‘Sendong’ brings havoc to agri properties in Lanao del Sur

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Dec. 17 (PIA) -– The heavy rains coupled with strong winds caused by ‘Sendong’ last night has brought havoc to agricultural properties in the province.

Provincial Information Officer Nasser Ganda said the damage of Sendong were mostly against properties such as houses, agricultural land and farm animals.

“But we cannot estimate the cost of damage as of this time yet,” he said.

He further said that no other casualty was noted except the two persons who were reportedly missing in Kapai town this morning.

Aside from Kapai, other towns severely affected by floods are Bubong, Ditsaan Ramain, Taraka, Poona Bayabao and Mulondo.

However, he said that the impact of Sendong in the province is still manageable.

Meanwhile, the 103rd Infantry Brigade headed by Col. Daniel Lucero are sending 100 soldiers to Iligan City as an augmentation volunteers to help in the rescue and recovery operations in the city.

The 103rd Infantry Brigade is based in Kampo Ranao, this city.

The troops will also be bringing the speedboats of the Brigade.

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Marawi City holds 1st Health Summit

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, December 15 (PIA) --- The City Health Office has successfully conducted the First Marawi City Health Summit highlighting the importance of strong partnerships in improving the delivery of health services in the city.

The health summit held last December 13-14, 2011 at the Dynasty Court Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City was participated in by health workers, city government officials and heads of office, as well as barangay officials from the 96 barangays of the city.

Anchored on the theme “Forging Strong Partnership for Better Health Care in Marawi City,” the two-day summit featured various health practices, experiences and initiatives conducted in collaboration with the community, local government unit, service providers and private partners.

Gracing the summit was Dr. Kadil M. Sinolinding, Jr., regional secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), who announced that President Benigno S. Aquino III has signed the Php956 million health stimulus fund for the entire region in addition to the Php382 million given by DOH central office for health facility enhancement which includes both infrastructure and equipment.

He further announced that an additional 150 midwives will be deployed in the autonomous region under the Midwives in Every Community in ARMM (MECA) program aimed at reducing infant and maternal mortality rate by improving the delivery of health care services in far-flung communities where residents could hardly consult a physician.

Meanwhile, Fauzia Dimatingcal, chairperson of Barangay Lumbaca Madaya, shared the barangay’s experience in raising health awareness through community involvement.

Councilor Abdani Alonto, chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Health, also bared the various initiatives of the local government to advance health service delivery in the city.

These included the enactment and revisions of policies, resolutions, and ordinances such as the organization of the Local Health Board, crafting of the comprehensive anti-smoking ordinance, ordinance prohibiting dispensing of anti-TB drugs without prescription, ordinance requiring barangay chairpersons to allot five percent of the barangays IRA for health services, and the creation of the Dansalan Tuberculosis (TB) Council.

On the other hand, Dr. Cabiba Macapaar, CHO chief technical officer, reported how the private partners and service providers have helped in improving the TB program of the CHO.

The summit ended with the recognition of the members of the Community Health Action Teams (CHAT) and awarding of prices to the winners of the Health Gallery Exhibit.

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TESDA gears up for the launching of TSTP in Lanao del Sur

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, December 8 (PIA) --- The Provincial Office of the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) steps-up its preparation for the upcoming launching of TESDA Specialista Technopreneurship Program (TSTP) on December 14.

The TSTP is our new program aimed at facilitating employment of TESDA graduates and certified workers and creating livelihood opportunities for them, said TESDA Provincial Director Tarhata S. Mapandi.

Anchored on the tagline “TESDA Specialista, Kaagapay sa Matuwid Na Pag-Unlad,” she said the program will assist TESDA-certified graduates to get into productive undertakings to help themselves and their communities.

“Through this program, we will tap our trained and certified workers who will be providing services required by their immediate communities,” she added.

Meanwhile, Mapandi disclosed that they are also waiting for the release of scholarship vouchers for the 381 slots allocated for the first district of the province under the Private Education Student Financial Assistance (PESFA).

The 171 slots allotted for the second district have already been awarded to the scholars, she said.

Additional scholarships are also up for grabs under the stimulus package granted to the agency with another 405 PESFA slots and 315 slots for the Training For Work Scholarship Program amounting to P2 million, she added

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Peace stakeholders in Lanao del Sur declare unified commitment for peace in Mindanao

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Dec. 6 (PIA) --- Sharing the common concern for reconciliation and understanding, peace stakeholders in this province vowed to support all peace and development initiatives in Mindanao.

They made a commitment to suppress all and every negative actions which hinder the attainment of peace in Mindanao and at the same time conveyed appreciation to individuals, organizations and international institutions in their various efforts towards the realization of lasting peace in this part of the country.

The signing of the unified declaration of commitment for peace highlighted the provincial culmination program of the Mindanao Week of Peace 2011 held recently at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall, here.

