Thousand stakeholders express support to Bangsamoro peace agreement

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 28 (PIA) --- Thousands of Bangsamoro supporters including members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the two Lanao provinces converged Thursday, March 27, at Plaza Cabili in Banggolo, this city.  

Carrying colorful placards and streamers with phrases like "Allah is Great!", "Long live Bangsamoro!", and "We support the peace agreement", they expressed their all-out support to the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement in the Bangsamoro (CAB) between the government and the MILF in a thanksgiving prayer rally.   

Acmad Lao of the MILF Ranao Region Information Committee said they are thankful that the government and the MILF finally reached the signing of the CAB   

He also expressed optimism that peace and development will now take place in Mindanao with the signing of the peace agreement.   

Representatives from people's organizations; civil society organizations; media, youth and women sector, including religious leaders in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur were among those who participated in the rally.  

Traditional leaders and members of the 28 Ranao Royal Sultanate Legislative Assembly were also present.  

Marawi Sultan Abdul Hamidullah Atar said they are pleased and thankful of the outcomes of the peace negotiation through the signing of the CAB. 

 He also appealed to lawmakers to support the crafting of the basic law based on the signed peace agreement in the name of peace, justice and reconciliation. 

  Atar believes that genuine and lasting peace in the country will be achieved with the sincere support of all sectors of the society especially the Aquino administration. (APB/PIA-10)

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Lanao del Sur celebrates signing of comprehensive peace agreement

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 28 (PIA) --- Employees of the provincial government of Lanao del Sur and national line agencies in the province joined the entire Bangsamoro people in the celebration for the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). 

The provincial government has set up a large TV screen inside the capitol grounds so that government employees and other peace stakeholders in the province can witness, through live streaming, the historic signing of the CAB between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Thursday, March 27.   

While waiting for the ceremony in Malacanang to start, a festivity dubbed "Kalilang sa Capitol" was held at the capitol grounds wherein cultural presentations were performed by the Mindanao State University Sineng Pananadem.  

Representatives of the line agencies and Lanao del Sur Peoples' Council also expressed their pledges of support to the historic signing during the Kalilang program.   

After the CAB was signed, a symbolic send off of doves and balloons was also done by the various participants and spectators of the Kalilang. (APB/PIA-10)

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MNLF’s ‘Top 90’ joins Jabidah commemoration rites in Corregidor

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 20 (PIA) --- Surviving members of the Moro National Liberation Front’s (MNLF’s) ‘Top 90’ set foot in the island of Corregidor on Tuesday, March 18, to join the commemoration this year of the incident that prompted them to mount a revolution against the government in the early 1970s - the Jabidah Massacre.

The ‘Top 90’ is MNLF’s first batch of 90 fighters that trained in guerilla warfare in Jampiras Island in Malaysia.

Its group of surviving members joined at least 200 others from various sectors in the 46th commemoration of the Jabidah Massacre in Corregidor, jointly organized by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the office of Anak-Mindanao Partylist Representative Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman.

During the commemoration rites, Congresswoman Hataman said they “want to give more emphasis to the historical significance of the Jabidah Massacre” especially in the context of the ongoing Mindanao peace process.

She said the massacre of young Moro recruits in March 18, 1968 was a tragedy that united the Moro people, regardless of background and affiliation, in a fight against injustice and oppression.

The lady solon said in the same manner today, the final peace pact, set to be signed this month by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), serves as inspiration that must rally together the Bangsamoro as one.

“This is now the Bangsamoro struggle,” she said.

The group also visited the site where the actual massacre happened which has been inaugurated last year as the Mindanao Garden of Peace.

The commemoration rites in the island marked the culmination of the observance of the Bangsamoro Week of Peace, espoused by ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman.

Hataman said the weeklong observance was meant to highlight the significance of the Jabidah Massacre and the whole struggle of the Moro people for self-determination.

He urged his fellow Moro leaders of today to carry forward the genuine of the Bangsamoro by upholding their commitment to durable peace and sustainable development in Mindanao.(Bureau of Public Information-ARMM/PIA-10)

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Bazaar showcases women’s role in economic development

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 18 (PIA) --- A s part of the women’s month celebration, a two-day women’s market and bazaar was organized by Al-Mujadilah Development Foundation (AMDF), Inc. to showcase the role of Meranao women in economic development.

AMDF Executive Director Zahria Mapandi said the Meranao Women’s Market and Bazaar held from March 10 to 11 at the Mindanao State University (MSU) Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao (IPDM) was aimed to highlight the leadership and participation of women in the economy.

