1st Youth Leadership Summit in Lanao del Sur set

Islamic City of Marawi (27 November) -- To have a better understanding on the important role of youth in nation building, a five-day Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) is slated here next week.

The summit will be held at the Mindanao State University (MSU) main campus and will kick off on November 29 to December 3 this year.

Inspired by the theme, “Kabataan ng Lanao del Sur: Nagbubuklod at Pangungunahan ang Pagbabago Tungo sa Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran,” this first-ever YLS in Lanao del Sur aims to develop and enhance the good leadership skills of youth leaders and mold them to become partners in promoting peace and development.

The YLS also hopes to develop God-fearing, morally upright, and socially responsible youth leaders.

Topics involving the role of youth in the campaign on climate change adaptation, environmental protection, peace and security, drug education, gender sensitivity, and good governance will be discussed during the 5-day summit.

It will include activities that will help participants develop teamwork, understand and appreciate ones culture, as well as awareness of their civic and social responsibilities to help them mold the future of their own communities.

The summit is sponsored by the 103rd Infantry Brigade (Haribon) of the Philippine Army in coordination with the provincial government of Lanao del Sur, the National Youth Commission (NYC), and MSU-Marawi.

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President Arroyo declares November 27, 28 as non-working holidays

Islamic City of Marawi (24 November) -- To mark the celebration of Eid'l Adha, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has declared November 27 (Friday) and November 28 (Saturday) as non-working holidays in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) per Presidential Proclamation No. 1808-A.

Eid'l Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice is one of the holiest Islamic holidays as it commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God.

During this day, Muslims in every part of the globe will troop to mosque early morning to start the celebration with a congregation prayer.

The Office on Muslim Affairs (OMA) said the observance of Eid'l Adha is a recognized legal Muslim holiday as mandated by Presidential Decree No. 1083 otherwise known as the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines.

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Mindanao Week of Peace kicks off on November 26

Islamic City of Marawi (24 November) -- The annual Mindanao Week of Peace which aims to raise peace consciousness and promote people's participation in building a culture of peace will again be unfolded this year from November 26 to December 2.

The weeklong celebration is in line with Presidential Proclamation No. 127 which declares the last Thursday of November up to the first Wednesday of December every year as the Mindanao Week of Peace.

The proclamation also enjoins and encourages all concerned government agencies and instrumentalities including government owned and controlled corporations as well as members of the private sector and civil society based in Mindanao to engage in relevant and meaningful activities in celebration of the week of peace in coordination with the Bishops-Ulama Conference of the Philippines.

This year's celebration is bannered on the theme, "Think Mindanao, Feel Mindanao, Bring Peace to Mindanao" which stressed that needs and aspirations for a lasting peace in Mindanao must influence the individual thoughts and feelings of every Mindanaons.

Here in the city, an interfaith forum will be conducted to jointly highlight the Mindanao Week of Peace and Eid'l Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) celebrations.

With the theme, "Sacrifice as the Key to Peace and National Reconciliation," the forum is a collaborative effort of the Ulama League of the Philippines (ULP) and the Mindanao State University – King Faisal Center for Islamic, Arabic and Asian Studies (MSU-KFCIAAS).

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Gun amnesty nets 219 loose firearms in Lanao Sur

Islamic City of Marawi (17 November) -- The Final General Firearms Amnesty (FGFA) of the government posted some 219 loose firearms in the province of Lanao del Sur. 

Police Superintendent Esmael Pua Ali of the Provincial Police Office revealed that they have processed 142 new firearms registration and 77 firearms license renewal. 

The FGFA is the government's intensified campaign against loose firearms.

Under EO 817, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is mandated to implement the FGFA and conduct continuing and intensified law enforcement actions to confiscate and seize all loose firearms. 

The Provincial Director also disclosed that the amnesty period has been extended through EO 817-A in recognition of the public's request for more time to register their firearms. 

He said the original period was only from October 1-31 but it was extended until November 30 of this year. 

Under EO 187-A, individual and juridical entities may register their unregistered firearms and/or renew their expired firearms licenses with the PNP during the extension period. 

The Implementing Rules and Regulations issued by the PNP Chief to carry-out EO 817 is the same in EO 817-A.

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PNP Lanao Sur closely monitors election hot spots

Islamic City of Marawi (17 November) -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Office in Lanao del Sur is closely monitoring the political situation in the province in preparation for the much-contested political race in the country. 

