DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 11 Nov) – As hundreds of investors, farmers and other stakeholders in the rubber industry gathered here for the 2nd Philippine Rubber Investment and Market Encounter (PRIME), officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) did not only showcase what they had in promoting the industry but also offered investors hard to decline tax-free incentives.
ARMM Trade and Industry Secretary Sakiran Hajan, who is also chairman of the board of the Regional Economic Zone Authority (REZA), highlighted the investment incentives during his talk on investment priority areas and logistics.
He said the incentives include exemption from duties and taxes on merchandise, tax credit for import substitution and exemption from port duties, export tax, among others.
Specifically, ARMM offers its special economic zone in the Polloc Freeport and Economic Zone with a 129-hectare wide international standard port ideal for rubber industry exports flow, and for other agricultural and industrial products.
Hajan reported the smooth relationship now with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) after the signing of a Joint-Memorandum Order with BOC chairman Alberto Lina and the REZA-ARMM.
Among key activities during the PRIME forum were business conference, market matching and encounter, exhibits about the rubber industry and its by-products.
PRIME aims to serve as platform to launch the manufacturing resurgence program for the rubber industry positioning of the three least business-friendly regions in Mindanao, with ARMM as the new marketing hubs for rubber products.
This year the conference will provide access to information related to business opportunities in the entire rubber industry and value chain with emphasis on manufacturing and processing. More than 700 participants and investors coming from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, India and Europe attended the event.
Friday, November 6, 2015
A Tausug boy's dream to end ARMM’s longest road
By Ferdinandh Cabrera
Cotabato City (November 5)--- In the mid-70’s he was a young boy in Jolo town who don’t want miss school despite rainy days, those days that he negotiates the muddy and slippery roads and when sunny days come, he strides the dusty and neglected-deteriorated roads.
Town folks used to describe these roads in jest as the longest roads in ARMM; the reason, these roads built has been taking too long before it would be completed or has no chance at all to be completed and benefits the communities.
Don is one of the young Tausug who then believe change could happen in his time.
At one moment while going to school during his elementary days he said to himself, “One day I will fix these longest roads”.
Sec. Mustapha "Don" Loong during his speech at the 25th anniversary
He remembered when he was a child; he used to travel with his family and relatives traversing the circumferential Island provinces of ARMM, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi from his Sulu origin.
They journeyed the muddy rough terrains and eroded slopes that a single false move of Tamaraw type vehicle would mean deadly accidents.
“ Since then it reverberated in my mind, my dream is to help finish these longest roads, said Don who is on his 39th now.
Inspired by the struggles he saw from the people from his home province from people’s lack of access to town center town due to road conditions, immediately after his high school graduation he took Civil Engineering degree at the University of the Philippines in Diliman and was lucky to be accepted.
And just like the jerky road from where he came, he battles the rough and tough Civil Engineering course. But despite hardship, he never gave up but stands still to his goal and finishes the study.
Don narrated UP Diliman’s Civil Engineering course is one of the country’s toughest that only few can reach the finish line, he was glad he made it.
Don, whose real name is Engr.Mustapha Loong is the present regional secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
*Celebrating the Golden year.
Full-packed DPWH-ARMM compound attended by employees and officials during the silver anniversary
On November 5, DPWH-ARMM celebrated its silver year.
Field workers of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) across the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao converged at the regional office in ARMM compound in celebrating the 25th anniversary of their agency’s devolution to the ARMM governance.
It was an event of thanksgiving and reunion filled with sports activities and prizes after 25 years from its devolution in October 1990 after the signing of Republic Act 6137 Organic Act of ARMM by then President Corazon Aquino.
In his speech, Loong credited the sacrifices of Moro National Liberation Front revolutionaries headed by its chairman Nur Misuari to the creation Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao where hundreds of thousand lives has been sacrificed.
Today he is proud to say that empowered, competent and compassionate Moro leaders are running the ARMM to the right path under the leadership of Governor Mujiv Hataman.
He reiterated the agency’s evolution from being the ARMM’s “second most graft-laden agency” to “best performing regional cabinet department.
“The 25th year is just the beginning to bring more access to civilizations, hospitals, schools and access to the bigger world”, Loong said.
