ARMM communicators, IT officers undergo training

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Aug 30 (PIA) -- Information officers (IOs) and information technology (IT) officers in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) took part in a three-day training designed to hone their writing skills and know-how on website management. 

The three-day basic journalism and information management training, which ends today, include inputs on news and feature writing, business reporting, basic media relations, photography, and multimedia production. 

“People are looking at ARMM, in as much as there are a lot of things to be reported with the ongoing reform,” said Manuel Cayon, resource person from MindaNews. 

The present ARMM reform government emphasizes on transparency and open governance, a thrust amplified through enhancing line agencies websites as portal of information and accomplishment programs of each office. 

It is working to provide the public with better access to information about its present thrusts and programs in keeping with its open government policy. 

“Even if the current administration is doing a lot of things, without the ITs and IOs, the world will not know about them,” said ARMM Executive Secretary Anwar Malang. 

Regional Board of Investment IO Shamera Acoymo, said her work as an IO becomes easier with the knowledge she gained from the training. 

“Our network with the media and IOs from other agencies is also strengthened,” she added.

Having no formal training before, ARMM Social Fund Project IT Officer Al-Zadat Amilassan said the training helped him further developed his skills. 

After the training, ARMM will have a regional gazette published quarterly to inform the public of each agency’s programs and accomplishments. Moreover, they are expected to have an updated website. 

The training was funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) in partnership with the Asia Foundation and carried out by the Office of the Executive Secretary. (BPI-ARMM/PIA10) 

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Advocates confident on passage of ARMM RH Care Act

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, August 29 (PIA) -- Advocates of reproductive health (RH) care in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are confident that the region’s version of RH Care Act will be approved by the Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA). 

Hadja Irene P. Tillah, Sulu Second District Assemblywoman and author of the ARMM RH Care Act, expressed optimism that the bill will be enacted into law saying that it is backed by more than majority of the members of the RLA as co-authors. 

She said the ARMM RH Care bill is a vital act as it promotes women’s access to medically-safe, legally-affordable, and quality RH care services. 

“Upon enactment, the regional law will not only enhance our healthcare system but will also provide for a corresponding educational program for a better understanding and appreciation of RH care,” she further said. 

RLA Speaker and co-author Rasol Y. Mitmug, Jr. explained that the regional version of RH bill promotes what is responsive and acceptable to the culture and religious convictions of the ARMM constituents and that it will be an advantage for the region to implement it. 

Meanwhile, the Muslim community is also supporting the passage of the local RH care bill. 

During the bill second public hearing and consultation held here last Sunday, Professor Nasrodin B. Guro of Mindanao State University (MSU) College of Public Affairs, reiterated that there is no verse in the Holy Qur’an that clearly prohibits the adoption of family planning and RH care by Muslim married couple. 

He also believes there is the need for the passage of the region’s RH Care bill for ARMM constituents in concurrence with the Fatwah (official ruling) of the Darul-Iftah to emancipate the Muslims from old bondage of poverty, ignorance and injustice. 

The Assembly of Darul-Iftah of the Philippines after series of dialogues with respected religious leaders and Islamic scholars has recently ruled that family planning in Islam refers to birth or child spacing. 

Also, all methods of contraception are allowed as long as they are safe, legal, in accordance with Islamic Shariah and approved by a credible physician, preferably a Muslim, for the benefit of both the mother and the child, and for the couple to raise ‘saleh’ (goodly) children who are pious, healthy, educated, useful and well-behaved citizens. 

“Improved RH condition of the Muslim people benefits the individual Muslims and strengthens the Muslim nation socially, economically, politically, and in all other aspects of human life,” the Fatwah says. (APB/PIA10-10)

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Mothers in Mulondo town attend family planning, breastfeeding lectures

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Aug 23 (PIA) -- Some 100 mothers in the municipality of Mulondo attended the family planning and breastfeeding lectures conducted by the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) last August 22 at the Mulondo covered court. 

Dr. Alinader Minalang, IPHO chief, said the lectures organized in collaboration with the Mulondo rural health unit (RHU) were aimed at raising awareness of the importance of family planning and breastfeeding. 

The activity, in line with the Family Planning Month and Breastfeeding Month celebration this August, was also intended to convey how family planning and breastfeeding can be beneficial to mothers and their children. 

Since family planning and exclusive breastfeeding practices are often issues of curiosity and misconceptions especially in the view of Islam, the IPHO also invited Ustadz Mohammad Mangagao from the religious sector to shed some light into these concerns. 

