Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao News May 2016

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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 relief unit, ICRC to extend aid to Lanao Sur conflict-hit residents

(PNA), BNB/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 30 (PNA) -- The emergency relief unit of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will embark on massive relief operations to thousands of displaced families in Lanao del Sur affected by continuing skirmishes that started last week, officials said today.

ARMM Vice Gov. Al Rahis Lucman, who hails from Lanao, today met with the officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for partnership in the delivery of relief aid to affected families, mostly women and children, who belonged to the farmer sector.

Fighting between government forces and militant Moro extremists broke out over the weekend, leaving scores killed and displacing thousands of civilians in Butig, Lanao del Sur.

Reports from the Office of Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. showed that residents from the conflict affected villages of Coloyan, Samer, Bayabao, Raya Timbab, Sandab and Ragayan cavated their homes in a hurry when fighting erupted Friday.

Many of whom left their valuables and work animals for fear they might be caught in the cross fire.

Initial military reports said more than 22 persons have been killed, mostly from the group of Abdullah Maute, leader of the jihadist group which claimed allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) last year.

Government forces were conducting pursuit operations against the group of Maute who ambushed and killed government forces conducting patrol in Butig, a remote hinterland town east of Lanao del Sur just across the Lake Lanao.

Soldiers were sent to the mountains of Butig after reports said Maute and his group were roaming around displaying ISIS flags and threatening civilians.

While the military were out to neutralize the jihadists, Adiong said the provincial relief unit have started attending to the emergency needs of the displaced families.

To date, about 1,500 villagers were affected by the hostilities and are temporarily housed in nearby villages of Samer, Sandig and Malungon, also in Butig town.

The relief unit of ARMM, the Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team (HEART) will distribute relief goods Tuesday in the affected villages.

Military reports said fighting was still raging in the mountains of Butig with two helicopter gunships providing air support, pounding the terrorists with rocket fires.

ARMM pushes completion of ‘Dream Road 2’ project

(PNA), ZST/TPGJR/HIROHITO D. CADION

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, May 28 (PNA) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DPWH-ARMM) has allocated PhP250 million for the construction of the 32-kilometer Kapai-Upper Tagoloan road.

Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. told the Philippines News Agency (PNA) the construction of the 32-kilometer road will begin next month. The construction of the Kapai-Lower Tagoloan section is ongoing.

The 32-kilometer stretch is part of the 65-kilometer Marawi-Kapai-Tagoloan-Talakag, Bukidnon road construction. It is to be completed in 2019.

Adiong said the road project dubbed as “Dream Road 2” will connect this city and the towns of Kapai and Tagoloan to the province of Bukidnon through the municipality of Talakag.

Adiong said the road, once completed, will serve as an alternate route and would shorten the travel time to one-and-a-half hour to Cagayan de Oro City coming from this city.

Adiong, who visited the road project on Friday, said the travel time at present is three-hours from this city to Cagayan de Oro City via the city of Iligan.

Adiong said the completion of the road will also hasten the transport of goods and other products to this province from Cagayan de Oro City and vice-versa.

He disclosed that the DPWH-ARMM has spent PhP111 million for the road rehabilitation and construction of Kapai section while DPWH Region 10 has allotted PhP75 million from this year’s budget for the ongoing construction of the Lower Tagoloan section.

He said ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman has entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the provincial government and allocated additional PhP230 million for the “Dream Road 2,” the construction of which is ongoing.

Engineer Mickey Macabantog of DPWH Region 10 said they have also requested additional PhP250,000 to be included in the 2017 national budget for the full completion of the road project.

Mayor Misangcad Capal of the nearby town of Tagoloan said the full completion of the Dream Road 2 project will benefit his constituents.

Dulce Capal, Tagoloan Liga ng mga Barangay president, said the completion of the road would provide easy access to the students in going to school.

“At present, they have to climb steep mountains on foot just to go to school,” Capal said.

Tagoloan Councilor Simpanoray Sarip said it is only during the administration of President Benigno Simeon Aquino, III that development projects, such as the Dream Road 2, have reached their place.

DepEd-ARMM exec leads 'Brigada Eskwela', declares ARMM schools ready for 2016 school opening

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 30 (PNA) -- All public elementary and high schools in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are ready for school year 2016-2017 that will officially begin next week, a regional education official said Monday.

Dr. John Magno, Department of Education (DepEd-ARMM) regional secretary, made the announcement today after he led a series of cleanup activities in different public elementary and high schools in the coastal areas of Datu Odin Sinsuat town, Maguindanao to mark the start of the annual week-long school maintenance activity dubbed "Brigada Eskwela".

Magno said DepEd-ARMM has introduced innovations during the week-long activity.

Aside from the cleanup drive, this year’s "Brigada Eskwela" will also give emphasis on school disaster-preparedness and readiness for the implementation of the K to 12 program.

"We want to make sure that schools in the ARMM are safe and conducive to education," Magno told reporters.

The 2016 "Brigada Eskwela" or National Schools Maintenance Week carries the theme "Tayo Para sa Paaralang Ligtas, Maayos, at Handa Mula Kindegarten Hanggang Senior High School" (All of us for safe and proper schools, and ready from Kindergarten to Senior High School) and aims to unite communities in ensuring a better future for Filipino children.

According to Magno, the region’s education officials and teachers are working with parents, barangay officials, students and other volunteers to clean and prepare schools in time for the opening of classes on June 13.

"We are happy and grateful for the annual ‘Brigada Eswela’ and the support that we get from the DepEd-ARMM," said Tukan Mangulamas, a supply officer at the second schools division of Maguindanao.

Magno announced that the Australian Government-funded BEAM (Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao)-ARMM program has earmarked Php8.9 million this year for minor repairs of classrooms in 225 public elementary and high schools as well as the provision of chairs and tables to 53 madaris (Islamic school).

On top of the rehabilitation funds the Australian government has provided ARMM, it will also provide, through BEAM-ARMM, curriculum guide, teacher's guide and learning materials.

“The DepEd-ARMM and BEAM have helped us improve our schools and encourage children to attend classes," Evelyn Kanain, Senior High Coordinator of the Schools Division of Sulu.

Kanain said the assistance from BEAM-ARMM will improve the quality of education in various schools not only in Sulu but in the entire region as well.

Magno stressed that "disaster preparedness activities" will be integrated in the education program of public schools to better prepare students in the events of typhoons, floods and other natural calamities.

ARMM is vulnerable to natural and man-made calamities it has experienced in the past 10 years.

Brigada Eskwela was started in 2003 and has three main objectives -- to practice shared governance; to bring the spirit of education to the community level and to utilize local resources to public schools.

Maguindanao's health team to conduct more free circumcision activities

(PNA), SCS/NYP/EOF

BULUAN, Maguindanao, May 29 (PNA) -- Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu is mulling another day of free circumcision after an activity turned to be successful despite its being bloody and painful, literally.

Hundreds of children from across Maguidanao's second district availed themselves of free circumcision conducted Saturday by the provincial People's Medical Team (PMT).

Children, aged 6 to 17 years old from Muslim, Christian and Lumad communities in Maguindanao, trooped here to avail of the three-day "Operation Tuli" that culminated at the provincial capitol grounds.

“It’s nice to see Muslim, Christian and Lumad children mingle together and avail of the free circumcision we facilitated,” Mangudadatu told reporters.

"We are considering to conduct a similar activity next week in Maguindanao's first district," he said.

About 250 school children were "baptized" with free circumcision, an annual event happening in the province the past six years. Aside from free "tuli," children were also given antibiotics and pain killers to sustain the pain until the circumcision is fully healed.