“One of the challenges is how to make women’s contributions to the economy visible, thus, we organized the bazaar to showcase the various economic activities where women are actively participating,” she said

According to her, AMDF is continuously assisting women in their economic activities by facilitating their involvement in the various livelihood programs of government agencies.

“AMDF does not have resources to give livelihood opportunities to women so what we are doing right now is connecting them with the government...and we hope that those who participated in the bazaar have connected with the government agencies that graced the two-day activity, she added.

Government agencies present during the bazaar include Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, and Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women, among others.

Mapandi further said that AMDF is also targeting at least one agricultural activity of women where they can assist either in improving production or in marketing. (APB/PIA-10)

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600 job seekers apply in ARMM

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 17 (PIA) --- Over 600 job seekers were screened last week by the Personnel Selection and Promotion Board (PSPB) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) for the 350 positions at the different agencies and offices of the regional government.  

ARMM Cabinet Secretary and PSPB Chair Khal Mambuay-Campong said applicants have undergone three phases of screening that include registration and preliminary assessment or the paper screening process, computerized examination and  panel interview.

She said the record number of applicants was due to the massive information drive they have conducted to encourage qualified and competent individuals to join the regional government.

“Gone are the days that all are secret. Gone are the days that the job vacancies are not being publicized. Today, everything is transparent. We don’t give room for influence-peddling and other anomalies in the hiring and promotion of employees,”she said.

Campong said the PSPB is mandated to assess, screen and rank aspirants to government positions or promotion in the ARMM. It ensures an equitable and fair process of selection and promotion of employees in ARMM, she added.

A similar procedure has also been conducted by the PSPB in the different provinces of ARMM since January this year until March, when result of the screening process will be published. (Bureau of Public Information-ARMM/PIA-10)

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ARMM holds 1st reg'l Cabinet meet, reiterates commitment to peace process

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 7 (PIA) --- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) government is embarking on series of efforts aimed at providing the upcoming Bangsamoro government a smooth transition of power even as it continues to implement the reform agenda it started more than two years ago.

During its first regional Cabinet meeting held in Lamitan City Tuesday, March 4, ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman reiterated its earlier instruction to its regional officials that line agencies including its workforce, employees should device mechanisms that will help in the transition stage.

“We are laying down the foundation. We want to make sure that we are very much ready when the official turnover comes and we know that whatever we are doing now in the ARMM government will be useful when the new Bangsamoro government sets in,” Hataman said.

The ARMM Cabinet meeting also tackled the accomplishments of the line departments for the first two months of the year. 

Hataman cited the improved investment climate in the region with record-breaking investments for 2013 and for the first two months of the year.

The ARMM’s Regional Board of Investments (RBOI) recently reported an approved P1.451billion worth of investments for the 1st quarter of this year.

“This is a record for the region, since it is almost the same as the total amount of investments registered with the board in 2013, which stood at P1.463 billion by the end of year,” said RBOI chairman and managing head Ishak Mastura, who presented during the Cabinet meeting other interested  investors in the region for 2014.

Mastura reiterated that there is also the contributing factor of governance reforms in ARMM and the “hands-on” investment promotion initiated by the Hataman administration convincing local investors that the autonomous region is serious about wooing and securing investors to expand their operations or to set-up new enterprises in the region.

For the region’s education sector, Secretary Jamar Kulayan said that it targets to address the problem on classroom gaps by 2016.

“This is unprecedented,” Hataman said referring to a number of accomplishments by his administration.

Meanwhile, lawyer Anwar Malang, secretary of the region’s Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said that it held on March 3 in Isabela City, its first ARMM Barangay Summit on Governance, Peace and Development.

Malang said the summit was attended by more than 200 barangay executives across the province of Basilan. “This is our first batch and we are looking at implementing this in the remaining four provinces of the region,” he said.

  

For her part, ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Masuhud-Alamia said that the current ARMM administration wants to capacitate more local government units which she noted will play a crucial role in the success of the proposed autonomous political entity.

Chief-of-staff Amihilda Sangcopan of the Office of the Regional Governor who is in charge of the region’s flagship program on education, health and livelihood, said that ARMM is currently conducting screening process for deserving beneficiaries of the said project.

May 'K' ka sa ARMM is a direct assistance program of the ARMM under the leadership of Gov. Mujiv Hataman. K stands for Karunungan (education) Kalusugan (health) at Kabuhayan (livelihood.

Sangcopan said that the scholarship component is already on its second phase and that it targets to benefit thousands of deserving students. (Sheila May Dela Cruz/Bureau of Public Information-ARMM/PIA-10)

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DA turns-over farm equipment, livestocks to Lanao del Sur farmers

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 6 (PIA) --- Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala distributed farm equipment and livestock to farmers in the province to improve their productivity.

