.

The stakeholders’ meeting was said to have a back to back signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with MACFI. But as earlier stated, the MOA signing was deferred to a later date pending completion of all requirements.

DOST-ARMM secretary Myra Mangkabung is pushing for the project to be realized as soon as possible, as ARMM is the only region that remains to have not established the innovation center.

When established, the DOST assures that ARMM’s food processing industry could become more competitive with those of the ASEAN neighbors. With the high acquisition cost of food processing equipment, the FPIC is of importance and those in the industry could also have access to technology.

The FIPC will be made available to all those in the food processing industry in the region, especially the equipment that will be placed in the center.

Among these equipment are the vacuum fryer which allows frying of vegetables, root crops, mangoes and jackfruit without eliminating their color and natural flavor; spray dryer which provides a faster and more efficient drying method and better control of powder quality; and the water retort which offers retort-able pouch packaging as a low-cost, environment-friendly, and more convenient alternative. Retort refers to the method of heat sterilization that frees food products from pathogens, making the food shelf stable. (ALT/RVC/PIA9-Basilan)

Business groups commit to invest in Mindanao

(Malaya Business Insight)

Infrastructure giant Metro Pacific Investment Corp. (MPIC) has proposed several projects in Mindanao to help the poorest communities in the island region.

Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman of MPIC was one of the officials of business groups with which President Duterte had a meeting in Malacanang on Tuesday. The meeting was arranged by Joey Concepcion. presidential consultant on entrepreneurship and former president and now Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Pangilinan said he committed to invest in a hospital , telecommunications and husing for Gawad Kalinga in Sulu .

He said MPIC is also looking at putting up a coconut oil plant in Sulu.

He said the President and the business group had a productive meeting where they suggested and committed projects that could help the poorest areas in the country particularly in Mindanao .

“It was an excellent occasion to see the President up close and personal and I thought it was a very productive meeting. It was good for the private sector to communicate with the President what our concerns are, and what we can do to help government’s efforts particularly in terms of the tourist areas of the country,” Pangilinan told reporters in an interview on the sidelines of the signing of a memorandum of agreement on the common station.

Pangilinan said discussions centered on Sulu and other areas in Mindanao where the private sector could help.

Panglinan said San Miguel Corp. had proposed to build power plants in Basilan and in Tawi Tawi.

Also in the meeting were Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala of Ayala Corp., Lucio Tan, PAL Holding Inc. chairman and Enrique Razon, International Container Terminal Services Inc. chairman.

Ramon Ang, SMC president and chief executive officer, was not able to attend.

“Each business group suggested ideas and commitments…” It’s good to have a dialogue with the President. It was a very productive meeting. He expressed what’s on his mind and the business groups conveyed to the President the commitment (to help) particularly in the poorest areas of the country. Each business group offered ideas, suggestions, commitments to the President as to what each of us can do,” Pangilinan said.

“The President was in good form. Actually very impressive. All of us came away from that meeting (were) thankful to Joey Concepcion (presidential consultant on entrepreneurship) and former president Arroyo for husbanding the event. Of course, thank you to the president who spent around three hours(with us),” Pangilinan added.

Floods displace 22,000 families in Lanao Sur, Maguindanao low-lying towns; disaster workers send aid

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

DATU MONTAWAL, Maguindanao, Jan. 20 (PNA) -- At least 22,000 families have been affected by floods in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur following torrential rains brought about by inclement weather in Mindanao, disaster officials said Friday.

Myrna Jocelyn Henry, speaking for Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team (HEART) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), said the floods have affected 16,145 families in eight municipalities of Lanao del Sur and more than 8,000 families in two Maguindanao flood-prone towns.

Henry said water level started to rise in 11 of 12 villages of Datu Montawal since Wednesday affecting 2,658 families while 4,290 families were displaced by floods in Pagalungan town's four villages.

Henry said the about 2,000 families in Datu Montawal were moved to the sides of national highway in Barangay Bulit and Pagagawan after water level rose neck-high Thursday evening.

Some families refused to leave homes, saying the water level may recede anyway when rain stopped.

"We prefer to stay home, we have been in this situation in the past," said Sulambai Salman, a resident of Barangay Kudal, Pagalungan, Maguindanao.

"It would be a hassle for us to bring out our valuables then we return the next day, we just wait for the water to recede may be tomorrow or the next day," Salman, whose house is beside the elevated national highway, said.

Henry said initial relief operation was conducted by ARMM social welfare department. More relief aids are coming Saturday and Sunday.

The displaced families put up tent beside the national highway on Friday morning.

Datu Montawal town Vice Mayor Otto Montawal said he will convene the town council on Monday to pass a resolution putting the entire town under state of calamity so the local government unit can use its calamity fund.

In Lanao del Sur, Provincial Governor Soraya Adiong led disaster workers in distributing emergency food packs Friday to some of the affected families in the province.

ARMM's public info bureau chief to head Bangsamoro youth affairs office

(PNA), CVL/NYP

COTABATO CITY, Jan. 19 (PNA) -- The chief of the Bureau of Public Information of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BPI-ARMM) has been designated as head of the region’s Office on Bangsamoro Youth Affairs (OBYA).

Amir Mawallil’s new appointment was signed by ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman last Jan. 12, it was announced here Thursday.

Replacing Mawallil is Cris Gaerlan, BPI-ARMM deputy director.

Prior to his appointment as head of OBYA, Mawallil has had years of experience both in human rights work and communication, and has served as BPI–ARMM executive director for more than three years.

A known youth advocate, Mawallil’s appointment comes at a time when the Bangsamoro youth is called upon to continue engaging their leaders in ensuring that the youth is empowered at all levels for an active role in their communities.

“The youth is constantly faced with challenges, especially here in the ARMM where poverty has proven to be a pervasive problem,” Mawallil said.

He said he recognizes the connection between the region’s problems and threats to the Bangsamoro youth’s future, particularly on the aspect of poverty, which the regional government has placed on top of its priority list this year with the use of a PHP4-billion fund to alleviate the plight of poor communities.

