Lanao del Sur dad lauds PNoy’s commitment to lasting peace in Mindanao

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 26 (PIA) -- Provincial Governor Mamintal A. Adiong Jr. lauded President Benigno S. Aquino III for his commitment to immediately complete the peace process in Mindanao. 

“I and the people of Lanao del Sur laud His Excellency for giving the Bangsamoro more hope and enthusiasm in his recently delivered state of the nation address (SONA),” Adiong said in a statement. 

In his fourth SONA, the President called on Congress to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law before the end of 2014 to give ample time to prepare the new Bangsamoro government in 2016. 

“Nananawagan ako sa ating Kongreso: Nabuo na po ang Transition Commission na gagawa ng panukalang Bangsamoro Basic Law. Tatapusin ito alinsunod sa mga prinsipyo ng komprehensibong kasunduan para sa kapayapaan; maipasa po sana ninyo ito bago matapos ang 2014 sa gayong paraan, may sapat tayong panahon para makapaghanda sa paghalal ng bagong pamahalaang Bangsamoro sa 2016 (I call on Congress: The Transition Commission that will craft the Bangsamoro Basic Law has already been created. Once their task is completed in keeping with the principles of the peace process, I ask you to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law before the end of 2014. This way, we will have ample time to prepare for the election of a new Bangsamoro government come 2016)," the President said. 

“We thank the President for his strong positive action in providing answers to the decades-old Moro questions and by making it part of his economic mantra of inclusive growth,” Adiong said. 

According to him, it is by far the best present received by the Bangsamoro during this Holy Month of Ramadhan adding that there is no doubt President Aquino wants the success of the peace talks with the same eagerness and desire like the Muslims. 

“We in Lanao del Sur continue to sustain our belief that, in the very near time, sustainable peace shall finally reign in our homeland,” he said.

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ARMM, UN agency collaborate in emergency response effort

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 26 -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) government gets support from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the establishment of the ARMM Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team (HEART), an emergency rapid response team intended to help curtail impact of disasters in the region. 

The two parties inked a memorandum of agreement Thursday, July 25 afternoon to formalize and outline their collaboration, with the UNHCR giving an initial funding of US$20,000 to help bankroll the launching of the program in identified pilot areas. 

UNHCR has earmarked a total of US$100,000 for the program, in addition to the technical support and a vehicle it is going to provide to the response team. 

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said they are pushing for the creation of the ARMM HEART in view of the huge humanitarian impact of man-made and natural disasters in parts of the region. 

Data gathered by the UNHCR and the Regional Human Rights Commission for ARMM show that at least 54,745 persons have experienced various displacements in ARMM over the last 18 months. 

A breakdown of the cumulative data reveals natural disasters as the leading cause of displacements in the ARMM, accounting for 57% of total displacements or 199,979 persons, followed by armed conflict at 20% or 70,989 persons, crime and violence at 12% or 41,587 persons and rido or clan feuds at 11% or 40,885 persons. 

Lawyer Laisa Alamia, the region’s executive secretary, said that apart from responding to emergencies, ARMM HEART will help ensure the protection of internally displaced persons. 

The autonomous region groups the island-provinces of Basilan Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and the mainland-provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur. (BPI-ARMM)

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Hataman enforces prudent fiscal policy in ARMM

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 25 --- The administration of Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will be instituting fiscal prudence among agencies and offices in the regional bureaucracy as means to advance necessary reforms. 

In a conference with the local media, ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia said a memorandum has been issued by the ARMM Governor that sets up a system on procedural flowchart to safeguard financial transactions of the regional government and its attached line agencies. 

She said the streamlined scheme will help curb anomalies and dubious transactions while, at the same time, provide means to gauge the performance of every agency or office. 

The scheme, she said, adheres and refines existing rules on accountability, procurement procedures, salary and honorarium disbursement, issuance of authority to travel and other financial transactions. 

Moreover, heads of offices have been required to submit complete inventory of government equipment and property under their care, personnel and report on the disbursement of capital outlay in adherence to the policy of transparency and open governance. 

Said officials had also been required to submit work and financial plan as benchmark of their accomplishment which will then be assessed to conform to the pillars of reform espoused by the present ARMM administration. 

