Gandamra lays out plan to further improve Marawi

In his inaugural ceremony, Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra outlines his priorities as local chief executive of the battle-scarred Islamic city. (Jason Casas/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--Re-elected Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra has vowed to do his best in his last term to further improve his city and uplift the lives of its residents.

During his inaugural address on Thursday, June 30, Gandamra outlined his priorities for his third and last term as local chief executive of the battle-scarred Islamic city.

He said they are currently building health centers within the various barangays of the city, especially those outside the most affected area to bring health programs and services closer to the people.

Gandamra also shared that the construction of the Marawi City General Hospital is currently in the works and the said facility is targeted to augment the present medical institutions in the city to provide its residents with a world-class healthcare facility in terms of equipment.

He also committed to reinforce the local government's policies on business and land registration as this has resulted in a 500% increase in their collection of local taxes. This, he said, will continuously generate local revenue which in turn will be used as funding for projects that are targeted toward the development of the greater majority.

Gandamra likewise pledged to strengthen existing programs on social welfare, education, and peace. "The provision of livelihood programs for our people will be further strengthened during our last term, as it is our strong belief that through the provision of these programs, we will achieve our longstanding goal to be able to rise again," he said.

He further said the city government fully supports the Department of Education in exploring other modalities of learning which is manifested through the various interventions and partnerships between the two institutions.  

"And now that we are at a point in which we will be opening the face-to-face classes, the Local School Board has continuously discussed ways that could foster sustainable development not only for the learners of today but as well as in the future," Gandamra added.

The city mayor also underscored their partnership with the security forces which carved a way for local and national business investors to venture into the city and opened livelihood opportunities for the people of Marawi. According to him, both the City Peace and Order Council and City Anti-Drugs Abuse Council have proven to have a stellar performance in the previous audit performance with ratings of 88% and 75%, respectively.

Moreover, he expressed the commitment of the city government to manage properly the various vertical and horizontal infrastructure projects in the city which are part of the Marawi rehabilitation program.

"The past accomplishments of the administration of ours truly have been achieved not only because of the pursuit of the welfare of our constituents today but these are all designed and completed in order to create sustainable development and unfaltering progress for the generations to come," Gandamra said as he vowed that their branding of good leadership and governance will live on and they will see to it that nobody will be left behind. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

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Marawi City officials take oath

Executive Judge Wenida Papandayan administers the oathtaking of re-elected Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra during the inaugural event at the Marawi City Hall Gym. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)-The city government of Marawi held an oath-taking ceremony on Thursday, June 30, for its newly-elected officials who vowed to bring a more prosperous future to the war-torn city.

Lawyer Majul Gandamra took his oath as the re-elected chief executive of the Islamic City before Executive Judge Wenida Papandayan during the inaugural event held at the City Hall Gym.

In his inaugural message, Gandamra said he would carry on his administration's initiatives to further improve the city.

"The siege did not stop us, the pandemic did not stop us,... our will to elevate Marawi City is unstoppable," he said.

Gandamra also emphasized that various vertical and horizontal infrastructure projects within the most affected area (MAA) of the city and even outside the MAA are now on the verge of completion. As such, he expressed the commitment of his administration to manage the projects properly when these projects are fully turned over to the city. 

These include the Marawi Museum, School of Living Tradition, Torogan, Peace Park, Rizal Park, Sarimanok Stadium, Convention Center, roads and highways, the Marawi City Hospital, Sanitary Landfill,  and the various barangay complexes with madrasah and health center.

Gandamra also conveyed his appreciation to his family, relatives, friends, supporters, and colleagues in the law profession for all the support they showed for him. He likewise magnified his constituents as he thanked them for the trust given to him to serve Marawi City once again.

"It feels so good knowing that I have been chosen again to steer the ship that is Marawi City. I may not have been perfect but my administration has always strived to give Marawi City the leadership that it truly needs. Thank you, thank you Marawi City for that trust in me," he said.