“Poverty makes our youth vulnerable, especially with the rise of extremism that preys on the youth’s idealism and hope,” he said.

Alongside the regional government’s efforts to make basic social services available to all, Mawallil said he hopes to provide more opportunities for the youth to learn and go beyond education that one gets from schools.

“We have been working hard to provide quality services and job opportunities across the region, especially for the Bangsamoro youth,” he said.

Mawallil emphasized that the OBYA is committed to ensuring that such efforts turn to real opportunities that would translate to the growth and development of the region.

Hataman meanwhile said he believes in the capability of Mawallil as a “strong advocate”, especially when it comes to tackling and raising awareness about the many issues crucial to the Moro youth.

The OBYA was established in recognition of the vital role of the youth in regional development and nation building.

It is mandated to develop, promote and protect the well-being of the Bangsamoro youth in various aspects, including their moral, social and political growth as citizens.

ARMM leadership assures completion of gov't projects, answers critics' questions

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Jan. 18 (PNA) -- Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has assured the people of Sulu that government projects will be completed and opened to public scrutiny.

Hataman made the assurance after former Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan, who he defeated in last year's regional elections, alleged that regional government projects in Sulu were unfinished.

Hataman brought his team of regional officials whose office are involved in project implementation, including health and education officials.

He stepped into his political rival's bailiwick to explain to Tan and the people of Sulu that the regional government is determined to finish all the projects as scheduled, do it above board and open to public scrutiny.

Tan conceded defeat to Hataman after the polls but vowed to continue to be the administration's critic as far as project implementations are concerned.

Accompanying Hataman were Regional Vice Governor Haroun Alrashid Lucman Jr., DOH-ARMM Secretary Dr. Kadil Sinolinding, DPWH-ARMM Secretary Engr. Don Mustapha Loong and DepEd-ARMM Assistant Secretary Alfhadar Pajiji in the forum attended by Tan and other Sulu local officials.

Tan complained of alleged unfinished construction of hospitals and rural health stations, including the Maimbung Municipal Hospital.

Sinolinding had ready answers. He said the PHP10-million fund for Maimbung Hospital Maimbung was under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) funded by the Transition Investment Support Program (TISP).

Construction ceased after the TISP-Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) fund was declared unconstitutional, Sinolinding explained to Tan.

On housing projects and school buildings, Lucman, also the Department of Social Welfare and Development-ARMM (DSWD-ARMM) secretary, said the concerns regarding the housing projects being carried out by the Habitat for Humanity Philippines could only be answered by the DSWD Central Office since the project underwent national bidding.

Pajiji, meanwhile, explained that the budget for some classrooms and school building projects in several towns in Sulu were not yet downloaded by the Department of Education Central Office to the DepEd-ARMM causing the projects to remain unfinished.

Tan claimed that Sulu had an allocation of 328 classrooms in 2013 but Sec. Loong said based on DPWH data, only 42 classrooms were given fund by the DepEd Central Office amounting to P26 million for the whole province.

Hataman added that the budget for additional classrooms in ARMM for 2013 is still with the DepEd Central Office.

Tan explained that his purpose in raising questions was aimed at putting all government projects transparent to all.

He also vowed future collaboration with ARMM leadership sans politics.

"We are helping the regional government monitor the projects of the government under the regional governor’s leadership because this is not a matter of fault finding; my intent is to help the regional governor," Tan said.

Hataman replied, "rest assured that the ARMM government is very transparent, and we are very willing to be rectified."

After the fruitful Sulu provincial government forum, Governor Hataman led the turnover ceremony of the P30-million Sagay-Sagay water system (Phase IV) in Talipao town that the residents had long dreamed for.

Among them was Manis Baluan, 77 year-old resident of Barangay Buntod, Talipao.

Baluan said with the water supply system in place, they are now assured of safe and clean drinking water.

"I was born and raised here, but this is the first time that a project like this was implemented in our barangay," Baluan said.

Hataman's objective in bringing his cabinet officials to Sulu is to inform the people that all local government units in the region are assured of equal sharing of government funded projects regardless of political affiliations of its leaders.

SMC plans to supply cheap power to Muslim provinces

By Lenie Lectura

The power-generating capacity of the power plants that San Miguel Corp. (SMC) plans to put up in predominantly Muslim provinces would be sold for as low as P3 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), much cheaper than the prevailing rates sold to electric cooperatives (ECs) in Mindanao.

SMC President Ramon S. Ang said the company’s power business is pursuing plans to put up a 58-megawatt (MW) coal-power plant each in Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, and Basilan for a total of 174 MW.

“On our Mindanao projects, we have plans to put up a power plant in Jolo, Sulu. Also, there’s an intention to put up another one in Basilan and another one in Tawi-Tawi. All 58 MW each,” Ang said.

Electricity in these areas is being provided by various ECs that source power from the National Power Corp. (Napocor). These ECs, according to Ang, pay Napocor as much as P15 per kWh. Ang said residents in these areas will benefit from the projects since power produced from coal plants are much cheaper than those generated by diesel-fired power facilities.

“Right now, Napocor is supporting Jolo, Sulu, with 25 MW. I am offering P3 per kWh to supply them 58 MW from the current rate of P15 per kWh. They have nothing to lose,” Ang said. His offer was accepted by Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol. “I am talking with Secretary Piñol. He will help us push through with these projects. Secretary Piñol agrees that these initiatives will create a very good growth. Can you imagine the unstable power supply in Jolo, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi? Then all of a sudden they have reliable power supply,” Ang added.

Should Napocor and SMC agree on this, Ang said his company would be able to put up the power plants in two-and-a-half years. He also proposed that the cheap rates be enforced for a period of 10 years.

Ang said the peace and order situation in the area does not discourage him from pursing the planned investments. “No issue. I have no problem operating in Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Jolo,” he said. In June last year, Ang said SMC signified interest to put up power plants, develop a port and invest in bulk-water facilities in Mindanao.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was already signed to help develop the area through investments in industries ranging from energy to ports and bulk-water facilities.

