ARMM bags Best Video, Best Script in 5th CinePambata Video Fest

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Oct. 28 (PIA) --- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) bagged the Best Video and Best Script awards (Amateur Division) for its entries at the Fifth CinePambata Video Festival held Saturday at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

ARMM Hymn, a music video of the region’s official anthem which features the culture and identity of the region’s diverse populace won as Best Video, the highest honor in the amateur division for short videos.

Another entry from ARMM, “Bagetaw,” won the Best Script award. ‘Bagetaw’ is a Maguindanaon term meaning ‘goodbye.’  The film is about a young boy who has great concern for the environment as shown by his attachment to a particular tree.

The two entries submitted by DepEd-ARMM were among the nine shortlisted videos for this year’s award.

“Dito napatunayan ng ARMM, hindi tayo nahuhuli sa creativity,” (ARMM has proven it does not fall behind in terms of creativity) Noor Saada, Department of Education (DepEd)-ARMM assistant secretary, said.

He said the team behind the video only made use of an ordinary camera to make the film.

The CinePambata Video Festival is an annual event organized by the National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT), an attached agency of the DepEd, and SM Cinemas to showcase the filmmaking talents of Filipinos and promote children’s rights. It consists of two divisions, professional and amateur. (BPI-ARMM/PIA-10)

0

Aspirants for barangay posts in Marawi ink peace pact

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Oct. 26 (PIA) --- Aspirants for barangay posts here vow maintain peaceful and orderly elections this October 28.

Through signing a peace covenant, candidates from 52 out of the city’s 96 barangays committed to ensure peaceful, orderly and successful barangay elections without incidence of neither foul play nor violence.

They also promised to observe and follow all the rules and regulations pertaining to the barangay polls.

Moreover, they pledged to avoid causing any misunderstanding or conflict between and among themselves and the barangay populace and to refer all contentious election issues and concerns to the appropriate authorities.

The peace covenant signing held on Thursday, October 24, in Marawi City Hall Grounds was initiated by the KASALIMBAGO Movement with the support of the Provincial Offices of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and Philippine National Police (PNP) as well as the 103rd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army.

0

P9.8 million equipment to boost ARMM’s halal industry

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Oct. 24 (PIA) --- The Department of Trade and Industry in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DTI-ARMM) has turned over laboratory equipment worth P9.8 million to ARMM’s Regional Standards and Halal Testing Laboratory (RSHTL).

The testing lab, run by ARMM’s Department of Science and Technology (DOST), was put up in 2011 as part of the region’s plan to become center of credible halal certification and the halal industry in the country.

Myra Alih, DOST-ARMM secretary, said the testing lab is going to be initially manned by seven Muslim chemists who have undergone rigid trainings on halal laboratory procedures and testing, four of whom are set to take further training at the Halal Science Center in Cholalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand.

“This is a breakthrough development for ARMM, especially in our bid to become the country’s halal industry hub,” Alih said.

She said the RSHTL will go into full operation next week, offering services that include microbial and halal analysis clients based within and outside of the region.

The facility is the first and only halal testing laboratory in the region.

The ARMM government is hoping to establish similar facilities in other strategic areas.

Alih said consumers and regulators anywhere tend to put premium on credibility when it comes to halal products.

She said ARMM’s being a Muslim-dominated region provides an advantage.

Sakiran Hajan, DTI-ARMM secretary, said funds for the acquisition of the lab equipment were taken from the Transition Investment Support Plan (TISP) for ARMM.

“The equipment are mostly high-end and digital. This places us at par with other testing laboratories elsewhere,” he said.

DTI-ARMM also sponsored the trainings of the lab’s personnel. (BPI-ARMM/APB/PIA-10)

0

Lanao del Sur receives 15 solar-powered vaccine refrigerators

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Oct. 24 (PIA) --- Fifteen solar-powered vaccine refrigerators were turned-over to the people of Lanao del Sur by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in a simple ceremony held at the Provincial Capitol Grounds Monday, October 21.

Dr. Alinader Minalang, chief of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), said the turn-over of the equipment was brought about the desire to ensure the delivery of quality health care services to the people of province especially to mothers and children.

He said the solar-powered vaccine refrigerators were given to them because of the power crisis in the province.