“We are now setting the standards by which the secretaries will be evaluated,” Alamia added.(BPI-ARMM)

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ARMM to establish 24/7 emergency response team

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 25 -- The Autonomous of the Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) government will be establishing a 24/7 on call response team in the coming weeks to improve the handling of humanitarian emergencies in the region, regional officials announced Wednesday. 

Lawyer Laisa Alamia, ARMM executive secretary, said a program called ARMM Humanitarian Emergency Response Team (HEART) will be formed to provide immediate assistance during crisis and lead emergency preparedness in disaster or conflict prone areas in the region. 

ARMM HEART will be on standby for 24 hours in a week, she said. 

Alamia said the program is expected to allow the ARMM government to respond quickly to disaster and displacements with a ready mechanism at hand. 

“Whenever there are conflicts or disasters, ARMM HEART will be on top of things, round the clock. We like to be ready all the time,” she said. 

The region continues to be hounded by intermittent crises, both natural and man-made, that disrupt the living of affected communities. 

Alamia said they will be coordinating with civil society groups, some United Nations and national agencies in the creation of the ARMM HEART. 

The former chair of the newly created human rights commission office in ARMM said the administration of ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman will work to address the plight of internally displaced persons (IDPs) even as it continues to push for a durable peace in Mindanao. 

According to her, the regional government is planning to put up a warehouse in the mainland and in Zamboanga City to stock up on emergency relief goods. 

Meanwhile, Alamia said they are closely monitoring reported conflicts in the towns of Datu Piang and Mustapha Saidona in Maguindanao, which erupted early this week. 

She said workers from the region’s Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) have been deployed to assess conditions in the affected areas. (BPI-ARMM)

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Aquino lauds ARMM govt for peaceful polls

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 24 -- President Benigno S. Aquino III has lauded the government of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in carrying out clean, honest and peaceful midterm elections in Monday’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA). 

Citing report of the first-ever, non-failure of election in the province of Lanao del Sur, Aquino lauds regional efforts that led to a clean and honest poll despite widespread apprehensions. 

“Gawin po nating halimbawa ang ARMM, ang sabi nga po ni Governor Mujiv S. Hataman, sa tanang-buhay niya , hindi siya makaalala ng pagkakataon kung kailan walang failure of elections sa Lanao Del Sur," (Let us use ARMM as an example. Governor Mujiv Hataman has said that he could not remember a time in his life when Lanao del Sur did not suffer a failure of elections) he said, underscoring the synchronization of election atypical from previous administration. 

The said province, a fraction of ARMM mainland territory, was previously an election hotspot due to massive failure of elections. 

“May mga nag-aakalang lulubha pa ang situwasyon sa halalan ng ARMM, pero kita naman po, ang laki ng ikinaganda nito: Naging malinis at tapat ang halalan; natuloy ang bilangan, natuloy ang proklamasyon ng mga may bagong mandato mula sa taumbayan,” (There were those who thought the situation in ARMM would only get worse. But we have seen how vastly it has improved: ARMM successfully held a clean, safe, and fair election; votes were counted, and those whom the people charged with new mandates were proclaimed) he added. 

For his part, Governor Mujiv Hataman said that “President Aquino's mention of the zero failure of election in ARMM, for the first time, proves that the reform agenda in the region is at work- and we're grateful that it's part of his report to our people.” 

Last year, then officer-in-charge now elected governor, Hataman, was also cited as ‘certified ghost buster’ in reference to his house keeping feat in cleansing the ranks of the regional bureaucracy. (BPI-ARMM)

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Aquino cites success of elections in ARMM

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 23 (PIA) -- President Benigno S. Aquino III cited the successful conduct of 2013 midterm polls in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in his fourth State of the Nation (SONA) on July 22. 

“Naging malinis at tapat ang halalan sa ARMM; natuloy ang bilangan, natuloy ang proklamasyon ng mga may bagong mandato mula sa taumbayan” (ARMM successfully held a clean, safe, and fair election; votes were counted, and those whom the people charged with new mandates were proclaimed), the President said. 

The 2013 polls was the first time the national and ARMM elections were synchronized. 

