PNP identifies all areas in Lanao del Sur under election watchlist

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, April 27 (PIA) --- All areas in Lanao del Sur was placed under election watchlist by the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Police Chief Inspector Abubakar Alah, Police Community Relations officer of PNP Lanao del Sur, said 27 municipalities were identified under Category 2 Election Watchlist Areas (EWAs) while 16 areas were classified under Category 3.

PCI Alah said areas are classified under Category 2 when there are serious armed threats posed by organized threat groups in the areas. Category 3 EWAS on the other hand, are areas where politically motivated violent incidents are likely to occur due to intense political rivalries and presence of armed groups.

Placed under Category 3 are Marawi City and the towns of Butig, Bacolod Kalawi, Balabagan, Balindong, Marogong, Maguing, Masiu, Madalum, Malabang, Pagayawan, Tamparan, and Tugaya.

As a result, PNP is further intensifying the conduct of checkpoints and chokepoints operations in the entire province to confiscate loose firearms to ensure that such firearms will not be used during elections.

The PNP has earlier reported that the presence of threat groups, proliferation of loose firearms, rido or family feud, and power supply stability are among the challenges in achieving peaceful and orderly elections in the province this May.

Meanwhile, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) will give a power briefing to local media practitioners and officials from the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Commission on Elections, and Department of Interior and Local Government in the provinces of Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur regarding NGCP’s elections preparations.

Beth Ladaga, corporate communications officer of NGCP in Mindanao, said they will present the power outlook in May as well as the contingency plan and measures to ensure stable supply of power during elections.

The power briefing will be held on Friday, April 29, in N Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City. (APB/PIA-10)

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ARMM hires 562 teachers in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, April 27 (PIA) --- The Education Department in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-ARMM) hired 562 teachers in the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.

The newly-hired teachers signed their appointment papers and deployment orders for assignments to different public elementary and secondary schools in the region on April 25.

ARMM Education Secretary Dr. John Magno, chief of staff Atty. Rasol Mitmug Jr., and other DepEd-ARMM officials attended the mass signing. Of the 562 newly hired teachers, 238 will be deployed in Maguindanao and 324 in Lanao del Sur.

“More quality teachers are now being hired because our department (DepEd-ARMM) has improved its hiring and screening process,” Sec. Magno said. Before signing their appointments, the teachers had to pass competency examination, panel interview and teaching demonstration.

“This mechanism guarantees that only quality teachers will be hired and we want teachers that will guide the students on the right road towards a progressive future,” he added.

“At first I was hesitant in applying for a teaching position in DepEd-ARMM because I’ve heard there is ‘palakasan system’ (system of patronage), but still I tried and now I’m glad because out of thousands of teacher applicants, I’m signing my appointment now,” said Hasniya Abas, 25, of Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur.

She said the current hiring process is more transparent, unlike before when it was tarnished by issues of bribery and connections. She was a private school teacher for two years and applied for a DepEd-ARMM teaching position last April 2015. She said it is her calling to help mold the minds of school children in ARMM.

The newly hired teachers’ first task will be to lead activities under the National Schools Maintenance Week, or the ‘Brigada Eskwela,’ starting May 30. Sec. Magno said newly appointed teachers’ signing of appointments in the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi is scheduled next week.

The Commision on Elections (Comelec) has exempted several government agencies, including DepEd, from the ban on hiring during election season in connection with the May 2016 polls.

As stated in Comelec Resolution No. 10030, the Comelec has given the authority to hire, appoint, or transfer officers or employees to the Office of the President, the courts and several other government agencies. (BPI/PIA-10)

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ARMM turns over P8.3M worth of livelihood projects to MNLF fisherfolk

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, April 27 (PIA) --- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) handed over PAMANA-ARMM fisheries assistance to Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) communities in a ceremonial turnover held on April 26, at the Parang Wharf in Maguindanao.

The livelihood projects amounting to about P8.3 M include seaweeds input, motorized and non-motorized bancas, fish cages, and fishing nets.

