Women wearing hijab, peace advocates run for peace

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 26 (PIA) -- Some 95 stakeholders have joined the first-ever “Hijab Run for Peace” in the province on Sunday, March 24. 

Women wearing hijab (veil) led other peace advocates in the peace run that started as early as 6 a.m. in the Mindanao State University (MSU) Main Campus, here. 

The run for peace was organized by the Young Moro Professionals Network (YMPN) and the Sindaw ko Kapagingud (SIKAP) in celebration of Women’s Month and the Bangsamoro Week of Peace. 

The Hijab Run for Peace aims to encourage Muslim women to take part in the promotion of peace. 

It also seeks to promote the importance of wearing hijab. 

Among those who participated in the run were members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, MSU-Department of Security Services, and members of the Karancho. 

The YMPN is a group of young Muslim professionals that promote volunteerism, use their own resources, talents, education, training and work collectively to help other Muslims. 

The SIKAP, on the other hand, is a non-profit and non-governmental organization composed of Maranao women based in Lanao del Sur volunteering for community development.

0

Kapatagan town renews commitment to peace

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 22 (PIA) -- Stakeholders from several sectors, including peace advocates in the municipality of Kapatagan, have renewed their commitment to peace by entering into a covenant last March 18. 

The covenant calls for the continuous unification of Muslims and Christians, reconciliation of tribal and family differences and respect for the different cultures and traditions for a peaceful and progressive Kapatagan. 

The renewal of commitment marked the town’s 11th anniversary of being a peace zone. 

Barangay Daguan was the first to be declared as a zone of peace in March 18, 2002. The declaration was later expanded to cover the other 14 barangays of the municipality. 

Municipal Mayor Nhazruddin Maglangit said the declaration was made possible under the leadership of his wife and former town mayor Raida Maglangit, now a commissioner of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF). 

He said the town was dubbed as a "No man's land" 10 years ago because it was plagued by armed conflict and clan wars. He added that there was only one school and mosque left then in Barangay Daguan. 

Today, Kapatagan is thriving with improved infrastructure facilities and livelihood projects. It won the Gawad Galing Pook Award in 2010.

Police Senior Insp. Barlowe D. Espiga, Kapatagan chief of police, said the town has also obtained a zero mortality rate when it comes to rido (family feud) because disputes were settled immediately

0

Comelec aims for zero failure of elections in Lanao del Sur

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 19 (PIA) -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is aiming for ‘zero’ failure of elections in the entire province, this coming May. 

Lawyer Ray Sumalipao, regional election director in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) emphasized this during the recently concluded Lanao del Sur Stakeholders Conference for Peaceful, Free and Fair 2013 Elections saying that the main enemy in the province during elections is the failure of elections. 

To make elections work, he said two task forces will be created to roam around the province and monitor the electoral process. 

He said these task forces will be composed of personnel from the Comelec, Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). 

He further said that they have asked the Comelec En Banc to authorize the mobilization of the security personnel, as a contingency measure, in case the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) will not report to their posts. 

Other measures to be taken by the poll body include the swapping of election officers to eradicate doubts on Comelec personnel and insulate them from political suspicions. 

Sumalipao also belied reports that there were no cases filed against erring Comelec personnel. He said they have dismissed three election officers, one from Maguindanao and two in Lanao del Sur, to show that they are true to their commitment. 

The ARMM Election Director meanwhile announced that the clustering of precincts was already approved and now available at the Comelec website. 

He said the Comelec En Banc has also decided to download the investigation of violations to the provincial election supervisor to avoid the clogging of election cases. 

Moreover, the training of more than 2,000 BEIs in the province have started last March 7 and this will end until March 31.

0

Lanao del Sur stakeholders to work together towards honest, peaceful elections

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 18 (PIA) -- Civil society organizations and other multi-sectoral stakeholders have pledged to work together to ensure honest and peaceful elections in the province. 

They committed to do all the necessary efforts to make peaceful and honest elections possible not only in the province but also in the entire Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), during the Lanao del Sur Stakeholders Conference for Peaceful, Free and Fair 2013 elections held recently, here. 

In a one-page declaration, they vowed to actively participate in the process of ensuring peaceful and honest elections through voters education and monitoring of the compliance of political candidates and their supporters to electoral laws, as well as, of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in administering fair and impartial elections. 

They further committed to responsively engage media institutions to undertake responsible reportage of the elections in the province and the region. 

