Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao News June 2018

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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.

ARMM launches villages’ expo on Bangsamoro’s rich cultures, history

(BPI-ARMM/PIA-10)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, June 19 (PIA) -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is showcasing and promoting the region’s grandest mock tribal villages narrating the variety of cultures, traditions, history, and oneness of the Bangsamoro people.

The ARMM villages’ expo was launched on June 18 inside the Office of the Regional Governor’s Compound, Cotabato City to give the visitors a snapshot of the Moro’s vast cultural heritage.

“People will experience the beauty of the culture of the Bangsamoro people. We will provide them a complete image of what ARMM has,” said ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman.

The exhibit focuses on celebrating the diversity of cultures of the region’s five component provinces that will form part of the 29th founding anniversary of the region.

The villages feature a wide array of traditional living, tribal communities, livelihood, heritage, arts, cuisines, and products.

Through the villages, people will be able to recognize and appreciate the similarities and the differences of the Moro culture.

Lawyer Rasol Mitmug Jr., Department of Education (Deped)-ARMM Secretary and a chieftain in a village in Lanao del Sur, said to capture the feel of his province, the mock village built Plaza Cabili, a landmark at the Islamic City of Marawi ruined during last year’s conflict.

The Lanao del Sur village, which carries the tagline, ‘Sarimanok Rising,' also features the Torogan or House of the Sultan that displays different artifacts of Maranaos.

“We also emphasize the Maranao’s entrepreneurial side that’s why we built a Padian, or market. We will also have the replica of the Bacolod Grande Mosque,” Mitmug said.

The Tawi-Tawi village or the Island Paradise as described by its chieftain Secretary Dyan Sangkula Jumaide of ARMM’s Agrarian Reform Department is the simplest village among the participating provinces.

“We prefer to depict the real life of Tawi-Tawians, which is peaceful and simple,” Jumaide said.

The village has set up the Sheikh Makhdum mosque and mimics the scenery of the province with its white sand beach - Panampangan, Bud Bongao, and Tabu or the public market.

Tagged as the Pearl of Sulu Sea, the Sulu Village highlights the Astanah Darul Jambangan, a wooden life-size replica of the royal palace of the Sultanate of Sulu.

Don Mustapha Loong, Public Works and Highways-ARMM Secretary and Sulu Village chieftain, said the Astana Darul Jambangan narrates the fact that the Sulu Sultanate already exists prior to the arrival of the Spaniards and the creation of the Philippine government.

The Sulu Village is the largest structure among the five villages built by far. It features the different cultures, arts, flags, handicrafts, swords, food and information areas.

For the province of Maguindanao, two of its well-preserved artifacts will be featured in its village — the Lantaka (cannon) and the largest Kampilan (sword).

A replica of Tulugan, (torrogan) or the House of the Sultan, was also built as the main attraction inside the village, which symbolizes the government of Maguindanaons.

Inside the Tulugan are various ancient instruments of the Maguindanaon tribe, which include Gandigan and Kulintang and the traditional weaves such as Inaul, Tudung, and Galang.

Also in the Maguindanao village is a replica of the Quirino Bridge and Padian or market.

In Basilan’s tribal village, Yakan cloth called Tennun, is seen all over. “The Basilan village uses the tagline ‘Weavers of Peace’ as the Yakans are basically weavers of peace,” said Lawyer Laisa Alamia Executive Secretary and Basilan village chieftain.

A traditional house blessing will be performed in the Basilan village wherein dancers, together with the governor, mayors and other officials of the province will welcome visitors to the village.

Each village will have its daily activities and will be open to the public until the end of December.

Galvez lauds MSU grads for pursuing studies amid Marawi conflict

By Priam Nepomuceno (With reports from Jahziel Manalo, OJT/PNA)

MANILA -- Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Carlito Galvez, Jr., lauded the courage of students and faculty members of the Mindanao State University (MSU) main campus in Marawi City for having the courage to proceed with their academic schedules despite the ongoing battle between goverment troops and Maute-ISIS terrorists last year.

Galvez made the remark during MSU's 53rd commencement exercises on Wednesday.

“Such brave act became the symbol of hope among Maranaos and even our soldiers that Marawi City will soon recover and return to normal,” Galvez said in his speech before the 2,000 students who successfully graduated.

During the Marawi crisis, the AFP deployed additional troops to augment the security of MSU from external and internal threats. Despite the heavy firefight, the MSU opened its gates to the students who were determined to finish their education.

