Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao News March 2014

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

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

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

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

WHY??

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

Hataman: ARMM employees protected by civil service laws Noel Y. Punzalan

(PNA),PDS/NYP

COTABATO CITY, Mar 31 (PNA) --Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Monday assured the more than 3,000 employees of the regional government that they are protected by civil service laws.

Reacting to reports that some of the employees of ARMM employees may have to go when the Bangsamoro government leaders assume office, Hataman said he did not see any provision in the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace agreement that terminates ARMM workers.

Earlier, MILF chief negotiator Mohaqher Iqbal said since the ARMM was a "failed experiment," its employees will have to go when the new government comes in.

However, Iqbal was quoted as saying that employees who are qualified for the job can re-apply and have equal opportunities with other applicants.

"If they (employees) need to go, it will be according to laws and they get separation pay," Iqbal said, adding that the upcoming Bangsamoro government leaders know pretty well that ARMM employees "have mouths to feed and they cannot just be terminated without valid reason."

Iqbal also said that the removal of employees of ARMM will be done on gradual basis.

Hataman believed that current ARMM workforce are protected by civil service laws and if they need to go, they will be compensated accordingly.

The new Bangsamoro government is expected to ascend sometime in 2016 after the Bangsamoro election.

ARMM dev't office honors LGUs for effective project implementation

(PNA), PDS/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Mar 30 (PNA) --Officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Midanao (ARMM) Social Fund Project (ASFP) said here that Lamitan City, a component city of five provinces region, has bagged seven awards during the regional convention of stakeholders to foreign assisted development projects in the region.

The ASFP’s manager, Abba Kuaman, said the three-day Regional Stakeholders Convention of ASFP was attended by 390 representatives of local government units from across ARMM.

A conduit of World Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the ASFP is the development arm of the region making peace and development projects aimed at improving the lives of poor communities.

Kuaman said Lamitan City was voted as the best and most supportive LGU in implementing ASFP projects in the region.

Aside from the award, Lamitan LGU was also received the best supporting team award for its the support of its employees to ASFP projects; the best barangay award; the best community infrastructure award; the best block grant infrastructure award; and the best municipal block grant award.

Kuaman explained that the awards were based on how the Lamitan LGU carried out the implementation and management of the ASFP’s JICA and World Bank projects in the city.

Development projects were implemented in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi in the past 10 years.

Palace assures ARMM employees that their welfare will be considered in the drafting of the Bangsamoro Law

(PNA), SCS/ANP

MANILA, March 29 (PNA) -- The welfare of government employees in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will be considered in the drafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, Malacanang said Saturday.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, in an interview over state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, made this assurance following apprehensions raised by some 8,000 ARMM employees that the creation of a Bangsamoro entity will cost them their jobs.

“Naiintindihan namin yung concern dun sa regional government ng ARMM and I’m sure isa ito sa mga bagay na pinag-usapan ng mga stakeholders dito,” Valte said.

“...Kino-consider naman ang kanilang welfare in the crafting of the agreement. That’s one of the things we should keep in mind,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Malacanang official shrugged off reports on the Sulu sultanate warning that conflict might erupt in Mindanao if President Benigno S. Aquino III does not support the claim on Sabah by the sultanate.

Sabah is not part of the envisioned core territories of the Bangsamoro entity under the newly signed Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

“I’m not quite sure if that’s representative of the sultanate as a group or as a whole,” Valte said.

She reiterated her call for everyone to read the annexes under the CAB which were put online, and also urged anew to give the peace pact a chance as there is “so much to gain and nothing to lose.”

“We’ve always advocated peaceful means to settle any dispute, whether it’s local or international,” Valte said, adding that the government has already proven that it can be trusted when it comes to peace negotiations.

Gov’t to plant seeds of dev’t in Bangsamoro areas

(Rappler.com)

MANILA, Philippines – The government will allocate more funds to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to complement the newly-signed Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

In a statement issued after the signing of the CAB on Thursday, March 27, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said the historic agreement will finally allow Bangsamoro communities to experience the socio-economic development that had eluded them in the decades of armed conflict in the Southern Philippines.

"We're set on creating a National Budget that is even more responsive to the needs of communities in the ARMM. This way, we can ensure that the progress we're making will benefit the Bangsamoro in a sure and sustainable way,” Abad said.

The budget chief described the signing of the CAB as a “remarkable story of success for the Filipino people.”

“Lasting peace has long been elusive in Bangsamoro communities, and armed conflict has frequently undermined the region's potential for growth. The peace agreement between the government and the Bangsamoro will shape the country's strategy for ensuring lasting peace, as well as improve socio-economic development in the ARMM,” he said.

Abad said through the CAB and increased government funds, “Bangsamoro communities will finally gain wider access to key social and economic services, including public education, health care, and infrastructure development in the region.”

He said sustained peace would transform the area into a hub for tourism, investment and commercial activity, and will further improve investor confidence in the Philippines.

Abad said in a text message to Rappler on Friday, March 28, that the operating budget of the ARMM "will not substantially increase" but that there would be an expected increase in investments in the Transition Investment Support Plan (TISP) and the Sajahatra Bangsamoro Program.

"These will be mainly socio-economic development programs," Abad said.

In 2012, the national government launched the TISP for the ARMM to serve as a roadmap for governance reforms in the region. It is funded out of the savings of various government agencies.

The Sajahatra Program is a joint undertaking of the government and the MILF seeking to develop health, eduation and livelihood conditions of Bangsamoro communities.

UK hails CAB

Various foreign governments and international organizations have hailed the CAB and pledged to support its successful implementation.

The United Kingdom joined the rest of the world in hailing the historic agreement.

In his congratulatory message to the Philippine government, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said, “The UK wholeheartedly supports the agreement. Its full implementation will bring great benefits for Mindanao and the Philippines.”

“It will also be an inspiring example of how political leadership and democracy can rise above violence and division to provide the security and prosperity that all people want and deserve. While many challenges lie ahead, I celebrate this important milestone along with friends of the Philippines around the world,” he said.

The United Kingdom has been involved in the peace negotiations as a member of the International Contact Group (ICG) supporting the talks.

The World Bank had earlier said it would “continue to scale up efforts to support programs that will broker sustainable peace and development in the Bangsamoro and Mindanao as a whole.”

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was in Manila to witness the historic event, had also renewed his government’s commitment to assist in developing Bangsamoro communities for as long as needed.

All set for "thanksgiving" in ARMM to welcome GPH-MILF peace pact signing

(PNA), LAM/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, March 27 (PNA) -- As part of their participation to the historic signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB) between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is hosting a traditional Moro thanksgiving banquet known as "kanduli."

"This is to welcome the unfolding of another Moro history...Masaya kami at excited para sa activity kasi matagal na natin itong hinihintay," ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said of the historic signing scheduled Thursday afternoon in Malacanang.

After 17 years of negotiations, the GPH and MILF will finally ink an agreement envisioned to solve the Moro question that will usher peace and progress in Mindanao.

Hataman has repeatedly pronounced readiness to step aside to make way for provisions of the comprehensive peace agreement.

The CAB calls for the establishment of the Bangsamoro Government to replace the 25-year old ARMM as the new autonomous political entity meant to allow the Moro people to pursue self-governance and address their legitimate grievances.

Hanie Bud, general manager of the Regional Ports and Management Authority (RPMA), said everything is set for ARMM’s celebration of this historic event.

