Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao News November 2018

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

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

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

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

WHY??

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

Former Abu Sayyaf fighters undergo vocational training

By Ali Macabalang

COTABATO CITY – Dozens of former combatants of the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and some victims of ASG-staged atrocities in Basilan have undergone vocational skills training designed to integrate and turn them into productive components of the society, according to officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Experts of the ARMM’s Program Against Violent Extremism (PAVE) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) trained 52 former ASG fighters, alongside selected residents of ASG-affected areas on bread and pastry-making, welding, carpentry, and dressmaking last November 7 to 8 in Basilan, Regional Information Director Amir Mawallil said in a statement.

The ex-rebels took their oath of allegiance to peaceful life on November 7, preceding the training on each vocational work of their choice, Mawallil said.

John Louie Balagot, ARMM Regional Cabinet Secretary and PAVE program manager, said the training phase formed part of the regional government’s pioneer program allocated with P20-million fund to provide various interventions to former ASG members in the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawiu-Tawi.

Balagot, citing official records, said 272 ASG have returned to the folds of law since the introduction of PAVE late last year by ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman.

Hataman, in an earlier interview with the Manila Bulletin, said his office had coordinated with higher authorities for the application of PAVE concepts for other violent ideology-inspired militants in ARMM, notably the combatants from the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao.

Civilian and military authorities in Maguindanao have received in separate ceremonies close to 70 BIFF fighters who opted to live peaceful life. Most of the ceremonies were attended by Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu and Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Army’s Sixth Infantry Division, it was learned.

Protection of teachers from Abu Sayyaf sought in Sulu

By John Unson (philstar.com)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Regional officials on Friday urged leaders in Sulu to help protect teachers from Abu Sayyaf militants abducting even lowly government employees for meager ransom.

The issue was discussed by members of the regional peace and order council (RPOC) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao during a meeting Friday in Cotabato City.

ARMM Vice Gov. Haroun Al-Rashid Lucman, a senior member of RPOC, urged elected officials in Sulu to help secure public school teachers from the Abu Sayyaf.

Sulu, touted as the country’s most dangerous province, is a known bastion of the Abu Sayyaf, which operates in the fashion of the Islamic State.

More than 30 school teachers, employees of ARMM’s health and social welfare departments and even construction workers involved in projects of the regional government had been kidnapped in different towns in Sulu in recent years.

“We cannot allow these to happen. The role of teachers in building progressive communities is very important. We need to help each other protect them from the Abu Sayyaf,” Lucman told reporters during a brief break in Friday’s RPOC meeting at the ARMM capitol.

Lucman appealed to the provincial government of Sulu to flex its authority and influence in ensuring the safety of all field personnel of the Department of Education-ARMM.

Lucman recommended to ARMM’s education secretary, lawyer Rasol Mitmug, and Chief Superintendent Graciano Mijares, director of the regional police, to formulate security plans meant to prevent abductions of public school teachers in Sulu.

In a text message Saturday, Mijares said the Police Regional Office-ARMM will do its best to protect teachers in all towns in Sulu.

“We will act on that recommendation from the RPOC. We will work together with our counterparts in the Armed Forces there in Sulu,” Mijares said.

Members of the RPOC also discussed during their meeting the peace-building thrusts of the ARMM government in Basilan, where more than 200 Abu Sayyaf militants surrendered in the past 24 months.

The now reforming former Abu Sayyaf bandits are being reintroduced into the local communities jointly by PRO-12, the Western Mindanao Command and agencies under the office of ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman.

Hataman’s office has a current project, the Program Against Violent Extremism, or PAVE, which is meant to hasten the rehabilitation of the erstwhile militants.

The PAVE is being implemented by provincial offices of line agencies under the ARMM regional government.

Lucman said local officials in Sulu can duplicate in the island province the Hataman administration’s PAVE initiative in Basilan.

He said the provincial government of Maguindanao is markedly gaining headway too in its effort to entice members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters to return to mainstream society.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu and officials of units under the Army’s 6th Infantry Division had worked out the surrender of more than 20 BIFF militants in the past seven months.

The latest to surrender through the efforts of Mangudadatu and the 6th ID was BIFF Commander Banog, whose real name is Parido Balabagan, and his eight followers.

