80 farmers in Lanao del Sur undergo training on veggie production

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 29 (PIA) --- Around 80 farmers from the municipality of Pualas, this province, underwent a training on lowland and upland vegetable production.

The training was conducted by the Department of Agriculture Provincial Office headed by Pangalian Balindong Jr, on Thursday, July 28, at old multi-purpose building in the municipal office compound.

Pualas Municipal Agricultural Officer, Alykhan B. Magarang, said the training was aimed to provide an alternative way to increase the income of farmers in the area who rely solely on corn production as a means of livelihood.

The farmers admitted that they are getting lower yield in corn due to continuous mono-cropping, leaving only a meager amount of around P 2,800-P3,000 net income per cropping season.

They have heard of vegetable production but could not pursue it due to lack of capital and insufficient knowledge.

Discussions during the training focused on the importance of nursery establishment; cultural management practices involved in commonly-grown vegetables, especially those with good market potential; and Integrated Pests and Disease Management.

Packets of vegetable seeds and farm chemicals were also distributed to the farmers to enable them to start right away. (APB/PIA-10)

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ARMM celebrates significant contributions of S&T to national development

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 27 (PIA) --- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) joined the whole nation in the celebration of this year’s National Science and Technology Week (NSTW).

The ARMM government convened thousands of students, science and technology (S&T) enthusiasts, local government officials, and representatives from other sectors across the region at the Datu Dizal Cultural Center in Lamitan City, Basilan to celebrate the NSTW with the theme ‘Juan Science, One Nation.’

The celebration highlighted the significant contributions of S&T to national development and conferring recognition and appreciation to outstanding scientists, researchers, inventors and institutions.

The NSTW is celebrated every third week of July through Proclamation No. 169 issued in 1993. It aims at recognizing the contribution of science and technology in the development of the country and get support from the public and private institutions for its sustainable development.

“The annual celebration of the NSTW is the premier event of the science community. It is celebrated since the 1950s and the various events – like forum and exhibits – are the perfect venues for technology developers and inventors, as well as S&T service providers and clients, to interact and pursue potential opportunities,” said Secretary Myra Mangkabung of the region’s Science and Technology department.

The celebration, she added, is designed to optimize every opportunity to make S&T a way of life for all Filipinos. She also encouraged the participants to focus on inventions that will support the campaign of the regional government in poverty alleviation.

The gains and strides of S&T in the fields of science, engineering, mathematics and other technical disciplines, she said, will let the people understand its vital role in improving the people’s quality of life, protecting the environment, and contributing to national development including poverty reduction.

During the opening program, Secretary Mangkabung and Chancellor Atty. Lorenzo Reyes of the Mindanao State University (MSU) of Tawi-Tawi signed a memorandum of agreement for the establishment of a food innovation center.

Secretary Mangkabung said the innovation center, located at MSU Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography, is a facility aimed at producing value-added agricultural and fishery food products by becoming the hub for innovation and technical support services for food processing industry in the ARMM.

“Scientific concept and ideas, invention, phototyping and patenting must be supported to encourage a generation of new knowledge and discoveries. Research, development, and extension programs must be enhanced and afforded by all our researchers and end-users,” she further said. (BPI/APB/PIA-10

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ARMM joins 38th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week celebration

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 22 (PIA) --- The Regional Human Rights Commission in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RHRC-ARMM) led the regional celebration of the 38th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week on July 21.

Lawyer Abdulnasser Badrudin, RHRC-ARMM chairperson, said the program was primarily aimed at raising better awareness of the rights of persons with disability (PWDs).

We are showing our deepest concern to PWDs being one of the most vulnerable sectors of society,” Badrudin said.

He said discrimination against PWDs results in their low participation in economic and social activities in society.

Republic Act 7277, or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, defined PWDs as “those suffering from restriction of different abilities, as a result of a mental, physical or sensory impairment, to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being.”

It further mandates that five percent of all casual, emergency and contractual positions at the departments of Social Welfare and Development; Health; Education, Culture and Sports; and other government agencies, offices or corporations engaged in social development shall be reserved for disabled persons.

“The RHRC-ARMM advocates the inclusion of PWDs (normal activities of society). We aim at creating a condition wherein PWDs will feel they belong, are respected, and valued whoever they are,” Badrudin added.

Several humanitarian partners and government offices that advocate for the welfare of PWDs also took part in last Thursday’s program.

Assistant Secretary Dayang Carlsum Jumaide of ARMM’s Department of Health said the region’s Health and Wellness Program for Persons with Disabilities is designed to promote the highest attainable standards of health of PWDs and prevent them from developing health conditions associated with disability.

One of its milestones, Jumaide added, is the development of service packages for PWDs specifically for disability due to chronic illnesses, learning disability and cerebral palsy.

Miguel Antonio Limon, regional programs coordinator of the National Council on Disability Affairs, also gave a lecture on government laws that promote the rights of PWDs.

