ARMM establishes GAD focal point system in line agencies

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Aug. 27 (PIA) ---  The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), through the Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women (RCBW), is institutionalizing the Gender and Development – Focal Point System (GAD-FPS) measures to promote equal gender opportunity.

Chairperson Sittie Jehanne Mutin of RCBW-ARMM said the establishment GAD-FPS in the region’s line agencies is aimed at facilitating gender mainstreaming within state agencies and other institutions.

“Itong pag e-establish po natin ng gender and development focal point system ay isang estratehiya para ma-gender mainstream ang ating mga programa (The establishment of this gender and development focal point system is a strategy to mainstream gender issues in our programs),” Mutin said.

Gender mainstreaming is a public policy concept of assessing the different implications for women and men of any planned policy action, including legislation and programs, in all areas and levels.

ARMM’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has conducted a three-day training on GAD-FPS from August 19 to 20, 2015 in Cotabato City. Fifty-nine planners and employees from regional and provincial offices of the department attended the event.

Alindatu Pagayao, DENR-ARMM assistant secretary, said in an evaluation in the department, 70% of the employees have little knowledge about gender and development.

“This is the first time that we had such an extensive workshop, we expect that gender and development will be institutionalized in the DENR so that it can be gender responsive,” Asst. Sec. Pagayao added.

He noted that 230, or about 26 percent, out of 888 manpower personnel of the department in the region are women. The training has capacitated the participants about basic GAD concepts, gender mainstreaming, GAD tools for analysis, and functions of GAD-FPS.

The region’s Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR-ARMM) also conducted similar training on June 1-3, 2015. Ma. Corazon Dans, DAR-ARMM communications head, said the three-day training encompassed all the necessary knowledge to guide the department in formulating GAD plans and budget.

Based on Joint Circular No. 2012-01 by the Philippine Commission on Women, National Economic and Development Authority, and the Department of Budget and Management, all government agencies, offices and other instrumentalities shall allocate five percent of their annual budget for GAD activities.

Chairperson Mutin, said training will also be given to other departments and agencies of the ARMM. “It is our mandate to guide all agencies with regards to gender and development programs, projects or activities.” (BPI/APB/PIA-10)

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RBMO-ARMM celebrates 20th anniversary, awards top performing agencies

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, August 27 (PIA) --- The Regional Budget and Management Office in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RBMO-ARMM) has awarded top performing locally-funded agencies in the region on Monday, August 25, in line with the celebration of its 20th founding anniversary.
The awarding aims to recognize the efforts of the agencies in their proactive response to the call of the regional government for transparency and accountability.

                                                                                               

Four major awards were given, namely: top compliant agency, most cooperative agency, top performing agency head, and top performing agency.

The Regional Economic Zone Authority (REZA-ARMM) bagged the top compliant and most cooperative agency while the Regional Planning and Development Office (RPDO-ARMM) was recognized as the top performing agency. Engr. Baintan Ampatuan, RPDO executive director, was named as top performing agency head.

Mailyn Macusang, RBMO-ARMM executive director, said that more than the recognition of the efforts of the bureaus, offices and line agencies in complying with the policy of the regional government, the awarding is a manifestation that funds in the ARMM, especially those from locally-funded agencies, are properly distributed.

“Gusto naming siguruhin na ang mga pondo na dapat sa ating mga mamamayan ay naibibigay sa kanila at ang mga target nating programa ay nagagawa rin natin. (We want to ensure that the funds of the ARMM are delivered to its constituents and that the target programs are implemented),” said Macusang.

“Ganun sila ka-revelant (the locally-funded agencies) para maibigay ang mga kinakailagan ng mga nasa ibaba (The locally-funded agencies are relevant to cater the needs of the people),” she added.

Lawyer Honey Mae Mori-Subiera of the region’s Office of the Solicitor General, speaking on behalf of Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman, said that the RBMO has truly been instrumental in carrying out the reform agenda of the leadership of the ARMM as it fulfils its duty, which is to make sure that the line agencies and the Office of the Regional Governor spend their budget wisely and implement their programs properly.

The RBMO-ARMM is the agency responsible for assisting the ORG and the regional line agencies and offices in the management of financial resources and to ensure that government operations are conducted efficiently, economically and effectively. (BPI/APB/PIA-10)

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Provl govt, MLGUs ink pact for new infra projects in Lanao Sur

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Aug. 24 (PIA) --- The provincial government of Lanao del Sur and the 39 municipal local government units (MLGUs) in the province inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the implementation of P2-million worth of infrastructure projects in each of the municipality.