These were implemented by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-ARMM and funded through the PAMANA program's 2014 budget amounting to more than P160 M.

The beneficiaries were represented by at least three MNLF commanders present, all of whom are leaders in cooperatives based in MNLF communities.

Michael Talib of the Kasanyangan Fishnet Producers Cooperative expressed his thanks to the regional government, especially to the regional governor, the PAMANA office, and the BFAR-ARMM. "These livelihood programs for MNLF members are an immense help for our municipality," he said. 

"As MNLF members, we promise to push for community-based initiatives especially now with these livelihood programs. Together, we will put a stop to wrong deeds and thoughts so we can live in peace, and take care of our livelihood in the process," Talib said.

Among those present in the turnover ceremony were Commander Abdul Jabbar M. Ambal, chairman of the Darussalam Producer Cooperative based in Lanao del Sur. Their cooperative was among one of the beneficiaries who earlier received similar assistance through PAMANA.

Ambal said that they are grateful for the banca and fishnets they received, along with other fishing implements. "This is the first time that this many livelihood programs reached the MNLF communities as part of the 1996 peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro National Liberation Front," he said. 

"In Lanao alone, more than 40 cooperatives were given livelihood programs. Imagine how many beneficiaries there are, with about 100 members in every cooperative. Even the children of MNLF combatants were give assistance as scholars, thanks to the regional and national government. Many of us are experiencing livelihood programs amounting to millions of pesos for the first time, thanks to Regional Governor Hataman's leadership," Ambal said.

Other beneficiaries were also present. These include the BS Costal MNLF Multi-Purpose Cooperative represented by Abdullawi H. Ebrahim and the Fisherfolks Peace and Development Association represented by Taib Aragasi. 

The turnover program was headed by Engr. Dong Anayatin, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Concerns and PAPMO program manager, together with Elaine Josephine Basco, Project Development Officer of OPAPP-PAMANA Central Mindanao, and Johnell Raneses, area manager for OPAPP-Central Mindanao. BFAR-ARMM Director Janice Musali was represented by Datun Nur, provincial fisheries officer for Maguindanao. (BPI/PIA-10)

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ARMM provides P12.6 million livelihood assistance to coops

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, April 22 (PIA) --- Livelihood projects worth P12.6 million under the region’s banner program Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Governance and Synergy (HELPS) will be awarded to various cooperatives in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The livelihood assistance, extended to the beneficiaries through ARMM’s Science and Technology department (DOST-ARMM), comprises nine bakery projects in the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi; two organic or vermi-composting fertilizer production in Lanao del Sur; and three mat-weaving projects in Tawi-Tawi.

Mon-Em Abangad, DOST-ARMM information officer, said three bakery projects were already turned over to cooperative-beneficiaries in Basilan province on April 12. The cooperatives, he said, were provided capital funds and their members given skills training.

“We trained them on bread, cake, and pastry making, and basic hand washing. We also gave inputs on food safety hazards and the Halal certification process,” said Abangad.

The cooperative recipients of HELPS projects are Switch Yakal Consumers Cooperative in Lantawan; Badja Kahapan Agri-Farmers Producers Cooperative in Tipo-Tipo; and Pintasan Consumers Cooperative in Mohammad Ajul.

“Masaya po kami sa proyektong ibinigay sa amin dahil magkakaroon na kami ng pagkakakitaan, may pang gastos na kami araw-araw (We are happy we are given this project, now we can make both ends meet everyday),” said Nihma Asanji, 27, a member of the Badja Kahapan Agri-Farmers Producers Cooperative.

Abangad said the projects will help improve the living conditions of the residents in their respective communities. He added these will also create jobs and provide additional income to members of the cooperative-beneficiaries.

The six remaining bakery projects will be implemented in the barangays of Poblacion in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi; and Puukan Laminusa in Siasi, San Raymundo and Walled City in Jolo, Bilaan Poblacion in Talipao, and Baligtang in Pandami, all in the province of Sulu.