“Noon ay nakatutok ang buong pwersa ng estado sa iisang rehiyon, pero may failure of elections pa rin” (In the past, the full force of the State was focused on just one region, and yet it still had to call for a failure of elections)," he said. 

“Ngayong 2013, dahil buong bansa ang kinailangang tutukan at lumawak ang kanilang responsibilidad, may mga nag-akalang lulubha pa ang situwasyon sa halalan ng ARMM” (This 2013, because our uniformed forces had to safeguard elections across the entire country, there were those who thought the situation in ARMM would only get worse), he further said. 

However, the elections in ARMM has greatly improved, the President cited. 

The successful and peaceful election according to him was due to the diligence of the uniformed forces and the coming together of the nation. 

In Lanao del Sur, the joint police and military forces played a vital role in minimizing election-related violence in the province. 

The successful conduct of the 2013 midterm polls in the province was earlier attributed to the timely response of uniformed forces where tensions were reported. 

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ARMM govt renews commitment to implement reform agenda, holds strategic planning workshop

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 22 -- In line with its goal of pursuing the reform initiatives anchored on the three key pillars of good governance, peace and security and socio-economic development, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao held a strategic planning workshop at the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) in Tagaytay City from July 19-21, this year. 

Around 150 regional officials and key representatives from the civil society groups have attended the three-day planning aimed at enhancing the culture of results-oriented performance and effective and efficient planning. 

Sponsored by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the strategic planning was facilitated by DAP, an institution tasked to assist in the country’s development efforts. 

ARMM Regional Vice Governor Haroun Al Rashid Lucman, in his opening message, said that DAP has been an active conduit of the regional government in terms of capacity-building. 

“Since the election of Hataman, the two institutions also worked together in the marathon selection process for Cabinet positions and other executive posts in the region last June 29 to July 1, 2013,” Lucman said. 

For his part, DAP President Antonio D. Kalaw Jr said it is not the first time that the institution is working with ARMM. 

The revitalization of DAP’s involvement in ARMM happened under the watch of the Hon. Mujiv Hataman. Early on in his appointment as OIC-Regional Governor in December 2011, the Academy provided transition management assistance to his transition team. 

Kalaw said that in July 2012, the Japan International Cooperation Agency also invited them to facilitate the Project Formulation Workshop for the ARMM Human Capacity Development Program.

“We all know that the next two-and-a-half years are crucial for the region. In light of the Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro between the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the ARMM Regional Government has the daunting task of expanding and deepening the reforms it has initiated while preparing the ground for a smooth transition to the Bangsamoro entity,” said Kalaw. 

Meanwhile, ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman underscored the importance of preparing the regional government for the new Bangsamoro entity. 

“Our vision from the very start is to have a functioning regional government that is responsive to the needs of our people,” he said. 

“All of our efforts today are geared towards having a more progressive and peaceful Bangsamoro,” Hataman added. 

At the end of the three-day planning workshop, participants are expected to produce the following outputs: Development of convergence programs for 2013, and specific department commitments to purport the reform agenda of the ARMM government. (BPI-ARMM)

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Nutri fair kicks off nutrition month celebration in Lanao del Sur

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 19 (PIA) -- The Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) here kicked off the nationwide celebration of nutrition month last week with a nutrition fair held at the covered court of Taraka town, this province. 

The fair showcased different health services which catered to the nutritional needs of the people especially that of children and women, said IPHO Chief Dr. Alinader Minalang. 

He said they offered dental services, maternal services, immunization, vaccination, blood pressure taking and introduced food supplements such as insumix. 

Aside from that, family planning counselling and nutrition lectures for pregnant women including proper breast feeding were also provided. 

We did all this to ensure proper nutrition among mothers and children in the area, he added. 

Also joining the kick off program were representatives from IPHO partner agencies such as World Food Programme, Zuellig Family Foundation, Regional Nutrition Council and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority who provided free haircut and massage services during the event. 

Minalang said they have to double their efforts and scale up their services through multi-sectoral approach and inter-agency collaboration to eliminate hunger and malnutrition. 

The problem on hunger and malnutrition is very challenging because our status is not improving very well and that the country is a signatory to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), the number one of which is to eliminate poverty and malnutrition, he said. 