In July last year, around 1,700 MSU graduates held their commencement exercises outside the main campus due to the ongoing firefight between government troops and ISIS-inspired terrorists.

“Today, we welcome two thousand students who brought us hope in their success, your resilience to continue your studies despite the Marawi crisis inspired your soldiers. I’m supposed to give you an inspirational message today on your graduation but you instead inspired me, inspired the Armed Forces,” the AFP chief said.

The Marawi Crisis started May 23, 2017 when Maute-ISIS terrorists made simultaneous attacks against police, military and civilian targets in the city. It was only declared over in late October when military units successfully neutralized Abu Sayyaf leader and ISIS Emir in Southeast Asia, Isnilon Hapilon.

“Rest assured that the AFP is always here to conquer every obstacle and defeat every enemy in order to keep this region peaceful and protect the people from the grips of harm,” he added.

Roque: ARMM, Cotabato City register highest employment rates

By Noel Punzalan (PNA)

COTABATO CITY--The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has registered the highest employment rate in the country for the month of January this year, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Tuesday.

“The ARMM recorded the highest employment rate of 97.4 percent. That means only 3.6 percent are unemployed in the region,” Roque said in a press conference here, referring to records provided by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Tailing the ARMM is Cotabato City, which posted 96.2 percent employment rate. “This is above the national average of 94.7 percent,” Roque noted.

He congratulated both ARMM and Cotabato City for the achievement, noting the positive turnaround of the area once labeled as one of the poorest in the country.

“Change has indeed come for what used to be one of the poorest regions in the country,” Roque said.

Likewise, he acknowledged Cotabato City as the country’s leader in the Halal industry.

“We are pleased to announce that the city has the great potential on leading the country in the global Halal industry,” the Palace official said.

He said such was made possible through the Department of Science and Technology regional office that piloted the development of Halal premium brands locally.

Roque also lauded the Department of Agriculture for partnering with the Halal program management office in developing the industry as this would help much the Halal trade in the Philippines and enhance its capabilities in global competitiveness.

Roque was in Cotabato City as special guest to the graduation rites of close to 2,000 tertiary level students of the state-run Cotabato City Polytechnic College, during which, he encouraged learners to take advantage of the government’s free tertiary education program in state colleges and universities.

Army helps end 20-year bloody clan war in Maguindanao

(PNA)

GENERAL SALIPADA K. PENDATUN, Maguindanao – The military facilitated here Friday the settlement of a 20-year-old clan war that has claimed the lives of a dozen persons from both sides.

The feud settlement was historic and timely as it came during the Eid’l Fitr or the end of fasting month of Ramadhan on Friday, said Lt. Colonel Harold Cabunoc, commander of the 33rd Infantry Battalion.

Cabunoc, along with local stakeholders, helped broker the peaceful settlement between the families of Guiamadel Sinumagan, 50, and Castro Mohammad, 47, both of Midpandacan village, upon their request.

"I would like to help in settling all disputes that had claimed numerous lives. Ridos are drivers of armed conflicts that pave the way for the rise of violent extremism in Central Mindanao," Cabunoc said.

Teary-eyed, Guiamadel said he was very grateful for the efforts of the military in helping them bring about peace in their community. "I am tired fighting against blood relatives and fellow Muslims. We need to give a brighter future for our children," Guiamadel shared.

Mohammad, village chair of Midpandacan, for his part, shared Guiamadel's sentiment, saying they have been desiring for peace for so long.

"As the newly elected village chairman, I will serve you all faithfully. Let us put all these bad memories behind us," he said.

Held in a makeshift waiting shed beside an abandoned school, the “rido” settlement was also witnessed by Lieutenant Colonel Lauro Oliveros, commanding officer of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion, Gen. SK Pendatun Vice Mayor Salman Kali, and local Muslim religious leader Datu Bimbo Ali.

Military officials have helped settled two big family feuds over the past several months, in which the warring clans turned over five high powered firearms that include one .50-caliber Barrett sniper rifle, an M-14 rifle, and three Garand rifles.

Pay hike for workers in ARMM, Eastern Visayas approved

By Ferdinand Patinio (PNA)

MANILA -- The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPB) representing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Eastern Visayas have approved upward adjustments in the pay of minimum wage earners in the two regions.

Based on Wage Order No. ARMM-17, effective Friday (June 15), RTWPB-ARMM has approved a PHP15 wage adjustment in the daily income of non-agriculture and agriculture workers.