Across the country, there are 1.4 million PWDs comprising 1.57 percent of the total population based on the 2010 National Census.

The same census noted 34,775 PWDs in the ARMM, of which 17,875 are male and 16,900 are female.

Meanwhile, several private individuals, who declined to be named, donated wheelchairs for PWDs during the event.

They also manifested continued support for PWDs. The celebration bears the theme “Karapatan ng Maykapansanan, Isakatuparan... Now Na!” (BPI-ARMM)

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Oplan Listo readies LGUs in Lanao del Sur for disasters

Lanao del Sur, July 20 (PIA) -- Local government units (LGUs) in the province of Lanao del Sur are now guided on what actions to take during calamities with the implementation of the Oplan Listo.

Norhanie Marohombsar, municipal local government operations officer of Taraka, said Oplan Listo is a disaster preparedness manual that contains guidelines to prepare local chief executives and local officials for disasters.

It is a program of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) that educate local governments on what to do before, during and after a disaster, she said.

Marohombsar said Oplan Listo seeks to avert the loss of lives and properties during calamities.

According to her, the manual also include climate change adaptation measures.

Marohombsar noted that the DILG Provincial is doing its best to assist the 39 LGUs in the province in terms of disaster preparedness.

She said the department is helping the LGUs in re-organizing their respective Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils. DILG is also providing disaster management trainings and technical assistance particularly in the preparation of disaster management plan. (APB/PIA-10)

 

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Nutrition in the first 1,000 days crucial for a child’s future

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur. July 20 (PIA) – The quality of nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life plays a critical role in the child’s health and development.

The first 1,000 days is identified as the golden window of time that sets the stage for the child’s development and long-term health, said Recthie Paculba, member of the Modern Nanays of Mindanao, during the Ozor ka, Ranao! radio program of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Marawi City.

“Good nutrition during this period is crucial as it can have significant impact on the child’s well-being,” she said.

The first 1,000 days starts on the day of conception until the child’s second birthday.

Paculba said the first way to ensure the child’s nutrition is for mothers to have a healthy-balanced diet, particularly rich in iron, folic acid, iodine and other vitamins and minerals to support the baby’s growth and brain development during pregnancy.

The child’s long-term health, including his predisposition to infections and diseases, can be shaped by the quality of the mother’s nutrition since the baby is solely dependent on the mother for nourishment during the pregnancy stage, she said.

Further, mothers should get pre-natal and post-natal services and give birth in a birthing facility to ensure safe delivery.

Breastfeeding, starting from the first hour of birth, also gives the baby the best start of life to life.

Breastmilk is a complete food for the baby for the first six months because it has antibodies that fight-off illness and build immunity, she further said.

Paculba said the baby should also be given complementary foods, in addition to breastmilk, from six months to two years to support their rapid growth and development.

Modern Nanays of Mindanao is group of mothers who pushes for smart parenting. It’s a budding group comprising of stay-at-home moms, working moms, professionals, and advocates believing in the importance breastfeeding, baby-wearing and cloth-diapering. (

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Advocacy on breastfeeding continues with 2016 Hakab Na!

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur. July 20 (PIA) – Are you a breastfeeding mom who want to showcase the importance of breastfeeding?

The Modern Nanays of Mindanao is inviting breastfeeding mothers to participate in the 2016 Hakab Na!.

It is a gathering of families and breastfeeding advocates which aims to create awareness of the health and economic benefits of breastfeeding.

The simultaneous breastfeeding event also seeks to promote the provision of proper support to breastfeeding mothers and to encourage the communities to make breastfeeding a normal part of the day-to-day life.

It will be held on August 6 in Alabang, Baguio, Bulacan, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Iligan, Iloilo, Olongapo, Laguna and Pasig City in time for the observance of National Breastfeeding Awareness Month.

In the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, the event will be held in Limketkai Mall Event Center and City Public Plaza, respectively.

The month of August every year was declared as Breastfeeding Awareness Month to highlight the importance of breastfeeding as the natural and preferred method of feeding infants and young children. (APB/PIA-10)

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EU, Oxfam turn-over P4-M worth of medical equipment to ARMM

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 15 (PIA) --- The European Union (EU) and international aid agency Oxfam turned-over P4-million worth of medical equipment to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to boost the quality of reproductive health services in the region.

The equipment was received by ARMM Executive Secretary Atty. Laisa Alamia and Dayang Sangkula Jumaide of the region’s Department of Health on Thursday, July 14.

Justin Morgan, Oxfam country director, said the medical equipment will help improve the delivery of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services to 14 cities and municipalities in the region.

Among the items turned over are fetal dopplers, oxygen tanks, wheelchairs, examination tables, delivery tables, and pediatric stethoscopes.

EU funded a program dubbed Improving Availability of Reproductive Health Services in the ARMM, or ARCHES which seeks to contribute to poverty reduction and improved well-being of the population in the region through better and more equitable access to health services.

