Soldiers spearhead market clean-up in Marawi City

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Jan. 31 (PIA) -- Soldiers from the 103rd Infantry (Haribon) Brigade and 65th Infantry (Stalwart) Battalion trooped to the city’s public market, locally known as ‘padian,’ last Friday to lead a massive clean-up there.

Members of the Marawi Traders Association (MTA) and Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) students from the different schools and colleges in the city joined the soldiers in the clean-up drive aimed at increasing community awareness on the benefits of a clean environment.

A truckload of waste materials were accumulated from the drainage of the public market during the clean-up which started as early as 7:00 a.m.

Hadji Muhammad Batabor, MTA President, expressed appreciation to the soldiers for initiating the clean-up drive.

“I am grateful to the Philippine Army, specifically to the 103rd Infantry Brigade, for their continuous efforts and untiring support to the local populace of the city in our war against waste,” he expressed.

In response, Sgt. Noel Poblacion of the 103rd Infantry Brigade Civil Military Operations Unit ensured that the men and women of the 103rd Infantry Brigade will never get tired in rendering public service in the entire province.

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COMELEC sets resumption of ARMM voters’ registration on March 5

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Jan. 30 (PIA) --- The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has resolved to resume the system of continuing registration of voters and validation of registration records in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on March 5, 2012.

Lawyer Nasib Yasin, Provincial Election Supervisor, said the continuing registration of voters slated from March 5 to October 31, 2012 was ordered by the COMELEC en banc through Resolution No. 9338 promulgated January 25, 2012.

The resolution provides for the resumption of voters’ registration in ARMM to give the Commission sufficient time for the conduct of pre-election activities and other preparations in connection with the May 13, 2013 elections.

Earlier, the COMELEC deferred the registration in the autonomous region because of the pending case questioning the legality of Republic Act 10153 on the synchronization of the ARMM elections with the May 13, 2013 National and Local Elections and in anticipation of the conduct of the ARMM elections at a later date.

The voters list up was originally scheduled to start on October 1, 2011 to October 31, 2012.

Aside from the registration, Yasin said the activities to be conducted from March 5 to October 31 also include validation of voters registration records or the taking of the biometrics such as pictures, signatures, and thumb marks of registered voters whose biometrics were not taken during the registrations due to defective computers or peripherals.

He said the rules and regulations on the system of continuing registration of voters and validation of registration records of the deferred COMELEC Resolution No. 9271 promulgated last August 12, 2011 shall now apply.

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ARMM government beefs-up security inside compound

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Jan. 30 (PIA) -- The Intelligence and Security Services (ISS) of the Office of the Regional Governor (ORG) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is beefing-up its security measures following bomb scares inside the ARMM compound.

The Bureau of Public Information (BPI) disclosed that starting February, the ISS will be implementing the "No sticker, No Entry” policy in line with the directive of ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman to strengthen the security inside the compound.

According to the BPI, ISS Director Abdulrashid Ladayo bared during the “Tapatan sa ARMM” program that some 500 stickers were already distributed by the ISS.

These stickers were given for free to car owners who are working inside the compound, Ladayo further said.

The ISS Director advised those who always have transactions inside the compound but don’t have stickers yet to visit the ISS office at the ORG building and bring with them a photocopy of their OR and CR.

Aside from the "No sticker, No entry” policy, CCTV cameras will likewise be installed inside the ARMM compound.

Ladayo said they will be setting-up more or less 35 CCTV cameras inside the ARMM compound starting March.

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Lanao del Sur police campaigns for zero plastic bags, styro

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Jan. 18 (PIA) --- As its modest contribution to help the country fight global warming, the Lanao del Sur Provincial Police Office (LSPPO) has jumpstarted a campaign against the use of plastic bags and styrofoam materials.

The campaign dubbed “Zero Plastic Bags and Styrofoam for LSPPO” prohibits the use of plastic bags and styrofoam inside the LSPPO headquarters and in the 39 municipal police stations in the province.

Police Senior Superintendent Romeo Magsalos, LSPPO Director, said the campaign was launched last week to raise the level of consciousness and awareness among LSPPO personnel on the adverse impact of the continued use of plastic bags and styrofoam to the environment.

He said the campaign is encouraging all LSPPO personnel to become green advocates and be part in saving the environment by reducing their use of plastic bags and styrofoam.

The job of the police is not only to protect the people but also the environment, he cited.

As part of the campaign, the LSPPO is also including plastic bags and styrofoam to its Public Enemy list making plastic bags and styrofoam as the Public Enemy No. 1, he further said.