Meanwhile, re-elected Vice Mayor Anouar Andulrauf along with Gandamra's wife who was elected as the First Councilor, Dr. Princess "Pala" Gandamra, also took their oath before Judge Papandayan. 

On the other hand, elected city councilors Edmund Capal, Sajid Munder, Lailyn Dimal, Nasrollah "Pepe" Basman, Honeylove Macabangon, Nasif Marangit, Borgie Dalidig, Abdani Alonto, and Abdulrahim Lao took their oath before Mayor Gandamra during the city government's inaugural event. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

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Marawi, LDS execs call for unity to keep sanitary landfill

Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra (left) and Lanao del Sur Provincial Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr. (right) both appeal to the citizens to cooperate to maintain their new engineered sanitary landfill. (TFBM/Michael John Paclar/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--Following the inauguration of the new engineered sanitary landfill (category IV) Tuesday, June 28, the local chief executives of the city and the province of Lanao del Sur urged the public to cooperate to sustain the purpose of the established solid waste facility. 

City Mayor Majul Gandamra emphasized the crucial role of all the constituents in ending the issue of solid waste management as he cited that the needed discipline in managing the waste begins at home. 

Noting the capability of the sanitary landfill to hold solid waste for 20 to 25 years, he stressed that there is still a need to have an excellent management of the facility by observing a segregation policy to sustain the purpose of the project. 

Gandamra stated that if people will not practice the segregation policy, the issue of solid waste management will still return.

“Hindi lang sa atin ang responsibility but also sa constituents na dapat talaga magkaroon din ng cooperation sa ating households, ayusin ang kanilang pagtapon and they have to learn how to segregate sa mga hindi dapat itapon sa sanitary landfill. Naiiwasan din natin ang degradation ng ating environment,” he said.

[The responsibility is not only with us but also with the constituents, that there really has to be cooperation from households, their disposal must be proper and they have to learn how to segregate those that need not be thrown at the landfill. We can also avoid the degradation of our environment.]

Lanao del Sur Provincial Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr., on the other hand, likewise firmly called on the benefitting constituents to take care of the project as he highlighted that the province extremely needs this facility.

He underlined that if such a landfill would be destructed, there can be no more hope in ending their concern on solid waste management. 

“Kapag ito ay nasira, wala na tayong aasahan pa. Malaking proyekto ito kaya gusto kong ipaabot na huwag nating pabayaan ito. Kailangan ng Lanao del Sur ng ganitong proyekto. Gandahan lang natin ang trabaho. Nandito ang provincial government para tumulong sa inyo hanggang sa masustain natin ang programang ito,” said Adiong. 

[If this will be destroyed, we can no longer hope for something. This is a big project which is why I want to convey that we have to take care of this. Lanao del Sur needs this kind of project. Let us work properly. The provincial government is here to help you until we sustain this program.] (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

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DENR urges Marawi, LDS public to employ ‘3Rs’ in households

DENR Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs Lawyer Michelle Angelica Go calls on all households in Marawi City and Lanao del Sur province to uphold the 3Rs or reduce, reuse and recycle to sustain environmental projects. (Michael John Paclar/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has appealed to the general populace of the city and the province of Lanao del Sur to uphold the 3Rs initiative which is to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Such a call was echoed amid the celebration of Environment Month this June which was marked by the inauguration of the new engineered sanitary landfill (category IV) here Tuesday, June 28. 

“We are asking the locals to love the environment by pursuing the 3Rs with vigor, passion, and determination, or else, everything that we have done so far will not come into fruition. We need your help,” said DENR Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs Lawyer Michelle Angelica Go.

Go underlined that everything starts at home when talking about the environment. 

She stated that if people themselves will not bring about change in their everyday lives such as doing the 3Rs, it will be very tough for the government to sustain environmental projects such as the sanitary landfill. 

As the city and the province now have their solid waste facility, Go hoped that what will be dumped will only be the ones called residual waste and those only necessary to be placed there because the 3Rs were already done. 