Professor Salipada Tamano, co-convenor of the Bishops-Ulama Conference (BUC) expressed hope the activity will tremendously contribute in the ultimate realization of the common aspiration of making Mindanao a land of peace, harmony, development and prosperity.

He also reiterated the appeal of the BUC to all Christians and Muslims in the country to renew their faith by thorough study and reflection and living a life based on the Love of God and Love of Neighbor, a core commitment to know and to obey.

The conflicts, wars and animosities among and between Christians and Muslims today can be traced to the wrong understanding and/or violation of this commandment, he further reiterated.

Likewise, BGen. Guima Marash of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) has called on both Christians and Muslims to live in peace without discrimination.

Marash also gave assurance that the IMT will work hard to monitor peace not only in the two Lanao provinces but throughout Mindanao.

We will work for peace and, together, we will make it happen, he further assured.

Jointly sponsored by the provincial government and the Ulama League of the Philippines (ULP), the MWOP culminating program was attended by religious and traditional leaders, members of the Task Force Makalintad, 103rd Infantry Brigade, provincial police, academe, youth and media, as well as representatives from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and IMT.

This was conducted in pursuant to Presidential Decree 127 enjoining all concerned government agencies and all instrumentalities including government-owned and controlled corporations, as well as, members of the private sector and civil society organizations based in Mindanao to engage in relevant and meaningful activities and undertakings in observance of the MWOP.

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Army official cites impact of a secure environment to development

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Dec. 6 (PIA) -- An army official has underscored the important contribution of a secured environment to development.

BGen. Roland C. Amarille, assistant division commander of the army’s 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division and head of Task Force Makalintad, said security fuels business confidence and encourages investments that in turn provide jobs to the people.

He said tourism which is a vital sector of the country’s economy is virtually dependent on the level of security that can be provided to tourists adding that the success of security operations of the government is an important factor for the consistent upswing of tourist arrivals in the country.

Thus, he gave assurance that the Tabak troopers will continue to play its role of providing a secured environment conducive to development.

Likewise, he emphasized that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is guided by the Philippine Development Plan of the Aquino administration and as enumerated on the provision of peace and security, the promotion of peace of process shall be the center piece of the AFP’s internal security program as a testament of the government’s commitment and policy on reconciliation and reunification.

Thus, the AFP has launched its Internal Peace and Security Plan called Oplan Bayanihan which is anchored on two thrusts, namely, the whole-of-nation approach and the people-centered security, to shift its operations in support to the national government’s policy.

This is significant to the current mission of the AFP to transform its troopers into peacemakers and peacebuilders, he further said.

Henceforth, our policy is directed on the supremacy of the peace process, winning the peace, promotion of human rights and rule of law, focused military operations and commander’s accountability, he added.

Meanwhile, Amarille disclosed that the government has launched the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) Program as a complimentary track of the peace process.

He said the PAMANA is the government’s peace and development framework to respond and strengthen peace building and development in conflict-affected areas.

In Mindanao alone, the local monitoring teams (LMT) of the GPH-MILF Joint Ceasefire Committees have identified 4,032 conflict-affected barangays, he further said.

Amarille further disclosed that at present the national government is completing the unserved benefits of former rebels for the social integration program.

The national program for unification and development has also allocated funds to support rebel returnees and have processed amnesty certificates for 65 rebels this year, he further added.

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LTO-Marawi collections up by 200 percent in November

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Dec. 5 (PIA) --- The Land Transportation Office – Marawi District Office posted a total collections of Php853,268.00 for the month of November, up by more than 200 percent as compared to the Php246,742.75 collections recorded the same month of 2010.

Sibana M. Datumanong, district head of LTO-Marawi, said the increase in the agency’s collections was due to the inspection and checkpoint operations conducted by the members of the army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade (Bde), based in Kampo Ranao, this city.

The LTO has deputized the army to assist the agency in the implementation of road and traffic laws in the city.

As a result of the checkpoint operations, various types of motor vehicles were apprehended because of no registration, expired registration, expired licenses of the drivers and drivers without license, he said.

Out of the Php853,268.00 total collections, Php141,500.00 came from fines and penalties on law enforcement which posted zero collections last November of 2010.

Also, fines and penalties on Motor Vehicle User’s Charge (MVUC) and licensing amounted to Php107,071.50 and Php22,000.00, respectively, compared to the Php42,802.50 and Php8,775.00 collected last year.

Datumanong, meanwhile, expressed appreciation to the Philippine Army for its support in the implementation of land transportation laws.

On the other hand, Col. Daniel A. Lucero, commander of the 103rd Bde, gave assurance that the army will continue to give support operations to local government units and government agencies in the province in pursuant to the army’s Internal Peace and Security Plan dubbed as “Bayanihan.”

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