The ARMM is comprised of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. It is an autonomous region in the Philippines and the only region that has its own government.

The MOU specifically covers an agreement for SMC to build a power plant and help provide long-term solutions to Mindanao’s power crisis.

Over the next two years SMC has committed to build the power plant that will serve the entire ARMM region, which will benefit an estimated 573,446 households.

At present, only 30 percent of households in the region have electricity. Brownouts, particularly during the summer months, are prevalent.

Ang said the ARMM represents one of the most underpenetrated markets in the Philippines, “but is a region ripe for investment, offering huge potential growth.”

SMC’s investment in the ARMM is in line with its strategy to locate facilities and production centers outside urban centers, creating strong “second-tier cities”, generating jobs and rebalancing the national economy by income and growth dispersal.

Instability, lack of infrastructure and lack of a stable power supply has made investors wary, but Ang said he hoped SMC’s vote of confidence in the war-torn province would create much-needed jobs, business opportunities and provide a major economic boost to the ARMM to ease worries over perceived investment risks.

Licking poverty top priority for autonomous region

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL (TMT)

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao: Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has announced that a P4-billion budget has been allocated for various programs to eliminate hunger and malnutrition in the region.

Hataman recently said even as the ARRM government fully supports the Duterte administration’s war on illegal drugs, poverty alleviation is a top priority for the region this year.

At least 95 percent of the 116 municipal mayors and two city mayors of the ARMM attended the a meeting called by President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang last January 9 to discuss the war on illegal drugs.

In “Tapatan sa ARMM,” a regular media forum, held at the Bajau Hall, in the compound of the Office of the Regional Governor in Cotabato City, Hataman spoke about various issues affecting the region as well as the policies of the President specifically the war against illegal drugs and criminality and its effects on the region.

The ARMM governor expressed full support to the government’s initiative to eliminate illegal drugs and criminality in the country.

“It is right that the problem of illegal drugs be solved finally,” he said.

The governor answered along-standing question on the cause of delay — taking sometimes as long as five months — in the release of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) payouts.

“The DSWD [Department of Social Welfare of Development]-ARMM has no control over this, we are only monitoring the release of the funds. Even if DSWD-ARMM and the regional government make a lot of noise and demand that this be paid, if there is no written order for the contractor to pay it, nothing will happen,” Hataman said.

The DSWD-ARMM has scheduled a meeting with the DSWD central office to discuss technical problems that the program is facing and to clear issues.

The regional governor also answered questions on terror threats and drug-related violence.

The 6th Infantry Division and the Philippine National Police, he said, have intensified security measures and will definitely be on top of the situation, along with the regional government’s support, to ensure peace and stability in the region.

In Cotabato City, Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, who was one of the city mayors who attended the Malacanang meeting, told The Manila Times,

“The local city executives (LCEs) should help the President because nobody knows our place better than us. The President is right in saying that if the LCEs do not want drugs to proliferate in our place, we could do a lot in this fight against drugs.”

“We have our Ronda Patrol and it is one of the best practices in the region. In fact we are considered as model city because our crime index went down by 53 percent because of the ronda,” according to the Cotabato City mayor.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in the ARMM is on high alert after a recent jailbreak in North Cotabato involving high-profile inmates, the regional governor said.

The local government units of areas where the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group operates, according to the governor, have created teams led by the Cooperative Development Authority and the Department of Agriculture to implement productivity activities aimed at helping local communities, including families of ASG members.

He said he expects the same amount of investments to flow into the ARMM as they did in 2016.

Drop in water-borne diseases seen in ARMM with new water reservoirs

By John Unson (philstar.com)

COTABATO CITY — The government’s campaign against water-borne diseases is now easier to pursue in many Moro areas with newly built facilities now supplying clean drinking water to thousands of houses.

Physician Kadil Sinolinding Jr, regional health secretary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), on Sunday told The STAR that among these facilities are the new reservoir in Maluso, Basilan and the now functional Sagay-Sagay water supply system in Sulu.

“It is easier now for us and the local government units there to lower cases of water-borne diseases that are so common in areas where people do not have sources of clean water,” Sinolinding said.

The P40 million worth water supply expansion project in Maluso, comprised of a containment structure and costly provisions needed to connect the facility to existing reservoirs of a local water service utility, was turned over on January 6 by ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman to municipal officials.

Maluso Mayor Hanie Bud told The STAR via mobile Sunday he is grateful to the Hataman administration for having bankrolled the project, implemented by ARMM’s Department of Public Works and Highways and the Basilan District Engineering Office (DEO).

“Health problems caused by unsafe drinking water have also been hounding the local government of Maluso,” Bud said.

Bud and Sinolinding separately said they also ought to thank Engineer Soler Undug of the Basilan DEO and his superior Engineer Don Loong, secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways-ARMM, for implementing the Maluso water supply project honestly.

“Done according to specifications, completed on time,” Bud said.

Bud said no fewer than 20,000 residents in the municipality stand to benefit from the facility.

In the island province of Sulu, thousands of ethnic Tausug villagers have also been benefiting since November 2016 from the Sagay-Sagay water supply facility the ARMM government built for them.

“We are now studying the impact of this facility `health-wise’ to the lives of people in beneficiary-villages,” Sinolinding said.

There were more than a dozen Cholera outbreaks in many parts of ARMM in the past 20 years owing to lack of sources of clean water, something past regional governors failed to address squarely.

The ARMM covers Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, which are both in mainland Mindanao, and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

The Sagay-Sagay water supply facility is now providing clean drinking water to agricultural areas in Sulu’s neighboring Talipao, Estino and Panamao towns.

Officials of DPWH-ARMM tested in November 2016 the roadside taps, fashioned from typical hydrants along roads straddling through the villages now supplied with potable water from the P170 million Sagay-Sagay water facility.