Large screens will be set up so that people can witness the signing as it happens, he said.

He said aside from the feast, there will also be a cultural presentation, fireworks display and peace concert.

Bud said both officials and employees will be wearing white to symbolize purity and peace.

“Similar welcome celebrations will also be simultaneously held in other parts of ARMM – in Basilan, Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi,” he said.

ARMM honors Cardinal Quevedo

(PNA), FFC/NYP

COTABATO CITY, March 26 (PNA) -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) paid tribute Tuesday to Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, acknowledging him as a key personality to the sustenance of peace and spiritual stability in the island-region.

The cardinal, who was ordained as priest under the Oblates of Mary Immaculate congregation in 1964, has been active in helping address the plight for peace of both Christian and Muslim settlers in the island, particularly the ARMM, drawn into the decades-old Moro rebellion in the troubled south.

“We have a found a man of peace in Mindanao,” lawyer Laisa Alamia, ARMM executive secretary, said in her welcome speech during the program honoring the cardinal inside the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Center situated at the heart of the 22-hectare provisional seat of the ARMM here.

Pope Francis elevated Quevedo, then archbishop of Cotabato, to the College of Cardinals last Feb. 22 along with 16 other new cardinals from various parts of the world.

Moved by the tribute rendered him, the cardinal called on ARMM constituents, to work in unity for the once elusive peace in Mindanao brought about by “injustices” entrenched in the wars experienced in distressed parts of the island.

“Just and doable peace should be anchored in three principles, those of self-determination, national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the cardinal stressed.

“Amid these principles, however, national sovereignty should be preserved. For when sovereignty is attacked, any war could not be won. No rebellion would succeed,” he added.

Quevedo said the new Bangsamoro entity being offered by the Aquino administration to replace the old, graft-ridden ARMM setup is a suitable proposition for the Moro people to support in the heels of the March 27 signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro in Malacañang between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The MILF, which has some 12,000 members, is the only remaining large Moro rebel group fighting for self-determination in Mindanao.

Quevedo, however, urged government and MILF peace negotiators to also take into consideration the rights of non-Muslims and non-Lumads (natives) into the drafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law that would serve as foundation of the proposed Bangsamoro entity.

“It is not the signing that would make the peace. Peace would be possible if you are aware of the various provisions of the agreement. You must ask questions like how the provisions would affect us,” he urged stakeholders of the peace process.

Cotabato airport allows more commercial flights

(PNA), FPV/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, March 25 (PNA) -- The Cotabato airport, whose operation has been criticized by business and local leaders, will open daily for commercial flights starting at 12 noon Tuesday next week while repair and rehabilitation works continue, officials here said today.

This was the consensus during an inter-agency and stakeholders meeting held at the office of Lawyer Laisa Alamia, executive secretary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Representatives of Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), ARMM regional government, airline companies, the contractor, and the business sector Tuesday morning agreed to allow the operation of Cotabato Airport, also known as Awang airport, from 12 noon until 4 p.m.

The airport is also open from Friday to Monday to allow more domestic flights, according to Alamia.

Present during the meeting were Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) executive director Janet Lopoz and DOTC Asst. Secretary Lino Dhabi, assistant secretary for Project Monitoring and Evaluation.

Since November last year, flights coming to and from the Cotabato airport had been reduced to four times a week due to rehabilitation works and asphalt overlay undertaken by the Victor Lao Construction company.

Commercial flights were only allowed Fridays to Mondays while during Tuesday to Fridays, the construction firm does the repair works.

The Php 55 million repair, rehabilitation and expansion of taxiway of Cotabato airport started in November last year and expected to be completed by February 28, 2014.

But officials of the ARMM, Regional Board of Investments, business leaders and the ARMM Chamber of Commerce and Industry, including ARMM officials have complained of the snail-pace works.

Heavily affected and irked multi-stakeholders' group had passed a resolution urging the DOTC-Manila to probe the slow works of Awang airport.

They claimed that during the time that commercial flights were not allowed they noticed that no rehabilitation works were going on.

Aside from the business community, the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RLA-ARMM) and the Cotabato City Sangguniang Panglungsod, also passed separate "urgent" resolutions calling for the immediate resumption of regular and daily commercial flights while repair works are underway.

Cotabato airport manager Mohammad Rascal told reporters that representatives of the Victor Lao Construction company said during the meeting that the rehabilitation of the runway is expected to be completed by August while the whole repair works, including the fencing of the runway perimeter, are expected to be completed by December this year.

Lawyer Ishak Mastura, chair of the ARMM Regional Board of Investments, said investors find it difficult to travel down ARMM from the capital due to limited commercial flights to Cotabato airport.

Some business leaders complained of "double expenses" in their regular travel as they have to re-route to Davao or Gen. Santos City from Manila.

From Davao or Gen. Santos, travelers have to go via land travel to Cotabato City, the seat of ARMM regional government. Davao-Cotabato City by land is about five hours while three hours from Gen. Santos to Cotabato City.

Cotabato airport, one of the country's oldest, serves the air traveler of Cotabato City, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and part of Lanao del Sur.

50 villages in ARMM to get barangay government centers

By Charlie C. Señase (Inquirer Mindanao)

COTABATO CITY—Fifty selected villages in the five-province Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will be recipients of a barangay government center worth P10 million.

At least two Maguindanao villages were singled out Sunday as lucky recipients of the project, which will be closely monitored by the Office of the Regional Governor and its public works and highways regional office during the construction period to ensure quality work.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman, who led in the ground-breaking rites in Barangays Dulangan in Datu Odin Sinsuat and Pandag of Pandag town Sunday, said the selection process of the lucky recipients was undertaken by the Regional Development and Productivity Board based on local government-community initiatives to prosper and develop amid funding constraint.

“We are very much thankful to be chosen beneficiary of this project, and my people are very much grateful,” said Dulangan village chair Michael Ayao, whose parents voluntarily entered into a memorandum of agreement with the autonomous government donating a one-hectare land as site for the construction of a barangay hall, a health center and a children’s park.

“From now on, the land is a government property and the structures therein are for public use,” said Hataman in trying to correct misconception in Moro communities reclaiming from the government donated properties covered by the memorandum of agreement.

Pandag Mayor Zihan Mamalinta-Mangudadatu said her municipality has been equally blessed because its namesake village of Pandag would also have its own village structures within the one-hectare property donated by her husband, ARMM Assemblyman Khadafeh Mangudadatu.

Apart from the construction of barangay government centers, there will also be massive construction and repair of roads and bridges interconnecting villages within ARMM that has an allocation of P5 billion.

“Lanao Sur and the three island-provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi will have their share of the multi-billion-peso project that President Aquino wants completed before the Bangsamoro transition government sets in,” Hataman said.

“I suppose that by July next year, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority shall have already been created to start a dry-run of the ARMM engine that’s on its way out by 2016,” said Hataman, who expressed readiness to step down even before his mandated term ends.

Army, civic organizations intensify reforestation in ARMM

By Charlie C. Señase (Inquirer Mindanao)

COTABATO, Philippines – Faced with frequent weather disturbances and natural disasters, concerned sectors in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao agreed to boost the Balik-Kalikasan Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

“This is a very significant program that we should all promote to bring back the lushness and richness of our natural resources, the only treasure left for the next generation,” said Col. Manolito Orense, commander of the 603rd Infantry Brigade.