Milestone of Reform
The colorful saga of DPWH-ARMM’s 360 change of image started in 2012 just after President Benigno Aquino with its reform agenda appointed to ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman for a transition government.
DPWH-ARMM first step amended the Public Works act and for the history in ARMM has generated 290 Million pesos in savings.
Reforms continued with competitive biddings, transparent procurement process, acquisition of new equipment, establishment of E-ARMM, pushing vigorously in Information and Communications Technology using the geo-tagging of implemented projects and applied simplified systems.
It was then also when they optimized resources, transformed the organizations and practices innovative systems.
All these was credited to the designated Tausug Engineer Emil Sadain, Al Haj who in his short stint as regional secretary before going back to his base in DPWH central office as Under Secretary has left a “brand as the ARMM’s “top performing” regional cabinet official.
Loong being his second man of these successes who was with Sadain during his stay and now task to pursue the mission wanted to continue the momentum and do more.
“ We will be working 30 times more, much faster and more projects, to accomplish the dream of a reformed ARMM”, he said.
DPWH-ARMM present administration had received various recognition for having reformed the appropriation of the ARMM’s annual capital outlays to “high impact” projects such as national roads and bridges in the region, and the introduction of many operational innovations including the “E-ARMM and huge savings which later converted in constructing state-of-the-art DPWH district offices, additional equipment and facilities.
In his parting message last July, Sadain told his staff: “We have planted the seed of reforms in our agency’s operations in ARMM. Nurture our gains and do away with the unfavorable practices that tainted the agency in the past.”
And due to trust and confidence showed under Hataman’s watch, the national government increased the ARMM’s annual capital outlay from half a billion pesos in 2012 to P2-billion in the next year, and approved major infrastructure projects in ARMM worth P10-billion for this year and P20-billion for next year.
At present 1,500 kilometers of road in entire ARMM from 4,500 kilometers has been paved and several projects to meet the target areas to be covered.
An amount of 1.2 billion of pesos worth will be implemented by DPWH-ARMM allocated to build additional schools, 1 billion pesos for health facilities, 1 billion for the support of ARMM Helps and a single billion remains for the roads repairs and construction.
*To work faster without pressure on upcoming elections and the BBL
DPWH-ARMM has got the reputation from the national agency that build projects even near or inside the red zones (conflict areas) and the farthest communities that even outsider contractors have been invited.
But the real challenge according to Loong for the agency is how to work faster to meet the target implementation framework.
In his anniversary message, he reiterated to his subordinates to continue working and be not bothered by political pressures brought by the upcoming election or the Bangsamoro Basic Law issue.
“ The challenge now is within us, we have to implement projects as fast as we can before election ban comes, we will work as a team and united, continue to find the managing risks we face”, Loong stressed.
The agency at present is bracing for ISO: 9001 international quality standard of government service, a theme for their golden anniversary.
And looking back then, the boy who only wishes and dreamt before of change is now holding the ball to make things happen.
“ Now, as Secretary of DPWH-ARMM, I am partly living that dream of helping finish the so called” longest roads in the region, and I am glad I am doing it with a reformed and passionate team competent engineers which Usec. Emil Sadain has trained and mentored”, he ended.
END.
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Maguindanao provincial hospital, now a transformed health facility
SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao — After 36-years, the Maguindanao Provincial Hospital (MPH) has evolved from ordinary health facility to what it is now – a state of the art hospital which prioritize peasant farmers.
This after hospital management established new building and health facilities with more physicians and health providers to serve patients.
No less than Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) President Alexander Padilla and DOH Undersecretary Paulyn Jean Ubial as special guests of the program on Thursday.
“With good management, competent leaders, the hospital is now operating full swing,” Dr. Tahir Sulaik, Maguindanao health chief, told reporters.
Built in Maguindanao’s Datu Hoffer town (formerly part of Shariff Aguak), the newly refurbished and expanded MPH was proud of its new Emergency Room amounting to P8.6 million and has extended other special sections to make it a state-of-the-art, sophisticated and the only level two hospital in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Maguinanao health officials were also present during the inauguration and unveiling of the hospital facility with the capacity of 150 patients and manned by 400 hospital staff, 32 of them are doctors.