Loong, also a civil engineer by profession, said potable water now flow downstream through conduits to agricultural enclaves via gravitational gush from a reservoir near a highland spring in Buntod area in Talipao town.

The Sagay-Sagay water system project spans through 40 kilometers of conduit networks connected to a catchment structure located on a hilly spot 163 meters above sea level, distributing water to villagers via 31 large roadside taps.

Loong and his subordinate-engineers found out that the pressure of the water flowing from the reservoir to the roadside taps was way too forceful than their initial calculations.

“Pressure is high and so good,” Loong said.

The project was also funded by the office of Hataman using allocations from the yearly infrastructure subsidy of the regional government.

Japan agency lends P2.1B to boost Mindanao agri

By Ben O. de Vera (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Aid agency Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) has granted state-run Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) a 4.9-billion yen (over P2.1 billion) loan to support the agriculture sector in the war-torn areas of Mindanao.

In a statement, Jica said the official development assistance (ODA) under its yen loan scheme was launched this week through a project dubbed “Harnessing Agribusiness Opportunities through Robust and Vibrant Entrepreneurship Supportive of Peaceful Transformation” or “Harvest.”

The project would be assisting agriculture enterprises as well as farmers’ cooperatives, among other related organizations, in Mindanao, Jica said.

It would also provide human resource training and technical assistance to Landbank, agriculture cooperatives, and other relevant institutions, Jica added.

“‘Harvest’ presents opportunities to help ordinary Filipino farmers in Mindanao and related institutions grow the agriculture sector. Through the project’s financial inclusion of farmers’ cooperatives, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and related organizations, more investments and jobs will be created in Mindanao’s conflict-affected areas,” Jica chief representative Susumu Ito said.

Government data showed that in 2013, agriculture, fishing and forestry accounted for over three-fifths of Mindanao’s regional economy, employing 68.4 of its population.

Poverty incidence, however, remained at over half of the population due to the decades of conflict in several parts of the island, Jica noted.

The Japanese aid agency and the Bangsamoro Development Agency had worked on the proposed Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) 2, the medium- to long-term plan that will guide development in Mindanao.

Jica had been wanting to help roll out under the BDP 2 a total of 26 anchor projects spanning a wide array of socioeconomic sectors in order to lift Bangsamoro people out of poverty by 2028.

If fully implemented, the BDP 2 would create about 550,000 additional jobs by 2022, while the region’s economy could grow as fast as 7.4 percent annually, according to Jica.

The anchor projects earlier identified by Jica and BDA under the BDP 2 were as follows: support for agricultural cooperatives; road rehabilitation and upgrading; ports and airport improvement; Greater Cotabato City urban infrastructure; communal irrigation; economic corridor development; economic zones; as well as abaca, coco coir and sugar industrial cluster development.

Also among the BDP 2 initiatives were agri-based projects (such as goat farming and mixed field crop production); seed production center; halal industry promotion; open market; cold chain facilities; community-based forest and coastal management; mini hydropower development; and Mindanao river basin integrated watershed as well as flood management projects.

A 2005 study of the Human Development Network noted that the underdevelopment of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is linked to the long history of armed conflict in the area. According to the said report, the war in Mindanao costs around P5 to 7.5 billion annually, which could have been used instead to fund development projects.

The poverty incidence in ARMM was at 55.8 percent in 2012—much higher than the national average of 25.2 percent and 39.1 percent for the whole of Mindanao, government data showed.

Since 2002, Jica has been extending assistance to about 30 programs and projects in Mindanao under the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development or J-Bird.

A total of 20 billion yen in development aid has been provided by Jica as well as Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2003 to 2015, it added.

ARMM's security sector vows support to council for protection of Lake Lanao

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Jan. 13 (PNA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is assured of support from the security sector in its efforts to protect the majestic Lake Lanao in Lanao del Sur, officials said Friday.

The inland body of water propels electric plants that supply three-fourths of Mindanao's electricity needs.

An inter-agency Watershed Management Council (WMC) formed in Cagayan de Oro City after a two-day workshop that ended Friday. Participants include representatives from the Lanao del Sur provincial government, from different law enforcement agencies and the military.

The workshop was meant to ensure coordinated efforts on how to improve the security of the lake and address issues surrounding it.

Chief Supt. Theodore Sindac, police regional director for ARMM, said the police will provide all necessary manpower and logistics to assist the council and ensure environmental protection efforts.

Lanao del Sur Governor Soraya Alonto-Adiong, council chairperson, told reporters the primary motive of the council is to complement the national government efforts to make Mindanao investment friendly with sufficient power supply, a major requirement of investors in putting their capital for investments.

The management of Lake Lanao as primary source of energy in mainland Mindanao remains in the national government and was never devolved to ARMM after the regional government was crated in 1990.

Forester Kahal Kedtag, DENR-ARMM regional, said DENR-Lanao del Sur provincial office will support all the council's programs and activities.

DTI, JICA program to strengthen MSMEs in ARMM

By Danica M. Uy

MICRO, small and medium enterprises (MSME’s) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will be strengthened to drive growth in the region through a joint program of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Under the program, rubber, seaweed, palm oil, abaca, coffee and coconut have been identified as the six “model industry clusters” that will be focused on. These model clusters are seen as having the most potential to succeed through investments in technology transfer in Mindanao.

Industry clustering aims to provide opportunities for ARMM in the agricultural sector to access technical support and marketing channels to develop MSMEs in the region, said JICA in a statement.

“The industry clustering project in ARMM is our way to develop the region’s value chain, enhance MSME competitiveness, and create quality jobs and sustainable economic returns. This way, the people of ARMM will also be able to realize the dividends of peace and improve their lives,” said JICA Senior Representative Yuko Tanaka in a statement.

“The value of industry clustering, based on the success of DICCEP (Davao Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project) in Davao and NICCEP (National Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project), is the increased collaboration among different players in the value chain (producers, processors, research institutes, buyers) to strengthen their industry’s competitive advantage,” added Tanaka.

The primary sectors of ARMM are in agriculture, fisheries, and forestry, which employ 66% of the region’s work force.