Meanwhile, they appealed to political groups, electoral aspirants, and their supporters to help ensure honest and peaceful elections. 

While challenging Comelec to administer the elections with full integrity, fairness and impartiality, they expressed confidence to the security sector in securing the 2013 elections. 

“We have faith in the security sector that they will be serving the best interest of the people and will uphold their duties towards a secure and fair elections,” they said in the declaration. 

0

Candidates vow for peaceful, clean polls in Lanao del Sur

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 17 (PIA) -- Candidates running for congressional, gubernatorial, mayoralty, and other local posts in the entire province vowed to help the Commission on Elections (Comelec) administer peaceful and honest elections this May. 

They manifested their commitment for peaceful and clean polls by forging a covenant during the Lanao del Sur Stakeholders Conference for Peaceful, Free and Fair 2013 Elections last March 11. 

By signing the covenant, they pledged not to buy votes and not to use force to impede voters to exercise their rights to choose. The also committed to conduct the campaign in accordance with the law and participate in candidates forum called by non-partisan groups in the community. 

They also agreed to take responsibility should one of their supporters or bodyguards is proven to have violated Comelec Resolutions 9561-A and 9608 particularly on the rules and regulations on the ban on carrying or transporting of firearms or other deadly weapons, as well as, on the employment, availment or engagement of the services of security personnel or bodyguards during the election period. 

According to them, the right to vote and the ballot, as expression of the will of the people, are sacred. 

Thus, they vowed not to delay the proclamation of the winners and to welcome the outcome of the elections. 

The covenant signing was organized by the Consortium on Electoral Reforms (CER) with the support of the Comelec, Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, and Lanao Civil Society Organizations. 

Also present were candidates for the positions of regional governor, vice-governor and legislative assembly in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) who also inked a separate covenant for peaceful and clean polls. 

0

ARMM solon underscores the need for an enhanced education act in region

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 12 (PIA) -- A member of the Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), underscored the need to fast-track the passage of the Enhanced Basic Education Act (EBEA) of the ARMM. 

Samira Gutoc-Tomawis, chairperson of the Committee on Education, Culture, Arts and Sports Development, said one of the most important concerns continuously discussed by the Committee was the review of the Muslim Mindanao Act (MMA) 279 to improve the education standards in the region and be aligned with that of the national government. 

Tomawis said MMA 279, otherwise known as the ARMM Basic Education Act of 2010, is not faulty but the prevailing conditions and situations demand changes in some of the provisions of the Act. 

She even recalled the President’s State of Nation Address (SONA) where he mentioned ghost students, walking to ghost bridges, going to ghost schools, and maybe being taught by ghost teachers. 

According to her, the EBEA is a more defined, comprehensive, and relevant measure that responds to the needs of time and the demands of the education sector of the region. 

The EBEA has modern landmark features on K+12, disaster risk reduction management, recognition of tribal communities, health and nutrition, and open governance, she emphasized. 

The bill also promotes and strengthens the Madrasah System as an essential part of the regional education system; provides an inclusive education including access by indigenous peoples and communities, people with disabilities (PWD) and learners with special needs; provides facilities and mechanisms for access to distant learning education by learners from remote and isolated barangays in the region and out-of-school youth in urban centers; among others. 

0

DepEd-ARMM to hold Teacher Induction Program

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 10 (PIA) --- The Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-ARMM) will hold a Teacher Induction Program (TIP) for newly-hired teachers in the region this coming March 18 to 22. 

More than 140 newly-recruited teachers representing the third batch are expected to attend the five-day induction to be held at the Pacific Heights Hotel in Cotabato City. 

Forty-four of these inductees are from Lanao del Sur IA, IB, and II Schools Division while seven are from Marawi City School Division. 

The TIP is designed to orient new teachers about the relevant education policies, rules and regulations pertaining to the general scope of their work, as well as their rights and responsibilities as public school teachers. 

Accordingly, the five-day induction is free-of-charge. Transportation, food, accommodation, and induction materials will be paid for by DepEd-ARMM. 

For more information, interested parties may contact the Action Center for Education (ACE) at 0908-869-6077 or 0916-358-5010. 

0

ARMM legislator salutes women’s contribution to society

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 10 (PIA) -- A legislator of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) underscored the multiple contributions of women in the society. 