The program on reforestation ushered in the formation of Task Group BK (Balik-Kalikasan) in 2005, composed of the 603rd IB and the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Maguindanao.

Orense has conformed to the group’s recommendation to expand group members to other sectors such as the academe, civic organizations, media, business, religious groups, police, military, and people’s organizations.

“We need to strengthen the government’s greening program, and we can only do it through the involvement of the whole community,” said DENR-ARMM Secretary Kahal Kedtag.

Department records showed that some 146,431 hectares need massive replanting of trees in the region, with Maguindanao accounting for 43,087 hectares, and Lanao del Sur having the largest expanse of denuded land area at 69,442 hectares.

Kedtag said after Maguindanao, the other ARMM provinces would have to form their respective task groups.

In line with the expanded approach, Orense proposed to seek the participation of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, which lately implicated two of its enlisted personnel in alleged transport of illegally cut lumber.

Maj. Gen. Romeo Gapuz, Sixth Infantry Division chief, has warned that such an illegal activity is not being tolerated, and those responsible should suffer the consequence in a court martial.

Bashit Imam, president of the Sindaw-Ko Kalilintad, a people’s organization in Maguindanao, denounced the wanton cutting of trees in the so-called Iranon Area, bounded by towns in the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.

Environmentalist Abunawas Pendaliday has urged stakeholders to help DENR’s greening project by propagating the planting of Antipolo and Lani Pau seedlings.

Pendaliday said such varieties have been teeming in the DENR nursery ready for planting.

Antipolo is a fruit tree that belongs to the jackfruit category while Lani Pau is an ideal furniture wood material.

ARMM provinces to celebrate signing of peace deal with concerts

By Charlie C. Señase (Inquirer Mindanao)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines—Free musical concerts will be staged in all five provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao when the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro is signed in Manila on March 27, a regional official said here Friday.

ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Masuhod-Alamia said that the free musical concerts, which will feature Moro artists and other performers here and in the five ARMM provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, are part of the celebration that the regional government and private groups have lined up for the event.

She said many residents would not be able to personally witness the signing of the agreement in Manila, which was why the regional government of Governor Mujiv Hataman thought of other ways for them to celebrate the historic event.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front said that banners and t-shirts emblazoned with messages welcoming the signing will be distributed to as many people on the day of the signing of the CAB.

“It will be a colorful celebration as we welcome the coming event and thank Allah for the blessing,” Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF political affairs chief, said.

Jaafar said Friday that the streamers that will be strung up along national highways and provincial roads in Mindanao “will create public awareness that the Moro struggle for self-determination would soon be realized with the establishment of the Bangsamoro ministerial form of government under the Philippine Republic by 2016.”

Jaafar said the MILF will be sending a large delegation to Manila for the signing, probably “300 to 500 ranking MILF members from the central and provincial committees, including ground commanders.”

Basilan marks 40th year with Tumahik

By Ayunan G. Gunting (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - Despite all the distressing news coming out of Mindanao, a re-visit to Basilan is actually a peaceful experience that allows tourists to recharge and be rejuvenated. Basilan is not only known for beautiful beaches, but also home to a rich and ancient culture.

Recently, the province marked its 40th anniversary, highlighting the second Tumahik Festival. It is one of the most popular indigenous cultural practices of the Yakans. “Although the Tumahik dance is commonly known as a war dance, it is also a symbol of the groom’s responsibility to protect his bride and their family. The performance exemplifies our responsibility not just to our families, but to our communities and society,” noted Princess Sitti Djalia Hataman, Anak-Mindanao representative.

Eleven contingents participated in the competition. Each contestant donned Yakan finery and carried the Budjak (spear) and Taming (shield). Budjak is the Yakan weapon in case of provocation and attack. The Basilan government and Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao-Department of Tourism headed by Assistant Secretary Tess Sakkalahul, organizers of the event, decided to highlight Tumahik because it is an opportunity for Yakan male performers to practice their mental and physical skills, while demonstrating their ability to defend and protect their wives and families. The performances were accompanied by the traditional gong, kulintang, gabbang and kulaing percussion instruments.

The festival testifies the Yakan tribal communities’ cultural identity.

“The Tumahik Festival turned out to be not just a showcase of the Tumahik war dance, but of the diverse culture of the Yakans as the dances incorporated movements, depicting wedding rituals, weaving, traditional conflict mediation, fishing and farming, as well as driving away bad spirits. Rousing the curiosity of visitors were musical instruments rarely seen in public festivities: The Ghazali, made up of four layers of long bamboo poles of different sizes; and the Tuntungan, which has a plank of wood hanging over a stand decorated with rice cakes, hanging over the wood are two clay jars, big and small, which vibrate as one end of the wood is rhythmically pounded by a long pole, while the other end is drummed by two shorter sticks. According to elders, the Ghazali is played during planting, with the belief that music or singing encourages the seeds to grow faster and yield more, while the Tuntungan is played as a celebration during harvest and pounding of rice grains,” added Hataman.

A Yakan Oratorical and Poetry Competition also highlighted the province’s 40th year, where native Yakans performed traditional narratives they call Lunsey, Kata-Kata and Sa-il. These are extemporaneous speaking with different melodies and rhythms. Many pieces centered on religion and faith, family, leadership, unity among the people and other anecdotes on life. The oldest contestant was 80 years old while the youngest was seven, a manifestation of how alive the Yakan tradition is.

Present during the opening ceremony were ARMM Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman, Basilan Gov. Jum Akbar, Vice Gov. Keemhar Jay Sakkalahul, Secretary Lu Antonino, ARMM-DOT Sec. Tess Maguindrata and Basilan mayors.


OWWA to conduct capability building training to new OFW family circle in Maguindanao

By Oliver Ross V. Rivera (ORVRivera-PIA12)

COTABATO CITY, Mar 20 (PIA) – The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (OWWA-ARMM) is set to conduct a three-day capability building seminar-workshop for a newly established OFW Family circle (OFC) this weekend.

Some 40 OFWs and their dependents from Datu Abdullah Sangki town in Maguindanao are expected to attend the training on March 22-24 at Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat.

According to OWWA-ARMM OIC Habib Malik, their office organized the group last February 26 and will provide them with much needed inputs on organizational development this weekend.

Malik added that the activity will serve as a venue for information exchanges, strengthening of network and fostering positive communication for a better access to OWWA’s programs and services.

OWWA-ARMM officers Hamid Chio and Datu Moctar Ulama will serve as resource speakers.

To training will focus on topics such as team building and values formation through lecture and audio-visual presentations.

Financial literacy and entrepreneurial development training will also be done to equip the participants with basic skills to help them be prepared and gain additional techniques handling their future business ventures.

The establishment of OFW family circles, under OWWA’s reintegration program is a socio-economic program extended to returning OFWs and their families.

It aims to reintegrate the members to the mainstream Philippine society and to provide them access to OWWA’s programs and services which includes community organizing, capability building trainings and livelihood loans.

ARMM officials urge DOTC to fasttrack rehab of Cotabato airport

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

COTABATO CITY, March 19 (PNA) -- Officials of Maguindanao and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Wednesday urged Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya to probe what they said was a slow rehabilitation of the Cotabato airport that has already taken its toll on the local economy.

The three officials - ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman, ARMM public works Secretary Emil Sadain and Maguindanao Gov.Esmael Mangudadatu - have agreed to jointly look into the slow pace rehabilitation and report the matter to Sec. Abaya.