The construction of new Emergency Room was part of the second phase of hospital improvement coming from the income from Philhealth contributions. These include holding area for cases of highly contagious diseases, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Surgery and Trauma sections that will handle mass casualty incidents and women and child protection unit for abused women and children.
“The poor patients now feel they are no more peasants when they receive government medical services,” Sulaik, also Integrated Provincial Hospital Office chief, said.
“Here we make them feel equally treated like you get a private hospital service plus you take home free medicine, provided you are a PhilHealth member,” he added.
Most of the provincial hospital’s clienteles were poor farmers of Liguasan marsh and Indigenous Peoples from the mountain areas of Maguindanao.
But Sulaik stressed he noticed lately that even patients from Lanao del Sur and North Cotabato avail the health services of MPH.
Due to increasing number of patients, even semi-private and private rooms are occupied almost every day.
“Because its clean here, the services are good, we are comfortable,” according to Kasan Kali, a resident of Aleosan North Cotabato, a guardian of her sister who was confined due to kidney disease.
In January this year, IPHO-Maguindanao hospital has opened to the public the P30-million peso rehabilitated hospital building and facilities as part of first phase improvement.
The funds were coming from the accumulated payouts income from Philhealth contributions from the past years, according to IPHO chief. “I my decades-long service as government physician, I have been dreaming for this kind of health facility in Maguindanao,” Sulaik said.
“After hard labor, unceasing efforts and health providers’ support, slowly were realized this kind of facility, a truly realization of journey towards transformation,” Sulaik said.
The provincial hospital has modest beginning in 1974 in Shariff Aguak town with only 50-bed capacity and only few medical staff.
But it survived many challenges, including the daily huge responsibility of handling enormous number of poor patients who come from poor communities with poor education, more often displaced by man-made and natural calamities in the province.
“Of all the places we covered, most of the big new hospitals built were made up of loans but this one is far different,” according to Dr. Ubial, the event guest of honor and speaker.
“It should be replicated, its not about how we have obtained funds but also how we manage the hospital with dedication and excellence in management,” Dr. Ubial added.
Presently, Sulaik said, the health facility’s challenge is the source of potable water that supplies the hospital operation.
Lately, a water tank was installed at the hospital while water tanker vehicle was also procured to transport water from a spring sources in the nearby towns.
Sulaik said the soldiers are not only providing the health facility security and safety but also provide one of the most important component of health services – blood donations.
“They provide us blood so we can fill in the blood back for future mass casualty incidents and scarcity of blood during emergency situation,” Sulaik said.
Padilla has provided the “icing on the cake” of the over-all efforts to improve health facilities when he vowed to work for the realization of the third phase of the expansion and improvement of MPH.
“That is not far fetched, with the present competent management third phase will hopefully come next year,” Padilla said. (END)
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Korina courts Maguindanao votes for Mar
Multimedia by Ferdinandh Cabrera
COTABATO CITY (MindaNews / 12 Aug) – While presidential aspirant Mar Roxas was busy meeting up with congressmen from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) to convince them to support his candidacy, his wife, TV anchor Korina Sanchez, was courting votes in Maguindanao.
“Napag-utusan lang. An abrupt text from my husband that a supportive wife has to follow the request of his loved one,” said Sanchez, who represented Roxas as guest speaker on Tuesday during the third anniversary and grand assembly of the Alliance of Lumad, Iranun and Maguindanaon (ALIM), the province’s most dominant political alliance thus far.
When asked on how her husband could win the Muslim votes, she did not directly answer how Roxas could win back the hearts of Bangsamoro, especially those sympathetic to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
They apparently have not forgotten the former chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government to have led the opposition to the botched Memorandum of Agreement on the Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) and thus tagged him as an anti-Muslim official.
Sanchez said that her husband’s political decisions are all his own. “I do not interfere. What I know, Mar loves Mindanaons,” she added.
She lashed at critics who said that Roxas lacks mass appeal, noting that her husband could not have garnered 14 million votes in the last elections if he is not loved by the masses. Roxas, although planned to run for presidency in 2010, gave way for Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III’s candidacy, serving as the latter’s running mate instead.
While Maguindanao Vice Governor Datu Lester Sinsuat, who is also ALIM president and founding chairman, has assured Vice President Jejomar Binay of his support in the latter’s presidential bid during his visit in the municipality of Datu Odin Sinsuat to distribute wheelchairs, Gov. Mangudadatu said things have changed after the consensus of Liberal Party allies in Maguindanao and the commitment of ALIM members.