Assemblywoman Samira Gutoc-Tomawis said women not only play the role of mothers but also of teachers, providers and professionals reminding the society of the need to balance modernity and tradition. 

She said women are innate teachers because they are the first to teach their child while some leave their families behind to work as overseas workers in order to feed their families. 

Tomawis further said the role of women in the workforce and economic development must also be accounted for. 

“They have overcome major hurdles and even worse stereotypes, cement-thick beliefs against their capacity to make decisions, and even with their multiple burdens in their vast communities, they hide their pains because they are expected to be strong for their families,” she added. 

Thus, she enjoined ARMM constituents to “cite stories of women and make them part of a tapestry being woven in an evolving cultural and democratic society that is preparing for a Bangsamoro government.” 

0

Marawi City kids win regional eliminations of Metrobank Math Challenge

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 7 (PIA) -- Four kids from the Marawi City School Division topped the recently concluded Metrobank Math Challenge 2013 regional eliminations. 

Siddiykh Goling, Majit Rasul Macaalia, Ishihaya Magumpara and Moh’d Yusoph Marohom bested other math-enthusiasts from the nine participating Schools Division in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). 

Goling and Macaalia won in the Team Category for the Fourth Year level while Magumpara and Marohom emerged as winners in the same category for the Grade Six level. 

Goling and Magumpara also won as regional champions in the Individual Category for Fourth Year and Grade Six levels, respectively. 

The Metrobank Math Challenge is an annual competition that aims to awaken greater interest in Mathematics among elementary and high school students, as well as, to discover Mathematical talents among the youth. 

The competition also serves as a venue for young Math-enthusiasts to enhance their skills in Mathematics. 

The regional elimination was conducted by the Department of Education (DepEd) in the ARMM in partnership with Metrobank Foundation, Inc. and Mathematics Teachers Association of the Philippines (MTAP). 

The Math challenge regional winners will represent ARMM in the national finals.

0

Lanao del Sur solon calls for peaceful resolution of Sabah issue

MARAWI CITY, March 6 (PIA) -- A congressman in Lanao del Sur has appealed to the national government to urgently coordinate with the Malaysian government to resolve the Sabah issue and exhaust all means necessary to ensure the safety of Filipinos in Sabah. 

Representative Pangalian M. Balindong of the 2nd District of Lanao del Sur in a statement said the only way to resolve the Sabah issue is through a peaceful and diplomatic approach. He added that this should be the first priority of the national government. 

He urged the Sultan of Sulu and his followers to return to Sulu and continue the struggle for Sabah through peaceful and diplomatic initiatives. 

“I humbly urge the Sultan of Sulu to command his followers to end the standoff and prevent unnecessary bloodshed and damage to regional peace,” he said. 

Balindong said the use of force will resolve nothing. 

“This act of provocation and aggression by our brothers neither advances a viable resolution regarding historic claims on Sabah nor does it push forward our collective yearning for lasting peace in Mindanao,” he said.

0

3,400 Asatidz in ARMM to take qualifying exam on March 2

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 1 (PIA) -- Around 3,472 Asatidz (plural for Ustadz) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) who have passed the initial assessment are set to take the qualifying examination for the Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education (ALIVE) tomorrow, March 2. 

The examination is a nationwide undertaking to determine the applicant’s capability in Arabic language and Islamic studies for them to qualify as ALIVE teachers in public elementary schools in ARMM and in the entire country, the region’s Department of Education (DepEd) said. 

The qualifying exam will be administered by the National Educational Testing and Research Center (NETRC) in the different selected testing centers nationwide. 

DepEd-ARMM said there are three select testing centers for the ARMM area. Lanao del Sur and Marawi City is clustered with Region 10; Maguindanao with Region 12; and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi with Region 9. The testing centers for these clusters are in Iligan City, Cotabato City, and Zamboanga City, respectively. 

DepEd-ARMM Undersecretary Prof. Alzad Sattar said the applicants will vie for more than 2,000 slots effective June, this year. 

He said the passers will undergo a Language Enhancement and Pedagogy (LEaP) training for 23 days before deployment to their respective area of assignments. 

They can also avail the Accelerated Teachers Enhancement Program (ATEP) for 24 months training for free. 

They will be considered as Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED) graduates and will qualify to take the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) upon completion of the ATEP. 

And after passing the LET, they will be given a Teacher 1 item pursuant to D.O. 30, s. 2012 (DepEd-ARMM/APB-PIA10)

0