In a meeting Wednesday of the Regional Economic Development Planning Board (RTWPB) of ARMM, Gov. Mangudadatu said he personally talked to the construction firm conducting rehabilitation works to fast track the repair works to allow the resumption of regular airline flights from Cotabato to Manila and other areas in the country.

Mangudadatu said he talked to Vic Lao of the Lao construction firm about the rehabilitation works which started last December and would have ended in February 2014.

Sources said the repair work is not even 50 percent complete.

Since the repair started, there have been irregular flight schedules with the Manila-Cotabato-Manila flights of Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines coming three times a week only.

The RTWPB-ARMM and the region's business community were not consulted about the rehabilitation.

Last week, a multi-sectoral assembly here attended by business leaders and political officials have passed a resolution urging the national government to fast track repair works on the airport.

Investors, visiting foreigners, personnel of local and foreign donor agencies involved in development projects in the ARMM have been complaining of long travel from Manila due to the airport's unavailability.

The Cotabato airport is serving Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato and Cotabato City air passengers.

From Manila, air passengers have to reroute to Davao City or Gen. Santos before taking land route before reaching Cotabato City and ARMM.

DOLE-9 participates in “Kabuhianan” job fair in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi

By Rene V. Carbayas

ISABELA CITY, Basilan – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)- 9 participated in the “Kabuhianan” (livelihood) Job Fair in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi recently.

Gay Iris T.S. Tangcalagan of DOLE-9 reported in a press release that the participation of DOLE-9 in the jobs fair was in response to the invitation of Tawi-Tawi Provincial Governor Nurbert M. Sahali.

Together with its family of agencies, namely, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)-9 and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) - IX headed to Bongao, Tawi-Tawi to render the necessary technical assistance in the conduct of the three-day job fair at Sand Bar Lepa Convention Center, Pasiagan, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, last February 17-19, 2014.

Tangcalagan said that a total of 1,414 registered applicants participated in this year’s job fair, dubbed as “Kabuhianan”, a local term which means livelihood. The event was so far considered as the biggest and the most successful job fair in the history of Tawi- Tawi.

The event was made possible by the presence of six overseas recruitment agencies with 8,034 vacancies for various skills, and 11 local agencies under the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), resulting to 428 applicants interviewed, of which 316 were deemed qualified and 60 Tawi-Tawians were hired on the spot (HOTS), marking a 14% HOTS.

The event also served as an avenue for discussion on the various programs and projects of DOLE and its family of agencies, specifically on the overseas employment process knowing that Tawi-Tawi is the backdoor channel to Sabah, Malaysia.

During an informal discussion with the local government of Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, it was raised that a plan to conduct another job fair in the area was slated sometime in August or September of this year.

Over 2,500 summer jobs open for students, OSYs in ARMM

By Oliver Ross V. Rivera (ORVRivera-PIA12/Bureau of Public Information-ARMM)

COTABATO CITY, Mar 17 (PIA) – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is encouraging students and out-of-school youths to avail of the summer jobs under the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES).

ARMM Labor Secretary Muslimin Jakilan said, DOLE-ARMM has allotted P6.3M to cover for the salaries and benefits of SPES beneficiaries for a total of 2,520 SPES slots for students and out-of-school youths in the whole autonomous region.

"DOLE-ARMM allocated 450 equal slots for the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao Del Sur, Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi, while the remaining 270 will be for the regional office in Cotabato City," Jakilan said.

Jakilan also said that they are taking steps ensure that even students from the remote parts of the region will get to avail of the program.

The summer job is in keeping with the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) flagship program of DOLE under Republic Act No. 9457.

SPES is intended to help poor but deserving students and out-of-school youths pursue education through a 25-working day summer employment program.

DOLE-ARMM has already started accepting applicants since February 26 and will be receiving applications until March 25.

SPES beneficiaries will receive the P250-daily minimum wage, recently approved in the region, 60 percent of which will be paid the employer and the remaining 40 percent will be shouldered by the labor department.

Jakilan said the program is open to qualified high school, college, vocational students and drop-outs between 15-25 years old.

Interested applicants must submit the following requirements: birth certificate, barangay clearance, most recent report card, certificate of good moral character and parents’ income tax return, which should not exceed the P85,000 in annual income.

The summer job is expected to begin on April 01 and end on May 16, 2014.

ARMM gov turns over farm to market road in Tawi-Tawi

(PNA), PDS/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Mar 16 (PNA) --Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Saturday led the turn-over of the 1.5 km concrete road in project in Tawi-Tawi under the Transition Investment Support Plan-Department of Agriculture (TISP-DAF) farm to market road program.

The P10 million worth road project was constructed in Barangay Tubig Basag to Barangay Lakit-Lakit, Mandulan, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

Hataman said the farm-to-market road project was materialized through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Bongao Mayor Jasper Que and DAF-ARMM Regional Secretary Makmod Mending Jr.

ARMM Public Works and Highways Secretary Emil Sadain who also joined Governor Hataman during the inauguration said DPWH ARMM will continue the road project with an additional three kilometer road that will start next week.

The local government of Bongao will implement the road project through a MOA with DPWH-ARMM regional office, according to Sadain.

The additional road project costs P23.3 million from the 2014 budget of DPWH ARMM.

Joining Governor Hataman during inauguration were ARMM Vice Governor Haroun Alrashid Alonto Lucman Jr., Agriculture Secretary Mending, Education Secretary Atty. Jamar Kulayan, Tawi Tawi Governor Nurbert Sahali, former Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali and other local officials.

The five ARMM provinces shared the P8.6-billion fund under the Transition Investment Support Plan (TISP), which the Aquino government had designed to stimulate peace and development efforts to make ARMM on par with other regions in the country.

Each of the provincial government got P10 million each aimed to spur agriculture projects and improve the lives of constituent-farmers and fishermen in the region.

The TISP, which the national government launched in early 2012, aims to uplift living conditions in support of Malacañang’s peace efforts in Mindanao.

With the expected signing of the GPH-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) final peace accord, peace and development revolution is expected in the ARMM, the country's poorest region.

Aside from agricultural development, the TISP also includes funds for medical and health, infrastructure, education and other development concerns in the ARMM.

Maguindanao leaders to hold thanksgiving banquet for peace deal

By John Unson (philstar.com)

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines – Local executives and leaders of different sectors in the province will hold a traditional Moro 'kanduli' immediately after the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB) as thanksgiving and to show utmost appreciation for the agreement.

The kanduli is a centuries-old traditional gathering, either as thanksgiving, or to celebrate an important occasion.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles announced on Friday that the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will sign the CAB on March 27.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, chairman of the provincial peace and order council, said his office will immediately hold a kanduli after March 27.

“Because we have been very supportive of the peace process, it is but fitting and proper to rejoice over this signing of the CAB,” Mangudadatu said.

Mangudadatu said he will require all guests to the kanduli that he plans to sponsor to wear something that would depict the ethnic identity of the Maguindanaons, people of the perennially flooded plains in the surroundings of the vast Liguasan Delta.

“There is so much to thank for,” Mangudadatu told The Star.

Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, who has also been supporting the GPH-MILF talks extensively, said he will consult all lawyers in the ARMM government to determine if he can declare a non-working holiday in all provinces under his jurisdiction on March 27.