“Marami pong lugar sa atin ang walang kuryente, laging may brown-out at yun po ay nakakasira sa vaccines at iba pang logistics natin na kelangan natin sa pag-deliver ng mga serbisyong pangkalusugan” (Many areas here are without electricity, some always experiences brown-out which damages the vaccines and other logistics that are vital in the delivery of health services), he said.

Recipients of the refrigerators are IPHO, Dr. Serapio Montaner Memorial Hospital, Unayan District Hospital, Tamparan District Hospital, and the Rural Health Units of Taraka, Balindong, Balabagan, Madalum, Lumbac Unayan, Maguing, Butig, Bubong, Marantao, Tagoloan and Poona Bayabao.

Meanwhile, Provincial Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. expressed appreciation to USAID, MindanaoHealth, and the Department of Health through the IPHO for being their partners in development.

He said the assistance was an affirmation of their partnership in providing quality services to the people of the province.

“I am aware of the importance of this valuable equipment, that is, to ensure that our people especially our children are given safe and quality health services. I knew that you need to preserve the vaccines but with the frequent brownouts and blackouts in many areas of this province, those valuable vaccines cannot be stored properly,” he said.

According to him, the assistance is very timely as the province is looking for solutions or alternatives to sustain power supply. 

0

BFAR launches fisherfolk registration in ARMM

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Oct. 19 (PIA) --- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BFAR-ARMM) has launched, Friday, October 18,  the National Program for Municipal Fisherfolk Registration (FishR) in the region as one of the highlights of the 50th Fish Conservation Week on October 13-19.

FishR is designed to help BFAR fast-track, enhance and complete the municipal fisherfolk registration nationwide as required under Section 19 of Republic Act 8550 otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.

The outcome of the FishR program would help local governments manage, regulate, conserve and protect fishery resources and help the national governent establish a Comprehensive Fishery Information System, according to BFAR-ARMM Director Janice Musali.

Musali said they target to register 100,000 to 200,000 fisherfolks in the whole region that would include municipal fisherfolks, fish workers and fishing operators.

“We have timed the program’s launching this week in view of its significance to the protection and conservation of our fisheries and aquatic resources, which is the main theme of the observance of the fish conservation week,” she said.

Photo courtesy of Jo Henry of BPI-ARMM

Other activities in line with the weeklong celebration included fish cooking contest, fish processing demo, mangrove planting in Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao, fingerlings dispersal, fishing gears and seaweed inputs distribution in some areas of ARMM and a sports fest among the bureau’s workers.

Musali said they have also distributed 300 patrol boats to identified coastal municipalities.

ARMM, which is made up of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi, is one of the country’s major fishery areas. It is home to the second largest lake in country-Lake Lanao in Marawi City and remains as the country’s top producer of seaweeds.

In 2012, it recorded a total of 845,231.90 metric tons of fish and fishery products with commercial fisheries garnering a total production of 70,592.05 metric tons, a percentage higher than the previous year.(BPI-ARMM)

0

MSU students shine in provincial statistics quiz show

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Oct. 17 (PIA) – Three freshman students from Mindanao State University (MSU) Marawi campus were declared winners in the Provincial Statistics Quiz Show held in MSU Science Lecture Hall Thursday, October 10.

Abdulhata Muti of MSU-College of Natural Science and Mathematics grabbed the championship medal while Traudio Acuemo II of MSU-College of Engineering and Jehan Abbas of MSU-College of Natural Science and Mathematics won as the first and second runners-up, respectively.

Mohammadali R. Alonto, OIC-Provincial Statistics Officer, said each of the winners received trophy and cash prizes and will represent the province in the regional elimination rounds of the Philippine Statistics Quiz next month.

He said five schools competed in the quiz show with three representatives from each school.

The participating schools are MSU-Marawi, Philippine Engineering and Agro-Industrial College, Inc. (PEACI), Jamiatu Philippines Al-Islamia (JPI), Lake Lanao College, and Adiong Polytechnic College.

The Provincial Statistics Quiz Show was a rider activity of the 24th National Statistics Month celebration in the province.

The celebration with the theme “Statistics that Matter to Every Filipino” aims to promote, enhance and instill awareness and appreciation of the importance of statistics to the different sectors of the society.