The MoA was signed on August 23 by Governor Mamintal “Bombit” Alonto Adiong, Jr. and 11 municipal mayors at the Provincial Capitol Conference Room, this city.

According to Adiong, the project was given based on the needs of the receiving municipality. The project cost will come from the internal revenue allotment of the province, specifically in the 20 percent development fund.

“We received these in infra project requests from June to this month and they range from a municipal complex road network, expansion of a rural health unit, municipal parameter fencing, road repairs and rehabilitation, farm to market roads, barangay roads, multi-purpose and open gymnasiums, box culvert with access road, municipal guest houses, municipal hall buildings, multi-purpose covered courts, and a public badminton building,” Adiong said.

Mayors who were not able to attend the ceremony can still go to the Trust Fund Unit inside the Executive Building of the Lanao del Sur Provincial Capitol Complex to comply with all the necessary requirements so that the checks can be released to their municipal treasurers.

Engr. Dimasira Macabando, Jr., head of the Trust Fund Unit, said the provincial government will monitor the implementation of the projects.

“Each project has a 40-day maximum completion date upon the submission of all the requirements by each MLGU and the release of the funds to them,” Macabando clarified.

He also said the provincial government will still continue the project once the receiving municipality fails to finish it and submits all the required liquidation documents bearing the expenses incurred.

Adiong said he has complete faith that the municipal mayors will abide with what they have agreed into.

I m looking forward to see all these projects fully implemented within the year so that municipal constituents can immediately benefit from the project as the requests really came from them via their leaders, he added. (PIA Lanao del Sur / APB/PIA-10)

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ARMM registers P3.7 billion in new investment from banana firm

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Aug. 20 (PIA) --- The Regional Board of Investments in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RBOI-ARMM) has recently approved the registration of a Cavendish banana plantation project of Al-Sahar Agri Ventures Inc., in Maguindanao.

Lawyer Ishak Mastura, chairman and managing head of RBOI-ARMM, said Al Sahar’s banana plantation, amounting to P3.7 billion, is so far the biggest private investment in the region’s history. The project has a total land area of 2,600 hectares in the municipalities of Talayan, Buldon, Barira, and Mangudadatu.

Al Sahar is an affiliate of the Unifrutti Group that manages other companies in ARMM such as La Frutera Inc., Wao Development Corp. and Mount Kalatungan Agri Ventures Inc. The new plantation in Maguindanao is expected to create up to 3,900 jobs for local residents.

“Our company is here in ARMM to help uplift the lives of the people and help propel economic development in the region,” said Ed Bullecer, director of Al-Sahar. ARMM has been the location for several successful ventures of Unifrutti.

“We consider the ARMM as the best agri-related investment destination in the country due to its fertile and vast lands, low cost of doing business and strong support from local leaders despite security issues,” he said.

Before Al Sahar’s registration, investments in the region have been tracked at P1.8 billion. This year’s investment figure is expected to increase further in the coming months since more private ventures are in the pipeline, officials said.

Current projects in the ARMM are an oil palm plantation worth P1.3 billion, a napier grass biomass fuel production project, which is estimated to cost P400 million, and the modernization and expansion of a cassava starch factory worth about P200 million.

“RBOI has been assisting investors in their plans of investing in the region. We give advice on business opportunities and provide information on the business (environment) in ARMM,” said Atty. Mastura.

Project approval entails fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, he added, noting further that investors are being guided and assisted during the pre-application stage and even after they register.

As a result of the agency’s pro-active stance in dealing with investors, timely information dissemination, and effective business advocacy, RBOI was recently awarded this year by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as among its Outstanding Partners for Regional Economic Development.  (BPI/APB/PIA-10)

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IPHO-Lanao launches school-based immunization program

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, August 19 (PIA) – The Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) launched on August 17, the free immunization for school children at Malabang National High School in Malabang town, this province.

The school-based immunization dubbed “Bakuna para sa Kabataan, Proteksyon sa Kinabukasan,” aims to give school children additional protection from measles, tetanus and cervical cancer.

Dr. Alinader Minalang, chief of the IPHO Lanao, said the free immunization is a nationwide program to prevent morbidity and mortality of school children due to vaccine-preventable diseases.

We are targeting three groups for the program. The Grades 1 and 7 pupils will be given measles-rubella and tetanus diphtheria vaccines, while 9-year old females will be provided human papilloma vaccine, he said.

According to him, the vaccines for the program are safe to use, effective and approved by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The school children might experience fever, rashes and swelling or redness. But these are normal and temporary side effects of the vaccines, Minalang stressed.