“It shall be a very historic event. It’s putting an end to 40 years of Moro uprising in Mindanao,” Hataman said.

The CAB, which is the final peace deal between the government and the MILF, aims to establish a new Bangsamoro political entity that would replace the ARMM.

Peace talks between the government and the MILF started Jan. 7, 1997, but gained headway only in recent years with the participation of Malaysia as third party facilitator.

“The signing of the CAB is expected to benefit not only the Bangsamoro but the entire country, and will radiate beyond our borders to the regional community, and perhaps the whole world,” Deles said.

Deles said preparations are now underway for the signing of the CAB. The event needs careful planning, she said.

The MILF’s chief negotiator, Muhaquer Iqbal, said they are optimistic their final compact with government will be signed on March 27 without any delay.

Iqbal chairs the Bangsamoro Transition Commission which will draft the enabling measure, the Basic Bangsamoro Law (BBL), that would legitimize the deactivation of ARMM to pave the way for the creation of a Bangsamoro political entity.

The BBL will be ratified through a plebiscite in the proposed Bangsamoro core territory by first quarter of 2015.

Members of the local business community have also been looking forward to the signing of a final peace deal between the government and the MILF, according to senior members of different business organizations in Central Mindanao.

More deportees from Malaysia arrive in Tawi-Tawi, ARMM govt extends assistance

By Edwin O. Fernandez and Noel Y. Punzalan [(PNA), FPV/NYP/EOF]

COTABATO CITY, March 14 (PNA) -- Another batch of deportees from Sabah, Malaysia arrived in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi Thursday night while a team of well wishers from the regional government of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) welcomed them.

Laisa Alamia, executive secretary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said the region’s Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team (Heart), have been in Bongao since Tuesday to provide fitting welcome to Filipinos who have experience difficulties while in Bongao where the Malaysian government launched crackdown against illegal aliens.

The latest batch of deportees were composed of 137 individuals of which 93 were males and 28 females. The rest were children, Alamia said.

"They arrived at Bongao port at past 9 p.m. where hot meals and hygiene kits greeted them," Alamia told reporters covering the return of deportees.

Earlier, ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman has released P200,000 fund for the return of deportees to their places of origin.

Of those who arrived Tuesday night, about 122 individuals, have already been sent to their places of origin by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-ARMM).

Alamia said the returning ARMM residents were also given immediate medication by personnel from the Department of Health in the ARMM.

“They are safe now and will be brought to their respective provinces and communities through ARMM agencies,” said Alamia, who also chairs the Heart.

A total of 6,149 ARMM residents have been deported from Sabah, a territory on the northern tip of Borneo, since the ARMM arranged with Malaysian government to facilitate their orderly deportation.

Malaysia cracked down on foreign nationals illegally staying in Malaysian land year after a failed attempt by followers of the heirs of the Sulu Sultanate to reclaim Sabah on the basis of historical rights.

Sometime early last year, Malaysian government have started deporting undocumented Filipinos working there to rid the east Malaysian state of what they call illegal alliens.

"More are still coming home and we are ready to welcome them and send them home," Alamia said.

The Philippine Embassy in Malaysia has advised Filipinos in Sabah and other areas in Malaysia to ensure their immigration papers are with them at all times.

“We are reminding our countrymen there to make sure that their immigration or work documents are in order, and to carry with them proper documents, notably work permit or passport with valid visa, at all times, ready for immigration checks,” Philippine Ambassador Eduardo Malaya said in a statement released by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

ARMM officials learned that undocumented Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) were allowed to leave peacefully without undergoing prosecution provided they pay what Malaysian authorities said an "overstay fine."

Those who refused to surrender will be hunted down and detained when arrested and eventually deported.

In January last year, the Malaysian government announced “Ops Bersepadu,” a major crackdown on illegal foreign workers in Sabah, many of whom where Filipinos.

Aside from Filipinos, Malaysian authorities also hunted down illegal workers from Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal, Laos, Vietnam, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, India, Bangladesh and the Philippines.

Reports said Malaysia had given priority to its locals in hiring workers for fastfood restaurants.

Last year, the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) reported 2,778 newly hired OFWs to Malaysia.

Many Filipinos went to Malaysia to work passing through the southernmost part of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi which is less than 50 kilometers from Sabah or about an hour or two sea travel.

Over 600 vie for 350 jobs in ARMM government

By Oliver Ross V. Rivera (ORVRivera-PIA12/Bureau of Public Information-ARMM)

COTABATO CITY, March 13 (PIA) – ARMM’s Personnel Selection and Promotion Board (PSPB) is set to fill the 350 available positions in different line agencies and offices of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanano this week.

The PSPB will screen a record number of over 600 applicants for the 350 positions.

ARMM Cabinet Secretary and PSPB chairman Khal Mambuay-Campong said the record number of applicants is due to the massive information drive they have conducted to encourage qualified and competent individuals to join the regional government.

“Gone are the days that all are secret. Gone are the days that the job vacancies are not being publicized. Today, everything is transparent,” she said.

“We don’t give room for influence-peddling and other anomalies in the hiring and promotion of employees.”

Campong noted that the applicants will undergo three phases of screening that include: 1) registration and preliminary assessment or the paper screening process; 2) computerized examination; and finally, a 3) panel interview.

The official also said that the PSPB is mandated to assess, screen and rank aspirants to government positions or promotion in the ARMM.

“It ensures an equitable and fair process of selection and promotion of employees in ARMM,” she said.

A similar procedure has also been conducted by the PSPB in the different provinces of ARMM since January this year until March, when result of the screening process will be published.

DepEd-ARMM turns over newly constructed classrooms in Sulu

(PNA), PDS/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Mar 12 (PNA) --Education officials in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) officially turned over at least 18 newly constructed classrooms for the province of Sulu, officials said on Wednesday.

Jamar Kulayan, regional secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd-ARMM), accompanied by Sulu schools division superintendent Tim Arbison, on Wednesday led the formal opening of a two-story, 10-classroom building at the Sulu National High School (SNHS) in Jolo town and a two-story, eight-classroom building at the Don Jose Godines Elementary School in Patikul town.

After the turn over rites, Kulayan personally inspected on-going constructions and rehabilitation of buildings and classrooms in different schools in the province.

Kulayan told reporters the project was part of the commitment of ARMM leadership to address classroom shortage and improve education in the region.

Presently, DepEd-ARMM is overseeing the rehabilitation of at least 1,000 classrooms and the construction of 500 new ones in various municipalities and island villages of Sulu, one of the five component provinces of ARMM.

According to Arbison, the SNHS work force has been burdened with overpopulated classrooms for a decade already and it was only during the administration of ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman that their dream of having a decent school building was realized.

Arbison said the schools population of more than 2,500 last school year had to be crowded in 31 classrooms, eleven of which are shacks constructed through the school head's initiative.

“Without the shacks, there could have been a student-to-classroom ratio of 127 students per standard classroom,” she said.

The ten additional classrooms ease the teaching and learning process in the school although they expressed concern about the impending shortage of teachers.

"Having the ideal class size of 45 to 50 students per classroom entails the need for more teachers," she said.

She added that the schools division has already requested for additional teachers to be assigned as advisers and subject teachers.

Reacting to Arbison's request, Kulayan said his office has already allotted 600 teaching slots for Sulu that will hopefully be filled-up by qualified and competent individuals.