They voluntarily turned themselves in to the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion last week and pledged allegiance to the Philippine flag.

Mangudadatu and his younger sibling, Zajid, who is incumbent congressional representative in the second district of Maguindanao, gave the nine BIFF members P20,000 cash each as initial assistance to hasten their relocation to areas far from reach by their former companions.

The BIFF has a practice of attacking the families of members who had bolted out to reform for good.

Lucman lauded Mangudadatu and Basilan Gov. Jim Salliman for their domestic security programs that are now gaining momentum.

“If it can be done in Basilan and in Maguindanao, it can also be done in Sulu and other parts of the autonomous region,” Lucman said.

The ARMM government’s PAVE thrust in Basilan is focused on providing relief and rehabilitation support to Abu Sayyaf members who have returned to the fold of law.

“There are very few Abu Sayyaf militants now in Basilan, only few stragglers remaining and some of them already sent surrender feelers to authorities,” Lucman said.

ARMM boosts reintegration program to quell terrorism

By Noel Punzalan (PNA)

COTABATO CITY -- At least 52 former members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) on Friday began their skills training under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), as part of their reintegration to the mainstream society in Basilan province.

The latest batch of TESDA trainees is among 272 rebel returnees from Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, who are being given livelihood skills training under the Program Against Violent Extremism (PAVE).

John Louie Balagot, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) cabinet secretary, said the initiative forms part of the region’s intensified peace-building efforts to combat terrorism.

PAVE is a reintegration program channeled through skills development training, which received a PHP20-million budget from ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman for its implementation.

On Nov. 7, the latest batch of returnees took their oath during the training induction program facilitated by TESDA in Isabela, Basilan. The training courses include bread and pastry-making, welding, carpentry, and dressmaking.

“The trainees would also receive competency assessments, tool kits and food for the whole duration of the training,” Balagot, who is concurrent PAVE manager, said.

PAVE, being the first model program for the reintegration of former Moro rebels, would also cover assistance to returnees from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, he added.

“The program is primarily designed to provide opportunities to former rebels who surrendered and returned to the folds of the law to become productive members of society,” Balagot said.

PAVE is also engaging with affected communities, especially the youth and women, as the regional government acknowledged their vital role in preventing terrorism.

Aside from the free skills training, he said the returnees would also receive housing and food assistance under the ARMM’s Bangsamoro Regional Inclusive Development with Growth and Equity Program; Alternative Learning System classes under the ARMM’s education department; farm seedlings under the ARMM’s agriculture department; techno-training on chili production under the Department of Science and Technology; and membership to cooperatives under the Cooperative Development Authority.

In the transition to the new Bangsamoro government, Balagot said the ARMM’s reintegration program is being recognized by the National Peace and Order Council, even as the regional government remains hopeful that it would be officially included in the national government’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program, which is aimed at achieving permanent and peaceful closure to all armed conflicts.

Maguindanao medical-dental services benefit 1K indigents

By Edwin Fernandez (PNA)

BULUAN, Maguindanao -- More than 1,000 indigent residents here and those from the nearby towns of Sultan Kudarat province have benefited from a two-day medical mission held by the provincial government of Maguindanao on Wednesday and Thursday.

The inter-agency outreach mission in Buluan town of Maguindanao, dubbed as “Maguindanao Peoples Day”, was a joint initiative of the office of Governor Esmael Mangudadatu and the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP).

Lynette Estandarte, Maguindanao budget officer and concurrent provincial health team leader, said personnel of the social welfare office, provincial hospital and Philippine Information Agency 12 (Soccsksargen) participated in the medical mission.

Aside from health services, the outreach program also served supplemental food for school children and indigent Maguindanaons who availed of the services.

“I am happy the government has this program. We don’t need to go somewhere else because health services are coming our way,” Bai Lilang, one of the beneficiaries from Mangudadatu town, told reporters in an interview here.

Mangudadatu lauded the officials of the PCUP, PIA-12, and different offices under the executive department of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) for the undertaking.

“If it is for the benefit of my people, who am I to refuse?” Mangudadatu said, referring to preparations and invitations to the provincial government to host the event.