Mangudadatu said they will try their best to bring 300,000 or more votes for Mar Roxas with the slogan of continuing the “Daang matuwid” with the ALIM.
The governor said they trust Roxas because he is the one endorsed by President Aquino.
Mangudadatu said that in their last meeting in Davao City, he personally confronted Roxas on his stand on the BBL. Roxas reportedly assured Mangudadatu he is supporting the BBL.
Mangudadatu said the fruits of President Aquino’s “Daang matuwid” program will only be felt six years after the leadership that introduced it, as was the case in Malaysia and other countries. “That is why we need someone to continue the efforts we started,” he stressed.
Hataman also said that 95 percent of the elected officials in the ARMM are Liberal Party members. What they need, he pointed out, is only to consolidate the votes with the help of local allies.
ALIM started with seven town mayors three years ago; it now has 17 mayors under its umbrella. Maguindanao has 36 municipalities.
At the assembly last Tuesday, the group has expressed plans to include “Christian settlers” under its wing, from the present Lumads, Iranuns and Maguindanaons. It will then change its name to ALIMS. (END)
Monday, August 10, 2015
ARMM’s food festival tells more on peoples culture, tradition
By Ferdinandh Cabrera
The tribal groups in Muslim Mindanao can be identified through the food they prepare and offer to guests, so the saying goes.
This is what is happening in an “eat all you can” event inside the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) compound here as the Cultural Village highlights seven tribal groupings.
Dubbed as “Food Festival,” the seven tribal groups with makeshift village put up around the ARMM complex here, have offered traditional food and delicacies.
Visitors, mostly local officials and ordinary villagers visit, share, taste food at the Iranun village, one of the tribal groups, which present the tradional “Pagana.”
Visitors were treated like special guests regardless of status in life.
“Foods are everywhere, fruits too, how lovely to spend time here” said one of the visitors from Manila on a business trip here who dropped by the mock villages.
“Only here in ARMM food festival,” he said of the food from Iranun village that included Muslim delicacies “Pyurs,” “Amik,” “Piaparan” and many more.
As the guests take sumptuous food, local artists performed “Kulintang” musical accompanied by a Muslim dance troupe.
In nearby booth was a “Tausug village” where fruits and sea foods ready to eat. Featured in the Tausug village from Sulu were traditional food known as “Tiyula Itum,” “Daral”, “Putli Mandi,” “Pasong” and many more.
Visitors were also treated with traditional Tausug dance and music. Not far away were the, “Maguindanao”, “Maranao,” “Sama,” “Teduday,” “Yakan” and other minority tribal groups.
Colorful flaglets, known as “Bandala,” litter around the compound in a very festive mode. Replicas of traditional houses are very visible.
One can tour and visit the ARMM through miniature villages where customs, traditions and traditional food are put forward.
“Through this miniature villages one can identify a tribal food because of the food, color, traditional dress and delicacies,we treat visitors like Sutans” Mayor Kits Guro of Matanog, Maguinanao said as he pointed to the Iranun village.
Mims Ayupan, a food chef judge, said visiting the mock villages place means you have “visited” the entire ARMM.
The cultural village was the brainchild of ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman to show to the world the rich culture of various tribal groups in the region. (END)
KAMPILAN DIVISION HOLDS PALARONG PINOY 2015
Camp Siongco, Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao – As the second semester of the year starts, the 6th Infantry (Kampilan) Division welcomes the rainy season with warmth and loud cheers through the conduct of an inter-unit/office sportsfest that was participated in by the different offices and post units of the division headquarters.
There were four competing teams: Yellow under the leadership of MGen Edmundo R Pangilinan; Red under Col Dickson P Hermoso ; Violet under BGen Manolito P Orense and Blue team under Col Romeo S Brawner.
During the opening ceremony (01 August 2015), the different teams clad in their uniforms paraded in front of the 6ID grandstand and were led by their team captains and muses signalling the start of the activity. Each team also presented their well-decorated floats which were inspired by the theme “Palarong Pinoy”.
After the opening ceremony, a cheer dance competition followed wherein the top spot was bagged by the Yellow team followed by the red team, the blue team and the violet team.