The Nutrition Month celebration this year is anchored on the theme “Gutom at Malnutrisyon, Sama-Sama Nating Wakasan,” to raise awareness on the need for more action in addressing hunger as part of the country’s commitment to the MDG of eradicating poverty and hunger.

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BETTER ROADS. ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman (seated, middle) and Public Works Secretary Emil Sadain ink a contract awarding the construction of a two (2) Barrel Reinforced Concrete Box Culvert along a 10.66-meter road stretch of the Narciso Ramos Highway in Bayanga, Matanong, Maguindanao (lower photo) to BAMEC Developers represented by Bernouli A. Manibpel (seated right). The P15.5-million project, funded from DPWH-ARMM’s 2012 savings, will start this month and expected to be completed by yearend. Also at the signing are officials of DPWH –ARMM Bids and Awards Committee. (BPI-ARMM/JoHenry)

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DSWD-Lanao Sur B implements 118 projects under Pamana program

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 12 (PIA) -- A total of 118 projects are currently implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) - Lanao del Sur B in the second district of this province. 

These projects which include construction of tire path, path way, latrine, day care center, solar dryer, school building, health station, multi-purpose center, laundry shed, and coco dryer are implemented under the Pillar 2 of the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) program. 

Reports from the DSWD-Lanao Sur B showed that the projects with a total cost of P35.4 million are being carried-out in all of the barangays of the six pilot towns of the program. 

These towns are Calanogas, Kapatagan, Marogong, Pagayawan, Pualas and Tubaran. 

Marogong with 24 barangays got the highest allocation of P7.2 million followed by Pualas with 23 barangays sharing P6.9 million. 

The share of the other towns are as follows: Tubaran with 21 barangays (P6.3 million), Pagayawan with 18 barangays (P5.4 million), Calanogas with 17 barangays (P5.1 million), and Kapatagan with 15 barangays (P4.5 million). 

The Pamana is the national government’s program and framework for peace and development implemented in areas affected by conflict and communities covered by existing peace agreements.

A complementary track to peace negotiations, Pamana seeks to reduce poverty, improve governance and empower communities through community-driven projects that address people’s needs and promote peace at the same time.

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TESDA Lanao del Sur registers 1,585 graduates under TISP scholarship programs

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 10 (PIA) -- A total of 1,585 scholars in the province have finished different training courses implemented by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda). 

Tesda Provincial Director Tarhata Mapandi said the graduates were all beneficiaries of the P11.70-million training fund allocated for the province under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) stimulus package also known as the Transition Investment Support Plan (TISP). 

Scholarship programs under the TISP were implemented under three components, namely, Private Education Student Financial Assistance (PESFA), Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), and Ulama and Youth Program. 

Mapandi said the 355 slots for PESFA and 249 for TWSP were all used while the 1,015 slots for Ulama and Youth were only 99.31 percent utilized due to the return of seven slots for Food and Beverage Services by a techvoc institution. 

She further said that 711 out of the 1,585 graduates had already been assessed and 354 of them had been certified. 

The rest have pending applications for assessment, she added. 

Mapandi also disclosed that P5.8 million or 49 percent of the total training fund was already disbursed to the different techvoc institutions. 

The balance will be paid by Tesda-ARMM upon full compliance and completion of all documentary requirements as required by accounting and auditing, she said. 

The TISP was provided by the national government to the ARMM government to fast-track key development initiatives in the region.

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21 towns in Lanao del Sur benefit from Salintubig program

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 10 (PIA) -- Twenty-one municipalities in this province are the targeted beneficiaries of the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig sa Lahat (Salintubig) program of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). 

A total funding of P143 million was allocated for the provision of potable water supply system to these municipalities, DILG Provincial Director Atty. Paisal Sani reported during the recently concluded Lanao del Sur People’s Dialogue. 

He said the municipalities covered are Madamba, Buadipuso-Buntong, Ditsaan-Ramain, Saguiaran, Butig, Kapatagan, Lumbatan, Madalum, Malabang, Poona Bayabao, Tamparan, Taraka, Lumbaca-Unayan, Wao, Tubaran, Calanogas, Bayang, Ganassi, Masiu, Balindong, and Lumbayanague. 