For non-agriculture workers, or those in the industrial, manufacturing, construction, commercial, and mining sectors, as well as the academe, their daily take home pay will now be PHP280 from only PHP265.

As for agriculture (plantation and non-plantation) workers, they will be receiving PHP270 from only PHP255 per day as a result of the latest wage order.

The wage increase will be effective in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, the cities of Lamitan in Basilian, and Marawi in Lanao del Sur.

Meanwhile, the wage hike to be implemented in Eastern Visayas will range from PHP20 to PHP30 a day. This, after the RTWPB there released Wage Order No. RB VIII-20, which will take effect on June 25.

The salary increase covers non-agriculture, cottage/handicraft, retail/service and agriculture employees in the provinces of Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Samar, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, and the cities of Tacloban, Ormoc, Maasin, Catbalogan, Borongan, Baybay, and Calbayog.

According to RTWPB-8 (Eastern VIsayas), minimum wage earners in the non-agriculture sector will get an additional PHP20 in their salaries, thus increasing their daily income to PHP305 from PHP285.

For employees in sugar mills and retail/service employing 11 up to 30 workers, an additional PHP30 will be given to them. As such, their daily salaries will increase to PHP305 from PHP275.

As for those employed in cottage/handicraft, a total of PHP22 will be added to their present daily earning of PHP253. They will receive a total of PHP275 per day in the next pay day after the effectivity of the wage order.

An additional PHP30 will be given to retail/service employing 10 workers and less. Their daily pay will therefore increase to PHP275 from only PHP245 today.

In the agriculture sector, non-sugar workers’ daily pay will increase to PHP275 from PHP251 with an increase of PHP24, while sugar farm employees will receive an additional PHP30, making their daily wage increase to PHP275 from PHP245.

Earlier, RTWPB-6 (Western Visayas) has approved an additional PHP41.50 in the salary of minimum wage earners in non-agricultural jobs in Western Visayas, now amounting to PHP365.

In establishments with less than 10 employees, RTWPB-6 added PHP23.50 to the daily pay, to increase their minimum wage rate to PHP295.

For those in agricultural jobs, they will receive an additional PHP13.50 to their daily pay, bringing their wage rate to PHP295.

Marawi gets Oxfam, PayMaya aid

By(Manila Bulletin)

To help in the rehabilitation of internally displaced people (IDP) in the city of Marawi a year after the armed conflict broke out, international aid organization Oxfam in cooperation with PayMaya Philippines, Philippine Risk Reduction Network and other partners recently launched a financial assistance program aimed at purchasing food, basic needs, and livelihood back with the help of cashless technologies.

Through the Inclusive and Affordable Financial Facilities for Resilient and Developed Filipinos (iAFFORD) and Financial Inclusion for the Recovery of Marawi (FIRM) Project, at least 15,000 internally displaced families will benefit from the distribution of iAFFORD cards, an all-in-one ID and PayMaya VISA card where they can immediately receive financial assistance from governments and other aid agencies.

The iAFFORD cards provide a mechanism for residents to transact for business and day-to-day needs, which is crucial in helping rehabilitate their lives and livelihood. Aside from serving as a payment card, the iAFFORD cards also serve as identification for the beneficiaries, which is often one of the first to go missing in places ravaged by calamity, disaster or armed conflict.

The project has also partnered with Smart Padala to serve as the fastest means for beneficiaries to access financial services by adding money to or withdraw funds from their accounts as the formal community-based financial infrastructure in the evacuation centers, resettlement sites and other area undergoing rehabilitation

Peaceful celebration of Eid’l Fitr in Cotabato noted

By Noel Punzalan (PNA)

COTABATO CITY – Thousands of Muslim faithful gathered in various congregational prayer venues here Friday as they celebrated Eid’l Fitr, the culmination of the month-long fasting period of Ramadan.

Local law enforcement units remained on alert although no major untoward incidents were reported across the city.

“The celebration (Eid’l Fitr) has been generally peaceful. So far, so good,” said Senior Supt. Rolly Octavio, city police director.

Mayor Cynthia Guiani–Sayadi has earlier urged Cotabateños to celebrate the event solemnly and peacefully with family and friends.

Sayadi warned that police would arrest violators for indiscriminate firing of guns, and igniting of fireworks, among others, during the festivity.