The assistant secretary has earlier conveyed that the inauguration of the engineered sanitary landfill was timely as the country celebrates Environment Month which upholds the constitutional right of the Filipino people to a balanced and healthful ecology. 

She then detailed that the sanitary landfill was just one of the efforts under the implemented Solid Waste Management Program as other projects of the Department in Marawi included social cartography and debris monitoring. 

Go explained that they want the people of Marawi to have a sanitary landfill so that they will be able to breathe clean air, their beautiful Lake Lanao will be free from marine litter and other solid waste, and there will be an action against land degradation

“Sana [I hope] we remember everyday, not just during Environment Month, that an ordinary Filipino citizen has a big contribution to this environmental objective. That would be sufficient for us to ensure the constitutional right of every citizen to a balanced and healthful ecology. Kailangan natin ng tulong ng lahat ng [We need the help of the] Filipino people. Hindi kaya ng gobyerno na ibigay lahat ng [The government cannot give all the] needs ng [of the] society. There is so much that needs to be done,” said Go. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

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Marawi solves solid waste woes with new sanitary landfill

Marawi City and Lanao del Sur province now have their own solid waste management facility with the inauguration of the new engineered sanitary landfill Tuesday, June 28. The project will accordingly address the long-standing issue of solid waste management. (TFBM)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--Marawi City has now the opportunity to finally conclude its long-time issue of solid waste management.

This, as the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) together with the city government and the provincial government of Lanao del Sur, inaugurated the new engineered sanitary landfill (category IV) Tuesday, June 28. 

 

The facility, located within the boundaries of Brgy. Malimono in Marawi City and Brgy. Kasayanan in Kapai town, was completed under the rehabilitation program through the Sub-committee on Land Resource Management to cater to wastes of the city and nearby municipalities for 20 to 25 years.

 

“We are very thankful for the establishment of this engineered sanitary landfill as part of the rehabilitation of Marawi City. We are very confident na mas mamanage natin nang maayos ang ating [that we will be able to manage well the] solid waste sa [of] Marawi City,” said City Mayor Majul Gandamra.

 

He stressed that ever since they have been confronted with the lack of facilities that would efficiently collect and manage solid waste and the problem of the open dumpsite that caused serious health and sanitary threat alongside the negative environmental impact on the physical features of the city. 

 

Lanao del Sur Provincial Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr. also affirmed that the project was indeed envisioned to address the long-standing problem of solid waste management. 

 

He shared that the wastes in the city doubled as years passed by, and almost all municipalities in the province had no suitable place to dump but with the completion of this facility, they are all optimistic that there will be no more struggle as even wastes of neighboring localities can already be accommodated.

 

Adiong further stated the project fits their economic agenda that was set at the beginning of his term, as well as ‘Vision 2040’ of the provincial government which aims for the betterment of Lanao del Sur and Marawi City, and includes the need to combat the leading causes for the degradation of natural resources such as soil, air and water pollution, the destruction of natural habitat, and loss of biodiversity.

 

“Ang proyektong ito ay nagsisilbing gabay at inspirasyon upang mas lalo pa nating pagtibayin ang mga polisiyang ipapatupad at mga programang itataguyod bilang tugon sa ilang dekadang problema natin sa kalinisan,” he said.

 

[This project serves as our guide and inspiration so that we can strengthen the enactment of policies and programs to address our decade-long problem of cleanliness.]

 

Adiong underscored that although the local government of Marawi will be the one in charge of sustaining the facility, the provincial government will still give its full support as it is beyond thankful for the establishment of the said project.

 

Meanwhile, DENR Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs Lawyer Michelle Angelica Go said that at the end of this year, they will be coming over to turn over the entire facility to the city government.

 

She looks forward to the coming 25 years that they will see such a facility, which is a product of the shared experiences of various stakeholders, to be the model sanitary landfill in the entire country. 