Magsalos is hoping that other police stations in the country would also replicate this campaign.

He also expressed hope that LSPPO personnel, as heads of their own families, can influence their respective families to refrain from using plastic bags in their home and not to buy things packed in a plastic.

They can rather buy those that use recycled paper or those with minimal packaging, he said.

Magsalos said those caught not cooperating with the campaign shall be penalized with fatigue duties such as 20 push-ups and running around the oval.

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Lanao del Sur stakeholders join hands in the fight against illegal logging

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, January 16 (PIA) --- Major stakeholders from the government, civil society groups, academe, religious, and the media, here, have joined forces to fight illegal logging in the province.

These stakeholders have identified appropriate actions in order to curb illegal logging operations in the province during the recent consultative workshop on illegal logging facilitated by the 103rd Infantry Brigade through the support of the Provincial Government and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) government.

During the workshop, situationers were provided by resource speakers that served as guidelines in the quest for solutions and strategies to completely put to a halt the illegal logging operations.

The situationers gave the participants an understanding of the environment and natural resources, how it is managed, what are the laws and regulations that governed its protection and preservation, and the symbiotic relationship between mankind and the environment.

Dr. Asnawil G. Ronsing, Mindanao State University (MSU) Shariah Center Director, presented “Islamic and the Environment” which provided a strong and effective framework on environmental stewardship from an Islamic perspective while Forester Ben-Ali B. Decampong, Lanao del Norte PENR Officer, explained the various laws and regulations governing the protection and conservation of forest resources.

Further, ARMM Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources Forester Cosain Abbas imparted clear understanding of what are forests and forestlands, the benefits that can be derived from the forests, and the effects of forest denudation.

He also presented the state of the forests and forestlands in the province, as well as, the control and supervision over such forest and forestlands.

Pipalawan Naga of the Save Lake Lanao Movement (SALLAM) presented the importance of Lake Lanao, and the enabling laws, development interventions and efforts to save to lake while Provincial Police Director Senior Superintendent Romeo Magsalos, shared the zero plastic bag and styrofoam campaign, a program initiated by the Marikina City Police Station as its modest contribution to help the country fight global warming. Magsalos was the former chief of police of Marikina City.

Dr. Mary Joyce Guinto-Sali of the MSU – Institutional Research and Evaluation Office (IREO), likewise, tackled climate change and its effects on human health, agriculture, plants and animals. She said climate change action will require concerted effort of everyone citing that its adverse effects can be mitigated by controlling releases of greenhouse gases, protecting the remaining forest resources, and planting more trees.

On the other hand, Samira Ali-Gutoc, a member of the Philippine Army Multi-Sectoral Advisory Board shared insights on the communication, advocacy and mobilization against illegal logging.

Gutoc, who represented ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman, also gave an update on the memorandum of agreement signed by the ARMM government and the DENR where a P49.6-million worth of assistance was granted by the DENR for the rehabilitation of some 2,500 hectares of forestland within the autonomous region.

Meanwhile, among the immediate solutions identified by group include reporting illegal logging activities to the task force, planting and growing of trees, and massive IEC campaign at the grassroots level through the help of tri-media and religious leaders.

Other solutions involved strengthening of law enforcement; prosecuting illegal loggers, timber poachers, and possessors of illegal forest products; participation of local government units in the enforcement of laws; and the provision of alternative livelihood to carabao loggers.

The participants also agreed to a create a lobby group that will study the possibility of drafting an Executive Order creating the Ranao Development Authority that ARMM Governor can endorse for the President to support.

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Sendong victims receive health care assistance

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Jan. 12 (PIA) -- Victims of the tropical storm Sendong have been receiving health care aid from the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) here.

According to IPHO chief, Dr. Alinader Minalang, the health care assistance was extended to the victims through the conduct of medical missions in Bubong town, and in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan last week where a total of 2,166 patients were given various medical services.

He said some 812 patients were served in Bubong town, this province, while 854 individuals in Barangay Ubaldo Laya, Iligan City and 500 patients in Barangay Balulang in Cagayan de Oro City were afforded free health care services.

Among the services offered included medical consultations, provision of free medicines and shots like tetanus toxoid immunization, Vitamin A provision,and also wound management, counseling, and health education.

Reproductive health services such as pre-natal check-up, post natal check-up, and family planning were extended too, he further said.

Aside from that, clean delivery kits for pregnant women and hygiene kits were also distributed to the victims.

Minalang said the health assistance dubbed as “Medical Mission: Handog ni RG Hataman at Gov Bombit Adiong Para sa Sendong Victims,” was provided through the support of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv Hataman and provincial Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr.