The agency turned over on April 20 a vermi-composting project in barangay Daguan, Kapatagan, Lanao del Sur to Malinday Daguan Farmers Producers Cooperative.

The same project will be turned-over to Radapan Poblacion Fertilizer Livelihood Farmers Producers Cooperative in Radapan Poblacion, Piagapo, Lanao del Sur on April 23.

Meanwhile, mat weaving projects will be implemented in the barangays of Balimbing in Panglima Sugala, and Unas-Unas and Tong Tampakan in South Ubian, all in the province of Tawi-Tawi.

HELPS is a priority program of the regional government under the Hataman administration. It aims at providing basic intervention to poor and depressed areas in the region.

The regional government has identified 200 barangays as priority project recipients under the HELPS program in 2015-2016. The ARMM government has earmarked P10-million worth of various projects for each of the targeted barangays. (BPI/PIA-10)

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ARMM conducts ‘Lakbay Edukasyon’

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, April 22 (PIA) --- Teachers, school heads and barangay captains in five municipalities in the provinces of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi visited Maribulan Elementary School, one of top performing schools in Sarangani province, for a study tour dubbed ‘Lakbay Edukasyon,’ April 21.

This year’s study tour delegation comprises 160 teachers and school heads and 40 barangay captains from the towns of Simunul, Sitangkai, and Bongao in Tawi-Tawi as well as from the towns of Indanan and Patikul in Sulu.

Alfhadar Pajiji, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao-Education department (DepEd-ARMM) assistant secretary for special projects, said this is the first batch of Lakbay Edukasyon study tour this year.

He described the study tour as an educational trip that provides opportunities for exposure visits and learning the host school’s best practices, specifically programs, projects and interventions the participants could replicate in their own areas.

Maribulan Elementary School is implementing best practices within its system among public schools in Region 12, or Central Mindanao.

After the study tour in Sarangani, the participants will proceed to ACES Natural Farming Institute in Panabo City, Davao del Norte. The Panabo City tour is aimed at educating the participants on the importance of organic farming as well as exploring the possibility of applying such farming techniques in their respective communities.

“This is the first time we experienced this kind of program and after the study tour, we will surely adopt what we learned in our locality,” said Hja. Darwisa Kadil Sakiran, barangay captain of Barangay Tagbak in Indanan, Sulu.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said the program will help improve the quality education in the region. “We want all the school divisions and barangay captains in the different provinces in the ARMM to experience this program because this will help them a lot,” Gov. Hataman said.

In 2015, DepEd-ARMM also conducted a similar study tour involving district supervisors, school heads and barangay captains in the province of Basilan.

The second batch of this year’s Lakbay Edukasyon, which will have officials of other barangays and school divisions in Tawi-Tawi and Sulu as participants, is scheduled on April 25-28. (BPI/PIA-10)

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ARMM conducts relief operations in Lanao Sur areas affected by El Niño -

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, April 15 (PIA) – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will conduct a simultaneous relief operations on April 19-21and 28-30 in 13 municipalities in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur. most affected by the El Niño phenomenon in the region.

Atty. Laisa Alamia, ARMM executive secretary, said the relief assistance will help mitigate the ill effects of the drought among residents in hardest hit areas. “The focus of the regional government now is to provide their basic needs such as food, water, medicines, and seedlings,” she said.

Municipalities in Maguindanao heavily affected by the dry spell are Ampatuan, Buldon, Barira, North Upi, South Upi, Montawal, Shariff Aguak, Pagalungan, Datu Piang, and Shariff Saydona Mustapha. In Lanao del Sur, drought damage has been severe in Poona Bayabao, Taraka and Wao.

The relief distribution is a joint effort of various line agencies in the region including the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Bureau of Fire Protection, and ARMM Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team.