The PMT was created by Mangudadatu to serve Maguindanao's indigents where the health providers are scarce due to security concerns. It has circumcised more than 5,000 children the past six years and treated more than 100,000 sick Maguindanaons.

Lynette Estandarte, Maguindanao budget officer and PMT head, said the team also dispersed 100 polymer toilet bowls to the Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) through Secretary John Magno.

Magno said the toilet bowls will be turned over to selected public schools across the province ahead of opening of classes next month.

PNP, BFAR sign accord to fight illegal fishing in ARMM

(PNA), JFM/CLTC

MANILA, May 27 (PNA) -- The Maritime Group of the Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BFAR-ARMM) have signed an agreement to strengthen ties against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the ARMM sea waters.

PNP Maritime Group Director Police Chief Superintendent Efren M. Perez, and BFAR-ARMM regional director M. Janice Musali signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) last Thursday inside the PNP Maritime Group Headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Perez explained that the MOA is a mere formalization of the on-going collaborative field enforcement between the two enforcement agencies in ARMM.

He said the accord basically provides for sharing of information and seaborne assets.

The PNP Maritime Group, he said, shall provide armed uniformed manpower while the BFAR-ARMM will give technical experts such as fish examiners, fish species identifiers and fishery license experts in all fishery law enforcement operations.

Before the MOA signing, the PNP Maritime Group in ARMM through its elite team, the Maritime Special Operations Unit (MSOU), conducted a confidence building workshop in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi for fishery law enforcement officers last month.

For the month of May, both organizations will participate in a cross training program where the MSOU will conduct a water search and rescue training while BFAR-ARMM will handle marine mammal stranding training, also in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

Musali expressed optimism that the agreement will result to a better collaborative action.

DENR-ARMM conducts free survey, titling of Moro farm lots in Maguindanao

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY (PNA) -- To help address land dispute that normally ends up in bloody clan war in Moro communities in Maguindanao, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DENR-ARMM) has conducted free land survey and titling, officials said Tuesday.

Forest Kahal Kedtag, DENR-ARMM regional secretary, said the project aims to help address poverty and armed conflict among Moro inhabitants and prevent bloody clan wars that have proved to be costly both for the locals and the government.

DENR-ARMM Bureau of Lands record showed that about 80 percent of family feuds in Maguindanao's second congressional district was borne out of land ownership issue.

"This is deeply rooted. The armed conflict that normally claimed lives even of innocent children was due to land dispute," Kedtag said.

Residents of Mamasapano, Shariff Aguak, Datu Piang, Datu Hofer, Datu Salibo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Unsay and Abdullah Sangki, all in the second district of Maguindanao, were grateful to DENR-ARMM for this project.

"We came up with this project to help contain armed hostilities and prevent overlapping of land areas among poor Moro farmers," Kedtag said.

Samuel Esmael, one of the beneficiaries of the project, said he and his relatives were happy this project has been launched in their communities.

"It is good. At least at this time I can legally claim the lot I have been farming on for so long, I can now say it is mine, legally," Esmael said in broken Filipino.

Another beneficiary, Sambal Sumauang, said what he had with him as proof of ownership of the three-hectare lot is a dilapidated old document that is already very fragile and entries to the land title are no longer clearly visible.

"With this titling project, the farmers can now sleep soundly and assured nobody will claim ownership of the lot because they have the legal document as proof of ownership," he said.

Kedtag told reporters that Moro communities would prefer to use the words of elders "that they legally own the lot" than going to the DENR's Bureau of Lands to have the lot titled.

"That is the practice among Moro farmers," Kedtag told a local TV station here in separate interview. "As long as you do not have a title, you cannot say that is yours legally," Kedtag explained.

Because of this situation prevailing in Moro communities, DENR-ARMM came up with the idea which Kedtag said will surely benefit the farmers and "we help save lives" because "rido" (clan war) is reduced, if not eradicated.

RBOI-ARMM launches sustainable agricultural investments

(PNA), BNB/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 25 (PNA) -- To promote sustainable agriculture investments in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the Regional Board of Investments (RBOI-ARMM) in partnership with the International Finance Corporation, the investment arm of World Bank and the Hineleban Foundation is launching today the High Carbon Stock Approach at RPDO-ARMM office in Cotabato City, investment officials said.

The HCSA is part of the Bangsamoro Sustainability Framework (BSF) that aims to promote sustainable agricultural investments in the Bangsamoro.

Lawyer Ishak Mastura, RBOI chair, said that despite some uncertainties of a new autonomy framework in the Mindanao peace negotiations, more and more private sector investors are pushing for agri-related investments in the ARMM region.

ARMM is composed of the provinces Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Mastura said the country had just elected its new leaders and the new President may have different plants for the Bangsamoro but despite that, he said, more and more private sector investors are eyeing ARMM as investment destination.

For the past five years, investments in ARMM have greatly increased owing to the improved peace and order condition as a result of the government's peace overtures.

Mastura named some of the aggressive businesses that braved the negative impression about ARMM as Al Sahar Agri–Ventures Inc., Salam Agri-Ventures Corporation, Al Shayan and many others.

To facilitate the availability of the much needed financing for the projects, government is expected to enter into an agreement with multilateral and bilateral partners for a project entitled, “Harnessing Agribusiness Opportunities through Robust and Vibrant Entrepreneurship Supportive of Peaceful Transformation (HARVEST).

"In line with this, the IFC has approved a technical assistance for a pilot project on HCSA”, Mastura added.

Mastura said given the momentum of private initiatives, it will be important to ensure that, first, the private sector investments are sustainable and in harmony with the natural and cultural environments of the Bangsamoro; and second, the benefits of growth and investment are equitably distributed among the Bangsamoro population.

Dr. Urooj Malik, Hineleban chair, said the project is keen to partner with ARMM Regional Government agencies, the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), and local and international NGOs, among others, in the implementation of the HCSA at the landscape scale for the Bangsamoro region.

“This landscape level strategy will be implemented via use of the HCSA, a methodology that distinguishes forest areas for protection from degraded lands with low carbon and biodiversity values that may be developed," he said.

Urooj said the methodology aims to ensure a practical, transparent, robust, and scientifically credible approach that is widely accepted to implement commitments to halt deforestation while securing the rights and livelihood of the Bangsamoro people.

Re-elected ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv S. Hataman with a fresh mandate is supportive of the project.

"This is a welcome development making sure that agribusiness investments in the region will help propel economic growth, ensure that there will be enough resources and opportunities for the Bangsamoro people now and in the future," Hataman said.

Health programs for Muslims down south get boost with 2 Bangsamoro doctors in World Health Assembly

(PNA), BNB/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 24 (PNA) -- Health programs for Muslims in Southern Philippines get a big boost with two Muslim doctors attending the on-going 69th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

Dr. Kadil Sinolinding Jr, regional health secretary in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Dr. Abdullah Dumama, Department of Health regional director for the Davao Region (Region-11) are among the world doctors attending the global assembly of health providers in Geneva.

The two, both ethnic Maguindanaons and Filipino Sunni Muslims based here, were sent by Health Sec. Janet Garin, an act lauded by local executives of ARMM.

Sinolinding is an Indian-trained Ophthalmologist and eye surgeon while Dumama is a surgeon.

Accompanying Dumama and Sinolinding were senior government physicians Marlyn Concovar, Emmy Minicimpo and Ambassador Cecilia Rebong. The composed the Philippine delegation tot he five-day international health forum that started Monday.

In a statement, ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman said the region's more than 2 million inhabitants are surely proud two Bangsamoros were in attendance to the world health assembly representing them.

“The Moro communities in Mindanao are honored once again with the participation of two doctors from our community in another vaunted international event,” Hataman said.