0

Multi-sectoral groups rally for honest, peaceful barangay polls in Lanao del Sur

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Oct. 16 (PIA) --- Civil society organizations, government and non-government organizations converged here on Monday, October 14, and kicked-off a massive campaign for clean, honest and peaceful barangay elections come October 28.

The peace caravan took-off early in the morning and stormed the roads of the province with stop-over in Balindong, Binidayan and Mulondo for short programs to raise public awareness on the peaceful conduct of barangay elections.

Samira Gutoc-Tomawis, one of the organizers of the activity, said the peace caravan also sought the support of local government units (LGUs) and the community to make the barangay elections in the province successful.

We are calling to the LGUs to activate their Municipal Peace and Order Councils, participate in the Provincial Election Monitoring Action Center, open up their hot lines, and provide electricity, because without it, many anomalies could happen, she said.

She also urged community members to be vigilant, report anomalies to proper authorities and support the police and army to have safe and secure elections.

Members of the army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade led by Col. Glenn Macasero also joined the whole day peace caravan.

Macasero reiterated that the military and police, as deputized agents of the Commission on Elections, will do their best to secure the election.

He also asked for the public’s support stressing that a safe and peaceful election is much attainable with the help of the public.

Meanwhile, Balindong town mayor Raysalam Bagul-Mangondato expressed appreciation to the organizers of the activity for choosing her municipality as the first stop of the caravan.

She said her municipality fully supports the call of the multi-sectoral groups for honest and peaceful elections.

0

Muslim Filipinos celebrate Eid’l Adha

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Oct 15 (PIA) --- Muslims all over the country trooped in their respective mosques today morning to mark the celebration of Eid’l Adha.

Known as the Feast of Sacrifice, Eid’l Adha is an Islamic festival that commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his own son as an act of submission to Allah’s command.

The feast is celebrated with Eid prayers (kutba) and qurbani.

 

Photo by: BPI-ARMM

Qurbani is an act where livestock are slaughtered and the meat shared to family, friends, and poor to show one’s gratitude to Allah. The livestock symbolizes the animal that was sacrificed in place of Ibrahim's son.

Meanwhile, President Benigno S. Aquino III joined the Muslim community in the country in the observance and celebration of Eid’l Adha.

In his Eid message, the President said the celebration reminded us of Ibrahim’s tale of sacrifice and its narrative of unconditional trust, devotion and fortitude that in the face of a seemingly insurmountable task, he showed courage and immense faith in the Almighty.

"We in government are one with you in recognizing the solemnity of this occasion and we honor the diversity of our people's faiths, each founded on love, compassion, respect, and understanding," the President said.

According to him, these are the same ideals that fuel the national renewal, and humanity's ongoing journey of transformation.

Eid'l Adha is a regular holiday throughout the country to bring the religious and cultural significance of the celebration to the fore of national consciousness.

0

No Failure of Election in ARMM

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman (left) talks with PRO-ARMM Regional Director PCSUPT Noel Delos Reyes (middle) and 6ID Commanding General Romeo Gapuz (right) during the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meeting Thursday, October 3. The Council which Hataman chairs has agreed to maintain the “no failure of election” for the upcoming barangay election in the region on October 28.(BPI-ARMM/JoHenry)

0

Regional Infrastructure Development Program

ARMM Public Works and Highways Secretary Emil Sadain (left) discusses with region’s Tourism Secretary Maritess Maguindra (2nd from right) and Regional Planning and Development Executive Director Baintan A. Ampatuan (right) the Regional Infrastructure Development Program (RDIP)for 2014-2016 while noting the impact of potential programs and projects on tourism industry for ARMM which DPWH-ARMM would like to undertake with the Tourism department. Sadain notes the idea will support the  ARMM HELPS or the region's convergence initiative. (BPI-ARMM/JoHenry)

0

Two companies to put up P390 million worth of investment in ARMM

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Oct. 5 (PIA) --- Two large companies are set to put up a combined investments of P390 million in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) after getting the approval of the region’s board of investments.

La Frutera, Inc., a subsidiary of Unifrutti Group of Companies will invest P300 million for the expansion of 300 hectares Cavendish banana plantation in Pandag town in Maguindanao to increase its banana production by as much as 1.2 million boxes per year.