Reports from the Regional Planning and Development Office (RPDO) showed that 19,359 hectares planted to rice, corn and high-value commercial crops in 84 municipalities in the region with 462,740 residents have been affected by the adverse weather condition.

Atty. Alamia said a state of calamity has been declared in the provinces of Maguindanao and Basilan. She also reiterated that all the funds used for the relief operations were from the regional government and not from the national government.

During a press conference held on April 14, Atty. Alamia, with ARMM-RPDO executive director Engr. Baintan Ampatuan, discussed to media the region’s action plan on the El Niño and La Niña weather disturbances.

Engr. Ampatuan explained that various programs and projects have been launched to benefit thousands of households affected by the extreme weather situation. Current efforts include relief distribution, information, education and communication drive on the effects of El Niño, stronger coordination with local government units, and massive seedling production in preparation for the planting season.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration earlier announced that the current drought will last until June this year and that a La Niña episode that would result in high amount of rainfall would occur between July and September. (BPI/APB/PIA-10)

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13 ARMM cooperatives receive P12.2 million worth of farm implements

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, April 15 (PIA) – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) turned over P12.2 million worth of farm implements to 13 cooperatives in Maguindanao province in a ceremony held on April 14, inside the ARMM Compound, Marawi city.

The farm implements comprise 65 hand tractors with trailers, 13 floating tillers, 260 knapsack sprayers and 13 welding machines. These were funded under the ARMM’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ (DAF) Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Security and Synergy (HELPS) Project.

The turnover ceremony was led by Director Anwar Upahm of ARMM-HELPS Project Management Office. The beneficiary cooperatives were represented by their respective chairmen during the event.

Among the beneficiaries was the Kayaga Farmers Cooperative based in Pandag town. Abdulkasan Edris, 32, the cooperative’s president received farm implements worth close to P1 million.

Edris said the five units of hand tractor with trailer, one unit of floating tiller, 20 units of knapsack sprayer and one unit of welding machine they received will help more than 30 members of the cooperative.

The 12 other cooperative beneficiaries are: Tamar Kalilintad Farmers Producers Cooperative in Talayan; Tukanalipao Kalilintad Producers Cooperative in Mamasapano; Tambunan Agri Marketing Cooperative in Guindulungan; Damalibi Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Datu Piang; Romongaob Farmers Producers Cooperative in South Upi; Pagalungan Farmers Cooperative in Pagalungan; Upper Baka Farmers Producers Cooperative in Datu Odin Sinsuat;

Paglaum Farmers Producers Cooperative in Datu Abdullah Sangki; Balasan Farmers Marketing Cooperative in Datu Saudi Ampatuan; Duaminanga Farmers Marketing Cooperative in Datu Piang; Damakling Taliawid Mamagayon Farmers Marketing Cooperative in Paglat; and, Cabayuan Farmers Marketing Cooperative in Buldon. Upahm said livelihood projects will also be turned over to cooperatives in Sulu province this month.

ARMM-HELPS is a convergence initiative of the regional government and is regarded as the centerpiece initiative of the Hataman administration, which has been pursuing the program’s agriculture-related livelihood component through the DAF-ARMM, and other regional line agencies. (Bureau of Public Information/PIA-10)

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Lanao del Sur PPOC condemns ambush of Marawi mayor

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, April 10 (PIA) – The Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) condemned the attempted assassination of City Mayor Fahad “Pre” Salic early Saturday morning.

Mayor Salic and his driver, while onboard a red Ford Ranger, were ambushed at around 1:55am by unidentified gunmen in front of the Pryce Plaza Hotel along Masterson Avenue, Barangay Carmen in Cagayan de Oro City.

The mayor sustained gunshot wounds at his buttock and leg while his driver suffered injuries at his right face.

The PPOC immediately convened a meeting and approved a resolution condemning the attack.

In the resolution, the Council called on investigative agencies of the government to direct speedy and thorough investigation of the incident and bring perpetrators to justice.