Several ARMM officials, professionals and leaders have been sent to Europe, Australia and the US for various conferences representing Muslims in southern Philippines.

“Those activities gave us the chance to show to the world that despite our being a minority, we are not bereft of people actively involved in governance,” Hataman added.

Last year, Dr. John Magno, regional education secretary for ARMM, represented the region in international psychologists in Canada.

ARMM Regional Executive Secretary Laisa Masuhud Alamia, and Baintan-Adil Ampatuan, director of the Regional Planning and Development Office, also attended conferences represeNting the five province ARMM to Europe conference.

ARMM is composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Marine battalion sent to Tawi-Tawi

By Bong Garcia (Sunnex)

THE military has beefed up the coastal security of Tawi-Tawi by redeploying a battalion of marine troops to the province, an official said.

Major Filemon Tan Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesman, said the Marine Battalion Landing Team-9 (MBLT-9) was pulled out from Zamboanga City and was deployed to Tawi-Tawi.

The MBLT-9 troops departed Zamboanga City following the send-off ceremony on Thursday held at the Naval Forces Western Mindanao headquarters in the city.

Tan said the deployment of the MBLT-9 troops to Tawi-Tawi is just a preemptive move of Westmincom, citing there is no security threat in that province.

He said the deployment is in accordance to the military doctrine that the marines should be based in islands or near the shorelines.

The Army's 21st Infantry Battalion has replaced the MBLT-9 in the city.

The military deployed marine troops to help secure Zamboanga since the infamous 21-day siege in September 2013. The first to be deployed was the MBLT-1, which was later replaced by the MBLT-9.

Farmers, fisherfolks laud DAF-ARMM programs that increase productivity

(PNA), LGI/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY (PNA) -- Farmers and fisherfolks from across the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Thursday lauded the regional government for ensuring beneficiaries major players in the agriculture sector continue to be productive through intervention and recognition.

In celebration of Farmers and Fisherfolks’ Month in the ARMM, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF-ARMM) honored graduates of Agricultural “School on the Air” program and other agricultural achievers.

These student-farmers of the weekly "School on the Air" program tuned in to DXMS Radyo Bida every Sunday to learn the latest technology in farming.

Alexander Alonto Jr., DAF-ARMM regional secretary, led the activity held at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Center here.

“This is to recognize and honor individuals who excelled in farming and fishery programs in their respective communities,” Alonto said in his opening statement.

“We are fully aware of the sacrifices you have done as your contribution to the country’s food sufficiency program,” he added.

Sorayda Maguing, a farmer from Lanao del Sur, said it was only during the current administration that her group in Wao, Lanao Sur have received agricultural assistance.

"We learned a lot during the school on the air program, our production has gone up, we learned new techniques, we are grateful we have this kind of radio program," Esmael Salita Ugka, 40 of Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao, said in Filipino.

During the ceremonies, DAF-ARMM distributed more than Php14.5 million worth of farm inputs, machinery and fishing paraphernalia.

“Through these interventions, our farmers are expected to be more productive,” said Alonto.

Farmer beneficiaries received 400 bags of certified palay seeds; 1,500 bags of open-pollinated corn seeds; 5,000 sachets of rodenticides; 11,200 liters ng fungicides; 12,096 liters of bactericides; 8,720 liters of insecticides; 680 gallons of foliar spray and 30 boxes of foliar fertilizer.

After the ceremonial turn-over, the DA provincial officials will disperse the assistance in their respective areas in the days to come.

Alonto said aside from farm inputs, DAF-ARMM also dispersed rice transplanters, hand tractors and units of floating tillers.

Funds for these assistance were sourced out from Agri-Pinoy Rice and Corn Programs funds.

DAF-ARMM fishery director Janice Desamito-Musali said fisher folks from Datu Odin Sinsuat town have received 15 units of non-motorized banca and gill nets.

Maguindanao field technicians who were awardees of the National Agri-Pinoy rice achievers award were also recognized and honored by regional agriculture officials.

They include Rahib Mamaluba of Mamasapano town; Ernesto Bergado of Datu Abdullah Sangki; Ahmad Abdulkarim of Shariff Saidona Mustapha; Arnelio Pasaporte of Upi and Ariel Lagana of South Upi.

DAF-ARMM prepares mitigating programs for La Nina

(PNA)

COTABATO CITY, May 21 (PNA) – Preparations are underway to mitigate the possible impact of rainy season to farmers in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARM), agriculture officials said on Saturday.

“We are ready and I hope the La Nina will not be as worst as we fear it to be,” Alexander Alonto Jr, Department of Agriculture and Fishery (DAF-ARMM) regional secretary said, referring to the feared rainy season expected to hit the country by June or July.

Alonto reported that the El Nino phenomenon-triggered long dry spell that hit the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi have damaged about PHP180 million worth of agricultural crops and work animals.

For the incoming rainy season, Alonto told repoters that his office has prepared a PHP45 million funds to mitigate the impact of the wet season.

Alonto said Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman has created an inter-agency task force composed of several regional government agencies, headed by DAF-ARMM to cushion the impact of the rainy season.

“DAF-ARMM is the lead agency implementing the mitigating measures to ensure food sufficiency is not affected,” Alonto said, adding that his department will submit the La Nina Mitigation Plan to DA national office for assistance to farmers who are the most vulnerable sector during the rainy days.

As the regional agency celebrated Friday its 25th year devolution, Alonto led the dispersal of about PHP24 million worth of equipment and farm assistance to farmers affected by the long dry spell.

DA hands out Php14 M worth of machineries, inputs to farmers in ARMM

(DEDoguiles-PIA 12)

COTABATO CITY, May 20(PIA)-- In celebration of May as Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month, the Department of Agriculture in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao turned over to farmer organizations P14.05 million worth farm machineries and inputs.

The turn-over ceremony was held at the DA Grounds inside the ORG Compound in Cotabato City on Wednesday (May 18)

ARMM Regional Agriculture Secretary Alexander Alonto Jr. said the celebration and the distribution of machines,farm inputs and fishing paraphernalia recognized the contributions of the farmers and fisherfolk to the agriculture sector and the economic development of the country.

Farm inputs handed out to recipients were 400 bags of certified palay seed, 1,500 bags of open-pollinated corn seed, 5,000 sachets ng rodenticides.

DA-ARMM also gave out 11,200 liters of fungicides, 12,096 liters of bactericides, 8,720 liters of insecticides, 680 gallons of foliar sprays and 30 boxes of foliar fertilizer.

These inputs were turned over to the DA Provincial Offices that are mandated to distribute to the actual beneficiaries based on approved lists.

Meanwhile, the farm machineries handed over to beneficiary organizations consisted of 9 rice transplanters, 8 hand tractors and 2 floating tillers.

The purchase of these farm inputs and machineries was funded by the Agri-Pinoy Rice and Agri-Pinoy Corn Programs of the agency.

Also, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources turned over 15 motorized bancas and gill nets for inland fishers in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao.

On May 21, 1989, then President Corazon Aquino signed Proclamation No. 33 designating May as Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month.

(News Feature) BaSulTa: PHL seafood capital

By Lilybeth G. Ison [(PNA), SCS/LGI]

MANILA (PNA) -- People usually are afraid to go to some places in southern Philippines, particularly in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi or the BaSulTa area, due to the problem of peace and order in these provinces and the presence of some Muslim militants.

But, did you know that 35-40 percent of the country's total fisheries production come from these provinces?

Despite this, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Director Asis Perez said around 221,000 fisherfolk in the entire Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) belong to the poorest sector of society due to lack of government support services in the past.

As such, Perez said, the government launched Accelerated and Sustainable Anti-Poverty Program (ASAPP) nationwide but giving emphasis on Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, to promote inclusive growth and expedite the eradication of poverty in the poorest communities.