A series of role plays and jingles portraying the advantages of family planning and breastfeeding were performed by the RHU personnel and nurses assigned in the municipality under the Registered Nurses for Health Enhancement and Local Service program of the government, to complement the lectures and make it more understandable to the audience. 

Moreover, a question-and-answer session was done before the activity ended to gauge if the audience has indeed learned something. Prizes were given to those mothers who were able to answer correctly. 

Family-planning commodities were also offered to interested mothers, who, judging from their number, were very much enlightened by the lectures, said Minalang. (APB/PIA-10)

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Officials, residents urge probe on Marawi killings

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, August 15 (PIA) -- Government officials want an independent body to probe the recent killings in the city, which purportedly was rooted on a continuing campaign against organized crime groups. 

Governor Mujiv S. Hataman, Officer in-charge of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), said he had directed Secretary Haroun Al-Rashid Lucman Jr. of the region’s Department of Interior and Local Government to convene the Security and Social Clusters of the ARMM Cabinet to constitute Task Force Kalilintad. 

Hataman also called on the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Philippine National Police (PNP) for an independent probe, saying the ARMM’s Commission on Human Rights (CHR) should also be part of any effort to investigate on the killings. 

“While your regional government supports law enforcement agencies' action aimed at curbing drug syndicate activities or other illegal acts, we do not condone any human rights violations. We call for an independent probe from the NBI, CHR ARMM and PNP on this skirmish,” Hataman said in a statement. 

Hataman said he condemned the killings of the soldiers and of innocent civilians during the incident adding that he wanted to find out whether the August 8 shooting was preceded or followed by related incidents of human rights violation. 

Residents say there was more to reported ambush of soldiers on August 8 in which three members of the 103rd Brigade were slain inside the vast Mindanao State University (MSU) Main Campus. 

A woman said her six-year old granddaughter, Gaily Miraato, was hit by a stray bullet while playing with her cousins at the second floor of their apartment. This, she recalled, happened the same night as truckloads of soldiers made rounds of the city, while bursts of gunfire were heard from every corner like a “domino-effect” of the ambush. 

Miraato was pronounced dead on arrival in a nearby hospital. Doctors found a slug that penetrated her spinal column. The old woman said she wanted justice based on deeper investigation of what really transpired. 

Col. Daniel Lucero, chief of the 103rd Infantry Brigade said his soldiers were in hot pursuit of an organized crime group of 20 armed men, led by Otik Gamal, whom he tagged as relatives of City Mayor Fahad Salic. 

The 103rd Infantry Brigade is part of Task Force Ranao (TFR) formed in November last year, by the national government to crack down on organized crime groups in the area. 

“We are trying to be very, very objective in our efforts to be able to find out what really transpired,” said ARMM Cabinet Secretary Khalila Mae Mambuay-Campong, who led an initial fact-finding mission. 

Campong’s report said three more civilian fatalities were identified as Nabillah Pacalna, 19, who died on the spot and her brother Zafrullah, 20, who died while being treated of stray bullet wounds from the MSU exchange of fires, and Engr. Manioba Rinabor Biston, 49, whose body was found with signs of torture. 

She said two soldiers were also shot dead, though unreported, prior to the MSU ambush of a military truck. Killed in the campus ambush were PFC Rodel Alada, PFC Brucelee Puyod and PFC Rogen Polenzo. (BPI-ARMM/PIA-10)

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ARMM government assures to ‘leave no stone unturned’ in Marawi clashes

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Aug 15 (PIA) -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) government gave assurance that no stone will be left unturned in seeking justice for the victims of the skirmishes that occurred in Mindanao State University (MSU) main campus and the succeeding incident in the downtown area of the city last week. 

While expressing grief on the death of innocent civilians and security forces, the regional government issued a statement today saying they will see to it that there will be no white wash on any case that will be filed on the matter. 

The ARMM government also reiterated that they are doing everything as expediently as possible and will exert every effort to ensure safety and security not only in MSU campus but also in the entire city. 

In line with this, the region's Security and Social Service Cluster has convened to address all concerns on the peace and order situation in the Muslim Mindanao region including the latest incidents here. 

It also formed a task force to probe the recent killings in the city. 

“Task Force Kalilintad was created to forge a peaceful resolution. While recognizing the fact that this Task Force is not an end-all-be-all solution to the problems we face, we hope to at least put safety-nets for the community,” the statement said. 

Meanwhile, the regional government has called on its constituents in the city, particularly in MSU campus, to maintain their sobriety while also exercising vigilance. 