“Fortunately, there were no reported indiscriminate firing of guns in the air, no firecracker bursts, no victims of stray bullets whatsoever in the city compared to same event in the past,” said Halima Satol-Ibrahim, city information officer.

However, traffic though stalled in several areas of the city due to the Eid’l congregational prayer events at the Cotabato City Central Pilot School along Sinsuat Avenue; the Bolkiah Grand Mosque in Timako area; and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) complex along Governor Gutierrez Avenue.

In the ARMM complex alone, an estimated 3,000 people gathered in the morning prayers. In the ARMM, meanwhile, close to four million Muslims are expected to celebrate the three-day Eid’l Fitr over the weekend in the cities of Marawi and Lamitan, and the provinces of Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, and Lanao del Sur.

“Banded together–as peers and friends, as families, as communities, as one people sharing the same aspirations–we become even more mindful of the greatness we can achieve through Allah,” ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said in a statement.

He said that Ramadan is a time of both reflection and struggle amid so many choices even as Muslims are taught to submit to the will of Allah; to side with what is kind, just, and good; to be cleansed of negativity, and emerge from every challenge with peace and greater clarity of purpose.

During Eid al-Fitr, Muslims congregate in open areas to perform prayers followed by a short sermon given by the Imam, or worship leader.

Family gatherings, feasts, visits to relatives and friends, and exchanging of gifts are part of the celebration. Malacañang has declared Friday, June 15, a regular holiday throughout the country in observance of Eid’l Fitr.

Exhibitors raise P13M in Ramadan trade fair

(Politiko Mindanao)

The Ramadan Trade Fair has generated P13 million sales during the month-long activity, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) said.

The trade fair, which showcased the ARMM’s best goods and services, ran from May 11 to June 14 in Cotabato City.

“The fair has generated a total of P13,082,270 sales since its opening on May 11, with 75 food and non-food exhibitors,” said ARMM Bureau of Public Information (BPI).

Of the 75 booths, 20 were provided to some displaced residents of Marawi City.

Each of the Marawi exhibitors received P45,000 as start-up capital, ARMM BPI said.

Fry Eat House of Mozarella stall has been awarded the best-dressed booth and its owners received a cash price and a certificate.

Groundbreaking of Marawi City rehab moved to July

By VIRGIL LOPEZ (NB/RSJ, GMA News)

The groundbreaking for the rehabilitation of the former battle zone in Marawi City has been moved to the first week of July as the government is still selecting the private developer that will be tasked to rebuild the area.

Groundbreaking for the rehabilitation of the 250-hectare most affected area was initially set for the third week of June.

However, Task Force Bangon Marawi chairperson Eduardo del Rosario said Friday the government is still finalizing its negotiation with the Bangon Marawi Consortium, which proposed to rebuild the most affected area for P16 billion.

“And if there will be a successful negotiation that would be declared by Monday [June 11], then on Tuesday [June 12] the Swiss challenge will start,” Del Rosario told reporters in Malacañang.

A Swiss challenge allows other interested developers to give counter proposals for the project covering Marawi's ground zero that is composed of 24 out of 96 barangays in the city.

The government aims to finish by December 2021 the rehabilitation of the most affected area that was leveled by five-month fighting between government troops and Maute rebels last year.

Among the infrastructure and facilities to be built on the ground zero are ports and wharves within Lanao Lake, schools, and wider road networks with underground utilities for power, water, and telecommunication similar to the design of Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

Also to be built are sewage treatment plants, convention center, museum, parking building, peace memorial park, market, sanitary landfill, and lakeside promenade.

The task force said Gomisa Avenue will be transformed into a pedestrian street to create a commercial center similar to the bustling shopping district of Myeong-dong in Seoul, South Korea.

Around P72 billion to P75 billion would have to be spent to rebuild Marawi and the towns of Butig and Piagapo in Lanao del Sur based on government estimates.

TESDA allots 3K scholarship slots for MILF, MNLF members

By Ma. Cristina Arayata (PNA)

MANILA -- The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is allotting 3,000 scholarship slots for members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

"This is the first time we have allotted scholarship slots for them," TESDA Deputy Director General Alvin Feliciano told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Tuesday.

Feliciano said the move aims to help uplift the lives of members of the MILF and MNLF, by providing them free training and assessment.

"We want them to get jobs or livelihood, and also to make them active participants of various government programs," he added.

Those who will avail of the scholarship can choose from such courses as agriculture, automotive, construction, tourism, metals and engineering, heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration, semiconductor, electronics, furniture and fixtures, garment and textile, health, and social services.