“We immediately agreed to host and help facilitate the activity because it can boost the cordiality between Malacañang and the Moro sectors in Maguindanao,” he said.

Aside from civilian government offices, the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID) also sent medical workers to help in the outreach program, including the deployment of Army personnel to secure the area and the roads leading to the venue.

The provincial government has scheduled similar events to take place in the coming months in other areas of Maguindanao, especially in far-flung communities.

ARMM officials support joint police-military security plan

By Edwin Fernandez (PNA)

COTABATO CITY -- Local officials of Maguindanao and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Thursday vowed to support a joint security plan of the Army and the police in the region.

This, after the 6th Infantry Division (ID), which covers two of five ARMM provinces, and the ARMM police regional office, came up with an implementation plan to ensure that its areas of jurisdiction are safe from bombings and terrorism.

Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu said his office will help the police and the military attain the objectives of the Army-police joint undertaking, which is aimed at primarily at ending violent extremism in Maguindanao and part of Lanao del Sur.

The police, represented by Chief Supt. Graciano Mijares and the Army, led by Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, 6th ID chief, recently signed the joint undertaking to minimize, if not totally stop the bombings perpetrated by Islamic State-linked terrorist organizations.

“The main objective is to stop all these violence,” Mijares and Sobejana separately said after the signing of the Implementation Plan (Implan) at the 6th ID officers’ club last week.

Mangudadatu assured Sobejana and Mijares that the Maguindanao provincial peace and order council, which he chairs, will assist in all ways it can to attain the objectives of the Implan.

“We are all for peace, we want our people to live peacefully, that is our common goal and we are one with our state forces,” Mangudadatu said.

Under the Implan, both the police and the military will take measures to restrain terrorist groups like the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), Maute terrorist organization and Ansar al-Khilafa Philippines, all linked with the ISIS, from carrying out their violent activities.

Both Sobejana and Mijares appealed to all local officials in their areas of jurisdiction to help the campaign against violent extremism.

Similarly, ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said Wednesday he has ordered the regional local government department to coordinate with law enforcers in helping attain the Implan objectives.

“We are one with our military and police in this initiative,” Hataman said in a statement.

Responsible mining code eyed in ARMM

By Nash B. Maulana

COTABATO CITY―The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is endorsing a code for responsible mining to guide the incoming Bangsamoro ARMM administration on the exploration of the region’s natural resources.

ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia described the proposed mining code as one that is “even better than the existing Philippine Mining Act (Republic Act 7942).”

Department of Environment and Natural Resources-ARMM Secretary Hadji Kahal Kedtag raised this during ceremonies at the Gawad Kalikasan 2018 on Tuesday, even as he cited the region’s gains in terms of forest cover which has gained six percent increase, he said.

The DENR-ARMM also awarded 48 organizations and individuals for their role in the protection and preservation of the environment for a balanced ecology.

Alamia, a lawyer, said such a collective commitment to help protect the environment is best expressed by the Supreme Court, no less, in Oposa vs. Factoran, a landmark decision recognizing the doctrine of “Intergenerational Responsibility on the environment in the Philippine legal system.”

Among the awardees were the local government units of Parang, Datu Blah, Sinsuat, Datu Odin Sinsuat, North and South Upi, Maguindanao, Lamitan and Isabela in Basilan, Lanao Sur, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Also cited were civil society organizations from North Upi and Parang, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Sulu, Lanao Sur, Fr. Eliseo Mercado Jr. OMI, local news organizations and personalities.

Kedtag said “precise geo-mapping, tagging and monitoring” reveals the region’s forest cover has increased to 53,000 hectares in the last quarter of 2015 from 50,000 hectares in about the same period in 2011.

Kedtag said the massive greening program in the region, for which the ARMM government has initially provided P1 million in local funds for seedling nursery development in Basilan, Lanao Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, had played a major role in the increase.

Kedtag said Maguindanao alone has produced one million seedlings since 2011, many of which have been planted in three watershed areas in Dimapatoy, South Upi and Kabulnan.

He said also substantially reforested were Lanao del Sur’s areas, including a portion of the watershed in Lake Lanao, Basilan’s Biotic Area, and the Sulu and Tawi-Tawi Watersheds.