It likewise appealed to them to allow due process to take its course and not to put matters in their own hands. (APB/PIA-10) 

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ARMM Gov Hataman: Don't let BIFF attacks to derail ongoing peace process

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, August 6 (PIA) -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) called-on the peace panels of both the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) not to get distracted by the on-going clash in Maguindanao. 

In a statement, ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman appealed to both peace panels not to allow the isolated incident to affect the encouraging gains in the process. 

He also urged all stakeholders to help stop this latest round of violence and prevent its possible escalation. 

On the other hand, the regional governor also condemned the act of aggression taking place in the towns of Datu Unsay, Ampatuan, and Shariff Aguak involving the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). 

“The act is especially reprehensible during this time of the Holy Month of Ramadhan, when devout Muslims are in the observance of fasting and are supposed to exercise utmost restraint. It is an utter disrespect of Islamic values and of the lives of countless civilians who will have to endure the effects of conflict even in the midst of the holy month,” he said. 

The ARMM governor also said the BIFF should uphold Islamic values and respect for civilian lives more than any other interest and to exhaust peaceful means to address valid grievances

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Lanao del Sur to join Mindanao-wide human resource and skills dev’t summit

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Aug 3 (PIA) -- Representatives of the technical-vocational education and training (TVET) institutions here, TVET practitioners and stakeholders will attend the 11th Human Resource and Skills Development (HRSD) conference next week. 

The Lanao del Sur delegation, headed by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) provincial director Tarhata S. Mapandi, will attend the said conference and exhibits slated this coming August 6 to 8 in Cagayan de Oro City. 

The three-day summit with the theme, “Sustaining TESD Amidst the Challenges of Time,” will feature sessions on issues and concerns affecting the TVET sector in Mindanao in the light of local and global changes. 

The 11th HRSD conference and exhibits will also showcase the best TVET innovations and practices of TVET institutions in Mindanao. 

In addition to interactive presentations and panel discussions, dynamic speakers from leading industry partners including Sam Chittick of the Australian Agency for International Development and Fiona Fitzpatrick of the Australian Council for Private Education & Training (ACPET) will also grace the summit. 

The HRSD is an annual event of TVET practitioners and stakeholders within Mindanao region organized by the Mindanao TVET association. 

This year, it will be hosted by Tesda-10 in cooperation with the Federation of Region-10 TVIs Inc., Department of Labor and Employment-10 and the Department of Trade and Industry-10. 

Tesda-10 regional director Edgar A. Sales said top officials of the Tesda led by its director general Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva will keynote the summit. 

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DAF intensify efforts to raise farmers’ productivity in Lanao de Sur

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, August 2 (PIA) – The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) Provincial Office is intensifying efforts to boost local farmers’ productivity and subsequently uplift their standard of living. 

The assurance came from DAF Provincial Head Pangalian Balindong Jr. saying they will continue to provide support and assistance to local farmers through the provision of farm implements and machineries, conduct of projects to educate the farmers, and proper implementation of programs patterned to the four banner agricultural programs of the national government. 

He said these programs, aimed at sustaining food security and sufficiency, are the agri-pinoy rice program, agri-pinoy corn program, agri-pinoy HVCD program, and the agri-pinoy livestock and poultry. 

Data from the DAF-Lanao del Sur shows that 235 bags of registered palay seeds and 650 bags of organic fertilizer were distributed to local farmers under the agri-pinoy rice program during the period January to June, this year. 

In addition, some 122 bags of OPV white corn seeds and 98 bags of yellow corn seeds were handed-out to farmers under the agri-pinoy corn program while 1,427 pieces of assorted fruit tree seedlings and 1,114 packs of vegetable seeds were distributed to farmer-beneficiaries during the same period in line with the agri-pinoy HVCD program. 

Balindong said five corn demonstration farms and 13 vegetable demonstration farms were also established in selected municipalities of the province during the first semester of 2012. 

“Specifically, a demonstration farm was established in the Basak area to enhance the knowledge of farmer-beneficiaries on utilizing and applying organic fertilizer,” he added. 

He further reported that a training of trainers on organic agriculture was also conducted during the period in collaboration with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and the Bureau of Soils and water Management (BSWM). 

Balindong said the livestock section of the DAF has distributed 1,000 chicks and 170 ducklings, both with starter kits, and 50 heads of goats since January, this year, under the agri-pinoy livestock and poultry program 

According to him, veterinary civic action programs were also undertaken in the municipalities of Butig, Balindong, and Saguiaran during the first semester. 

In terms of institutional development, the DAF-Lanao del Sur has organized this year a total of 17 4-H clubs with 425 members and 16 Rural Improvement Clubs with 400 members.

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