 
“We hope that this being a shared conceptualization, the people of Marawi City and Lanao del Sur will take care of this project and will ensure that at the end of the day, this sanitary landfill will be maintained as the best in the Philippines. We hope to see this city and area as a model of sustainable development in the country. From a war-ravaged area, this will be a model of an environmentally sustainable city,” said Go. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

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4 LDS towns now have population protection vs Covid-19

Lanao del Sur IPHO Chief Dr. Alinader Minalang highlights the importance of the whole-of-government and Bayanihan approach in reaching herd immunity during the joint PPOC-PADAC meeting. (Michael John Paclar/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)—Four municipalities in Lanao del Sur have already reached population protection after vaccinating 70 percent of their targeted priority groups.

According to Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) Chief Dr. Alinader Minalang, the towns of Ditsaan-Ramain, Amai Manabilang, Poona Bayabao, and Kapai hit their target protection against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) after series of special vaccination days and house-to-house vaccination.

In his report during the joint meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and Provincial Anti-Drugs Abuse Council (PADAC), Minalang said at least 83.41 percent of the 20,313 target population in Ditsaan-Ramain was fully vaccinated while 78.21 percent of 9,474 target population in Amai Manabilang completed their vaccination.

The municipality of Poona Bayabao vaccinated 77.30 percent of its 20,250 target population while Kapai just recently completed vaccinating 70.74 of its 17,210 target population.

Minalang said other municipalities are also getting closer to their target achieving more than 60% vaccination coverage. These are the towns of Marogong (69.24%), Calanogas (68.15%), and Wao (62.50%).

“Yung mga ginagawa natin sa baba, ito yung nakatulong sa atin. Gaya ng ating house-to-house vaccination in which we are bringing the vaccination closer to the households. Salamat sa tulong ng ating mga mayors at barangay officials,” he said.

[The things we do on the ground this is what helped us. Like our house-to-house vaccination in which we are bringing the vaccination closer to the households. Thanks to the help of our mayors and barangay officials.]

Minalang, who is also the vice-chairperson of the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force (PIATF) Against Covid-19, assured the local chief executives that the province has enough vaccines and that their Rural Health Units can withdraw vaccines from the upgraded provincial cold chain facility inside the Provincial Capitol. “We are thankful with the help of UNICEF for we now have a bigger cold chain facility,” he added.

The IPHO chief further told the PPOC-PADAC that Covid-19 is not just a health concern but also a security concern as well as everybody’s concern emphasizing that the government cannot win the fight against the unseen enemy without the participation of everybody. 

Minalang said the PIATF is working towards herd immunity using the whole-of-government, whole-of-society Bayanihan approach. It is also intensifying its immunization campaign in schools and offices while the security sector is maintaining border control requiring the presentation of a valid vaccination card. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

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Lanao Sur PPOC eyes stronger security thru 3-yr POPS Plan

In the latest convention of members of the Lanao del Sur Provincial Peace and Order Council, the Peace and Order and Public Safety (POPS) Plan is introduced to strengthen local government capability aimed toward the effective delivery of basic services. (Michael John Paclar/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The Lanao del Sur Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) is looking forward to stronger and better security in the province as they craft the Peace and Order and Public Safety (POPS) Plan.

During the recently held joint meeting of the PPOC-Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) on June 22, the council presented the POPS Plan as a three-year term-based plan formulated by the local POC to improve life in the communities by ensuring social protection and safety in the locality. 

Accordingly, this consists of programs and activities on peace and order, public safety, and those that strengthen local government capability aimed toward the effective delivery of basic services. 

The council said this is incorporated in the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) of the LGUs.

As a requirement for consideration and review by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and endorsement to the Department of Budget and Management, the plan will be the basis of the approval for budget allocation for the confidential fund.

Currently, the POPS Plan is expected to be formulated within the first 200 days of the newly-elected local chief executives.

Further, the Peace and Order Council secretariat shall orient the Technical Working Group on their duties and responsibilities, and shall draft the plan incorporating therewith provisions of the POPS Plan Manual. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

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PDEA pushes fight vs illegal drugs in LDS despite challenges

PDEA-BARMM Chief Operations Marlon Santos presents the challenges encountered by his office in their battle against illegal drugs in the province of Lanao del Sur. (Michael John Paclar/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) through its Regional Office based in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) guaranteed the public that it is combatting illegal drugs in the province of Lanao del Sur and will keep going despite the challenges they encounter.