According to him, 15 percent of the mobilization fund had already been released to these municipalities. 

The program is in line with the President’s agenda to provide potable water to all Filipinos particularly in waterless and poor municipalities. 

Sani, meanwhile, clarified that the identification of the recipient-municipalities was conducted by the National Anti-Poverty Commission. 

This is in response to concerns that some of the selected beneficiaries have already water supply while those with no access to water were not included as recipient.

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Promotion of human rights is everybody’s concern

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 9 (PIA) -- The promotion of human rights should be everybody’s concern. 

This was emphasized by Atty. Galuash ‘Bong’ Ballaho, commissioner of the Regional Human Rights Commission (RHRC) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) during the inauguration of its field office in the city Monday, July 8. 

He said human rights issues are a major problem in the region but this is now slowly changing. 

Ballaho said their office is collaborating with other agencies for potential solutions to these issues citing their convergence program with the security sector in the region that is now gaining positive results. 

The RHRC monitors family feuds (rido) and helps in the reconciliation of warring parties with the support of local government units and non-government organizations, he added. 

Since most of human rights violations arise from armed conflict, Ballaho said they are monitoring the peace process and the flight of internally-displaced persons (IDPs) and evacuees. 

So far, there are no reported IDPs in the province, he said. 

The RHRC is an independent office that has the same powers and mandate as the national Commission on Human Rights. It was created by virtue of Section 16 of Republic Act No.9054 and operationalized by Muslim Mindanao Act No. 288 or the ARMM Human Rights Commission Charter of 2012 authored by Assemblyman Zia-ur Rahman A. Adiong. 

Lawyer Abdel Jamal Disangcopan, head of the RHRC Marawi Field Office, meanwhile thanked the provincial government for giving them space at the provincial capitol complex. 

He also expressed appreciation for the positive reception from human rights partners and stakeholders in the province. 

He said the opening of the field office will ensure that human rights issues in the area will be addressed in line with the "Daang Matuwid (straight path)" espoused by President Aquino and ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman.

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Senator Aquino commits to draft legislation that pushes for inclusive growth

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 8 (PIA) -- Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV committed to draft legislation that will push for inclusive growth. 

In his message during the 54th Araw ng Lanao del Sur on July 4, he gave assurance that his policies and programs will benefit all areas of the country so that the progress will be felt by all Filipinos. 

He said his legislative agenda will focus on policies that support education, employment and enterprise. 

Aquino also explained why he spent his first days as a Senator visiting provinces. 

“Eto po ay para alamin ano ba ang pangangailangan ng taong bayan, kung paano ba pwedeng magtulungan ang legislative department at mga executives upang makapagdala ng kaunlaran (This is to find out the needs of the people and how can the legislative department and the executives work together to bring progress),” he said. 

He further emphasized the importance of knowing the best ways of collaboration between lawmakers and local government leaders before filing bills. 

“May mga pagkakataon po na meron mga batas at polisiya na hindi naman na-iimplement ng local government units o kaya hindi doable at measurable sa mga local executives (There are instances that some laws and policies are not implemented by local government units or not doable and measurable for local executives),” he added. 

Partnership between lawmakers and local executives should be solid and complete, he said. 

With that, he told the people of Lanao del Sur that he and Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. will closely work together to bring progress to the province. 

And this partnership, he assured, will be for good governance.

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Lanao del Sur gets P129.7 million for health facilities

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 8 (PIA) -- A total of P129.7 million was allocated for the upgrading of health infrastructure and procurement of medical equipment for identified health facilities in the province. 

This is 17 percent of the P756 million allocated for the Department of Health in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DOH-ARMM) under the ARMM Transition Investment Support Plan (TISP), Dr. Alinader Minalang, chief of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) reported during the recently concluded Lanao del Sur People’s Dialogue. 

He said P43.2 million of the said amount will be used for construction of 36 barangay health stations (BHS) in 28 targeted municipalities and P3.0 million for the repair and renovation of Tamparan District Hospital. 