Accordingly, La Frutera wants to take advantage of the increasing demands for bananas in the global market particularly in China, Japan and the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Iron Blaze Petroleum, Inc., a company engaged in the importation, distribution and sales of petroleum products, will put up a P90 million oil depot at the Polloc Freeport in Parang, Maguindanao with a capacity of 9 million liters.

Lawyer Ishak Mastura, ARMM Regional Board of Investments (RBOI) chairman, said they have provisionally approved the registration of investments of both companies in a joint board of governors and management committee meeting in Davao City on September 29 in view of the social impact of these projects in terms of employment and capital inflow to the region’s economy.

These new investments are expected to generate around 500 jobs in the region.

Ed Bullecer, senior vice president of Unifrutti Philippines, said that as investors they contribute to the improvement of the social and economic climate of local communities and the region as a whole.

Both companies are entitled to incentives such as income tax holiday and duty free importation of capital equipment offered by RBOI to investors in the region when they start commercial operations. (BPI-ARMM/APB/PIA-10)

0

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman (2nd from left) leads the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for PAMANA Projects under CY 2013 amounting to P633.5 million for the Departments of Interior and Local Government represented by Secretary Anwar Malang (right). This include construction of 2-storey, 8-classroom school building in Datu Aleem Balindong MNHS, 2-storey, 6-classroom and another 2 –storey with four classrooms in West Unayan National High School and Ganassi, Lanao del Sur respectively. Signatories to the agreement include Ganassi Mayor Al Rashid B. Macapodi (left) and ARMM Public Works and Highways Secretary Emil Sadain (2nd from right). The region's DPWH is set to implement the said infrastructure projects.(BPI-ARMM/JoHenry)

0

e-ARMM Project MoA signing

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman (2nd from left) and Public Works and Highways Secretary Emil Sadain (2nd from right) lead the joint contract signing of the P2.5M Expanded ARMM Roads Mapping Management System or the E-ARMM Project which aims to establish a database containing allinformation on roads in the region including their connectivity conditions as well as create a network system involving the eight districts of the region's DPWH that will serve as data repository. The E-ARMM which is funded by the department's 2013 budget has four months to implement its targets. With Hataman and Sadain are Doc Reynaldo Medina, CEO, Woodfields Consultant, Inc., (right) and Vicente Melvin B. Cabatbat (left) from the winning bidder D’Limitless Vehicle Venture. (JoHenry/BPI-ARMM)

0

Security forces in Lanao del Sur prepare for barangay polls

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Oct. 2 (PIA) --- Security forces in the province are now preparing to ensure that the upcoming barangay elections will be orderly and peaceful.

In a forum on Barangay Elections held here recently, army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade Commander Col. Glenn G. Macasero said they will be activating monitoring and command centers like the Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center (JPSCC), Provincial Election Monitoring Action Center (PEMAC), and Municipal Election Monitoring Action Center (MEMAC) to achieve peaceful elections this October 28.

He said security forces will also be deployed during the filing of certificates of candidacy, deployment of election paraphernalia, canvassing of votes, proclamation of winners, and retrieval of election paraphernalia.

“We are still finalizing the details on how we will transport and secure the election paraphernalia. Because we only have limited number of security personnel, we really need to schedule and properly plan this out,” Macasero said.

Aside from the deployment of security forces, he said reaction forces will also go around to secure the problem areas.

Macasero said intense family feud (Rido) and political rivalry; proliferation of loose firearms; partisan armed groups; organized crime groups; power interruption, lack of communication; availability of Board of Election Tellers (BETs); human barricade or other forms of obstruction to prevent or delay deployment of BETs, forms and supplies; intentional and unintentional destruction of elections forms, supplies and equipment; and  misdelivery of ballots, forms, supplies and equipment are among the major issues and challenges identified for this barangay elections.

With that, Macasero encouraged other civil society organizations (CSOs) in the province to help them in monitoring the elections.

He said the KASALIMBAGO Movement will be going around the province to meet candidates and help the security forces in setting a dialogue with candidates and eventually for the signing of peace covenants.

KASALIMBAGO Movement is a network of government and CSOs committed to strengthening democratic ideals in the province through electoral reforms and other activities.

Other preparations for the barangay polls include conduct of joint checkpoint operations, sustained peace building measures with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and request for police members to be trained as BETs.

1