PDEA-BARMM Chief Operations Marlon Santos stated that they are still up in pushing for their programs in communities.

“In close coordination with the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC), Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) at [and] Philippine National Police (PNP), tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang implementation natin sa barangay program [our implementation of barangay programs is continuous],” he said in the joint meeting of Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC)-PADAC on June 22.

Santos has earlier disclosed that local drug syndicates found in its areas of responsibility sourced out illegal drugs, specifically ‘shabu’, from Chinese Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTO) based in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Regions 3 and 4A while others were reported as smuggled through the Malay-BASULTA-Zamboanga entry point.

Such a drug trend also showed that financial institutions such as banks and other forms of money transfer were used in facilitating drug transactions and others were concealed in tea bags, sandals, cellular phones, and vehicles.

Drug syndicates were likewise reported to have employed armed groups by providing logistical and financial support to protect business interests while drugs are believed to be adulterated to increase volume and profit.

Amidst all these findings, he said in their battle against the proliferation of illegal drugs, they face some problems and challenges such as the lack of Balay Silangan Reformation Center to accommodate surrendered drug pushers and those who have availed of the “plea bargain”, limited financial support from some LGUs for the establishment of the appropriate facility, lack of alternative livelihood program for qualified drug surrenderees, late or non-submission of barangay ADAC watchlist, the low performance of ADAC, and poor or faulty implementation of a community-based rehabilitation program or Matrix Intensive Outpatient Program (MIOP).

Nonetheless, Santos stressed that they strive to meet its goals and aspirations.

“Ang [Our] opisina namin will continue to make efforts and conduct operations to fight illegal drugs despite the lack of manpower and equipment,” said Santos.

As of the second quarter this year, the PDEA-BARMM presented that out of 39 municipalities and one city in the province here, nine were logged as candidate municipalities to be declared as drug-cleared which included the towns of Canalogas, Kapatagan, Lumbatan, Piagapo, Masiu, Madalum, Pagayawan, Amai Manabilang and Kapai. (CRG/PIA-Lanao del Sur)

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LDS beefs up anti-illegal drugs efforts

Lanao del Sur Police Provincial Director PCol. Jibin Bongcayao reports, during the joint meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council, the accomplishments of the provincial PNP which include anti-illegal drugs operations. (Michael John Paclar/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)—The security sector and local government units in the province of Lanao del Sur continue to beef up efforts in the fight against illegal drugs.

Police Provincial Director PCol. Jibin Bongcayao reported during the joint meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) that a joint operation was recently conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP), and the local government unit in the municipality of Maguing which resulted to the confiscation of prohibited drugs with an estimated value of P15.2 million. 

This has also led to the arrests of seven drug personalities with illegal possession of explosives and firearms. Accordingly, the said suspects were detained at Maguing Municipal Police Station for further investigation and filing of appropriate charges in court.

Meanwhile, the Barangay Drug Clearing Program continues to gain ground in the province as more barangays have been declared drug-cleared or drug-free.

In a deliberation held in Cagayan de Oro City on June 16-18, the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing Program declared 22 barangays in the province as drug-cleared and one drug-free, while 33 retained their drug-cleared status, and 20 were drug-free barangays.

These drug-cleared barangays are in Amai Manabilang (10), Kapatagan (8), Masiu (10), Marogong (12), Pagayawan (6), Pualas (4), and Wao (5) while drug-free baramgays are in Amai Manabilang (3), Masiu (1), Marogong (7), Piagapo (7), and Pagayawan (3).

PDEA-BARMM Chief Operations Officer Marlon Santos, who reported the progress of efforts to fight illegal drugs during the PPOC-PADAC meeting, said nine municipalities of Lanao del Sur are also candidates for drug-cleared municipalities. These are Amai Manabilang, Calanogas, Kapai, Kapatagan, Lumbatan, Masiu, Madalum, Pagayawan, and Piagapo.