An earlier JICA study found that only 13% of the ARMM economy is engaged in business enterprises while 6.7% are in manufacturing.

ARMM is composed of the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi Tawi and the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur in mainland Mindanao.

ARMM to prioritize poverty alleviation programs

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

COTABATO CITY, Jan. 11 (PNA) -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) would primarily pursue and utilize the PHP 4 billion allotment it had for poverty alleviation programs in the region for 2017.

The poverty reduction fund forms part of the PHP 32 billion budget that Congress approved for ARMM this year.

“There should be equitable implementation of the anti-poverty programs,” ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman stressed before newsmen here during a press conference on Wednesday.

In retrospect, Hataman said during the deliberation on the proposed PHP40.573 billion 2017 ARMM budget last year, it was mentioned that the region, which is home to 3.2 million people, remains the poorest region in the country with 53.1 percent poverty incidence.

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

Over the past three years, the ARMM’s main focus was on its infrastructure programs on efforts to rehabilitate old roads, bridges, government buildings and also building new and better ones.

However, the governor said that for 2017, efforts would shift to poverty alleviation, as it would require a long-term approach pursuing the basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, light, water and sanitation.

In 2015, the ARMM got the biggest slice of the budget for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) program, a government anti- poverty grant, with PHP 6.02 billion and PHP 5.84 billion for 2015 and 2016, respectively, for a total of PHP 11.86 billion.

Under the 4Ps, two types of cash grants are extended, namely, a health grant of PHP500 per family per month, or a total of PHP6,000 every year, and an education grant of PHP300 per child each month and where a household may register a maximum of three children.

Hataman said he is also carefully monitoring the 4Ps implementation in the region due to alleged “anomalies” hounding it.

“We, at the ARMM government would just like to ensure that the money provided for each poor family in the region is exact and given to the right beneficiary,” the governor said.

Hataman said the 4Ps is a program of the national government and that ARMM is merely an implementing agency.

Cops, PDEA agents uproot PHP500,000-worth of marijuana plants in Maguindanao

(PNA), FPV/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Jan. 10 (PNA) -- Police and anti-narcotics operatives uprooted Monday afternoon more than PHP500,000 worth of marijuana plants in the hinterlands of Matanog, Maguindanao.

Senior Police Officer 4 Junior Abas of Matanot PNP said the raid in Sitio Babaken, Barangay Bayanga Sur, Matanog, Maguindanao was conducted with elements of the Army's 37th Infantry Battalion and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-ARMM).

Authorities seized more than 10,000 marijuana plants and arrested its cultivator, identified only as Badong Borero.

Abas said to date, more than PHP10 million worth of marijuana plants and seedlings have been uprooted in the vast mountains of Matanog, located near the boundary of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.

From July to December, Abas said at least 12 major anti-drug operations have been conducted.

In Monday's operation, anti-narcotics operatives and police burned about 200 marijuana seedlings in the plantation site and brought several plants to the PDEA-ARMM headquarters as evidence against the suspect.

Abas lauded the village officials of Bayanga for actively helping the police in its campaign against marijuana plants and illegal drugs in the village.

ARMM disaster responders capable, well-prepared, officials tell NDRRMC chair

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Jan. 9 (PNA) -- Disaster officials in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are prepared and capable of responding to man-made and natural disasters.

This was the assurance Monday of regional disaster and civil defense officials given to visiting National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad.

Jalad paid a visit to Office of Civil Defense (OCD-ARMM) and met with military and police officials over the weekend in his efforts to get updates on disaster preparedness of regional disaster units.

Jalad, who hails from Midsayap, North Cotabato, met with 6th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez, ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman and OCD-ARMM regional director Myrna Angot.

“We have established communication and coordination with OCD-ARMM and ARMM in general. We have a very good relationship with agencies concerned in DRRM," Galvez told Jalad.

In a meeting, Jalad received updates on both human-induced and natural disasters in the region’s five component provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Hataman said because of preparedness, disaster officials have cushioned the impact of the recurring flood problem in the region’s low-lying areas. “Flooding in some areas of the region is manageable since there are weather forecasts,” said Hataman.

Angot has expressed optimism on the resilience of the ARMM populace. “This is due to our countless capacity building and advocacy endeavours on the DRRM. We have zero-casualties in flooding incidents in ARMM for the Calendar Year 2016,” Angot said.

Jalad together with Angot also met with the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao - Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team (ARMM-HEART) headed by Regional DRRM Officer Ramil Masukat with the presence of DRRM focal persons from various agencies.

“We are pleased with the presence of our Civil Defense Administrator. It only proves that the ARMM is being prioritized by the national leadership when it comes to DRRM. ARMM HEART is here and always ready 24/7 to respond come any disaster,” Masukat later told reporters.

OCD-ARMM has its hands full this year with more capacity training and seminar to continue capacitating disaster responders, especially at the grassroots level.

Museum for Moro heroes

By: Nash B. Maulana (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

BULUAN, MAGUINDANAO — Moro heroes who fought the Spanish colonizers and whom national hero Dr. Jose Rizal defended in one of his “subversive” writings 120 years ago will be immortalized in a museum that will rise here.

The two-story Rajah Buayan Silongan Peace Center at the town center and near the main highway will house the museum to showcase historical materials, archaeological finds and even oral accounts of the Maguindanao, Teduray, Lambangian and Manobo peoples.

Silongan was a Maguindanaoan who fought and repelled Spain’s first attempt to conquer Mindanao in April 1596.

When Rizal defended him and his brother, and the Maguindanao people from condemnation by the Spanish chronicler Antonio de Morga in the book, “Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas” (Events in the Philippine Islands, 1609), he incurred the ire of Spanish authorities. Rizal was detained for sedition for his writings.

Figueroa expedition

Silongan’s brother, Datu Makagubal, killed a Portuguese conquistador, Capitan Esteban Rodriguez de Figueroa, the leader of a 1596 colonial expedition to Mindanao, which included 150 Spanish officers, 120 crew members and 1,500 Filipino converts from the north who were armed with swords, spears and shields.