He was accompanied by officials from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in the turn-over ceremony held at the Provincial Capitol grounds on Friday, February 28.

Alcala turned-over a four-wheel farm tractor costing P2.3 million to the local government unit (LGU) of Bumbaran and one corn mill each to Binidayan, Balindong, Calanogas and Marogong LGUs.

He also distributed 10 heads of carabao to 10 farmers’ cooperatives in Ditsaan-Ramain, Tamparan, Tugaya, Bubong, Maguing, and Marawi City and 20 heads of goat to two farmers’ cooperatives in Kapai town and another two in Marawi City.

Fifty units of knapsack sprayer were also given to farmer leaders in the province while 130 bags of organic fertilizer were handed out to three cooperatives from Wao, Saguiaran and Bubong.

Aside from that, Alcala also handed checks to the LGU of Ditsaan-Ramain, Taraka, Sultan Dumalondong, Piagapo, Calanogas, Bumbaran and Balindong amounting to P40 million for agricultural projects under the bottoms-up budgeting (BUB) process. (APB/PIA-10)

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DILG holds governance orientation for barangay officials in Marantao

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 5 (PIA) --- The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) provincial office conducted a general orientation for barangay officials in Marantao town with the theme Grassroots, Renewal and Empowerment for Accountable and Transparent (GREAT) Barangay.

The orientation, held at C & D function room from March 2-3, was part of the department’s Barangay Newly-Elected Officials (BNEO) Program to equip barangay officials with the needed knowledge and skills in the performance of their mandated  duties and responsibilities.

Under the program, newly-elected and re-elected barangay officials will undergo orientation on barangay governance.

Lawyer Paisal Sani, DILG OIC-Provincial Director, said the main objective of the BNEO program is to make local governments functional and the elected local leaders to exercise good governance.

Sani said DILG has already conducted the same orientation to half of the 40 local governments in the province. According to him, their next stop will be in the municipality of Pualas.

Meanwhile, lectures and discussions during the two-day orientation included the barangay organizational structure and barangay governance administration; barangay local legislation; barangay budget; barangay finance/revenues; and barangay development plan, among others.

The municipality of Marantao has 34 barangays. (APB/PIA-10)

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PhilHealth-ARMM gives away sanitary packages to ward patients in Marawi

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 5 (PIA) --- The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has given away 100 sanitary packages to ward section patients of Amai Pakpak Medical Center (APMC) here.

The hospital visitation and distribution of sanitary packages was one of the activities lined-up during the 19th PhilHealth anniversary celebration last February 14 anchored on the theme “Benepisyong PhilHealth, Alamin at Gamitin.”

Accordingly, APMC was chosen as the beneficiary for the visitation because numerous patients confined there were PhilHealth members enrolled under the indigent program.

Other activities during the celebration were motorcade around the city’s main thoroughfare and a press conference to update members of the media on the new policies of PhilHealth such as the expanded benefit packages.

Heads of Philhealth-ARMM Benefit Section (BAS), Membership Section (MS), and Legal Services Office (LSO) were present during the conference to shed light on the recent issues affecting the integrity of PhilHealth. (Bamra D. Ampaso/PhilHealth-ARMM/PIA-10)

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2014 Women’s Month celebration kicks off in ARMM

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 4 (PIA) --- Hundreds of officials and employees in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) marched early Monday, March 3,  in celebration of this year’s Women’s Month with the theme “Babae, ang Tatag Mo, ay Tatag Natin sa Pagbangon at Pagsulong.”

In the opening program following the parade,  Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women (RCBW) chairperson Jehan Mutin  said series of activities are all geared up for this month.

She said apart from the kick-off ceremony, women’s sports fest, dance sport exhibition, livelihood trainings and symposia.  

Site validation of the proposed Regional Women Peace Center will also be conducted.

Provincial counterpart’s will also complement the regional celebration with entrepreneurial training, gender-based activities that includes assessment and review of the Localization of National Action Plan (LNAP).

LNAP held the primacy of peace and non-violence in a just and gender responsive society.

Meanwhile, Samira Gutoc-Tomawis, former women representative of the 7th Regional Legislative Assembly, urged the public to reject all forms of gender biases and renew vow for rights protection and empowerment.

ARMM is keen on the advancement of women and rights. As of December of last year, the 8th Legislative Assembly had adopted Resolution No. 602 expressing full support to RCBW crusade to end violence against women.