He also reiterated that only children with consent from parents or guardians are allowed to undergo immunization. (APB/PIA-10)

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DA awards P1.5 million research grant to ARMM

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Aug. 19 (PIA) -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) received P1.5 million in research grant from the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) central office during the three-day product exhibition held at SM Mega Mall in Mandaluyong City on August 7-9, 2015.

The ARMM’s Agriculture and Fisheries department (DAF-ARMM) booth was recognized as the best by the DA’s Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR).

The booth showcased distinct agricultural products that included water hyacinth organic fertilizer, marang jam, marang ice cream, adlay coffee ice cream, organic rice, adlay-based delicacies processed in Maguindanao, and local delicacies such as dudol, tinagtag, panganan sising and putri mandi.

DA’s Region  IV-B, or Mimaropa, was awarded second place and received P1 million worth of research grant while DA Region IV-A, or Calabarzon, received P500,000 also in research grant.

With the theme “Teknolohiya ng Pansakahan at Pangisdaan: Tulay sa Mas Maunlad na Pilipinas Patungo sa Pandaigdigdigang Kakayanan,” the activity was held in line with the 11th Agriculture and Fisheries Technology Forum and Product Exhibition and as part of the 28th anniversary celebration of the agricultural research bureau.

This year's anniversary celebration focused on the global competence of Philippine products and technologies generated from research and development (R&D).

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, former secretary William Dar, and BAR Director Nicomedes Eleazer graced the opening and viewing of the product exhibition.

To highlight breakthroughs and provide new perspectives on technology commercialization, the forum-exhibit showcased agricultural R&D of more than 90 exhibitors from the DA’s bureaus and attached agencies and regional field offices, as well as R&D partners such as state universities and colleges, international organizations, and the private sector.

Tong Abas, manager of the DAF-ARMM Integrated Agricultural Research Center, said his office will pursue development of the Marang-flavored ice cream and Marang jam. “Marang is abundant in ARMM and if the product will be highly favored by the public, then this will help boost the economy in the region,” Abas added.

DAF-ARMM Secretary Makmod Mending Jr. affirmed that the regional government will support the newly introduced ice cream flavors. The DA central office, however, advised ARMM exhibitors to submit business plans for their products.

The event also opened opportunities for agri-preneurs and entrepreneurs to capitalize on various R&D technologies that were already developed and generated and for the farmers and fisherfolk to showcase their own products as well as for the private sector to adopt these technologies on a commercial scale.

Among the highlights of the event was the launching of the 2015 BAR Primer, an audio-visual presentation that narrates the bureau’s vision, mission and mandate as the country’s national coordinating agency for agriculture and fisheries R&D.

In line with the event, BAR also staged “It’s Soy Time”, a soybean cooking contest with 27 partner-exhibitors from state universities and colleges as participants. The activity highlights the culinary competencies of the participants while further promoting the utilization and consumption of soybean through food creation. (BPI/APB/PIA-10)

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30,000 ARMM employees to receive performance-based bonus

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Aug. 19 (PIA) --- More than 30,000 employees in the regional government are entitled to receive the bonus that mirrors the “upgrading of professionalism and delivery of services” in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

“This is the first time in the 25-year history of the ARMM. Isa itong malaking karangalan at malaking accomplishment. More than the incentives kailangan mapanatili ng bawat ahensiya, ng bawat empleyado ang ganung klaseng level ng professionalism at klase ng level ng performance (This is a big honor and a major accomplishment. More than the incentives, every agency, every employee must maintain that kind of level of professionalism and that kind of level of performance),” said ARMM Executive Secretary Lawyer Laisa Alamia.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has affirmed Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s compliance with the requirements of the Performance-Based Bonus (PBB), a system that rewards “exemplary performance in government.”

The regional government passed the Good Governance Conditions and the performance indicators in all its target deliverables for 2014 which qualified the region for the bonus.

“Proud ako dahil na-acknowledge ang performance ko at part ako ng reporma (I’m proud because my performance was acknowledged and that I’m part of the reform),” said Maritess Galindo, 56, an administrative officer at the Office of the Regional Governor.

Galindo has been working in the ARMM since its inception in 1990.

“What ARMM should be proud of is its accomplishments. It’s an independent verification that the reforms in the autonomous region were achieved and that these reforms improve peoples’ access to services,” said Maricris Valte of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP).

The DAP serves as the secretariat and technical resource institution of the Administrative Order 25 Inter-Agency Task Force that oversees the performance monitoring, evaluation, information and reporting of essential components of performance management system of a government office, department, or instrumentality.