These courses can be taken within 40 days or less, according to TESDA.

The agency eyes MILF and MNLF members from Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, and Zamboanga to benefit from this program. They will also be provided with training support fund.

All they have to do is to go to the TESDA office in their areas, and enlist themselves.

Meanwhile, TESDA had also provided scholarships for communist rebel returnees.

"We have offered the same program to the members of the CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army)," Feliciano said, pointing out that this time, the agency has allotted slots for the MILF and MNLF.

ARMM gov't distributes aid for 10K displaced residents

By Noel Punzalan (PNA)

COTABATO CITY – Relief workers have begun distribution Monday of food packs to 1, 793 families or some 10,000 individuals affected by Sunday’s military operation against IS-linked elements of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao.

Myrna Jocelyn Henry, information officer of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao – Humanitarian Emergency Assistance Response Team (ARMM-HEART) said they have initially served three evacuation centers in Pagalungan town where the 1,793 families are temporarily housed.

“The evacuees are housed in evacuation centers set up at Mahad, the Poblacion market, and the town’s covered court,” she said.

Henry said that ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia, concurrent regional social welfare chief, led the distribution at relief goods comprising of rice, bread, noodles, mineral water, malong (Muslim tube garment), and hygiene kits that could last for the next three days.

In Pagalungan alone, at least six villages were affected, namely Buliok, Bago-enged, Dalgan, Bulod, Kalbugan, and Kudal. “Separate ARMM–HEART teams were also dispatched to look into reports of evacuation from the towns of Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun in Maguindanao and Pikit, North Cotabato,” Henry said.

On Sunday, thousands of evacuees fled to safety as military helicopter gunships, backed by artillery fire, launched a pre-dawn attack on BIFF positions in the marshland bordering the towns of Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun and Pagalungan in Maguindanao, and Pikit in North Cotabato.

The miitary said the strikes against the BIFF led to the destruction of a bomb-making factory, death of 15 terrorists and wounding of eight others, as well as the capture of BIFF bomb maker Ustadz Anwar Ali alias "Abu Omar", and his wife Asnaya.

Preparations up for 59th Araw ng Cotabato

By Noel Punzalan (PNA)

COTABATO CITY--Preparations are underway for the city’s 59th Araw ng Cotabato celebration this year, the city information office said.

Halima Satol-Ibrahim, city information office chief, said the nine-day festivity would start on June 12 to coincide with the country’s celebration of its 120th Independence Day and end on June 20, the city’s Charter Day.

“Arrangements are nearing completion as the city government and its partners finalize activities for the festivity,” Satol-Ibrahim said.

She said that currently, an Inaul Fabric Exhibit is being staged at the old city hall building-turned-museum displaying distinctive textiles that depict the city's meaningful history and colorful tapestry.

Among the activities lined up are sports events, boat race, duathlon, cultural presentations and a cooking showdown. Eight gorgeous Cotabateñas will also vie for the highly-anticipated Mutya ng Cotabato tilt.

Satol-Ibrahim added that a sing and dance competition and a local artist workshop are also included in the activities to showcase homegrown talents.

“You can expect only a better and developing Cotabato City this year,” she said of the upcoming celebration.

Like BGC, Myeong-dong: Gov’t unveils ambitious plan for Marawi ground zero

ByDharel Placido (ABS-CBN News)

MANILA - The government on Friday revealed the list of infrastructure and facilities it plans to build on the so-called ground zero of war-torn Marawi City, including underground power and telecommunications cables similar to what can be found in the country’s premier financial district.

The Task Force Bangon Marawi said at least P16-billion will be set aside for the rehabilitation of the city’s “most affected area,” composed of 24 of Marawi’s 96 barangays which saw the heaviest fighting between government troops and Islamic State terrorists last year.

The task force, led by housing czar Eduardo del Rosario, said the most affected area’s power and telecommunication lines will be built underground, similar to those found in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig, where the bustling Bonifacio Global City financial district is located.

The other infrastructure and facilities to be built in the ground zero include a 1,500-seating capacity convention center, the Grand Padian Market, the Peace Memorial Park and Heroes Monument, a central transport terminal, ports and wharves along the Lanao Lake, a museum showcasing the Maranao culture, a tertiary 100-bed hospital, and a lakeside promenade.

The government also plans to build 16 2-storey school buildings and a 10-hectare sanitary landfill.