He explained that ASAPP is an inter-agency initiative that facilitates the creation of sustainable employment and income-generating opportunities for the poor.

The program involves the participation of the private sector and local government units to make readily available programs and services more accessible to target beneficiaries.

"The problem with peace and order is related to poverty," said Perez in an interview with the Philippines News Agency. "If we solve poverty in BaSulTa, peace and order situation in these areas will also improve."

"BaSulTa fisherfolk already got the resources (abundance of fish catch), we (in the government) only need to enhance their capabilities such as providing them with cold storage facilities, bancas, among others," he noted.

Perez said that if the government eliminates poverty in these provinces, "the entire Philippines will benefit and attain food sustainability."

In August 2015, the Department of Agriculture (DA), through BFAR, launched its first ASAPP livelihood caravan in the fishing communities of Sulu where the highest poverty incidence was recorded. The caravan had serviced a total of three municipalities -- Maimbung, Parang, and Panglima Tahil -- where it distributed various fishing gears, chest freezers, and constructed Community Fish Landing Centers (CFLCs) amounting to Php3.49 million.

BFAR also provided these communities with rain collection facilities as potable water in these fishing communities to address the residents' lack of fresh water.

For its second ASAPP Livelihood caravan, Perez and the entire BFAR regional directors visited in April 2016 fishing communities in Jolo, Lugus and Pangutaran, Sulu; Sibutu, Tawi-Tawi; and Maluso, Lantawan and Tigtabon, Basilan and distributed various post-harvest facilities, including rain catchers, to further improve the socio-economic conditions of fisherfolk in these areas.

In Sulu alone, a total of Php7.599 million worth of fisheries interventions such as chest freezers, gill nets, non-motorized bancas, rain catchers, seaweed farm implements were distributed to target fisherfolk in the province.

For Basilan and Tawi-Tawi, a total of Php3.750 million worth of livelihood assistance were extended to fisherfolk for them to improve their production and increase their income.

The fisherfolk beneficiaries have expressed gratitude and promised to take good care of the livelihood materials they received from the government through BFAR.

Aside from these post-harvest support, BFAR also helps the fisherfolk link their produce to market.

"When we already have enough catch, the next thing we should think about is where do we bring our produce? How do we bring our catch to the right market, how are we going to maximize profits from our catch? We have to link the product to the market," said Perez.

"This is consistent with BFAR's value-based production framework which advocates against unabated pressure on fishing grounds, promotes value-adding technologies to maximize market potential of every fish and fishery commodity, and foster higher profits for the fisherfolk," he added.

Perez has vowed more livelihood interventions and technology trainings for the fisherfolk of BaSulTa, saying this indicates the "government’s serious commitment for inclusive growth and poverty alleviation in all sectors, particularly agriculture and fisheries sectors."

ARMM teachers, Army, PNP lauded for efficient poll duties

(PNA), LDV/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 18 (PNA) -- More than a week after the national and local elections, poll and education officials have lauded the bravery, commitment and dedication of public school teachers in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) who served a board of election inspectors.

Poll officials in the five province ARMM said this is the "most peaceful, quick and orderly" elections in the past 20 years in the region known as home to private armed groups, intense political rivalry and loose firearms.

Lawyer Mike Abas, ARMM election director, admitted the balloting was not perfect and there were failure of elections in some precincts in Sulu, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.

"In general, the regional polls were peaceful thanks to poll deputies who performed well," Abas told reporters.

“There was failure there in Binidayen not because of security problems, or the absence of teachers and security personnel, but because the election officer disappeared that day. That official had been asked to explain his side of the case,” Abas said.

“Credit has to go to the teachers, the police and the military for the successful conduct of the recent elections in the ARMM,” Abas said.

He said teachers in the autonomous region performed their election duties efficiently despite some threats that hound them before the political exercises.

“I am grateful to these teachers who helped us administer the May 9 elections,” Abas said.

Dr. John Magno, ARMM education regional secretary, said all the teachers who served as BEIs were well protected by the military and the police.

“When government agencies and barangay folks work together for a common cause, we get good results, we achieve our goals,” he said.

Magno and Abas admitted credit should also go to political groups who vowed not to resort to violencein a series of peace covenant signing.

ARMM honors high value crops development program achievers

(PNA), PGL/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 17 (PNA) -- As the region's agriculture sector celebrates this year's Farmers and Fisherfolks' Month, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DAF-ARMM) will recognize High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) Awardees.

Alexander Alonto Jr, DAF-ARMM regional secretary, said the awarding will be held tomorrow (May 18) at Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex in Cotabato City.

Among the awardees are People’s Alliance for Progress Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Barangay Kandayok, Panamao, Sulu headed by Princess Kumalah Elardo for HVCDP Achiever on Coffee; the Kenebeka Farmers Association of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao under Albert Guiamelon as HVCDP Achiever on Rubber.

For the HVCDP on Vegetable, the awardees are Basilan Fisherfolks & Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Barangay Batungal, Maluso, Basilan and Dilabayan Farmers Association of Kapai, Lanao del Sur.

The Sapakan National High School of Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao is the awardee for HVCDP "Gulayan sa Paaralan" category.

Alonto said the Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers to be recognized and honored include 13 agricultural extension workers from Maguindanao and five from Lanao del Sur.

For Lanao Sur awardees are Normala Mangontawar, Naga Tucalo, Nurhaina Panaguilaan, Abduljabbar Natha and Mosbi Macabago.

Those from Maguindanao are Baimon Alik, Bainadia Baguindali, Salembai Abdullah, Mohammad Angeles, Aleon Mansol, Ruden Maliga, Roldan Obpon, Johardan Mamasapano, Musa Abdulkarim, Ricarte Ariem, Rahib Mamaluba, Ernesto Bergado and Akmad Abdulkarim.

Also to be recognized are DAF-ARMM employees who graduated from doctorate degree in Philosophy. They are Dr. Kadiguia R. Abdullah, Al Hadja; Dr. Jalika D. Mangacop, Al Hadja; Dr. Abusama Amba and Dr. Baingan Ayob-Iba.

Alonto told reporters that recognizing the achievers will inspire other agriculture stakeholders to excel and increase producvity.

SSS intensifies membership coverage in Sulu

(SSS)

Social Security System (SSS) Jolo Branch recently conducted a series of orientation and information seminars to different sectors of the community in an effort to intensify its SSS coverage in the Sulu province.

During the 12th Annual General Assembly of the Sulu Provincial Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SPEMC), SSS Jolo Accounts Management Section Junior Analyst Joel A. Tammang promoted the various benefits and programs offered by the SSS to around 300 participants present at the Capitol Multi-Purpose Gymnasium in Patikul, Sulu on April 25.

“The SSS, through our Jolo Branch, is expecting an increase in SSS membership since job order and contractual workers from the Sulu Provincial Office will soon be enrolled under the KaltaSSS-Collect Program, formerly called the E-AlkanSSSya Program, through the initiative of SPEMC Chairperson Hja. Nur Anida M. Dammang,” Tammang shared.

The SSS also held back-to-back information drives in Jolo, Sulu starting with fish vendors and entrepreneurs at the Serantes Fish Market on April 18. Tammang encouraged the informal sector workers to register as self-employed individuals for their social protection and invited them to form a group and enroll with the AlkanSSSya Program to give them a convenient and affordable means of saving for their monthly SSS contributions.

The day after, Tammang facilitated two separate orientations to inform members on various SSS matters at the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development, Inc. along Port Area St. at the Walled City in Jolo, Sulu. The SSS also initiated the coverage of job order and contractual workers of the Rural Health Unit - Jolo under the Department of Health – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on April 13.