“Mayroon na tayong almost nine municipalities na ‘by principle’ are declared as drug-cleared municipalities. Pero di pa kami nakabigay ng certificate dahil may kailangan pang documentary requirements,” he said.

[We already have almost nine municipalities that ‘by principle’ are declared as drug-cleared municipalities. But we have not yet issued the certificate because there are still documentary requirements.]

Santos further called for cooperation and collaboration of all stakeholders so tha

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Rido remains a challenge to peace and order in Lanao del Sur

Major Rod Bryan Eribal, operations officer of the 1st Marine Brigade, presents the security situation in five coastal areas of Lanao del Sur during the joint Provincial Peace and Order Council and Provincial Anti-Drugs Abuse Council. (Michael John Paclar/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)—Family feud (rido) remains a major challenge in maintaining peace and order in Lanao del Sur, particularly in the coastal areas in the southern part of the province.

These are the municipalities of Picong, Malabang, Marogong, Balabagan, and Kapatagan which are covered by the 1st Marine Brigade.

“The peace and order situation in the area of operation of the Naval Task Group Central are generally peaceful and manageable. However, the area of operation is challenged by the decades-old family feuds that significantly affect the peace and order in the area,” said Major Rod Bryan Eribal, operations officer of the 1st Marine Brigade during the joint Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and Provincial Anti-Drugs Abuse Council (PADAC) June 22.

Eribal further said most of the victims of several shooting incidents also refused to file appropriate charges but instead choose to retaliate which results further in family feuds.

According to him, there are 23 ongoing rido in the five municipalities of which eight are in Malabang, seven in Picong, five in Kapatagan, and one each in Balabagan, Balabagan-Kapatagan and Malabang-Marogong areas.

The operations officer said their unit has so far facilitated the settlement of four feuds in Picong and one in Balabagan. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

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PPOC-PADAC discusses anti-illegal drugs, anti-criminality efforts

The Provincial Government of Lanao del Sur convenes members of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) to discuss prevailing concerns on peace and order, criminality, and illegal drugs. (Michael John Paclar/PIA-10 Lanao del Sur)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)—Members of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) recently convened to discuss critical measures in addressing matters concerning peace and order, criminality, and illegal drugs.

Provincial Police Director PCol. Jibin Bongcayao highlighted the notable accomplishments of the Lanao del Sur Provincial Police Office (LDSPPO) during the second quarter of the year which included the confiscation of illegal drugs amounting to around P15.2 million.

In a video presentation, the LDSPPO reported that the peace and order condition in the province is normal with no monitored nefarious activities of terrorist groups. However, joint forces of the army and police forces are continuously conducting intensified monitoring activities and other pro-active measures to ensure a stable peace and order condition and secure the safety of the populace.

These include maximized security deployment through police presence and visibility, aggressive police operations against all forms of criminality, and engagement with stakeholders in the community.

LDSPPO also reported that crime volume for the second quarter of the year increased to 164 incidents or by 7 percent compared to the 151 incidents logged during the second quarter in 2021. They attributed this to the conduct of the 2022 national and local elections with complications due to existing private armed groups and ridos (family feuds).

Crime clearance efficiency (CCE), on the other hand, decreased to 55% compared to 91% in the second quarter of 2021 while crime solution efficiency (CSE) went down to 37% compared to the 66% rate in the same period last year. LDSPPO attributed the decrease to victims not being interested in the filing of cases as well as no witness can help pursue the case.

For the security situation in the province, the 103rd Infantry Brigade reported that it is generally normal. The main security threat, accordingly, is the remnants of the DI-Maute group which are monitored to be conducting recruitment of new members.

On the part of the 1st Marine Brigade which covers the coastline in the southern part of the province, they reported that their area of operation is generally peaceful and manageable although decades-long family feud significantly affects the peace and order in the area. Major Rod Bryan Eribal, operations officer of the 1st Marine Brigade, said so far they have facilitated the settlement of five out of the 23 ongoing feuds in the area.