Spanish Governor General Gomez Perez Dasmariñas had promised Figueroa vast territory and the position of governor-general in Mindanao if he succeeded in conquering the island.

By De Morga’s account, Makagubal hatched the murder plot, “swearing to God, in a group of drinking friends, [that] before the sun [rises, he would be] accursed by God [if he] could not behead the leader of the foreigners, who would lord it over us here.”

Figueroa was killed downstream of the Mindanao River in what came to be known as the Battle of Tampakan in 1596. His embalmed body was buried in a church he helped build in Manila. De Morga denounced the Moro people and Silongan for the killing.

Rizal, however, blamed the Spanish colonial government for Figueroa’s failed military expedition. “The people of Buayan [referred to as ‘Buhahayen’ by De Morga] were attacked [by the foreigners] in their own country,” he wrote.

De Morga book

He also criticized De Morga for describing the killing as a “treachery of the highest degree.” He pointed out that Governors Francisco de Sande and Dasmariñas, and Figueroa planned and executed the offensive against “the people of Buayan [who] were in their own country.”

The Moros neither violated a contract nor breached a ceremony of acceptance, because “the celebrated Silongan never recognized Spain’s authority over his kingdom,” Rizal wrote.

He copied, by longhand, De Morga’s book pages in Spanish at London Museum Library for six months in 1889, and published his first edition in Paris in 1890. His more popular writings were “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo.”

Documents from the “Trial and Execution of Jose Rizal,” showed that Rizal’s defense of the Maguindanao people, contained in the annotation of De Morga’s “History of the Philippines in 1890,” were among the “subversive activities” that the prosecution presented against him in the Spanish court.

Silongan was the forebear of the Mangudadatu clan of Maguindanao. He was the uncle of the Muslim hero, Sultan Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat, and a grandson of Shariff Kabunsuan, who brought Islam to Central Mindanao in 1447.

Buayan Kingdom

The Old Buayan Kingdom spanned the Cotabato Upriver Valley from its present-day boundaries in the second legislative district of Maguindanao to General Santos City.

Tampakan, the place where Figueroa was killed, is part of or geographically identical to the present-day Kabuntalan town in Maguindanao, according to Sultan Tungko Saikol, director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Mindanao, whose family is among the leading clans of the place.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu said the plan to permanently house the museum at the Rajah Buayan Silongan building was timely.

Funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the building was first intended as a peace center when it was built in 2010. The provincial government, however, put up a building within the one-hectare compound apart from the center.

The museum is the second to feature Maguindanaoan history and artifacts. The 40-year-old Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Center in Cotabato City features a wide array of Maguindanaoan artifacts, including a royal carriage, ancient boxes, antiquated ethnic musical instruments, and prehistoric urns and coffins attributed to highland natives.

Governor Mangudadatu said he would welcome historical materials and oral accounts, archaeological finds and other contributions to the development of the new museum.

Assemblyman Khadafeh Mangudadatu said he and his brother, Maguindanao Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu, intended to draft a legislation to date Maguindanao’s founding back to 1596, when people in the province successfully fought the colonizers.

Port expansion prepares Basilan for ASEAN integration

By Roel Pareño (philstar.com)

LAMITAN CITY, Basilan -- A newly completed expansion of the port in Lamitan has made this budding city ready for ASEAN integration, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman said Friday.

Hataman and Basilan Gov. Hajimin Saliman-Hataman led the turnover of the P150-million port facility.

Hataman said the project was part of the ARMM's commitment to pour infrastructure support into Basilan to enhance the economic development of the province. The move is meant to complement moves by security forces to stabilize the province and flush out the Abu Sayyaf Group.

ARMM Public Works Secretary Don Loong said the port expansion means it can now accommodate more vessels, including roll on/roll off boats.

He said the expansion readies Basilan for trade integration in the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines-East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

“It will lower the transport cost for the towns trading their goods outside,” Loong said.

Vice Mayor Roderick Furigay said the port facility will help boost economic activity in the city, which is a rich source of rubber and copra. The city is also a trading hub for aquaculture products from neighboring towns.

“When people start to get busy from economic activities, this will help defeat the security problem,” Furigay said, citing the lack of economic opportunities as the main cause of lawlessness in the past years.

ARMM Gov. Hataman vowed to continue building major infrastructure projects in the five provinces of the ARMM but appealed to the provincial and local governments to shoulder the cost of maintaining the projects.

The regional governor said docking ports will be established in all island towns of the region and assured residents that no province will be left out.

Hataman also inaugurated and turned over a P45-million water system in Maluso town.

ARMM surpasses investments target in 2016 by 235%

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY (PNA) -- Investment officials said the Regional Board of Investments in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has survived "difficult" year in 2016 and still surpassed its target of PHP900 million investment.

Lawyer Ishak Mastura, RBOI-ARMM chair, said it recorded a 236-percent increase from its 2016 investment goal in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Mastura said the feat came despite uncertainties in 2016 brought about by huge spending of the synchronized national and local elections and the rise in armed violence by criminal and insurgent gangs in the region and some parts of Mindanao.

He said in 2016, RBOI registered total investments of PHP2.11 billion due to the approval of the PHP1.3 billion palm oil plantation development project of the Gintong Agri Corporation and the 8 megawatt diesel power plant project of Kaltimex Rural Energy Corporation worth PHP811 million.

“Since 2013 to the present, the agency has registered a sum of PHP14 billion worth of investments project in the region," Mastura said.

"ARMM has been consistent in attracting investments of at least Php1 billion per year,” he added. The two companies are expected to employ 1,034 workers.

Aside from establishing a power plant in Tawi-Tawi, Kaltimex plans to expand its electrification project in Basilan and Sulu to help address the lack of power supply in the island provinces.

Mastura said the role of private sector investments is crucial to the poverty alleviation program of the government because of its interests in addressing power shortages in the off-grid areas of the region particularly its island provinces.