“With the painstaking effort of the branch to cover potential SSS members at all bases, the SSS is not only expecting increase in the number of registered members but also anticipates solid growth with its future collections,” Tammang said.

SSS Jolo Branch serves 19 municipalities and supervises SSS Tawi-Tawi Service Office which covers an additional 11 municipalities.

15 COCs left to be canvassed – Comelec

By Leslie Ann Aquino

There are only about 15 Certificates of Canvass (COCs) left to be canvassed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) National Board of Canvassers for senators and partylist representatives.

These are Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, Apayao, Negros Occidental, Marinduque, Zamboanga del Norte, Cebu, Sarangani, Agusan del Sur, Leyte, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, and Antique.

On Saturday, Comelec Commissioner Christian Robert Lim informed the representatives of senatorial candidates and partylist groups that the said areas have yet to be canvassed since said areas are set to hold special elections on May 14 and 16.

The NBOC will reconvene at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Monday, 9 a.m.

“We are just waiting for said areas to transmit so we can complete our canvass,” Atty. Consuelo Diola, NBOC subcommittee head, said in an interview Sunday.

“When I say yet to transmit what I mean its not yet here…we would not really know if some of them were able to transmit yesterday because our Central Canvassing System is closed now,” she added.

Asked regarding the status of the COCs that have seeming discrepancies, Diola said the COC from Laguna and Southern Leyte are under quarantine.

This, after the COC in Southern Leyte did not include the votes from two towns while the COC in Laguna transmitted results that include votes from the Pre-Election Logical Accuracy Test (PreLAT).

“We are still awaiting their respective chairmen of the Provincial Board of Canvassers (PBoC) to arrive here,” said Diola.

As to concerns regarding the seeming discrepancies found in the number of votes of some candidates in the COCs of six provinces, Diola said they are waiting if the political parties will be withdrawing their manifestations made during the canvassing proceedings.

68 Maguindanao OFWs and dependents get IT training from OWWA

(ORVRivera-PIA12 with report from OWWA-ARMM)

COTABATO CITY – Sixty-eight Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and dependents from the province of Maguindanao recently finished a basic course on Information Technology (IT) courtesy of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration - Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (OWWA-ARMM).

OWWA-ARMM Director Amy Crisostomo said the scholars finished the one-month training program held at their regional office in Cotabato City.

The OWWA IT Training Program is a computer literacy program which provides OFWs and their dependents training and access to technology intended to bridge the communication gap between the OFW and his/her family and allow them to communicate with each other through the Internet. The program also aims to upgrade their IT skills.

Among the courses offered in the program are Computer Fundamentals 1, Computer Fundamentals 2, Internet and World Wide Web (WWW) Fundamentals, Digital Media Fundamentals, Web Design Fundamentals, Word Processing Fundamentals, Presentation Fundamentals, Database Fundamentals, Spreadsheet Fundamentals, and Lenovo.

During the graduation ceremony of Batch 61, 62 and 63 held earlier this month, the scholars took the chance to express their heartfelt thanks to OWWA for having this kind of training program.

Ustadz Montaser M. Paki, a former OFW expressed his gratitude to OWWA-ARMM for the opportunity to learn computer skills. He also said that even him who had necessary foundation in computer basics had learned a lot, how much to those who are new and don’t have basic computer background.

Naima M. Abas, an OFW dependent and a teacher by profession said that the training was very informative and useful especially for them teachers.

“Though I can say that I am a Microsoft Office literate, the training leveled up my knowledge on how the program works. The new techniques and approaches in Microsoft Excel equipped us with very useful tips and formulas whicih I can use in my profession”, Abas said.

“This training is not just an avenue for more learning but also to gain new friends and strengthen bond with our colleague.

Since 2010, more than 1,000 OFWs and their dependents have availed of the OWWA IT program in ARMM.

Winners look to a better ARMM

By Ayunan G. Gunting

WINNERS are looking to a bright future for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Winning by a landslide, re-electionist Gov. Mujiv Hataman will step up the implementation of poverty reduction and good-governance projects, attraction of more investment opportunities, improvement of education standards, launching of more infrastructure projects and heighten security.

In his past terms, Hataman exposed fake employees in ARMM records; stopped election fraud, advocated transparency of records in the government, and reformed the bureaucracy by improving work flow.

A first in ARMM, community- service organizations and local governments collaborated in organizing development projects.

Hataman built “roads of peace” that were delivered to various communities of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front. ARMM was also acknowledged as the most improved region in committing to reduce maternal and infant deaths under the United Nations Millennium.

Meanwhile, his wife Sitti Djalia Turabin Hataman won a seat in Congress under the Anak Party party-list group. Sitti has been at the forefront of women empowerment in ARMM. She was instrumental in the signing of ARMM’s counterpart of the Reproductive Health Bill. She added that Moro women are getting more involved in social issues. Her dream is to see more women in public offices and higher positions in the private sector.

“An empowered Moro community will give rise to an overall empowered Moro society. The development of our communities is lodged in the women who are at the frontline of our homes,” she said.

Mother-and-son Soraya Adiong and Mamintal “Bombit” Alonto Adiong Jr. have been declared Lanao del Sur’s new governor and vice governor. Soraya merely took over her son’s previous post. When he was governor, Bombit was an influential figure in the business community for his enterprising spirit and marketing skills.

He was involved in the ARMM Social Fund Project which supports infrastructure and provides services to poor and conflict-ridden communities, and guards the management of public funds and resources.

In Marawi City, former legislator Majul Gandamra won as mayor, breaking up the Ali dynasty hold on the city. Handpicked by Hataman, Gandamra vows to stop violence in the streets and illegal drugs, step up cleanliness and order and manage professionally the country’s only Islamic city.

In Basilan newly elected Gov. Jim Hataman’s top agenda is peace and order, social services, health and will focus on agriculture and fishing.

Canvassing of Maguindanao poll results proceed in new venue

(Daily Zamboanga Times)

Threatened by criminal suit, partisans who picketed at the Shariff Kabunsuan Complex in Cotabato City to prevent the transfer in Buluan town of the canvassing of election results from Maguindanao province dispersed Tuesday, ending a 24-hour standoff that caused public inconvenience.

Sources from the Commission in Elections on Wednesday confirmed that the canvassing activities in Buluan, capital town of Maguindanao, will proceed as programmed.

Comelec officials said the proclamation of the winning candidates for provincial elective posts shall be done, barring legal impediments, as soon as tabulations are over.

The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas online poll count stated that as of 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, the reelectionist governor of Maguindanao, Esmael Mangudadatu, already has 206,516 votes while challenger Kagui Ali Midtimbang trailed far behind with only 112,510 votes.

The reelectionist vice governor of the province, Lester Sinsuat, is also leading in the KBP’s tally, which showed he already has 207,335 votes, as against the 92,250 votes garnered by rival Dustin Mastura.

Maguindanao has 634,323 registered voters but only more than half of them go out to cast vote during elections owing to mobility problems, for those in marshy areas near the 220,000-hectare Liguasan Delta, and due to geographical and security constraints.

Mangudadatu’s bid for a third and last term was backed by 26 of Maguindanao’s 36 mayors. He is the provincial chairman for Maguindanao of the Liberal Party.

Lawyers of the now upbeat Mangudadatu announced late Tuesday they are to file criminal charges against followers of Midtimbang for mauling three employees of the provincial government on suspicions they were to smuggle out election flash disks from the 300-seater Shariff Kabunsuan amphitheater inside the 32-hectare compound of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao southeast of Cotabato City.

Some 300 followers of Midtimbang converged at the surroundings of the supposed site for the canvassing of the election returns from Maguindanao without any rally permit from the Cotabato City government or a written imprimatur from the executive department of ARMM.