The national Women’s Month is observed and celebrated on March of every year by virtue of Presidential Proclamation Nos. 224 and 227 and Republic Act 6949. The celebration highlights recognition of women’s resiliency, strength and contributions to nation building. (Bureau of Public Information-ARMM/APB/PIA)

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Sounding of sirens kicks-off Fire Prevention Month in Lanao del Sur

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 4 (PIA) -- Fire trucks sirens were sounded early Saturday morning, March 1, to signal the start of Fire Prevention Month celebration here.

The provincial Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) led the sounding of sirens and motorcade from Rizal Park to the provincial capitol grounds where the opening ceremony of the month-long celebration was held.

Provincial Fire Marshall SFO4 Maximino Vicente Ventura II said they have lined-up series of activities aimed at increasing the level of public awareness on fire safety and prevention.

He said part of the activities during the month-long celebration are the holding of Ugnayan sa Barangay, poster-making contest among elementary and secondary level, fire olympic competition among BFP personnel and fire volunteers, and radio/TV guestings dubbed “Talakayan Ukol sa Pamatay Sunog” (Forum on  Fire Safety) to encourage active participation of the community to keep the province fire-free or safe from destructive fires.

Ventura also called on the public to be careful and keep watch against fires as well as to bear in mind that everyday is fire prevention day.

He reminded them not to panic in case of fire. "Be calm but act quickly. Call the BFP immediately for help and be sure to give the exact address or location of the fire, he said.

He said BFP Provincial Office can be reached at hotlines 0916-1619370 or 0921-3395935 or at radio frequency 15-300 with call sign “Super Base” while the Marawi City Fire Station can be reached at hotlines 0906-2312904 or 0912-8077319 or at radio frequency 15-300 with call sign “Fire Department”.

The month-long commemoration of fire prevention month is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 115-A. This year’s theme is “Isulong and Kaunlaran, Sunog ay Iwasan, Kaalaman at Pag-iingat ang Kailangan.” (APB/PIA-10)

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RanaoComNet inducts officers, directors

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 3 (PIA) – Elected officers and directors of the newly-organized Lanao del Sur Communicators Network (RanaoComNet) took their oaths of office before Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Member Nasser Ganda Jr. Thursday, February 27. 

The oathtaking ceremony highlighted the closing program of the two-day training on basic news writing and photo journalism jointly conducted by the Philippine Information Agency and RanaoComNet with the support of the Provincial Government.

The event was witnessed by the members of the network together with PIA Regional Director Thelma Oliver and Provincial Government Chief-of-Staff Shiela Ganda.

Ganda said the organization of the network is a long overdue dream of the provincial government and its establishment is a clear manifestation that government communicators in Lanao del Sur are all together in the active pursuit of transparency and accountability all over the province.

With that, she gave assurance that the provincial government will be very active in supporting more upcoming endeavors of the network.

Oliver, on the other hand, expressed optimism that the RanaoComNet, through the support of the provincial government and technical assistance of PIA, will continue to capacitate their members for the enhancement of their developmental communication skills which will make them more effective and efficient in communicating the programs of their agencies and local governments to respective communities and other significant audiences.

For his part, RanaoComNet President and Provincial Information Officer Sultan Ansary Maongco said the network’s officers, directors and members will work together in giving vital information to the people of Lanao del Sur especially to the communities where they are assigned.

RanaoComNet is an organization of government public information and relations officers of national government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations and local government units in the province that seeks to promote local development efforts and initiatives.  (APB/PIA-10)

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GIOs in Lanao del Sur undergo training on news writing, photojournalism

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 2 (PIA) --- Information Officers of the various local government units and national line agencies in the province have completed the two-day training-workshop on basic news writing and press photography conducted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

The training-workshop was conducted on February 26-27 in partnership with the Ranao Communicators Network and with the support of the Provincial Government of Lanao del Sur to hone and enrich the journalistic skills of government communicators in the province.

The two-day training-workshop covered key topics on  news writing, photo journalism, use of social media, and public relations practices and was designed to be practical with lectures, examples and exercises that encouraged participation and exchange of information among the participants.

The capability-building was in line with the goal of PIA to provide communication support and assistance to local governments and line agencies to effectively promote their development efforts and initiatives. (APB/PIA-10)

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OCD-ARMM receives medicines from PHAP

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 3 (PIA) --- The Office on Civil Defense in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (OCD-ARMM) received recently 177 cartons of assorted medicines from the Pharmaceutical and Health Care Association of the Philippines (PHAP).

The assorted medicines were personally delivered by PHAP Managing Director Edgar Posadas who disclosed that the medicines came from the 38 pharmaceutical partners of PHAP.