Without electric power, Mastura stressed, the economic conditions of the island provinces will be difficult to improve.

Mastura added that RBOI included energy-related projects in the 2017 ARMM List of Investment Priorities Plan (IPP). "Through the IPP, RBOI will be able to facilitate the granting of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to companies investing in power generating projects in ARMM," she said.

The agency has submitted to the DTI-National the ARMM list of IPP to be incorporated in the National IPP for the signing and approval of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte this January 2017.

Currently, about 50 percent of investments in the ARMM are agri-based and the bulk of it is located in Maguindanao.

This reflects also that agriculture and fishery is the region’s largest economic contributor in the GRDP which is 58.5 percent (PSA 2015).

About 25 percent of the total investments in ARMM are in the energy and petroleum sectors while 15 percent is in mining and quarrying industry. The remaining 10 percent is combined investments in housing, woodworks and trading industries.

ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman said he is optimistic that with President Duterte, a Mindanaon, he would give more focus on the peace and development of the region, so more investors will come and invest in the ARMM.

“We already have laid down the grounds for good governance and other interventions needed such as infrastructure support so businesses will thrive in the region," Hataman said.

ARMM gov't to turn over Php150-M Lamitan City port expansion project on Jan. 6

(PNA), LAP/NYP/

COTABATO CITY, Jan. 5 (PNA) -- Top officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are set to turnover on Friday, January 6, a Php150-million expanded port project to executives of Lamitan City, Basilan.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman is expected to lead other regional officials for the turnover rites.

Engr. Soler Undug, Basilan district engineer, said the port expansion – involving 80-meter long and 20-meter widened pier – would be able to accommodate more sea vessels, including Roll-on Roll-off Ro-Ro) ferries.

The ARMM’s Public Works and Highways funded the project through its 2016 infrastructure budget.

The construction of the project started in April 2016.

The ARMM has sea ports operating in Jolo, Sulu; Bongao, Tawi-Tawi and Lamitan City, Basilan; as well as the sub - ports of Siasi in Sulu; Maluso in Basilan; Mapun, Sitangkai; and Sibutu in Tawi-tawi.

The regional government also exercises regulatory powers over six private docks operating in the region.

“It will be an economic gain. With a bigger port, delivery of services would be more efficient and effective,” Hataman said.

In 2012, the regional government provided Php40 million for the initial expansion of the Lamitan port. Lamitan’s economy is based primarily on agriculture producing rice, tobacco, and garlic. Its major agricultural products include copra, rubber, and coffee.

At present, two passenger vessels serve the Lamitan City - Zamboanga City route.

Hataman said the regional government would continue to rehabilitate and improve the region’s ports.

“The development of ports in the region will help handle the smooth movement of goods and passengers,” Allan Pisingan, assistant general manager for operations of the Regional Ports Management Authority, stressed.

4,125 board feet of illegally cut logs turned over to DENR-ARMM

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

COTABATO CITY, Jan. 4 (PNA) -- Officials of Datu Blah Sinsuat, Maguindanao, turned over Wednesday a total of 4,125 board feet of illegally cut "Lawaan" hardwood to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-ARMM).

Maguindanao Environment and Natural Resources Officer Doming Dagadas said Datu Blah Sinsuat officials, with the help of police and the Marine Battalion Landing Team; intercepted the illegal wood shipment while loaded in a light vessel in Barangay Pura.

DENR-ARMM Secretary Kahal Kedtag has commended the local government unit for the efforts in protecting the forest and the coastal areas in the municipality.

“We have a total log ban in the ARMM so we have to thank the Datu Blah Sinsuat officials for their effort,” Kedtag said.

Former Datu Blah Sinsuat Mayor Marshal Sinsuat, a member of the town's natural resources watch group, said they would conduct investigation about the origin of the logs and identify its operators.

Just recently, the Maguindanao provincial government created the provincial Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force with Governor Esmael Mangudadatu as the chairman.

In 2011, ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman issued a directive creating the Regional Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force.

The formation of the task force was preceded by Hataman’s issuance of an order for a total log ban in the region.

Kedtag said his office would further strengthen its partnership with local government units to stop illegal logging activities in the ARMM.

Only last month, the DENR-ARMM seized 28,700 board feet of illegal logs in Maguing, Lanao del Sur, and ordered closure of three sawmills in the area.

Since the implementation of the log ban in the region, the total forest cover in ARMM increased by 6.8 percent, according to Kedtag.

‘Inaul’: Maguindano’s living weaving tradition

By Edgar Allan M. Sembrano Philippine Daily Inquirer

Unlike other traditional weaves from various ethnic groups in the country which now only uses loom products on special occasions, the inaul is still very much an everyday item in Maguindano province.

Inaul (also pronounced inol) is a time-honored weaving tradition of the Maguindanao people usually made into malong or wraparound skirts commonly and regularly used by both sexes.

The Maranaos of Marawi City also has this weaving tradition.

Maguindanao weaver Sittie Dumacil of Cotabato City said inaul has more than 20 designs with riyal the heirloom piece being the rarest since it is no longer being produced and hard to find.

Other notable designs include umpak which is embroidered-laden and hard to do, binaludto or rainbow, panigabi or taro, and the rare tie-dye binaludan called ikat by the T’boli and the people of Cordillera.

The three types of threads being used in weaving are tanor which is cottony, the silky rayon, and katiyado which is the shiny type.

Rayon and tanor can be mixed together to form a malong called “mestiza.”

The colors are also reflective of the Maguindanao culture. Red means bravery, green for peace, black for dignity, white for sadness and green means peace.

Today, inaul is no longer confined to malong and is now being made into modern clothing such as gowns, polo and trousers.

In an interview with Inquirer, Dumacil explained it could take a day and a half to three days before a malong could be finished depending on the level of difficulty of the design.

She said it is easier for them to learn the weaving techniques since it is already innate in them and that they learn it through observations compared to outsiders who can master the trade in three months.