The three badly beaten provincial government employees were rushed to a hospital by policemen and soldiers guarding the ARMM compound, where dozens of offices under the regional government are located.

Since midnight Tuesday, reporters in Cotabato City have been receiving preposterous news feed, via text and private messages from fictitious Facebook accounts, purporting that Midtimbang had been proclaimed winner in the gubernatorial race by officials of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division and the ARMM police office.

One reporter wrote on a Facebook thread “baka naka-shabu o lasing ang mga gumawa nitong mga pakulo na ito” and branded “heretic” the spreading propaganda.

Officials of the 6th ID and the ARMM police refuted the claims, asserting that whoever was behind it is obviously ignorant of Comelec protocols and operating procedures.

Sources from the military intelligence community said they now have clues on who instigated the disinformation campaign.

Soldiers and policemen have been deployed around the vicinity of the satellite office of the provincial government in Buluan town, where the canvassing is to be held, to forestall possible security breaches.

Farmers in South Upi, Maguindanao, get El Niño aid

By Manuel Cayon

Davao City—Relief packs containing rice, medicines, and seedlings were given to farmers affected by El Niño in South Upi—a major rice producer in the southern Philippine province of Maguindanao.

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Humanitarian Action and Response Team and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) distributed the relief packs to 1,295 families in Barangay Romunggaob, South Upi. The humanitarian team and the DSWD are nearing their completion of relief distribution to 13,984 families in town.

Actor Robin Padilla accompanied the distribution team, as well as members of the Philippine Red Cross.

“The people need rice, and it’s sad that in places like Kidapawan, people still have to go down the mountains, they still need to protest,” Padilla said during the short program prior to relief distribution.

“There is no need to resort to violence so that your voices will be heard. Let us choose to hold onto the peace we have gained and let us help each other. Together with the regional government, we are ready to help,” he added in a statement released by the ARMM Bureau of Public Information.

Celina Urangkaya, a resident of South Upi, said “harvest has been scare, if there’s any at all.”

“It’s been a difficult time,” Urangkaya said. “Sometimes we only get to eat at night, sometimes we make do with not eating at all. If we can’t find cassava to eat, then we don’t eat. We’ll sleep instead.”

She said her community had felt the effects of El Niño beginning January.

Relief distribution started in mid-April, after the ARMM declared a state of calamity. The ARMM is composed of the central Mindanao provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, and the southwestern island Mindanao provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

“The focus of the regional government now is to provide their basic needs such as food, water, medicines, and seedlings,” ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia said.

The municipalities of Ampatuan, Buldon, Barira, North Upi, South Upi, Montawal, Shariff Aguak, Pagalungan, Datu Piang and Shariff Saydona Mustapha in Maguindanao bore the brunt of the dry spell. In Lanao del Sur drought damage was severe in Poona Bayabao, Taraka and Wao.

The Regional Planning and Development Office said the drought affected 19,359 hectares planted with rice, corn and high-value commercial crops in 84 municipalities with 462,740 residents in the region.

ARMM guv calls for unity, peace after elections

By John Unson (philstar.com)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - The upbeat reelectionist Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Tuesday urged his constituent-voters to start tearing down the partisan walls that separated them during the just concluded 30-day campaign period.

Hataman and running mate ARMM Vice Gov. Haroun Al-Rashid Lucman are now both leading by over 200,000 votes each in initial separate online tallies by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas and a television network of election results for ARMM governor and vice governor, respectively.

As of dawn Tuesday, Hataman already has 569,320 votes, based on partial, unofficial tallies, as against the 213,903 votes garnered by his less influential challenger, Sulu Vice Gov. Sakur Tan.

Lucman, who hails from the second district of Lanao del Sur, already has 474,000 votes in initial unofficial tallies. His closest rival, Kagui Haron Bandila, an ethnic Maguindanaon, only has more than 60,000 votes.

The autonomous region, covering Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur in mainland Mindanao and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, has 1,863,230 registered voters, but only about 60 percent of them cast vote during elections due to security and geographical constraints.

“Let us now mend fences and bury the hatchets for good. It is in unity that we can proudly show how we value peace in the Bangsamoro homeland," Hataman said. Nation ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

"Peace and interfaith unity are very important commodities we can use to secure our liberation from poverty and feudal politics,” he added.

Hataman said he is offering his hand to Tan, Sulu’s political kingpin, who has been in politics for about three decades now.

Hataman said he will continue his effort to help local leaders in Sulu rebuild the island province from devastations wrought by armed conflicts through public works, social welfare, education and health interventions.

Hataman and Tan were originally both members of the Liberal Party (LP) but the vice governor turned renegade and filed his candidacy for ARMM’s governorship in October last year without any permission from the LP’s national directorate.

Most of the 116 mayors in ARMM and its four provincial governors, the LP stalwarts Esmael Mangudadatu of Maguindanao, Nurbert Sahali of Tawi-Tawi, Mamintal Adiong Jr. of Lanao del Sur and Jum Akbar of Basilan, were irked by his unilateral move, which was for them a total defiance of LP rules.

They immediately tagged Tan as an “independent candidate” for ARMM governor and announced they could not support his candidacy for his misbehavior.

ARMM governor casts vote in Basilan hometown

(PNA), BNB/TPGJR

ISABELA CITY, Basilan, May 9 (PNA) – Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has led the 1.8 million registered voters in the region in choosing the leaders of the country for the next six years.

Several supporters, while chanting, have lined up along the roadside as they saw Hataman arrived in the nearby municipality of Sumisip, his hometown, to cast his vote.

Amir Mawallil, ARMM’s Bureau of Public Information (BPI-ARMM) director, said Hataman voted around 9:30 a.m. Monday in Barangay Buli-Buli, Sumisip.

Mawallil, who accompanied the regional governor, said Hataman is a registered voter of Precinct No. 0091A.

Hataman is seeking re-election under the administration’s Liberal Party (LP).

Hataman is known for the reforms and development projects implemented in this province as well as in the entire ARMM under his administration.

Last March, Hataman accompanied President Benigno Simeon Aquino III who led the inauguration of the Basilan circumferential road.

The construction of the circumferential road started several years ago and was completed during the presidency of Aquino and governorship of Hataman.

PNP, AFP ready for May 9 election in Lanao del Sur

By Apipa Bagumbaran (APB/PIA-10)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA) --- The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) here are now ready in carrying-out security measures this coming May 9, 2016 election.

Police Senior Superintendent, Rustom C Duran, PNP provincial director, gave the assurance during the Provincial Coordinating Conference of the PNP, AFP, Department of Education, and Commission on Elections recently.

PSSupt Duran said they will deploy more than 1,100 PNP personnel in the all voting centers in the province during elections.

He said PNP has also created 14 quick reaction forces (QRF) to respond quickly to security problems and augment the security forces in identified areas of concerns.

Director Duran also said that they have standby personnel, who can act as Special Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs), in case the assigned BEIs will not report to duty.

Meanwhile, three battalion of military personnel will also be deployed in the entire province.

Col Roseller Murillo, commanding officer of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, for his part, said the deployment is part of the security plan that will implemented in the province to prevent election-related violent incidents and ensure that there will be no failure of elections in the province this 2016.

1,000-man Task Force CHOP activated in Maguindanao

By Ali G. Macabalang

And how they rise above them because they’re awesome

Cotabato City — The Maguindanao-based Sixth Infantry Division (6th ID) has activated its 1,000-member security task force to help ensure peaceful proceedings in Monday’s polls in Central Mindanao, especially in areas of electoral concern in the province.

Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, 6ID commanding general, has tapped his division’s chief-of- staff Col. Romeo Brawner as head of the Task Force CHOP (clean, honest, orderly and peaceful elections).

Discussions during the task force’s ceremonial revival said Brawner and his men will be backed by dozens of combat vehicles, tanks and motorized watercrafts for security operations in far-flung areas, particularly in marshlands and polling precincts along rivers across the adjoining North Cotabato and Maguindanao provinces.

Pangilinan said the group, which will also be beefed up by snipers, will operate under the supervision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), which earlier classified Maguindanao as one of country’s eight “areas of immediate concern.”

“These men will engage without any hesitation saboteurs or armed groups out to derail the conduct of the elections in any of the municipalities under the jurisdiction of the 6th ID,” Pangilinan told reporters.

The task force was presented at the 6th ID’s parade ground southwest of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao on Thursday afternoon by Pangilinan and Major Gen. Eduardo Año, the Philippine Army chief.

Pangilinan said the election security duties of the task force would be coordinated properly with the ceasefire bodies of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The MILF had earlier said it will reposition its forces away from guerrilla enclaves near polling centers before May 9 for Comelec personnel and teachers to freely operate and serve voting folks without security apprehensions.

News about the activation of the task force was welcomed by officials and residents of Maguindanao and North Cotabato.

The Army contingent is a revival of the erstwhile Task Force HOPE (honest, orderly and peaceful elections), which was credited for helping restore in the 2010 elections among Maguindanao voters their rights of suffrage allegedly crippled in political exercises prior to the infamous Nov. 23, 2009 election-related Ampatuan massacre.

CDA-ARMM hosts coops summit

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 6 (PNA) -- As part of comprehensive plans and programs of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) for this year, the agency hosted the 2016 provincial cooperatives summit in Lanao del Sur Wednesday, officials said Friday.

With the theme: “Economic Sustainability and Good Governance Through Cooperativism,” the event was attended by over a thousand leaders of cooperatives in the province.

The summit was hosted by CDA-ARMM headed by regional administrator Dimnatang M. Radia.

"Cooperativism is a priority initiative under the regional government’s poverty alleviation agenda," ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman said.

Also in attendance during the day-long summit were CDA chairman Orlando Ravanera, Central Mindanao CDA director Amenodin Elias, Pama Dimapanat, ARMM secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications; Jehanne Mutin, chairperson of the Regional Commission of Bangsamoro Women (RCBW); and Mocammad Rakiin, Lanao del Sur provincial administrator who represented provincial governor Mamintal Adiong, Jr.

Rakiin said cooperativism is a program fully supported by Gov. Adiong.

For his part, CDA chairman Ravanera said people can be empowered to craft their own destiny as they come together through the cooperative.

“Cooperativism is about empowering the poor and invulnerable especially in taking full control of available resources of Mindanao,” Ravanera said.

“We believe cooperativism is the only effective approach in achieving true peace in the region,” he added.

Mutin said the women’s sector understands the concept of the cooperative, specifically the collaborative efforts of its members.

CDA-ARMM administrator Radia stressed that cooperativism is one of the initiatives of CDA-ARMM in accordance with its mandate to promote the viability, growth and sustainability of cooperatives as instruments for equity, economic development and social justice.

Radia revealed CDA-ARMM’s accomplishments that included the Computerized Registration System and Kapit-Bisig Program as a one-stop shop converging three major programs of CDA-ARMM, namely registration, regulation and development of cooperatives.

Radia said such convergence was aimed at convening cooperatives in every municipality as well as in harmonizing programs and projects supporting cooperatives in various national line agencies.

ARMM kicks off 2016 Lanao del Sur cooperatives summit

(Desk Man, Bureau of Public Information)

MARAWI CITY – The Cooperative Development Authority of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CDA-ARMM) hosted the 2016 provincial cooperatives summit in Lanao del Sur held here on Tuesday as part of the regional agency’s comprehensive plans and programs.

With the theme: “Economic Sustainability and Good Governance Through Cooperativism,” the event was attended by over a thousand leaders of cooperatives in the province. The summit was hosted by CDA-ARMM headed by regional administrator Dimnatang M. Radia.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman who spoke before the summit’s participants said cooperativism is a priority initiative under the regional government’s poverty alleviation agenda.

Aside from Gov. Hataman, other officials who graced the event include: Orlando Ravanera, CDA chairman; Amenodin Elias, Central Mindanao CDA director; Pama Dimapanat, ARMM secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications; Jehanne Mutin, chairperson of the Regional Commission of Bangsamoro Women (RCBW); and Mocammad Rakiin, Lanao del Sur provincial administrator who represented provincial governor Mamintal Adiong, Jr.

Rakiin said cooperativism is a program fully supported by Gov. Adiong. For his part, CDA chairman Ravanera said people can be empowered to craft their own destiny as they come together through the cooperative.

“Cooperativism is about empowering the poor and invulnerable especially in taking full control of available resources of Mindanao,” Ravanera said. “We believe cooperativism is the only effective approach in achieving true peace in the region,” he added.

RCBW chairperson Mutin, meanwhile, said the women’s sector understands the concept of the cooperative, specifically the collaborative efforts of its members. The summit, said CDA-ARMM administrator Radia, is one of the initiatives of CDA-ARMM in accordance with its mandate to promote the viability, growth and sustainability of cooperatives as instruments for equity, economic development and social justice.

Among CDA-ARMM’s accomplishments are the Computerized Registration System and Kapit-Bisig Program as a one-stop shop converging three major programs of CDA-ARMM, namely registration, regulation and development of cooperatives. Such convergence is aimed at convening cooperatives in every municipality as well as in harmonizing programs and projects supporting cooperatives in various national line agencies.

DOH-ARMM gets recognition for successful deworming campaign

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 4 (PNA) -- Health workers in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are now inspired, committed and determined to perform better after the Department of Health’s (DOH) central office awarded the Department of Health in ARMM (DOH-ARMM) as the most improved region in terms of coverage of the national de-worming campaign’s second round held in January this year.

Dr. Kadil Sinolinding, DOH-ARMM regional secretary, said ARMM has de-wormed 98 percent of its target, or over one million school and community-based children, elevating the region to the top of the government’s drive that focuses on children’s health.

Deworming is done twice a year, the first round in July of every year.

“This is the first time that the DOH central office recognized the region in a deworming period, and it is because of the continuous effort of the DOH-ARMM,” said Soraida Amilil, regional program coordinator and deputy infectious disease cluster head.

Amilil underscored the importance of the drive, which is aimed at combating the nutritional impact of soil-transmitted helminthiasis, a type of helminth infection caused by roundworms, whipworms, and hookworms.

During the deworming drive, children aged one to four and five to 12 are given a single dose of chewable 400-milligram albendazole anti-worm tablets by school nurses and community health workers.

DOH-ARMM’s report showed that a total of 343,885 children, aged one to four and 135,716 aged five to 12 in communities received deworming tablets.

It further noted 568,076 children enrolled in public elementary schools were also served during the campaign period.

Health workers said that just like other medication, deworming drugs may have nominal side effects such as dizziness, nausea, headache and vomiting. These effects are transient, minor, self-limiting and would disappear after some time and can easily be managed with remedies like resting for a few hours and drinking water mixed with sugar.

Amilil said the regional health office first tried to bring down the prevalence rate of worm infestation among children to less than 20 percent in 2014. To achieve it, the region’s Health department conducted parasite prevalence survey in the provinces of Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Lanao del Sur.

The result of the survey showed 36.7 percent of school children aged six to 12 in the region are suffering from this problem.

“Hopefully, with the efforts of our department (DOH-ARMM), we can lower the number of children suffering from worm infestation,” she added.