The city’s Gomisa Avenue will also be transformed into a pedestrian street teeming with commercial establishments reminiscent of the Myeong-dong shopping hub in South Korea, the task force’s video presentation said.

Del Rosario said construction of all the infrastructure within the most affected area will take about 3 years.

The area will be developed by the Bangon Marawi Consortium, a group of Chinese and Filipino firms. The consortium’s proposal will be subjected to a Swiss challenge.

Del Rosario said negotiations between the government and the consortium are now on the final stretch. He said the Swiss challenge, which has been delayed several times, may finally be held on June 12. Groundbreaking of the site will be on the first week of July, he added.

PDEA, Army bust 4 in Cotabato, Maguindanao

ByBy JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL (TMT)

SIONGCO, AWANG, DATU ODIN SINSUAT, MAGUINDANAO: Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-ARMM) with Army’s 5th Special Forces Battalion arrested four suspects, including two high-value targets.

Capt. Arvin Encinas, 6th Infantry Division (6ID) spokesman, identified the two under PDEA-ARMM drug watchlist as Alton Sansawi Racman, alias Ellie, 27, and Nasrolah Sambolawan Salipada, 33.

The two were caught after handing over shabu for P65,000 to poseur buyer at a business establishment along Sinsuat Ave., Barangay Rosary Heights 10, Cotabato City.

Seized from suspects were two heat-sealed plastic containing shabu weighing 25 grams and 50 grams estimated at P510,000. Similarly, Bong Kanakan, 31, and Sadam Mamonlintao, 27, both of Datu Piang, Maguindanao were found with a sachet of shabu at a military checkpoint in Barangay Kanguan, Datu Piang.

Swiss challenge for Marawi rehab may start next week

By Arjay L. Balinbin

THE Swiss challenge for proposals on the rehabilitation of Marawi City will start on Tuesday should negotiations with a consortium be successful, the concerned government inter-agency task force group announced on Friday.

Eduardo D. del Rosario, chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM), said in a press briefing at the Palace on Friday that the Swiss challenge period for Marawi rehabilitation proposals will begin on Tuesday next week.

“As of today, nasa finishing touches na ‘yung negotiation with the Bangon Marawi Consortium (BCM). And if there will be a successful negotiation that would be declared by Monday, then on Tuesday the Swiss challenge will start,” Mr. del Rosario said.

The official added the groundbreaking ceremony will take place by “first week of July.”

Asked why the agency keeps changing the schedule, Mr. del Rosario explained: “We do not like to rush things. Otherwise hindi natin makikita ng maganda yung specifications at quality na gagawin na mga infrastructures. Madugo ang aming ginagawang negotiations, we do not want na ma-compromise ang quality as well as the cost.”

Asked whether the said schedule is already final, Mr. del Rosario said it is “90-95% final for now.”

“Everything is fluid. We are working on a timetable. Maybe July 5-6 (for the groundbreaking) is [also] 90-95% accurate.”

The rehabilitation plan, according to Mr. del Rosario, will be presented to President Rodrigo R. Duterte at the next Cabinet meeting.

For his part, Col. Antonio Z. Francisco, Jr. of the Civil Relations Services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported the amount of “P38.8 million for surveying of Camp Ranao and the P51.3 million intended for purchase of land area for a military camp have been approved.”

On the opening of classes in Marawi City, HUDCC Secretary Falconi V. Millar said over 14,000 students are currently enrolled in more than 30 primary and secondary public schools for the School Year2018-2019.

“There are 47 schools outside the most affected area (MAA), but some schools that are too close to each other were merged by the Department of Education DepEd) instead in order to maximize the resources and manpower,” he said.

SoKor commits to assist Marawi rehab

By Jelly Musico (PNA)

MANILA -- The South Korean government is committed to assist the Philippines’ rehabilitation program for war-torn Marawi City, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said Tuesday.

“The Korean government said that they are committed to assist us in the Marawi rehabilitation program,” Dominguez said in a press briefing in Seoul, South Korea.

He said South Korea is just waiting for final plans “so we can ask them exactly what we need from them.”

“They did not mention any amount but definitely, I think it's going to be very substantial,” Dominguez told Filipino reporters covering President Rodrigo Duterte’s three-day official visit to South Korea.

According to Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM), at least PHP75 billion would be needed to rebuild Marawi City, which was ravaged by a five-month war between government troops and the Islamic State-inspired Maute Group.