In the fight against illegal drugs, PDEA-BARMM Chief Operations Officer Marlon Santos shed light on the current drug trends, the various buy-bust operations they conducted in partnership with the PNP and AFP, as well as the gains in Barangay Drug Clearing Program. He also disclosed that the towns of Amai Manabilang, Calanogas, Kapai, Kapatagan, Lumbatan, Masiu, Madalum, Pagayawan, and Piagapo.are candidates for drug-cleared municipalities. 

Mustapha Said, Ministry of Interior and Local Government Provincial Office focal for POC and ADAC, shared an overview on the crafting of the Peace and Order and Public Safety (POPS) Plan which he emphasized as crucial in improving life in the communities and ensuring social protection and safety in the locality.

Dr. Nihaya Macasindel of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) also talked about the Dangerous Drugs-Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program which aims to address the prevalence of drug abuse and reduced its health-related effects.

IPHO Chief Dr. Alinader Minalang likewise shared updates on the Covid-19 vaccination program highlighting the importance of the whole-of-government and Bayanihan approach in reaching herd immunity. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

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Peace crucial for Marawi's progress, says TFBM chief

Before the Thanksgiving lunch hosted by the city government of Marawi, Task Force Bangon Marawi chief Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario inspects the progress of projects fronting Lake Lanao and updates the media on the status of each project. (Michael John Paclar/PIA-10 Lanao del Sur)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) chairperson Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario urged Meranaws to preserve the gains of the rehabilitation by being united and not allowing the ISIS-inspired terrorist group to take roots again in the city.

"Kung mahal natin ang Marawi City at gusto nating ito ay umasenso at umunlad, magkaisa tayo [if we love Marawi City and we want it to progress and prosper, let us unite] so that a peaceful environment will be achieved," he said in a thanksgiving lunch hosted by the city government of Marawi.

Del Rosario emphasized that Marawi cannot progress without a peaceful environment adding that peace and development are inseparable.

Before the siege, the TFBM chief said Marawi ranked last among the competitive cities because no investors were coming in as they were afraid they might lose their investments due to the peace and order problem in the city.

"Kung mapapaganda natin ang Marawi City through infrastructures at ang peace and order [situation] ay maging totally peaceful, sigurado ako na ang Marawi City will be very competitive at mag-asenso na. Yan ay mangyayari sa tulong-tulong natin, if all of us will help na huwag nating payagan makapasok ang mga terorista sa Marawi City," he said.

[If we can improve Marawi City through infrastructures and peace and order (situation) be totally peaceful, I am sure that Marawi City will be very competitive and will move forward. That will happen with our help, if all of us will help not to allow terrorists to enter Marawi City.]

Del Rosario further pointed out that what the TFBM and its implementing agencies and partners have done was to lay a strong foundation but the success of rehabilitation and the city as a whole depends on its residents.(APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

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Marawi rehab cultivates tourism to enable growth, dev’t

Various infrastructures now rise in front of Lake Lanao in Marawi City. Such an area is seen to be fostered to advance tourism in the city. (Claire Gigje/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--Marawi is foreseen to have much potential for tourism as part of the positive upshot of the rehabilitation of its devastated most affected area (MAA), and such will accordingly pave the path for the ever-longed growth and development.  

Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) Chairperson Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario stressed that this is what is brought about by various infrastructures that were strategically constructed and fronting Lake Lanao. 

Among the buildings erected in the aforementioned area are Sarimanok Sports Stadium, Convention Center, Lake Lanao Promenade, and Grand Padian Market.

Del Rosario further stated that he would not be surprised if years from now, the city would successfully make its name boom as a top tourist destination. 

"The rehabilitation will be a catalyst for growth and sustainable development. Lahat ng pinapagawa nating infrastructures ay doon nakatuon [All the infrastructures we built are focused there]. We would like to transform this as a major tourist destination in Mindanao,” he said. 