“(The performance-based bonus) is meant not just compliance with the requirements, but is also meant to encourage and ensure that the agency accomplishes what it has pledged to accomplish,” Valte affirmed.

The fact that ARMM met all the Good Governance Condition according to Valte, "is proof that the governance reform under the leadership of ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman is really working."

Budget Undersecretary Richard Moya, in a letter, said "more than grant of the bonus, we hope that the PBB has significantly contributed to your agency’s organizational and the employee performance that led to concrete and visible improvements in the delivery of goods and services to the public."

The PBB system is a merit-based incentive program that recognizes and rewards exemplary public service. Employees’ performance is assessed, including how they contributed to the accomplishment of their department’s overall targets and commitments.

Under the system, an employee may receive P5,000 minimum to as much as P35,000. Employees are rated whether they performed ‘good,’ ‘better,’ or ‘best.’

To qualify, the agencies must pass certain requirements to include the achievement of at least 90 percent of their 2014 targets, compliance with the Transparency Seal under the General Provisions of the 2014 General Appropriations Act, and compliance in posting, or publication, of the Citizen’s Charter – all required under the Good Governance Conditions.

“The budget for the bonus will be downloaded from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to the regional government this year after completion of the process,” said Alamia.

Through Administrative Order No. 25, the Office of the President created the Inter-Agency Task Force that will harmonize, unify, streamline and simplify all existing monitoring and reporting requirements related to the government’s performance-based bonus system.

The Inter-Agency Task Force is chaired by the DBM and co-chaired by the Office of the Executive Secretary, with the National Economic and Development Authority; Presidential Management Staff; and Department of Finance as members. (Bureau of Public Information/PIA-10)

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Lanao del Sur LCEs, CSOs, security partners convene in peace summit

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Aug. 19 (PIA) --- The Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) gathered local chief executives, civil society organizations, and security partners in the province in a summit Tuesday, August 18, to tackle ways to improve the political climate for peace.

With the theme Linking Normalization Mechanisms with Local Security Concerns, the one-day summit was aimed to provide a venue for political leaders to understand normalization and its impact on local security.

Atty. Benedicto R. Bacani, IAG executive director, said the summit was conducted under the Pro PolitiCS for Peace project, a three-year project that seeks to help shape a stable political environment in support of the broader Mindanao peace process.

This not only refers to the vertical peace process between the government and the Moros Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) but also peace processes at the community level like rido settlement, he said.

According to Bacani, the Pro PolitiCS for Peace project aims to enhance the participation of political leaders and local government units in dialogues where they can reflect and articulate their informed perspectives on issues of autonomy, peace and security.

During the summit, the participants broke into groups and discussed local security concerns and issues and ways to improve peace and security.

Other highlights of the summit  were learning sessions on current security threats given by the Philippines Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research; national situationer on anti-illegal drug enforcement by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency; national security and policing program by the Philippine National Police; and local security and normalization by the Joint Normalization Committee.

Meanwhile, Provincial Governor Mamintal A. Adiong Jr., underscored the importance of the summit.

We welcome the assistance provided by the Australian Aid and the IAG in hosting this summit. We have to focus on security issues affecting us and how we can empower our communities to protect their families and friends and neighbors from these threats because we cannot allow cycle of fear and violence to tear at the fabric of our communities, Adiong said.

He also emphasized the need to confront the warped ideologies espoused by some groups especially their attempt to use Islam to justify their violence. “And that hurts all of us, especially Muslims, who are the ones most likely to be their targets nowadays. All of us regardless of our faith have a responsibility to reject it,” the Governor said.

Governor Adiong also announced that he received a notice from the Independent Decommissioning Body citing that the Provincial Capitol may possibly be the assembly and processing area for the decommissioning of the MILF-BIAF combatants and their weapons.

One component of the Pro PolitiCS for Peace project is the interfacing of LGUs and political leaders with the peace process structures and mechanisms. (APB/PIA-10)

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DOH-ARMM boosts drive on voluntary blood donation

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Aug. 18 (PIA) --- The Department of Health of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DOH-ARMM) is intensifying its blood donation drive that would lead to a fully voluntary blood donation system at the grassroots level.

The DOH-ARMM recently conducted an advocacy orientation on National Voluntary Blood Service Program of the department to more than 20 municipal planning and development coordinators from the province of Maguindanao.

The coordinators are expected to conduct orientation on voluntary blood donation and bloodletting activities at the grassroots level in their respective towns with assistance from the region’s Health department.