It also directed the Lanao del Sur Police Provincial Office and the Marawi City Police to conduct independent and parallel investigation.

The Cagayan de Oro City Police Office has created a Special Investigation Task Group during a case conference Saturday afternoon.

As of press time, Mayor Salic and his driver are recuperating in a hospital in Cagayan de Oro City. (APB/PIA-10)

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DepEd-ARMM re-launches safety measures for teachers serving in May polls

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, April 2 (PIA) --- An election response mechanism that ensures the welfare and security of public school teachers serving in the May 9 polls has been reactivated on March 30 by the Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-ARMM).

The DepEd-ARMM’s Election Response Network (DERN) was first launched in the ARMM in April 2013. This mechanism effectively provides technical and legal assistance to teachers in case of problems while performing their duties during elections.

The process includes the establishment of an Electronic Results Transmission Services at the division and municipal levels that will keep a directory of teachers’ names and their contact numbers.

It also assesses the security situation and threats to teachers serving as Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs). The BEI serves as the panel that conducts the balloting process at the precinct level.

Operating with personnel from government agencies, specifically the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Commission on Human Rights, the Public Attorneys’ Office, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as well as monitors from the United Nations’ Children’s Educational Fund, teachers are better protected.

“It is important to protect the teachers because they are exposed to many dangers,” Alfhadar Pajiji, DepEd-ARMM assistant secretary for special projects said.

Out of over 26,000 teaching and non-teaching personnel in the region, Assistant Secretary Pajiji said more than 4,000 will serve in the upcoming elections. He also reiterated that his office is still waiting for the final lists of the teachers from the public school district supervisors.

Under Comelec Resolution No. 10031, the chairperson and members of the BEIs will each receive P3,000 honorarium, P500 for the verification and sealing of the book of voters plus P500 for transportation and another P500 allowance.

A support staff of the BEIs will receive a per diem of P500. A polling/voting center supervisor will get a per diem of P1,000 while a supervisor support staff will receive P500. (BPI-ARMM/PIA-10)

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Supreme Court affirms lower court’s decision on Macatanong retirement

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, April 2 --- The Supreme Court denied the petition for review on certiorari filed by former Marawi City Schools Division Superintendent Mona A. Macatanong.

The said petition assailed the Court of Appeals' decision annulling the judgment rendered by the Regional Trial Court of Marawi, Branch 9, which granted her petition for correction of her date of birth in public records.

Macatanong has been ordered to vacate her office in May 2014 after she turned 65 years old, the compulsory retirement age for government employees, on October 2013. She resisted and insisted on the correction of her date of birth, as affirmed by the RTC Marawi, in order to extend her tenure until 2016.

The resolution of the high court regarding Macatanong’s case was issued last 10 February 2016.

Apart from denying Macatanong’s petition for cetiorari, the high court also directed the Office of the Court Administrator and the Office of the Bar Confidant to conduct an investigation regarding the the RTC Marawi, Branch 9’s “highly questionable” handling of Macatanong’s petition for correction of her date of birth.

The said investigation ordered by the Supreme Court may lead to the filing of administrative and criminal charges against Judge Gamor Disalo.

Amir Mawallil, ARMM regional spokesperson, welcomed the decision of the high court.

“That the high court will decide in our favor regarding this case was expected. It has been two years since the legal proceedings regarding Macatanong’s tenure as schools division superintendent began and this is a welcome development that will set the record straight once and for all,” Mawallil said.

Secretary John Magno of the Department of Education-ARMM also expressed his relief following the Supreme Court decision.

“The ARMM government, especially the regional Department of Education, knew from the very start that Macatanong’s resistance regarding her retirement lacked merit. We pursued legal action because we knew that the rule of law was on our side, and this Supreme Court decision affirms our position,” said Magno.

Macatanong’s case has caused a backlog in the Marawi City Schools Division as it interrupted the process of promotion among teachers mandated by law. (Bureau of Public Information/PIA-10)

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