The remaining P83.5 million will be used for procurement of x-ray and ultrasound machines for the Provincial Capitol Clinic, BEMONC Equipment Package for the 36 BHS, and various medical equipment for Tamparan, Wao, Malabang, Unayan and Balindong District Hospitals, he added. 

Minalang, however, clarified that the role of IPHO in the implementation of these projects are limited to monitoring and as end-user of the projects. 

He said the procurement processes are being undertaken by the DOH-ARMM through the regional Bids and Awards Committee (BAC). 

Meanwhile, the IPHO reported that there was already partial delivery of equipment to the five recipient district hospitals, Provincial Capitol Clinic and health stations. 

Also, 25 BHS have commenced construction with different levels of accomplishment while the repair and renovation of Tamparan District Hospital have not yet started due to problem in bidding process. 

The TISP is part of the Aquino’s administration’s continuing initiative to improve socio-economic conditions in the ARMM. 

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DPWH-ARMM inspects road reconstruction in Balabagan town

ARMM Public Works and Highways Secretary Emil Sadain (4th from left) leads Monday, July 1, the inspection of the ongoing road reconstruction along a portion of the Narciso Ramos Highway in Barangay Itil, Balabagan, Lanao del Sur. The 6-million project, funded from the agency’s 2012 savings and expected to be completed by year-end, includes the repair and widening of the 135-meter road and construction of a drainage system that will offset damage rendered by heavy rains that left the road in a condition as shown in left photo. With Sadain are newly appointed DPWH-ARMM Asst. Sec. Don Loong and other officials from DPWH National, Region 10 and 12. (Jo Henry/BPI-ARMM)

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Oathtaking of Elected Officials in Lanao del Sur

Provincial Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. and Vice Governor Arsad Marohombsar lead other elected officials in Lanao del Sur in taking their oath of office before Executive Judge Wenida Papandayan of the Regional Trial Court Branch XII. The mass oath taking of elected local officials witnessed by Senator Bam Aquino marks the 54th Araw ng Lanao del Sur celebration on July 4.

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Mass oath taking of officials marks 54th Araw ng Lanao del Sur celebration

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 5 (PIA) -- A mass oath taking of newly-elected municipal, city and provincial officials marked the 54th Araw ng Lanao del Sur celebration on July 4. 

Provincial Governor Mamintal ‘Bombit’ Adiong Jr., Vice Governor Arsad Marohombsar and First District Representative Ansarruddin ‘Hooky’ Adiong led the other elected officials in taking their oaths before Judge Wenida Papandayan of the Regional Trial Court Branch 12. 

Also joining them were Board Members and Regional Legislative Assembly Members from the two districts of the province as well as elected mayors, vice-mayors, and councilors from the 39 municipalities of the province. 

In his speech, Adiong encouraged his fellow officials to be true to their sworn duties and responsibilities. 

Adiong also said that his administration will further strengthen programs on agriculture, health, education, youth and women empowerment. 

We will continue enhanced cooperation with other agencies in pursuit of these goals, he added. 

The mass oath taking, held at the Provincial Capitol Gymnasium here, was witnessed by Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV.

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ARMM Human Rights Commission to open field office in Marawi

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 5 (PIA) -- The Regional Human Rights Commission (RHRC) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is set to open a field office here. 

The RHRC Marawi Field Office will be located at the New Capitol Complex, Provincial Capitol Compound, this city. 

The inauguration of the field office, scheduled on July 8, will be graced by outgoing RHRC Chairperson Atty. Laisa Masuhud Alamia, ARMM Assemblyman Zia-ur Rahman A. Adiong and Provincial Governor Mamintal A. Adiong Jr. 

The RHRC is the sole regional human rights institution in the ARMM created by virtue of Republic Act 9054 and operationalized by Muslim Mindanao Act (MMA) No. 288 or the ARMM Human Rights Commission Charter of 2012. 

It is an independent office that performs the powers and mandate of the national Commission on Human Rights within the autonomous region. 

The RHRC is authorized under Section 11 of MMA 288 to create and establish sub-regional and provincial offices which are necessary for the effective fulfillment of its mandate. 

The RHRC Marawi Field Office will be headed by Atty. Abdel Jamal R. Disangcopan

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