With the new classrooms, Kulayan said he expect to improve the level of education of students in Sulu, one of the poorest provinces in the country.

New Malaysian peace monitors to arrive this week

By John Unson (philstar.com)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - A new batch of Malaysian ceasefire monitors will replace their outgoing compatriots on Wednesday after a year-long deployment in flashpoint areas in Mindanao.

The peacekeeping works of the Malaysian members of the International Monitoring Team-8 shall be assumed by observers comprising the 9th IMT, whose tour of duty will start on March 12.

Besides Malaysian military and police officers, the IMT is also comprised of soldiers from Brunei, Indonesia, Libya, and non-uniformed conflict resolution and rehabilitation experts from Japan, Norway, and the European Union.

The IMT has been helping observe since 2003 the implementation in Southern Mindanao of the 1997 Agreement on General Cessation of Hostilities between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The Maguindanao provincial peace and order council (PPOC), chaired by Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, assured to support the peacekeeping duties of the incoming batch of ceasefire monitors from Malaysia.

Malaysia has been helping push the now 17-year GPH-MILF peace talks forward as “third party facilitator” since 2003.

“The provincial government of Maguindanao will extensively support the peacekeeping functions of the IMT-9,” Mangudadatu said in an emailed statement.

Mangudadatu said the IMT’s presence in the province helps normalize the situation in the area, scene of fierce clashes between MILF and government forces in 2000, in 2003 and, subsequently, in 2008.

Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, who is chairman of the ARMM’s inter-agency regional peace and order council, said all line agencies under his office will also support the operations of the IMT-9.

Hataman said he has also instructed the ARMM regional police command to extend the same support to the ceasefire observers.

The MILF’s chief negotiator, Muhaquer Iqbal, said they are grateful to Malaysia for its continuing observation of the enforcement of the ceasefire accord through its contingent in the multinational IMT.


ARMM health chief advises public how to avoid summer diseases

(PNA), FFC/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, March 10 (PNA) -- A health official of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has advised the public to drink plenty of water to avoid getting dehydrated and sick during summer.

Dr. Kadil Sinolinding, DOH-ARMM regional secretary, reminded the public about the ill effects of too much exposure to sunlight.

It has not rained in the past three weeks in most of the ARMM areas, especially Maguindanao.

"Always drink water to avoid dehydration," Sinolinding advised the more than 2 million inhabitants of the ARMM which is composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and the cities of Marawi and Lamitan.

For people who have to go out, the use of umbrella or anything to cover the body from extreme heat will help prevent dehydration. "Diseases are common during summer season," Sinolinding said, adding that the use of something to cover skin will prevent sunburn.

"Too much exposure to extreme heat is dangerous to people who are hypertensive," he said.

“Continuous hydration is necessary to replenish lack of water in our body,” he said.

Most doctors say that by the time a person feels thirsty, he or she already dehydrated.

"Just keep drinking water. It contains no calories and is great for your health in other ways," Sinolinding said.

He said the most common signs of dehydration are thirst, cracked lips, dizziness, dry and sticky mouth, nausea and having less urine or darker urine.

"When you experience any of the symptoms above, then rest for a while in a cool area and drink plenty of water...as simple as that saves you," he said.

Literacy program empowers Lanao Sur village in voting, trading, legal processes

By Nash B. Maulana (Inquirer Mindanao)

MADAMBA, Philippines – In a village where there is neither school nor electricity, a women’s literacy program is empowering the community.

According to Jamilah Alodino, vice-president of the Mamisa People’s Organization, women in Barangay (village) Balagunun here believe that they can do better empowering their own people and community with the right tool— education, and being on track to development through participatory consultation.

Schools close to Madamba town center are just too far to walk to from Balagunun, a village overlooking Lake Lanao from its now concrete section of the lake’s Circumferential Road.

Children would have to go 15 kilometers downhill to the nearest primary school in Cabsaran— which explained a prevalent low literacy rate, Alodino said. Only about 10 percent of the barangay’s close to 2,000 residents are able to read and write in English, and about that number in Arabic, according to Alodino.

There is not a single TV set in a household, but transistor radio gets getting signals from Marawi, Iligan, Ozamiz, Cagayan de Oro and Manila bring in information and media-generated influence, particularly, language (Visayan and Tagalog).

In late 2012, the village’s women, many of them mothers, participated in a social survey conducted by development facilitators and volunteers trying to determine what the residents collectively needed most to improve their lot.

Barangay assemblies followed, forming part of social preparations in poor villages in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which were mapped earlier for development intervention by the World Bank-supported ARMM Social Fund Project (ASFP).

Volunteers and local facilitators translated residents’ exchanges in assemblies into workable community proposals and were later integrated with the barangay development plan (BDP), said one of the facilitators.

With Learning and Livelihood Food Sufficiency (LLFS) program as the residents’ first choice for an all-women educational activity, the ARMM’s Department of Social Welfare and Development, in partnership with the ASFP, designed a three-month training program on basic literacy and numeracy, coupled with livelihood education on household entrepreneurship for female residents.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman might soon hold community forums with Balagunun residents, but he assured the public that school building programs have been in place for more villages in the region, said lawyer Jamar Kulayan, ARMM’s education secretary.

Literacy also strengthens democracy in Balagunun. After graduating from the LLFS integrative module, 70-year old Pauli Misug is proud to say that in May 2013 and in the more recent barangay elections, she could already read and shade the ovals across the names of candidates of her choice on the ballot, without turning to a polling aide for help.

Suhaimin Cosain said more than writing her name, she and fellow LLFS graduates Diamond Diso and Fatima Malangkat have also learned basic numeracy, which they have been using in small trading activities to be able to add costs of stocks and expenses, and to subtract them from total market sales to determine a profit margin.

After graduation, the ASFP gave P1,000 to each of the 20 or so beneficiaries to help them collectively establish a capital build-up for their people’s organization, or to individually engage in any income-generating activity (IGA) of choice, said ASFP Manager Aba Kuaman.

Alodino said women’s participation in barangay assembly consultations (shura) added weight to the clamor for local development initiatives. Next to learning, the consistent “ijma” (consensus) is for the barangay to have a common solar drier and a multi-purpose shed for its agricultural products.

“We now have both, and also latrines, and a Day-Care Center, so our grandchildren will no longer experience what we had gone through, failing in our early quest for knowledge,” she said in mixed Tagalog and Visayan.

Baby Mindalano, an LLFS graduate, said the men among them helped as laborers in construction works. They also won the World Bank’s support, through the ASFP, for the concreting of a farm pathway, which used to be a muddy passageway to and from fruit-bearing marang trees in Balagunon’s sub-villages of Poblacion I and II, and Raya I and II. A concrete pathway is an easier access route for traders and local laborers in harvesting and truck-loading the seasonal marang fruits to roadside.

Ustadz Zainudin Abdulwahab, an Islamic lecturer who accompanied the Philippine Daily Inquirer, said numeracy would enable Moro women to learn further their specific rights under the Muslim Law on Inheritance, as prescribed in a Qur’an chapter called An-Nissa (The Women).

Abdulwahab said sufficient skills in numbers would protect Moro women and orphans from injustice. Many of them do not know that there are more female sharers than males in their succession rights to ancestral properties, using specific fractions mentioned in Chapter 4 of the Muslim Holy Book, according to Abdulwahab.