She further explained that deworming can substantially improve the health and school participation of children and can reduce absenteeism.

The campaign will also help address other health problems among children such as anemia, malnutrition and impaired mental and physical development.

Prior to giving the prescribed dosage, school nurses and health workers informed the parents on the importance of the campaign specifically in improving the general health of the children.

DOST issues IT certificates to 38,045 Mindanao teachers serving on national, local polls

(PNA), LDV/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 3 (PNA) -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Tuesday announced it issued certification as information technology (IT)-capable to a total of 38,045 Mindanao teachers serving as members of the May 9 Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs).

An IT-capable certification means the certified election inspector has the required skills to operate and run the vote counting machine (VCM), which the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will use for the coming political exercise.

In a statement released here, Secretary Mario Go Montejo said DOST had conducted the certification process in the 17 regions of the Philippines from March 1 to 30 this year, processing a total of 183,105 BEIs, including 43,291 teachers in Mindanao's six regions.

DOST and Comelec signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) in January this year for the certification of members of the BEIs.

Montejo said the role of DOST "is to certify that one of the BEIs is technically capable of operating properly our automated voting system," as he referred to the need for BEIs to have the necessary skills to operate the VCM.

Nationwide, a total of 17,839 BEIs did not meet the requirements needed to be certified IT-capable.

Mindanao-wide, 5,246 BEIs of the 43,291 processed by the DOST failed to earn a certification. It means they cannot serve as BEI on Monday’s elections.

The successful teachers will serve in Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula); Region X (Northern Mindanao); Region XI (Davao Region); Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN); Region XIII (CARAGA); and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

For Southern Philippines' six regions, the figures are Region IX (6,797 BEIs, 5,725 certified); Region X (8,677 BEIs, 8,256 certified); Region XI (8,211 BEIs, 6,801 certified); Region XII (6,884 BEIs, 5,072 certified); Region XIII (5,333 BEIs, 5,279 certified); and ARMM (7,389 BEIs, 6,912 certified).

Montejo said DOST has fielded many of its IT experts nationwide to perform the certification process.

In the national tally, 165,268 BEIs earned their certification out of the 183,105 election inspectors who underwent the DOST-conducted training, written and actual examinations, and certification for the operation of the VCM.

The Automated Election System (AES) Law stipulates that an AES is one that uses "appropriate technology for voting and electronic devices to count the votes and canvass/consolidate results."

Republic Act No. 9369 or the AES law mandates the DOST to perform the certification of BEIs in all the 17 regions of the Philippines.

In an AES, at least one of the three members of the BEIs in all the 95,000 clustered precincts across the country must be IT-capable.

ARMM had 7,389 BEIs processed, with 6,912 certified for a 93 percent passing rate.

DOST also conducted the certification process for the overseas absentee voting (OAV), covering 317 BEIs, with 279 certified for a passing rate of 88.0 percent.

Teachers serving as members of the BEIs are entitled to a Php4,500 honorarium during the election, as well as an additional Php2,000 for those who underwent technical training, Comelec said.

ARMM holds IPP consultations in Maguindanao

(PNA), BNB/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 2 (PNA) -- The Regional Board of Investments (RBOI), of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Monday conducted the third leg of its region-wide 2016 ARMM Investments Priorities Plan (IPP) Consultation and Roadshow.

The third leg was held in municipality of Upi which is 38 kilometers away from Cotabato City.

IPP discussions focused on the investment opportunities in Upi which is an agriculture rich area with tri-people culture (Teduray, Moro and Settlers).

One of the identified investment potentials in the Municipality of Upi to be tapped and supported is the rubber industry given the area’s fertile lands and good climatic conditions.

Mario Debolgado, Upi Business Club president, said that in order for the rubber industry in Upi to prosper there is a need for a processing plant to process their yields same with coffee which is also a major industry in Upi.

Debolgado further said that Upi now has its Local Investment Code as a policy tool to attract investors.

Lawyer Ishak V. Mastura, RBOI chairperson, said that the Upi is a good place to invest, aside from a its peaceful environment, the local government has been a recipient of various awards, to name a few are the Seal of Good Housekeeping from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Civil Service Commission (CSC) Seal of Excellence, and many more.

“This confirms that this municipality has been practicing good governance, which is exactly what investors want to have in the areas where they intend to put their investments” he said.

“The Upi local government is ready to handle investors. It is also essential to have some push from partner ARMM agencies like RBOI to help promote and link the area to local and foreign investors” Mastura added.

ARMM Governor Mujiv S. Hataman said that bringing these consultations to the local communities is very important.

“This is to reach out to those at the grassroots so we would know what they think, what they want us to do and how they can help us to make it happen. We can include these ideas into our future economic strategies and policies or integrate these in our existing plans” Hataman told reporters.

“Public participation in planning the development of the region is one of our core values in our present system of governance,” Hataman said.

RBOI speakers presented the economic activities in the 2016 IPP ARMM List as basis for the granting of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.

RBOI presentations also included the IPP implementing guidelines and the processes and requirements for RBOI registration.

The Regional Planning Development Office (RPDO) represented by Macro Economic Planning Division Chief, Melanie Indar reported on the current socio-economic developments in ARMM while OIC-Manager of Polloc Freeport and Ecozone and REZA Director, Eshan Mabang encouraged the businessmen from Upi to utilize the Polloc Freeport for their convenience and easy transport of products.

RBOI eyes to surpass its investments in 2015 of PHP3 billion.

ARMM Liaison Office facilitates Php144-M funds for regional dev't projects

(PNA), SCS/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 1 (PNA) -- An agency of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has been working quietly to infuse funds for development projects in the Muslim region through facilitation and representation.

Since 2012, the Manila Liaison Office (MLO) of ARMM managed to bring in a total of Php144,228,000 from local and foreign sources, about 96 percent of which came from abroad, specifically from Muslim countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, including non-Muslim states of Taiwan and Singapore, according to Joli Lais, ARMM-MLO head.

Lais said the development assistance has set a record in ARMM’s 25 years of existence.

“Fund assistance come quickly because of the reform agenda pushed and implemented by ARMM Gov. (Mujiv) Hataman,” Lais said in a statement released here.

Before the Hataman administration, the average annual generated resources through facilitation of the MLO reached just over Php1 million from donations during Islam's month-long Ramadan fasting period.

In 2012, the ARMM-MLO set up its Direct Community Services which links with Moro communities, civil society groups, and with various government agencies, including the military and the police in Metro Manila.

The resources and funding were generated from local and foreign sources for the benefit of communities and constituents in the ARMM, which comprised of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, and the cities of Lamitan and Marawi.

Lais said ARMM-MLO has contributed to the ARMM’s reform agenda, not only in the form of assistance and facilitation but also in reaching out to civil society organizations and in participating in various activities involving government agencies, local government units (LGUs), and international institutions.

Lais said more than 90 percent of the generated or facilitated resources by the liaison office was delivered to agencies operating in ARMM areas while the remaining amount, or around 10 percent, was utilized in Metro Manila and other areas outside the autonomous region.

Among those funded by foreign assistance are the acquisition of dialysis machines, hospital beds, mammograms, cryostat machines, refrigerated centerfuge machine, operating room surgical equipment, ophthalmology sets, orthopedic equipment, genaecological instruments, personal computers and printers, and other medical equipment and instruments.

A portion of the foreign donation went to Hajj or pilgrimage assistance, Lais said, adding that Hataman’s clear cut policy of transparency and accountability was the guiding principle of the MLO.

Hataman is seeking reelection as ARMM governor in the May 9 polls.

The MLO head said proper accounting of funding assistance and above-board implementation of projects have earned the confidence of foreign donors to ARMM.

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