ARCHES is a joint undertaking between Oxfam and four women’s rights organizations working with local communities in the region namely Al Mujadilah Development Foundation, Inc. in the province of Lanao del Sur; Pinay Kilos in Sulu and Basilan; Tarbilang Foundation Inc., in Tawi-Tawi and United Youth of the Philippines-Women in Maguindanao.

 The assistance will also help build the capacity of local governments to deliver SRH services.

“We believe in the importance of protecting the rights and welfare not only of women but also the families they raise and support, and we recognize that there is a need to ensure that reproductive health services are made available for all, especially for the disadvantaged,” ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said.

In October 2012, a landmark legislation known as the Reproductive Health Care Act of 2012 for the ARMM was signed. It created and established a reproductive healthcare program for families in the region that promotes natural family planning method and focuses on strengthening child healthcare facilities.

“It is in the spirit of upholding the Bangsamoro's right to health that we welcome and accept with gratitude the medical equipment that Oxfam and their partner organizations are donating to the ARMM in order to ensure that local governments can provide better reproductive health services,” Gov. Hataman added.

He also said the regional government is looking forward to continuously working with them towards a healthy Bangsamoro for all the women, children, and their families. (BPI-ARMM/APB/PIA-10

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ARMM to strengthen communication management among communities during disasters

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 15 (PIA) --- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Humanitarian and Emergency Action Response Team (ARMM-HEART) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) conducted a meeting to strengthen communication management among communities in the region during disasters.

The meeting-orientation on Information Management and Community Engagement was held in Cotabato City, July 13, and participated by different line agencies and various humanitarian organizations operating in the ARMM.

Ramil Masukat, ARMM Disaster Risk Reduction officer, said Information Management and Community Engagement aims to bring together key actors to develop an effective and coordinated mechanism for accessible sharing of information with people before, during and after emergencies.

He said it will also ensure the meaningful participation of the communities in the process.

On the other hand, Mukhtar Farah, head of UN OCHA sub-office, stressed the importance of communication with communities during disasters and conflicts.

He said it is a tool that improves humanitarian responses to the needs of communities who have been displaced either by natural disasters or conflicts.

A gallery walk and plenary session also took place during the meeting followed by a discussion on the common services tool on communications, accountability and community participation. (APB/PIA-10)

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Serve your constituents well, VP Robredo tells elected officials in Lanao

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 8 (PIA) --- Vice President Leni Robredo enjoined elected officials in Lanao del Sur to serve their constituents well and not waste the opportunity given to them by the electorate.

 

Robredo visited the province on July 7, to witness the mass oath-taking of re-elected and newly-elected local officials and express appreciation for the support she received during the last election.

She said her office is open to help the officials in bringing sustainable development to the province.

Robredo also underscored the importance of unity in pushing forward development programs and projects in the province. She is optimistic that the province will have a brighter future especially now that the city and provincial officials are united and willing to help each other.

The mass oath-taking highlighted the post 57th Araw ng Lanao del Sur and Eid’l Fitr celebration in the province. It was attended by elected provincial, city, and municipal officials, led by Governor Bedjoria Soraya Adiong, who took their oath of office before Regional Trial Court XII Judge Wenida Papandayan.

After the mass oath-taking, Robredo proceeded to Kauswagan town in Lanao del Norte to have a dialogue with Moro rebel returnees who are now farmers under the Arms-to-Farms program. (APB/PIA-10)

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ICRC extends aid to 12,500 displaced persons in Butig, Lanao Sur

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 5 (PIA) --- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) together with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), extended food and household items to around 12,500 people from Butig town, Lanao del Sur, who remain displaced following clashes between government forces and an armed group in late May to early June.
The distributions took place between June 8 and July 2, in Butig and neighboring municipalities as well as in Marawi City.

“Thousands of civilians in Butig were forced to flee their homes in February, when the first clashes began. Some were able to return in April, and just when they started planting a new crop, they were forced to flee their homes again in May, when hostilities resumed,” said Dominic Earnshaw, head of the ICRC office in Cotabato.
He said many of the displaced are living with relatives and depend heavily on their kin and the authorities, as they are still too afraid to go back home. Their  houses were also destroyed in the fighting.

The ICRC-PRC assistance augmented the aid provided by the government and helped families meet their basic needs.

Each displaced family received 25 kilograms of rice, 12 tins of sardines, two liters of cooking oil, two liters of soy sauce, two kilograms of sugar, 500 grams of salt, and essential household items including two blankets, two mosquito nets, one sleeping mat, and one hygiene kit.
Prior to its relief operation in Butig, the ICRC conducted its own assessments and coordinated closely with community leaders, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and nongovernment organizations.

"We ask all sides in the conflict to exercise utmost precaution to protect civilians and their property,”  Earnshaw said.

The ICRC is a neutral, impartial, and independent humanitarian organization whose mandate is to protect and assist people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence. It has had an established presence in the Philippines for more than 70 years and a permanent presence in Mindanao since 1982. (ICRC/APB/PIA-10)

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