The 2017 Marawi siege had left 167 soldiers, more than 1,000 Maute fighters, and 47 civilians dead. It also displaced 359,000 people.

The TBFM said total damages and losses had reached PHP18 billion, mostly in 24 barangays covering 250 hectares of the most-affected area or ground zero.

Recently, the task force has been negotiating with the Bangon Marawi Consortium, which submitted a proposal amounting to PHP17.2 billion to rebuild the most-affected area.

The contract is expected to come out soon but TBFM clarified that it will be subjected to a Swiss challenge, where other companies can bid to match the consortium’s proposal.

The consortium is composed of five Chinese and four Filipino companies.

The TFBM said it will take three years to rebuild the most-affected area.

Dominguez said the Korean government is very supportive of the actions of the Duterte administration.

The President’s three-day official visit to Seoul, at the invitation of South Korean President Moon Jae-in, has yielded USD4.9-billion worth of investments, according to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

Army recruits to train as peace builders

By Edwin Fernandez (PNA)

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao--The military here said Wednesday that the latest Army recruits who will undergo a six-month basic military training will also be trained as peacemakers to help protect people of various faiths.

Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana, the commander of the 6th Infantry Division (6ID), said the 285 candidate soldiers, 29 of whom are women, will have special lectures on peace advocacy in complex communities they are going to serve in Central Mindanao.

The second batch of candidate soldiers had started their rigid military training at the Division Training School in Barangay Semba, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

Sobejana said the candidate-soldiers will be trained about insights on peacebuilding to prepare them to engaged in areas where Muslim-Christian and Lumad settlers co-exist.

Sobejana, himself a peace advocate, said outside military duties, the soldiers of the 6ID are trained peace-builders as well, giving primacy on the peace process between the government and Moro rebels.

The 6ID covers the provinces of Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, and parts of North Cotabato and Lanao del Sur.

Cotabato City opens Inaul fabric exhibit

(Politiko Mindanao)

Cotabato City kicked off Monday the 59th Araw ng Cotabato with the opening of the Inaul Fabric Exhibit.

The month-long exhibit at the Old City Hall showcases the grandeur of Inaul—a traditional fabric depicting the rich Muslim culture and heritage.

Striking as its intricate designs and patterns, the Inaul Fabric Exhibit highlights the various Inaul fabric varieties, actual weaving loom, and photographs of Inaul clothing wore in the Philippine Fashion Runway, the city government said.

The exhibit was realized to “relive” the city’s heritage targeting the younger generation or the millennials, it said.

It noted that Inaul has slowly become outmoded by modernization and advancement.

“This (exhibit) is for our young ones to get to know our rich culture, and to recognize the identity of Cotabato City,” said Vice Mayor Hon. Graham Nazer G. Dumama.

The Inaul Fabric Exhibit will run until June 29 as an effort to preserve the city’s culture and the arts, and live up with its adage as the “City of Cultural Charms,” the local government said.

DTI-ARMM perks up after good sale of halal delicacies in food expo

By Manuel Cayon

DAVAO CITY—The warm reception by food connoisseurs and food exposition visitors to two halal delicacies at the International Food Exposition in Manila has perked up the interest of the Department of Trade and Industry’s office in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DTI-Armm).

So much so that the DTI-Armm plans to support the products so these meet international standards of packaging.

According to Prince Shoudery Galo, Trade and Industry Development specialist of the DTI-ARMM, they were surprised to the warm reception given to the locally produced delicacy chips, or tipas, and the coconut sugar.

“During the first day, we already sold more than 1,000 packs of sweet and spicy tipas and 500 packs of coco sugar,” Galo said. “Aside from its all-natural ingredients, both are halal-certified products, too.”

The tipas, a sugar-coated flour, is produced in Maguindanao, while the coco sugar is locally manufactured in Sulu.

Several other products from the ARMM were being exhibited and displayed at this year’s International Food Exhibit (Ifex) at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. The Ifex has put up the Mindanao Pavilion to showcase all the specialty products and commodities from the six regions of the island, including those of the ARMM.

The ARMM is composed of the Central Mindanao provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, and the southwestern-most island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

The DTI-ARMM would want to explore the possibility of getting the assisted products with bar codes and comply with the international standards. Galo said doing so would allow the products join the export market.

The DTI-ARMM helps small-scale producers in the region so they come up with products that are well-packaged and labelled.