With the advocacy "Reaching Out, Giving Hope, Touching Lives," PHAP hopes to help the people in ARMM through the assorted medicines.

Posadas said the turn-over of medicines is just a preliminary support from PHAP and that their foundation is prepared to help ARMM in its medical missions through augmentation of medical personnel.

For his part, OCD-ARMM executive Director Retired General Manuel Ochotorina said the medicines from PHAP will be a big help for ARMM constituents especially those who cannot afford to buy medicines.

According to him, OCD-ARMM will turn-over the assorted medicines to the ARMM HEART (Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team) for their medical missions and relief operations. (BPI-ARMM/PIA-10)

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BEAM-ARMM turns-over renovated classrooms

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 3 (PIA) - The Basic Education Assistance for Muslim Mindanao (BEAM-ARMM) formally turned over  30 renovated classrooms to school administrators in Ampatuan and Datu Odin Sinsuat towns in Maguindanao Wednesday, February 26.

  

Kevin Corbin, BEAM-ARMM program team leader, said the community, parents and teachers in each school have contributed immensely to the success of the project.

The project, amounting to a total of P6.5 million, was managed and implemented by the Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA) of Maguindanao.

Accordingly, close to 7,000 students in the two towns will benefit from the newly rehabilitated classrooms.

Corbin said they target to rehabilitate a total of 300 classrooms in the province by mid-2015 as part of their commitment to help improve the learning environment in ARMM.

ARMM Education Secretary Jamar Kulayan said BEAM-ARMM complements their ongoing effort to address classroom shortage in the region.

BEAM-ARMM is funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).

“We are thankful to the Australian government for their support to our people,” he said.

In addition to the BEAM-ARMM school rehabilitation project, Kulayan said the region’s education department has already allocated funds to support the construction and renovation of school buildings and classrooms in different areas of ARMM. (Bureau of Public Information-ARMM/APB/PIA-10)

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Lanao del Sur opens 2nd district engineering headquarters

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 1 (PIA) -- Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv Hataman and Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. jointly inaugurated the newly-constructed headquarters of the 2nd district engineering office of Lanao del Sur in Malabang town, Wednesday, February 26.

The two officials, accompanied by ARMM Public Works Secretary Emil Sadain, also led the groundbreaking rites of a staff house.

Sadain said the new engineering headquarters sits on a half hectare compound and costs P5 million.

He said the funds for the project were taken from their agency’s generated savings.

Sadain further said that efforts are now underway to make the engineering office fully functional with the planned hiring of at least 54 regular staff.  

The office, headed by Engineer Abib Arumpac, is presently run by a skeletal workforce of detailed personnel from the regional office and the province’s 1st district engineering office.

The ARMM government has also inked a memorandum of agreement with the provincial government of Lanao del Sur in the implementation of a combined P280 million worth of road network projects in the province.

Hataman said the 2nd district engineering office will play a major role in the implementation of the projects. (Bureau of Public Information-ARMM/APB/PIA-10)

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BFP-Lanao del Sur gears-up for 2014 fire prevention month

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Feb. 23 (PIA) – The Bureau of Fire Protection in the province has lined-up different public awareness activities on fire safety in time for the celebration of fire prevention month, this year.

Provincial Fire Marshall SFO4 Maximino Ventura II said the activities on March 1 will include simultaneous blowing of horns or sirens of all firefighting apparatus and motorcade around the city proper to the provincial capitol complex where an opening program will be held.

He said they will conduct massive inspection of commercial establishments, government buildings and school and university buildings including dormitories; conduct fire and earthquake drill exercises; and hold lectures on fire safety education in different schools from March 3-9.

On that same week, they will also conduct Ugnayan sa Barangay in selected towns including this city as well as organize Bucket Brigade in the towns of Balabagan, Bayang, Madalum, Bacolod-Kalawi, Balindong, Marantao, Piagapo, Ditsaan-Ramain,Lumba Bayabao, Poona Bayabao, Masiu and Saguiaran.

Ventura said they will also launch a radio/TV program dubbed “Talakayan Ukol sa Pamamatay Sunog,” an informative and query program on fire prevention, fire suppression, arson investigation and emergency medical and rescue services.

Other activities during the month-long celebration include poster-making and drawing contest for elementary and high school students, medical mission and operation tuli, and fire olympics of barangay volunteer fire brigades.

The observance of fire prevention month every March is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 115-A.

The theme for this year’s observance is “Isulong ang Kaunlaran, Sunog ay Iwasan, Kaalaman at Pag-iingat ang Kailangan.” (APB/PIA-10)

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