“It is not true that women are ‘often prevented from participating in decision-making’ or that they are discriminated against, because of ‘multiple factors, including their gender and religion.’ Many, even among educated Moro women, do not seem to recall that we have had women leaders like (Lanao Sur) Governor Princess Tarhata Alonto-Lucman, Princess Tarhata Kiram of Sulu, and even the historic Sultana Nur’ul Azam, who reigned Sulu when most western nations were far from recognizing women’s right to suffrage. Still, we have many of them today in the political leadership. So how could they be prevented from participating in decision-making or be discriminated against?” Abdulwahab asked.

Mindanao IPs ask recognition, respect from Bangsamoro Framework Agreement

(PNA), SCS/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, March 8 (PNA) -- Tribal peoples in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are asking for recognition and respect of their rights and distinct identity from the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) of the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement.

This after more than 200 indigenous peoples community leaders in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat gathered in Upi, Maguindanao Friday for consultations conducted by BTC.

The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are expected to sign within the month the Comprehensive Agreement that will hopefully end the decades-old Mindanao Moro issue and attain genuine peace on the island.

Spearheaded by the Basic Rights and Social Justice Committee and the Committed on Justice and Security of the BTC, the consultation was conducted to hear issues and concerns of various stakeholders on the proposed Bangsamoro government.

"The message of the IPs was loud and clear, the indigenous peoples to be covered within the Bangsamoro core territory are asking recognition from the Commission," said BTC Commissioner Froilyn Tenorio-Mendoza, herself an IP member of the commission.

She told reporters that the issue of identity and ancestral domain "is a big elephant in the room that the commission had yet to fully see."

Following the signing of the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement (FAB) in October last year, the Teduday, Lambangian and Dulangan Manobo tribes residing in the proposed Bangsamoro territory have repeatedly expressed concern over their fate in the new political territory.

Specifically, they expressed concern over the FAB impact on its distinct people, their ancestral domain and their right to self-determination as well.

For decades now, the non-Moro people of Mindanao have called themselves "Tribal Peoples" to differentiate and distinguish them from their Moro brothers and sisters.

Mendoza assured the agreement both the government and the MILF are to sign is definitely inclusive to all regardless of faith, religion, political affiliation and tradition.

She said the demand of the indigenous peoples have been discussed comprehensively during the course of the 17-year-old peace negotiation between the government and the MILF.

ARMM holds 1st reg'l Cabinet meet, reiterates commitment to peace process

(Sheila May Dela Cruz/Bureau of Public Information-ARMM/PIA-10)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 7 (PIA) --- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) government is embarking on series of efforts aimed at providing the upcoming Bangsamoro government a smooth transition of power even as it continues to implement the reform agenda it started more than two years ago.

During its first regional Cabinet meeting held in Lamitan City Tuesday, March 4, ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman reiterated its earlier instruction to its regional officials that line agencies including its workforce, employees should device mechanisms that will help in the transition stage.

“We are laying down the foundation. We want to make sure that we are very much ready when the official turnover comes and we know that whatever we are doing now in the ARMM government will be useful when the new Bangsamoro government sets in,” Hataman said.

The ARMM Cabinet meeting also tackled the accomplishments of the line departments for the first two months of the year.

Hataman cited the improved investment climate in the region with record-breaking investments for 2013 and for the first two months of the year.

The ARMM’s Regional Board of Investments (RBOI) recently reported an approved P1.451billion worth of investments for the 1st quarter of this year.

“This is a record for the region, since it is almost the same as the total amount of investments registered with the board in 2013, which stood at P1.463 billion by the end of year,” said RBOI chairman and managing head Ishak Mastura, who presented during the Cabinet meeting other interested investors in the region for 2014.

Mastura reiterated that there is also the contributing factor of governance reforms in ARMM and the “hands-on” investment promotion initiated by the Hataman administration convincing local investors that the autonomous region is serious about wooing and securing investors to expand their operations or to set-up new enterprises in the region.

For the region’s education sector, Secretary Jamar Kulayan said that it targets to address the problem on classroom gaps by 2016.

“This is unprecedented,” Hataman said referring to a number of accomplishments by his administration.

Meanwhile, lawyer Anwar Malang, secretary of the region’s Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said that it held on March 3 in Isabela City, its first ARMM Barangay Summit on Governance, Peace and Development.

Malang said the summit was attended by more than 200 barangay executives across the province of Basilan. “This is our first batch and we are looking at implementing this in the remaining four provinces of the region,” he said.

For her part, ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Masuhud-Alamia said that the current ARMM administration wants to capacitate more local government units which she noted will play a crucial role in the success of the proposed autonomous political entity.

Chief-of-staff Amihilda Sangcopan of the Office of the Regional Governor who is in charge of the region’s flagship program on education, health and livelihood, said that ARMM is currently conducting screening process for deserving beneficiaries of the said project.

May 'K' ka sa ARMM is a direct assistance program of the ARMM under the leadership of Gov. Mujiv Hataman. K stands for Karunungan (education) Kalusugan (health) at Kabuhayan (livelihood.

Sangcopan said that the scholarship component is already on its second phase and that it targets to benefit thousands of deserving students.

DA turns-over farm equipment, livestock to Lanao del Sur farmers

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran (APB/PIA-10)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 6 (PIA) --- Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala distributed farm equipment and livestock to farmers in the province to improve their productivity.

He was accompanied by officials from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in the turn-over ceremony held at the Provincial Capitol grounds on Friday, February 28.

Alcala turned-over a four-wheel farm tractor costing P2.3 million to the local government unit (LGU) of Bumbaran and one corn mill each to Binidayan, Balindong, Calanogas and Marogong LGUs.

He also distributed 10 heads of carabao to 10 farmers’ cooperatives in Ditsaan-Ramain, Tamparan, Tugaya, Bubong, Maguing, and Marawi City and 20 heads of goat to two farmers’ cooperatives in Kapai town and another two in Marawi City.

Fifty units of knapsack sprayer were also given to farmer leaders in the province while 130 bags of organic fertilizer were handed out to three cooperatives from Wao, Saguiaran and Bubong.

Aside from that, Alcala also handed checks to the LGU of Ditsaan-Ramain, Taraka, Sultan Dumalondong, Piagapo, Calanogas, Bumbaran and Balindong amounting to P40 million for agricultural projects under the bottoms-up budgeting (BUB) process.

PhilHealth-ARMM gives away sanitary packages to ward patients in Marawi

(Bamra D. Ampaso/PhilHealth-ARMM/PIA-10)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 5 (PIA) --- The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has given away 100 sanitary packages to ward section patients of Amai Pakpak Medical Center (APMC) here.

The hospital visitation and distribution of sanitary packages was one of the activities lined-up during the 19th PhilHealth anniversary celebration last February 14 anchored on the theme “Benepisyong PhilHealth, Alamin at Gamitin.”

Accordingly, APMC was chosen as the beneficiary for the visitation because numerous patients confined there were PhilHealth members enrolled under the indigent program.

Other activities during the celebration were motorcade around the city’s main thoroughfare and a press conference to update members of the media on the new policies of PhilHealth such as the expanded benefit packages.

Heads of Philhealth-ARMM Benefit Section (BAS), Membership Section (MS), and Legal Services Office (LSO) were present during the conference to shed light on the recent issues affecting the integrity of PhilHealth.