She also said the Maguindanaos also make it a point the tradition lives on by passing it from generation to generation.

It is important that inaul is saved and further advanced since through this tradition, we show that the people of Mindanao are rich in culture, she added.

Cotabato City sets record: zero casualty in New Year revelry

By Ferdinandh B. Cabrera (FBC / MindaNews)

COTABATO CITY — Zero casualty.

For the first time in years, Cotabato City suffered no casualty from firecracker blasts or stray bullets as residents welcomed 2017.

Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi received a report from the City Health Office (CHO), Sunday afternoon that there were no reported or confined patients due to firecracker-related injuries during the countdown to 2016 and the early hours of 2017.

“Thank you Cotabatenios for the cooperation,” Sayadi said in her Facebook post

Sayadi earlier issued Executive Order 185, banning firecrackers and regulating the sale and use of fireworks in the city.

Despite the order, firecrackers still exploded and fireworks made the sky colorful, but they were few and far between.

Last year, the city recorded 10 cases of firecracker-related injuries.

Years ago, Cotabato City posted high number of casualties due to stray bullets. (Ferdinandh Cabrera /

In 2017, ARMM to continue fight vs conflicts with good governance

By John Unson (philstar.com)

COTABATO CITY — The year 2016 was a record year for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) where six of its local government units were cited for good governance for the first time since 1990.

Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza told The Star Sunday he was elated with the feat, which complements the efforts of Malacañang in restoring normalcy in conflict-stricken areas through good governance.

The government's separate peace overtures with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) that are being managed by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process are partly focused in addressing peace and security woes in far-flung areas through governance and other systematic interventions.

The ARMM has, in the past four years, been trying to sustain the fragile peace now in areas where there are MNLF and MILF enclaves through special socio-economic programs, among them the Health, Education, Livelihood and Peace Synergy (HELPS) and the Humanitarian Development Assistance Program (HDAP).

The ARMM was created in 1990 through a plebiscite that resulted in the ratification of its Congressional charter, the Republic Act 9054, which covers Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, which are both in central Mindanao, and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

The local government units (LGUs) of Maguindanao province, Lamitan City, and the North Upi, Parang and Wao municipalities were awarded last October 2016 by the central office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government with the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG).

"It was something we did not expect to happen so soon," said Mayor Ramon Piang of North Upi in the first district of Maguindanao.

North Upi and Parang towns are located in Maguindanao while Wao is a hinterland town in Lanao del Sur.

Lamitan City and Maguindanao have barely risen from the devastation wrought by secessionist conflicts that caused widespread poverty among constituent-communities.

Maguindanao, which has 36 towns, have just taken off from the adverse effects of the Nov. 23, 2009 “Maguindanao massacre,” the country’s worst election-related violence ever, and the “Mamasapano incident,” that shook the nation to its core and almost derailed the southern Mindanao peace process.

The SGLG is awarded on yearly basis to municipal, provincial and city governments that meet stringent standards, including sound financial administration, human security, disaster preparedness, business competitiveness and peace and security management.

Local officials said it was only in the past four years that the ARMM started to rise as a functional regional government. So mismanaged was ARMM by past governors that its regional government became known as a hotbed of corruption.

All of its five component provinces were also tagged as “electoral cheating capitals” of the country and bastions of extremists, whose activities are detrimental to government’s domestic peace and development programs.

Lamitan City Mayor Rose Furigay told The STAR they attribute their having received the SGLG from DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno to ARMM’s current education, social welfare, health and infrastructure programs.

“Credit also goes to all our barangay leaders who are helping the city government spread economic progress to all of its component-barangays,” Furigay told The STAR via mobile phone on Sunday.

Furigay said the projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways-ARMM and its eight subordinate-district engineering offices in the region, among them market centers, seaports, concrete roads, health facilities and schools buildings hastened the delivery of services by the six LGUs that received the SGLG for 2016.

“With these infrastructure facilities rising everywhere, we are confident more LGUs in the autonomous region will receive the SGLG in the coming years,” Furigay said.

Ishak Mastura, chairman of the Regional Board of Investments, said more than P3 billion worth of capitals for various business ventures had been poured into the autonomous region in the past three years by local and foreign investors.

“We’ve had some security problems in the past three years but all were `pocket conflicts’ in remote areas that did not affect the business climate in the trading centers in the provincial and most municipal capitals,” Mastura said.

Mastura said they are expecting an upswing in the economy of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi island provinces with the entry of a big off-grid power supplier, the Kaltimex Energy Corporation, to provide an adequate supply of electricity to the three areas.

“These island provinces cannot connect to the national grid providing power to mainland Mindanao due to geographical constraints. Once fully energized, these areas will surely improve security and investment-wise,” Mastura said.

Mastura said the conflicts that rocked certain far-flung areas in the autonomous region in the past four years only involved small groups whose activities the local communities rabidly oppose.

“We’ve had some problems caused by the Abu Sayyaf and by small militant forces claiming loyalty to the Independent State of Iraq and Syria, small groups that do not have the capability to wage bigger wars against the government,” Mastura said.

A check at the office of the government’s Coordinating Committee on Cessation of Hostilities, which deals with a counterpart panel in the MILF, showed that there has not been a single encounter between the military and the MILF in any of the ARMM’s 116 towns in the past six years.

Many ARMM towns are strongholds of the MILF, which has a current peace overture with the national government through Dureza's office, aimed at ending the now four-decade Moro secessionist uprising in the country’s south.

The government and the MILF are also focused on restoring normalcy in conflict-stricken ARMM towns through bilateral infrastructure, education and social welfare interventions.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu said the SGLG citation his province got from the central office of DILG will improve the business climate in the province.

“We are confident more investors would be coming over to venture into various agricultural projects that can generate employment for our people,” Mangudadatu said.

Maguindanao now boasts of more than 10,000 hectares of Cavendish banana and oil palm plantations established jointly in the past six years by allied local and foreign capitalists Mangudadatu convinced to put up viable projects in the province.

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