Kedtag said the mandatory reforestation program of the DENR-ARMM also covers a portion of the Biotic Area Watershed in Lamitan, Basilan which is supposed to be under the operational jurisdiction of the national government.

The ARMM will be replaced by the BARMM, following a plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL or RA 11054) in January.

BOL provides for the extensive revenue-sharing schemes on exploration of natural resources and mineral recovery programs within the region’s territory.

“The end is near,” Kedtag said in apparent reference to the BOL which will abolish ARMM line agencies, except for the Departments of Education, Health and Social Welfare and Development.

But Kedtag said the proposed code will better guide the Bangsamoro government as well as the community on responsible exploration of natural resources and recovery of strategic minerals as well as fossils gas deposits within its territory.

“We will engage appointees to the BARMM Parliament (during the transition period) to consider this measure for more responsible, more protective exploration of natural resources, as well as strategic and natural minerals,” Kedtag said.

Alamia said concessions on mining operations for nickel recovery in Languyan, Tawi-Tawi had been prior granted by the national government under the same national law.

“When I joined the ARMM in 2012, I thought that there was no mining operation in the ARMM; but there is mining in Tawi-Tawi,” she said.

Kedtag and Alamia credited Fr. Mercado, one of the awardees, and a think-tank group for helping draft the proposed code which ARMM officials intend to recommend to officials of the incoming BARMM.

DENR cites ARMM’s top environment advocates for 2018

By Noel Punzalan (PNA)

COTABATO CITY -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DENR-ARMM) acknowledged Tuesday the 10 outstanding environmental stewards and 48 other organizations for their contribution in protecting and preserving the region’s ecosystem.

Some of those given awards during the Gawad Kalikasan 2018 ceremony held at the Shariff Kabunsuan Complex were the Army’s 603rd Brigade, Foundation for the Philippine Environment, lawyer Randolph Parcasio, the Hineleban Foundation, Inc., the municipal governments of North Upi, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Ampatuan, Maguindanao, Parang, and Datu Odin Sinsuat, all in Maguindanao; and of Wao, Lanao del Sur.

DENR-ARMM Secretary Kahal Kedtag led the awarding ceremony, assisted by ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia, and regional environment assistant secretaries Alindatu Pagayao and Abdelwin Sangkula.

During the ceremony, plaques of appreciation were also given to 48 entities -- including the Philippine News Agency–Cotabato News Bureau, which the regional government said has made its own contribution to making ARMM "environment-friendly. “

"We can’t achieve these milestones of the DENR-ARMM without the help of our strategic partners,” Kedtag said in his speech.

"These groups of people contributed their resources, time and effort in advancing the cause and mandate of the department. It is only fitting that we honor them through the 2018 Gawad Kalikasan,” he added.

Brig. Gen. Juvymax Uy, deputy commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the military will continue to support initiatives aimed at preserving the environment.

"We are one with the DENR-ARMM in protecting our environment,” Uy said.

13 ARMM LGUs cited as child-friendly municipalities

By Noel Punzalan (PNA)

COTABATO CITY -- Thirteen municipalities from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are set to receive the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Seal of Child Friendly Local Governance (SCFLG) for 2017.

Lawyer Noor Hafizullah Abdullah, DENR-ARMM secretary, identified the child-friendly ARMM municipalities as Parang, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Barira, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, South Upi, and Upi, of Maguindanao; Piagapo, Binidayan, Kapatagan, and Balindong, of Lanao del Sur, and Talipao of Sulu.

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

Abdullah said the SCFLG awarding for the ARMM areas is set on Nov. 10 at Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao City.

The SCFLG is an annual award given to local government units (LGUs) promoting child-friendly atmospheres.

The LGUs are recognized as they give priority to children in their planning, budgeting, legislation and delivery of services. They make sure that children enjoy their rights of survival, development, protection and participation in their respective areas, Abdullah said.

TOR for Marawi rehab projects will be “Design and Build”

By Carolyn O. Arguillas (MindaNews)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews) – The terms of reference for the Marawi rehabilitation projects will be “design and build,” the National Housing Authority (NHA), the implementing agency said, raising concerns from local contractors.