2014 Women’s Month celebration kicks off in ARMM

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

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 4 (PIA) --- Hundreds of officials and employees in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) marched early Monday, March 3, in celebration of this year’s Women’s Month with the theme “Babae, ang Tatag Mo, ay Tatag Natin sa Pagbangon at Pagsulong.”

In an opening program following the parade, Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women (RCBW) chairperson Jehan Mutin said series of activities are all geared up for this month.

She said apart from the kick-off ceremony, women’s sports fest, dance sport exhibition, livelihood trainings and symposia.

Site validation of the proposed Regional Women Peace Center will also be conducted.

Provincial counterpart’s will also complement the regional celebration with entrepreneurial training, gender-based activities that includes assessment and review of the Localization of National Action Plan (LNAP).

LNAP held the primacy of peace and non-violence in a just and gender responsive society.

Meanwhile, Samira Gutoc-Tomawis, former women representative of the 7th Regional Legislative Assembly, urged the public to reject all forms of gender biases and renew vow for rights protection and empowerment.

ARMM is keen on the advancement of women and rights. As of December of last year, the 8th Legislative Assembly had adopted Resolution No. 602 expressing full support to RCBW crusade to end violence against women.

The national Women’s Month is observed and celebrated on March of every year by virtue of Presidential Proclamation Nos. 224 and 227 and Republic Act 6949. The celebration highlights recognition of women’s resiliency, strength and contributions to nation building.

OCD-ARMM receives medicines from PHAP

(BPI-ARMM/PIA-10)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 3 (PIA) --- The Office on Civil Defense in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (OCD-ARMM) received recently 177 cartons of assorted medicines from the Pharmaceutical and Health Care Association of the Philippines (PHAP).

The assorted medicines were personally delivered by PHAP Managing Director Edgar Posadas who disclosed that the medicines came from the 38 pharmaceutical partners of PHAP.

With the advocacy "Reaching Out, Giving Hope, Touching Lives," PHAP hopes to help the people in ARMM through the assorted medicines.

Posadas said the turn-over of medicines is just a preliminary support from PHAP and that their foundation is prepared to help ARMM in its medical missions through augmentation of medical personnel.

For his part, OCD-ARMM executive Director Retired General Manuel Ochotorina said the medicines from PHAP will be a big help for ARMM constituents especially those who cannot afford to buy medicines.

According to him, OCD-ARMM will turn-over the assorted medicines to the ARMM HEART (Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team) for their medical missions and relief operations.

Business tourism in Tenusa Island in Basilan

By Ayunan G. Gunting (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

The Philippines, due to its archipelagic nature, is full of scenic beaches.

On top of the popular and world-renowned beaches in the country, there are still plenty undiscovered.

“We are developing Tenusa Island in Basilan,” Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao Governor Mujiv Hataman proudly says.

“For travelers looking for beaches that are world-class in terms of crystal sea waters but are not yet crowded with tourists, the stunning beaches of Basilan are definitely the place to go to,” Hataman adds.

Basilan is the largest and northernmost of the major islands of the Sulu Archipelago and is located just off the southern coast of the Zamboanga Peninsula. The island is a 30-minute boat ride from Zamboanga City.

Photo by Ayunan G. Gunting, Contributor

The image of Basilan is that of a war-torn place where kidnapping flourishes. Peace and order needs wanting.

What most people don’t actually know is that Basilan is a paradise waiting to be revealed for the rest of the world to see and experience, according to its officials.

Basilan boasts of beautiful and unspoiled beaches that both local and foreign travelers should put on the top of their must-go to places this summer.

Among the must-see breathtaking beaches in Basilan is the one located in the small island of Tenusa—a virgin island with white powdery sand and coconut trees.

It is five minutes away from Sumisip Muncipality, the hometown of Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao head Mujiv Hataman.

“We want to develop Tenusa. It’s a world class island. We can assist and arrange a tour here, for them to know that Basilan offers stunning beaches and profound culture,” Congresswoman Sitti Djaliah T. Hataman says.

And then there are also the White Beach of Malamawi Island and the Hami Beach of Baluno to explore.

The White Beach of Malamawi Island offers pristine sand with a sea that is so enticing tourists will surely find it irresistible to submerge to its calm water.

The Hami Beach, meanwhile, is an awesome picturesque beach that is definitely worth visiting.

All of Basilan’s beaches boast of a genuinely serene and rustic environment that tourists want to live in.

The local government of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) led by Governor Mujiv Hataman and his wife, Anak-Mindanao partylist Congresswoman Sitti Djaliah, are now working to further develop the tourist spots in their hometown.

Cottages made of nipa hut are being constructed. The beach is perfect for snorkeling and jet skiing.

Asked how safe is the island? “We will start by a guided-guarded tour for tourists and visitors. Para sure na safe. It’s not an overnight success na masolve mo the peace and order [problem]. Everywhere, kidnapping is inevitable,” Hataman adds.

Major marketing strategy is to start from family, relatives and friends. Word of mouth advertisement. Those who would like to explore must contact the Local Government Units or us, for their safety, the couple says.

And for them, Basilan’s beaches are definitely among the best tourist destinations that Mindanao can offer.

“We are happy that tourism is alive especially in summer. Fear not Basilan,” Hataman says.

Given all the negative news surrounding Mindanao, it might come as a surprise to know that a visit to Basilan could actually be a fun, memorable and peaceful experience that will allow travelers to recharge and be rejuvenated.

So, if you are looking for something new, idyllic , virgin crystal sea waters, come and explore Basilan.

How to go there?

By air: Manila-Zamboanga- one hour and 20 minutes

By sea: Zamboanga-Isabella City-30 minutes

BIFF fighters attack military camp in Maguindanao

(Inquirer Mindanao)

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Weeks after government forces launched an offensive against a base of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, the rebel group launched retaliatory attacks on a military camp in Maguindanao Friday night, a rebel spokesman said Saturday.

Abu Misry Mama, spokesman of the BIFF, said a newly formed guerrilla unit of the rebel group led the attack on a camp of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion of the 1st Mechanized Brigade in Salbu, Datu Saudi Ampatuan around 11 p.m.

“Our fighters were able to slip through and go near the military camp and opened fire. My estimate is that almost 30 rounds of M-79 grenades were launched toward the camp,” Mama said.

Minutes after the attack, the rebels also fired on a convoy of soldiers sent in as reinforcements more or less a kilometer from the scene of the first firefight, Mama said.

“We know the soldiers sustained fatalities but we cannot give a body count because we were not able to do an assessment of the damage. It was very dark during the firefight,” Mama said.

Colonel Edgar Gonzales, chief of the military’s 1st Mechanized Brigade, said three soldiers were injured in the attack while at least three rebels were killed in the government’s counter-attack.

Mama, however, claimed the BIFF suffered no casualties.

“Our troops were able to immediately conduct pursuit operations,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales denied that the second firefight resulted from a rebel ambush. He said it was actually the result of soldiers blocking a retreat by the rebels.

“These blocking forces engaged the fleeing rebels in that location,” Gonzales said.

Mama said the attack was only the beginning of more and larger tactical offensives against government forces.

“More attacks will come. The military would not know where or when we will attack,” Mama said.

“These attacks are proof that the military failed in its objective to crush the BIFF. In fact, the BIFF is expanding and getting stronger,” Mama added.

The BIFF is a faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that broke away from the main rebel group as a result of disagreements over the conduct of peace talks with the government.

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