Dr. Pancho Cruz, ARMM’s coordinator for the National Voluntary Blood Service Program, said voluntary blood donation is a “humanitarian act,” thus urging the coordinators to allocate funds for the operations as well as logistics in maintaining the program.

The municipal governments of Parang and Upi in Maguindanao are currently holding a monthly bloodletting. This activity helps collect adequate blood units allowing patients from the two towns to avail of blood easily and for free whenever needed at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center in Cotabato City.

The DOH-ARMM has also established a partnership with the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center that helps patients from the region to avail of blood easily. But Dr. Cruz said in three out of 10 cases, patients do not get the blood they need because of insufficient supply from the blood banks.

He added that only one out of 500 Filipinos voluntarily donates blood. The ideal number of blood units per town must be equivalent to 10 percent of its total population, he said. That is equal to, for example, to 1,679 units for Kabuntalan town with 16,794 people based on 2010 census.

Republic Act 7719, or the National Blood Services Act of 1994 mandates voluntary blood donation by the citizenry to promote public health in the country. In the Philippines, seven out of every 10 units of blood transfused come from paid donors.

Blood from a paid donor, Health officials said, is three times more likely to have any four blood transmissible diseases such as malaria, syphilis, hepatitis B, or even Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

Orientation on the 17th National Sandugo Awards, to be held in 2016, was also conducted on the same day urging government officials and employees to participate in activities related to blood donation. (Bureau of Public Information/PIA-10)

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Lanao del Sur creates task force to support 2015 POPCEN

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur,  Aug. 17 (PIA) -- The Provincial Task Force created to monitor the conduct of the 2015 Census of Population has started to monitor the on-going census as ordered by the province’s local chief executive, Governor Mamintal “Bombit” Alonto Adiong, Jr. 

Monitored so far by the task force were the municipalities of Wato-Balindong, Ditsaan-Ramain, Buadi Puso Buntong, and Bubong. 

Members of the task force included former Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) ARMM Regional Director Commando Pilimpinas, Provincial Cooperative Officer Musa Diamla and Provincial Information Officer Salma Jayne Tamano.

“So far, the census operation is going smooth and we are hopeful that we will have accurate data as this will help us, in the LGU, come up with the right decisions, plans, policies, programs and projects,” Adiong said.

Adiong created the task force to comply with DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2015-39 which enjoins all local chief executives to fully support the PSA regional and provincial offices and cooperate with them in the conduct of the census. 

Support services given include provision of police escorts, transportation for census personnel and their materials, training facilities for census enumerators and supervisors during their training, and lodging facilities for census personnel sent to areas that are outside of their official station.

The POPCEN 2015 completely enumerates the number of households in the country and shall make an inventory of its total population. 

Further, it gathers information on the age, sex, educational attainment and marital status of the population. 

Enumeration started last August 10 and shall end on September 6, 2015 in most provinces. (PIO Lanao del Sur/APB/PIA-10)

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Farming technicians receive equipment from DAF-ARMM

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Aug. 17 (PIA) --- The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DAF-ARMM) has distributed personal protective equipment and gadgets worth P427,000 to farming technicians and units of the department’s Integrated Agricultural Research Center (IARC).

The equipment and gadgets – comprising of rubber boots, weighing scale, moisture meter, laptop, tablets and printers – are funded by the department’s Agri-Pinoy Rice Program.

The program, one of the banner components of the Agriculture department, focuses on rice production and uplifting the lives of the farmers. Guided by the principles of the Agrikulturang Pilipino framework, the National Rice Program integrates government initiatives and interventions for the sector.

The major objectives of the program include food security and self-sufficiency, sustainable resource management, support services from farm to table, and broad-based local partnerships. The program also provides rice farmers specific interventions on technologies and services in order to increase rice yield. 

Atty. Makmod Mending Jr., DAF-ARMM secretary, said the equipment and gadgets will boost the application of the Rice Crop Manager and the Philippine Rice Information System (PRISM).

It will also improve, he said, the performance of farm technicians, agri-technologists, and extension officers. 

The Rice Crop Manager is an internet-based application that offers rice farming prescriptions on nutrients applications, pest and weeds control, and water management based on the variety of inputs and site-specific conditions. 

PRISM is a system that maps out rice growing areas affected by natural calamities and pest outbreaks. It also gathers and organizes information on rice yield and yield gaps. Productivity of rice farmers in the region is expected to rise significantly with the application of modern technology. (BPI/APB/PIA-10)

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