At the Consultation Conference with Local Executives and Contractors on the “Implementation of the Different Housing and infrastructure Projects in the Most Affected Area” at Limketkai Luxe Hotel here late Tuesday afternoon, hours after the groundbreaking in Marawi City, a contractor stood up to say most of them are small contractors and would definitely not qualify, that they would need to hire design engineers to qualify.

“Hindi po kami sanay sa design although pwede kami sa mga roads but we have to hire highway design engineers, building designers” (We are not used to design although we can do roads but we have to hire highway design engineers, building engineers), the contractor said. He asked the NHA if they have a way of involving the small contractors because in the design and build scheme, “baka tatlo lang ang mag-qualify. Karamihan po puro maliliit” (maybe only three will qualify. Most are small).

Escalada explained that the approach for Marawi rehab would not be on contracting partnerships but on the developer concept. “You help us out because we want as much as possible a better and more reflective of a design or a concept that will be able to represent Marawi.”

He said the NHA has its own housing and technical department and “we can design for you but the thing is, again those designs have been subjected to several criticisms (such as) ‘ano ba yang design para mang Ayala, para mang Makati. All we need is the simplicity of Marawi. We don’t need the Makati, we just want Marawi back.’”

He said some are used to contracting with government agencies that already have prepared plans and designs such as school buildings, etc. but “here is the challenge: in the design and build, you can also contract a designer outside your own limitation. I-factor lang yan as a component of the project cost na yan. Di naman libre yan.”

He cited as example the construction of a school or the Grand Padian (central market) in the MAA, that it must “reflect the virtues, values of Meranaw so you ask somebody to design for you, pagkatpos paid item siya.”

“All of this is subject to negotiation, even the pricing. Give us the right price because our price is also negotiable. We have standards to follow sa NHA, we have certain square meters, kung parking garage yan, kung building yan, kung horizontal yan, kung vertical yan, we have standards per square meier but again it will all depend upon your design. Kung design maganda naman we are negiotiating,” he said.

He also explained that it will be a turnkey project “which may not be very strict in terms of project completion because ang sabi namin, for a turnkey project, it has to be paid at the end of the project. Here, if there are completed components of the project, NHA will pay.”

If they get the project on the 24 barangay halls with madrash, NHA will not wait for the completion of the 24 to pay them, Escalada said. “Kung makatapos ka ng lima, apat (If you finish five, four), then we will pay you. That is the completed component project.”

Escalada urged them not to worry about their limitations.

“Don’t worry about your limitation to design. You can contract a design engineer, an architect, design it and make it as a paid component or paid item in our own negotiation,” he said.

Food aid program benefits 1,000 families in Lanao del Sur

By John Unson (philstar.com)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — More than a thousand families in Lanao del Sur received food rations through a government poverty alleviation program last month.

According to the Bangsamoro Regional Inclusive Development for Growth and Empowerment, or ARMM-BRIDGE, on Sunday, 1,050 families in Lanao del Sur received food rations in distibution drives on October 15.

The activity covered Lanao del Sur’s Picong, Kapatagan, Piagapo, Saguiaran, Kapai, Ditsaan, Bubong, Molundo, Lumba Bayabao. Butig and Lumbayanague towns.

The ARMM-BRIDGE is focused on providing impoverished families with four basic amenities — food, shelter, clean water and electricity.

The program was pioneered more than three years ago by the office of ARMM Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman.

According to government data, the program has also built more than a thousand core shelters for poor barangay residents in the region's five provinces—Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, both in mainland Mindanao, and in the islands of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi—in the past 18 months

The core shelter project is a joint initiative of the ARMM-BRIDGE, the office of the region’s Public Works secretary, engineer Don Loong, and the eight district engineers in the autonomous region.

The ARMM-BRIDGE office in Cotabato City said the 1,050 families that benefited from its October 15 food distribution activity in Lanao del Sur each received a sack of rice, milk, cooking oil, eggs, canned tuna, monggo beans, iodized salt, brown sugar and coffee.

Military, PNP forge plan to stop ARMM bombings

(The Manila Times)

COTABATO CITY: The Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines signed a Joint Implementation Plan (Implan) to address bombing incidents in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos) region.