The Amai Pakpak Medical Center also extended their support by sending in doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel, he added.

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TESDA trains 5,328 constituents in Lanao del Sur

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, January 11 (PIA) -- The Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) here had extended skills trainings to some 5,328 individuals all over the province in 2011.

The skills trainings were made available to the recipients through our four training modalities namely center-based, school-based, community-based and enterprise-based, said Tarhata S. Mapandi, provincial director of TESDA-Lanao del Sur.

She said most of the recipients were served under Community-Based Training (CBT) with 3,393 individuals while the Community-Based Training and Enterprise Development (CBTED) has served 124 individuals.

The Center-Based Training (CB) has also benefited 967 individuals while some 844 individuals have availed of our School-Based Training (SB), she further said.

As to the number of beneficiaries per district, Mapandi said that 2,779 of the trained individuals came from the 1st District of the province while 2,549 were from the 2nd District.

The 1st District covers 17 towns and the city of Marawi while the 2nd District covers 22 towns.

The provincial director also said that 1,846 of the beneficiaries were out-of-school youth (OSY), 754 were in-school youth (ISY), 2,367 were unemployed, and five was employed.

The trainings extended during the year included Commercial Cooking, Baking Dressmaking, Electrical Installation and Maintenance, Massage Therapy, Bamboo Furniture Making, Organic Fertilizer Making (foliar), Carpentry, Small Engine Servicing (motorcycle repair), Refrigeration Repair, Cellphone Repair, and T-shirt Printing (silkscreen), among others.

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Lanao del Sur PDRRMC members oriented on RA 10121

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, January 9 (PIA) -- Members of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) were oriented on Republic Act No. 10121 or the Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Act of 2010 for them to have a better understanding on the new law and its implementing rules and regulations (IRR).

The orientation seminar, held at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall on January 5-6, was spearheaded by the Office of Civil Defense in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (OCD-ARMM) in collaboration with the PDRRM Office.

OCD-ARMM Director retired Brigadier General Loreto Rirao said the seminar was aimed at informing the PDRRMC members on the major changes and improvements on the disaster management, the shifting of the old law into the new DRRM Law, and its relevance in today’s situation.

RA 10121 transforms the country’s disaster management system from disaster relief and response to disaster risk reduction putting emphasis on strengthening the capacities of the local communities.

He said the two-day seminar also sought to institutionalize systems and mechanisms for better disaster risk reduction and management.

The province is prone to natural disasters and other incidents associated with weather disturbances and climate change, as well as, armed conflicts and all forms of terrorism.

For his part, PDRRM Officer retired Colonel Tatar Boriongan underscored the need to re-orient PDRRMC members of their basic duties and responsibilities to make the council active in the performance of its duties.

"We have observed the onslaught of Tropical Storm Sendong bringing massive destruction to human lives, properties, infrastructure and agricultural crops including disturbances to people’s lives and livelihood," he noted.

He said that disaster can strike anytime, but, with preparations and proper management its impact can be reduced.

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65th IB confiscates logging machine in Lanao del Sur

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, January 9 (PIA) --- Elements of the 65th Infantry (Stalwart) Battalion of the Philippine Army have confiscated an improvised log cutter at Barangay Lidasan in Kapai town, this province.

Col. Daniel Lucero, 103rd Infantry Brigade Commander, said the improvised log cutter of an Isuzu B162 Engine with blade was confiscated by the Stalwart troopers last week while they were patrolling the barangay in support to the government’s anti-illegal campaign

He said the log cutter was owned by a certain Amer Dimacuta, 32 yrs old, married and a resident of Brgy Lidasan. It is now in the custody of the 65th IB for proper disposition and safekeeping purposes.

In a related development, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) government is now finalizing the filing of illegal logging charges against several individuals in relation to the recent seizure of truckloads of logs in the province.

During his meeting with Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz last week, ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman disclosed that the task force headed by Col. Lucero has seized 25 truckloads of logs in an operation in Kapai town.

Formed to curb illegal logging in the province, he said the task force recommended the filing of appropriate charges against barangay officials believed to be involved in the logging operation in the area.

The illegal logging in the province was blamed by some for exacerbating the effects of Tropical Storm Sendong resulting in a heavy death toll in Iligan city.

Aside from his total log ban directives, the ARMM Governor has also issued a moratorium on the issuance of private land timber permits so as not to provide loggers any excuse.

Meanwhile, Hataman also disclosed that the ARMM government will be forging a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the greening program and the provision of alternative livelihood to carabao loggers in the autonomous region.

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