The TFBM chief underscored that they have been forward-looking wherein they did not only eye for the restoration of the city but rather for its betterment. 

Meanwhile, Del Rosario highlighted that apart from living out the first objective of the rehabilitation program which is to be an agent for positive change, the task force also aimed to attain a peaceful environment to sustain the tourism of the city.

“That is one of the objectives of the rehabilitation - to ensure that the peace and order situation will improve to the point that everybody, whether you are from Luzon, Visayas, or other countries, will feel safe and comfortable while visiting Marawi City,” he said. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

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TFBM assures Marawi rehab completion despite shift in admin

As the end of the current administration approaches, some infrastructures are still being constructed under the rehabilitation program for Marawi City. However, Task Force Bangon Marawi assures that everything will still go on and be completed according to their timeline. (Michael John Paclar/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) has once again guaranteed that the rehabilitation of the city will still carry on despite the transition into the new administration.

“Wala tayong dapat ipangamba with regards to the completion of the project being undertaken, lalo na iyong ongoing projects that will be completed by September, third quarter,” said TFBM Chairperson Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario. 

[There is no need to worry with regards to the completion of the project being undertaken, especially those ongoing projects that will be completed by September, third quarter.]

Del Rosario said the budget intended for every project under the rehabilitation program was already downloaded by the national government to the respective implementing agencies. 

As such, he emphasized that although his leadership under the governance of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will already end soon, all relevant initiatives will still go on and must be finished by the implementers. 

Del Rosario, who is also the current head of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), bared that there was still no prior arrangement done with the incoming chief as there has been no news yet as to whoever will succeed. 

“We will have coordination and turnover during the transition period. I am hoping that by next week, malaman na kung sino ang maging secretary ng DHSUD para magkaroon na ng [we will already know who the secretary of DHSUD will be so that we can have the] transition process,” he said. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

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TFBM chief: Marawi rehab was ‘challenging yet fulfilling’

Task Force Bangon Marawi Chairperson Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario conveys that his undertakings under the Marawi rehabilitation program have been challenging yet fulfilling. (Michael John Paclar/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--As his leadership is about to conclude with him marching to the end of his major stint here that lasted for roughly five years, Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) Chairperson Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario underscored that his embodiment of the mandate bestowed upon him was challenging but undeniably fulfilling. 

“[It was] very challenging and fulfilling. I knew I had to fight on, be patient, and determined because we are talking about the future of Marawi City. It was not about me or Mayor [Majul] Gandamra. It was for you and the next generations of Maranaos. Doon nakatuon ang aming direksyon [That is where our direction was aiming] because there was no room to fail on this because we are talking about Marawi City and its future,” he said in his speech.

Del Rosario shared that as they toil to respond to the clamor of the internally displaced persons to return to their old homes, the rehabilitation program required a massive capital investment with the series of phases it had to undergo for its implementation to bear success. 

He detailed that from 2017 to 2020, Phase 1 commenced with the distribution of relief assistance to the displaced families and the profiling of legitimate affected residents,  followed by Phase 2 or the debris management wherein bombs and unexploded ordnances were detonated. 

Further, sometime in July 2020, Phase 3 began with the actual construction of horizontal and vertical public infrastructures.

Del Rosario emphasized that they have been pouring all their focus into their services which were attested with his visit and site inspection almost every month to personally see the progress of the rehabilitation and monitor the implementing agencies to fast-track the undertaking of their respective projects.

He conveyed that they might not have been flawless in the execution of their tasks but they were still optimistic that they did what they could with all their best.

“Ang TFBM ay nandito upang tumulong sa rehabilitation ng Marawi City. Nagsikap ng husto para matapos ang [The TFBM was here to help in the rehabilitation of Marawi City. We strive to the fullest to finish the] rehabilitation. Marawi siege may be the hardest that happened in Marawi City but we can convert the dark moment to become the light and shining armor of all Maranaos… Talagang nagpursige tayo [We really strived],” said Del Rosario. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

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