Chief Supt. Eliseo Tam Rasco, Police Regional Office 12 (PRO-12) director, and Maj. Gen. Noel Clement, commander of the 10th Infantry Division (10ID), vowed joint forces in fighting the enemies on the ground.

“By laying down the means to support law enforcement operations through crafting necessary platform to address any form of violence with the aid of a sound and effective Implan, the Philippine Army and PRO-12 police could secure and protect the people in the community against terrorism and violent extremism,” Rasco said.

Similarly, Major Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, 6th Infantry Division (6ID) commander, and Chief Supt. Graciano Mijares, director for PRO-ARMM, signed the Implan during simple ceremonies at the 6ID headquarters on Tuesday.

Major John Arvin Encinas, 6ID spokesman, said Implan provides the guidelines and procedures PRO-ARMM and 6ID will follow in coordination with other law enforcement units, government agencies and local government units to reduce the incidence of violence and lessen the vulnerability of ARMM to improvised explosive device (IED) attacks.

Encinas said Implan details the action to be taken in case of an IED bombing.

The blasts, believed being carried out by the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), have occurred mostly in Maguindanao and parts of Lanao del Sur.

The BIFF, which pledge allegiance to the Islamic State, operates mostly in the second district of Maguindanao and sets off bombs targeting both civilians and military personnel.

Supt. Aldrin Gonzales, spokesman for PRO-12, described the agreement as “another leap for the AFP and the PNP towards a milestone in achieving success in its law enforcement operations.”

Marawi entrepreneurs get financing help

By Roy Stephen C. Canivel (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Small Business Corp., the microfinancing entity of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), has given P6.17 million worth of loans to hundreds of entrepreneurs from the war-torn city of Marawi.

In a statement, DTI said that SB Corp. continued to assist internally displaced persons (IDPs) and uniformed personnel— including their families—who were either killed or wounded during the five-month Marawi conflict last year.

“We are giving our commitment to the IDPs that the administration of President Duterte will continue to seek ways in providing business and livelihood opportunities to help them and Marawi recover,” said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.

As of Oct. 21, SB Corp. has provided livelihood assistance to 422 Maranao entrepreneurs with total loans amounting to P6.16 million through the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) program.

P3, a financing program expected to put loan sharks out of business, gives MSMEs access to more affordable credit.

Beneficiaries have availed themselves of loans ranging from P10,000 to P20,000. SB Corp. has earmarked P50 million in loans for Marawi.

The financial assistance to Marawi entrepreneurs followed Administrative Order No. 03, which created an inter-agency task force for the recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of Marawi City and other affected localities.

Curfew remains in effect in Cotabato during 'Undas'

By Noel Punzalan (PNA)

COTABATO CITY -- Curfew hours are still in effect during the observance of the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day in this city.

Senior Supt. Rolly Octavio, city police director, said visiting relatives at cemeteries, particularly on Nov. 2, could not spend overnight at the city’s public, Catholic, and Chinese cemeteries as they would be held liable for violation of the “discipline hour”.

The discipline hour is a city ordinance setting forth 10:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. as curfew hours across the city.

“As usual, nobody is exempted from the measure, except for cases of emergency that might occur in the middle of the night,” Octavio said.

The police official said everybody should vacate the premises of the cemeteries and be at their homes as early as 10 p.m. as soon as they hear the curfew warning siren across the city.

“This is for the safety of everyone,” Octavio said.

The city government has maintained the curfew since May last year, shortly after President Rodrigo Duterte placed Mindanao under martial law due to the Marawi siege instigated by the Maute and Abu Sayyaf terror groups.

The city government passed Ordinance 4529 or the “Discipline Hour Ordinance” in support of the Mindanao-wide martial law that has been proven effective in neutralizing lawless elements operating in the city.

This developed as the city government also strengthened its city-wide, nighttime “Ronda Patrol” that requires the city police force, Army support groups, and barangay force multipliers, to scour the interiors of the city’s 36 villages for law violators.

Moreover, Octavio said the implementation of the “No ID, No Entry” policy here would still be upheld even during the period of "Undas" activities that would run up to November 4.

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