“We conduct training on proper product development, labeling, packaging and marketing to the five provinces with between eight and 15 MSMEs [micro-, small- and medium-scale enterprise] per province,” Galo added.

The ARMM was represented in the Ifex by The Moropreneur Inc. (TMI) and Tubig Samin Agricultural Producer Cooperative. The two companies are local consolidators of agricultural products in the region.

Other products seen with “vast potential” for commercial production were mostly agri-based food products, such as cassava, palay, coconut, corn, seaweed and rubber.

The ARMM has posted noticeable growth over the decade, and posted 7.3-percent gross regional domestic product growth last year. This figure outpaced the growth by the National Capital Region, at 6.1 percent, and including the national growth rate of 6.7 percent.

The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) said the growth was primarily brought by the recovery of the agriculture sector, which resulted to the improvement in production of crops, livestock and poultry.

“This truly defines the resilience of ARMM, to be able top the country’s growing regional economies amidthe turmoil that hit the region last year,” MinDA Secretary Datu Abul Khayr Alonto said.

FAO, New Zealand to provide P130-M assistance to ARMM

By Yas D. Ocampo

Davao City – The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has signed an agreement with the Embassy of New Zealand for an assistance worth P130 million that would benefit areas in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The document was signed during the introduction of the honorary consuls in Davao and Cebu earlier this week at the Marco Polo Davao here.

The amount would benefit around 3,000 households in North Cotabato and Maguindanao, according to New Zealand Ambassador David Strachan.

Both offices noted that there was an immediate need for providing aid in terms of funding for agriculture, as the Philippines is expected to sign a law that would create a Bangsamoro region to replace the ARMM.

“We aim to create opportunities to increase people’s incomes, facilitate linkages with the value chain, ensure market opportunities in growth centers and help communities to become more proactive in dealing with future shocks,” Jose Luis Fernandez, FAO representative to the Philippines, said.

The funding is intended to finance projects in support of food security, farming inputs and machinery, as well as trainings and post-harvest facilities.

The New Zealand Government, through its ministry here, has also pledged to assist in the rehabilitation of Marawi City, a year after martial law was declared in the entire island of Mindanao following a siege in the Islamic City.

ARMM HEART launches rescue ops in flooded Maguindanao barangays

(with Ferdinandh Cabrera/LBG, GMA News)

Members of the the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao rescue team launched a rescue operation early Saturday morning in flooded areas in Maguindanao.

ARMM Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team (HEART) Rescue Team members, with their rubber boats, rushed to Barangay Tariken, Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao, which was hit by severe floods due to continuous heavy rains.

Six families from the barangay, about 15 people mostly women and children, were rescued in the operation that began at about 5 a.m.

Flash floods hit low-lying barangays in Sultan Mastura, the ARMM HEART said.

Earlier, state weather bureau PAGASA said that some parts of the Mindanao will experience thunderstorms and moderate to heavy rain showers as the low-pressure area east of Surigao del Sur draws near, threatening to intensify into a tropical depression in the next 24 to 48 hours.

DepEd to use clustering system in Marawi on school opening

By Ma. Teresa Montemayor (PNA)

MANILA -- To ensure that all Marawi learners would be accommodated come opening of classes on June 4, Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Tonisito Umali said a clustering system will be done in the region.

"We will do clustering. Some students will be brought to the adjacent schools," Umali told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in an interview on Thursday.

"We were not able to rehabilitate all schools, especially those in ground zero. There's no way they can be rebuilt from the same site or location. You need to find another location, so that means the 69 schools have been reduced to around 40," he said.

Umali noted that DepEd had issued an order saying Marawi learners are free to transfer to another school if they no longer want to return to the city.

"We should be lenient about the traditional transfer requirements and everything could be 'to follow', considering the tragedy that happened to them," he said.

Umali added that the displaced Marawi learners would be given focus to make sure they would not become victims of bullying.

Some 30,000 Marawi learners have reportedly been displaced by the five-month conflict between the military and Maute Group terrorists last year.

Even though they don't have the final statistics yet, Umali assured there are enough teachers to serve Marawi learners come June 4.

In an earlier statement, Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said, “We want the opening of this school year to be without difficulty for our learners and personnel, especially those from Marawi, who have endured so much in the past year. We want them to be able to enroll and attend the first day of classes with less concerns."

Briones said the affected learners and personnel must "take a step from the shadow of the war and look forward to learning as their link to normalcy in the present and hope for the future."

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