Based on the parameters set by the COMELEC, PNP-Lanao del Sur has identified 38 election hot spots in the province including the city of Marawi. 

Provincial Director P/Supt. Esmael Pua Ali disclosed that of the 39 towns of the province, only Wao and Bumbaran are not classified as hot spots area. 

He said inclusion to the watched list are largely attributed to intense political rivalry, presence of partisan armed groups and other threat groups as well as records of occurrence of previous violent election-related incidences. 

We are intensifying our peace and order campaign to ensure that the coming 2010 elections will be honest, orderly, and peaceful, P/Supt. Ali said. 

He further revealed that additional augmentation troops were already requested to prevent violence in the upcoming national polls. 

He added that checkpoints were set up in various strategic locations in the province and constant coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is also conducted.

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Lanao Sur gov appeals for unity, teamwork

Islamic City of Marawi (17 November) -- Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. has urged his constituents to unite and work together for the good of Lanao del Sur. 

The Governor made the statement during the Ompia Leaders Consultative Conference yesterday at Lilod Saduc this city in response to the peace and order issues confronting the province. 

He said everybody should work together to combat illegal drugs, carnappings, kidnappings, and all forms of criminality upsetting the peace and order situation in this part of the country. 

 

These problems, according to Adiong, have suppressed the socio-economic growth of the province. 

"As we continue to wrestle peace and order issues, I appeal to you all to unite and cooperate in keeping every barangay of this province safe from violence," Adiong said.

Let us be united in one aspiration for the good and development of Lanao del Sur, he added.

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PGMA assures that peace talks with MILF will resume soon

Ganassi, Lanao del Sur (4 November) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday assured that peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will soon resume. 

In an interview held here, the Chief Executive disclosed that she asked Ambassador Rafael Seguis to go around and talk to the people of Mindanao to find out their real sentiments so that when he sits down in the negotiating panel, he will have something to work on with the MILF. 

Presidential Adviser for Peace Process Secretary Annabelle T. Abaya, in that same interview, also revealed the overall roadmap for peace in Mindanao. 

She said that what Mindanao needs is a comprehensive and holistic approach that includes social engagements, authentic dialogues and consultations with the communities.

Just recently, the President committed to look into the result of the dialogues and consultations in the local communities in Mindanao initiated by Konsult Mindanaw, a project commissioned by the Bishop Ulama Conference. 

Secretary Abaya further disclosed that the government is also reviewing the 1996 peace agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

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PGMA allocates P20-million for modern water system in Ganassi

Ganassi, Lanao del Sur (4 November) -- Residents of Ganassi in the province of Lanao del Sur will soon realize the dream of having their own potable water system as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced a P20-million water system for the municipality.

The President made the announcement during a regional media interview or RMI held here yesterday.

"Ganassi Mayor Baguio Macapodi asked for a P3-million water system but I wanted a modern water facility thus the P20-million allocation," the President said.

She noted that the beautiful and historic Lake Lanao is situated in Lanao del Sur yet few of its towns has potable water.

She said the water project was part of the comprehensive plan for addressing the water problem in Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The goal of the plan is to provide clean water in every waterless town, she stressed.

Of the 41 water districts implemented in ARMM, 7 are located in Lanao del Sur. Five (5) of these projects will be started anytime this month. These include the Masiu, Taraka, Madalum, Pualas, and Metro Basak water districts.

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Arroyo reveals tenets for RP to become a great nation

Ganassi, Lanao del Sur (4 November) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday cited three principles for the Philippines to achieve its goal of becoming a great nation.

In a regional media interview held here, the President said that the people of Mindanao are part of this goal. 

According to her, the first principle is a long term vision of peace and progress which she emphasized must go hand in hand. 

"Peace and progress must go hand in hand because the problem of war in Mindanao has been rooted in economic exclusion and this should be eliminated," she stressed.

Second is to abide by the Constitution that we are one nation and we will never be divided, she added. 

And third, she further said, is social justice for all and institutionalization of the accommodation of ethnic traditions. 

"There must be social justice for all because we have a multi-ethnic society," the President stressed. 

"We have a very rich and varied heritage as a nation and the heritage of Lake Lanao, the beauty of the Maranao culture as well as the beautiful mosques here has to be accommodated," she added.

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