Other awards such as the Best Muse and the Best Float were won by the Red team.
The teams then competed in the palarong pinoy which was composed of kadang-kadang, palosebo, patintero and gulong relay.
In his message, the Commander 6ID MGen Edmundo R Pangilinan said that it is always fun to unwind after a very hectic and tough first semester.
He said that the sportsfest is intended for everyone to be able to practice esprit-de-corps and camaraderie among their team mates as well as to awaken the competitive spirit of the officers and personnel of 6ID in terms of sports and Filipino traditional games.
The sporstfest is expected to culminate by the end of August wherein the winners for the ball games will also be announced as well as the over-all champion for the sportfest.
COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/15 July) – Visitors to the Ramadhan Village inside the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) compound here have had their fill of cultural presentations and a taste of Moro culinary delights every night since the start of the month of fasting on June 16.
The Ramadhan village, also known as “Ramadhan Fair” may be likened to a Christmas village during the yuletide season.
After breaking the fast and a prayer called “Tarawi,” visitors would be entertained by various cultural presentations from different tribal villages inside the ARMM compound.
“Here you can tour the region in an hour,” said Samaon Ismael, one of the visitors who joined the congregational prayer Monday night.
Visitors can witness a war dance and listen to the melody of kulintang at the Iranon villages.
At the nearby Tausug village, they can watch the Pangalay dance taste free native Sulu coffee in front of the replica of Darul Jambangan Royal House.
The Badjaos in the next “village” display their prowess by performing the famous Jangay dance.
The Meranaw or Maranaw from Lanao del Sur are not to be outdone. They are showcasing the famous Torogan, the Royal House where handicraft and the world famous malong (shawl) are on display.
In between “tours,” guests can taste different Moro delicacies for a very reasonable price.
“The atmosphere is really great here; our identity is shown here, in just one setting. In less than an hour one can feel, learn and be educated about the Muslim culture, tradition and food,” Secretary Don Loong of the ARMM Department of Public Works and Highways said.
The Ramadhan village is a reflection of Muslim Mindanao, Bai Shalimar Candao, Maguindanao tourism chief, said.
“You can see here what you have not seen in the past because our history is reborn here,” Candao said in Filipino, citing the case of Maguindanao.
“This is Walay na Sultan (House of Sultan),” she said, gesturing to the structure nearby.
“The concept of Maguindanao village is to showcase the Maguindanao culture on how it has evolved from [past] centuries to the present,” she added.
“Of course we are very happy. It is only now that our visitors learn about our Iranun culture and how we evolved in the autonomous region,” said Mayor Abolais Manalao of Buldon, Maguindanao and host of Maguindanao Iranun village.
Days before the Eud’l Fitr celebration marking the end of Ramadhan, organizers said they have prepared a grand event that includes several cultural presentations for guests.
During Ramadhan Muslims fast from dawn to dusk and devote more time to prayers and charity works as a religious obligation. (Ferdinandh Cabrera/MindaNews)
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Maguindanao: Transparency on bulk of loans
Five years after, the province was
granted by the Land Bank of the Philippines to loan amounting to 1.7 Billion
pesos payable in 10 years from separate loan terms.
Among the urgent and needed to be
funded are the two giant dredging machine to be purchased for the flood prone
province which cost around 200 million pesos.
Others will finance the purchase of
provincial heavy equipment,construction of provincial capitol building,
provincial jail, road networks and bridges, educational scholarship program, nursery
and high value-crops seedlings.
This was the first after the
province has been paying in the last yearsthe unpaid loan from the his
predescessors.
Vice-Governor Datu Lester Sinsuat
said, the crafting of the loan was scrutinized and ratified from the Sanguniang
Panlalawigan officials which he said is has far different from the previous
procedures where at the moment transparency of the dealand the following bidding will obviously be
present.
END.
Monday, June 29, 2015
Maguindanao province, Army build Islamic school in former BIFF area
SALIPADA K. PENDATUN, Maguindanao (MindaNews / 29 June) – More than a hundred young children by the roadside amidst rice fields chanted and waived their flaglets as military troops and provincial officials arrived in the village of Kulasi.
Two years ago, the place was once an enclave of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), who regularly figured in fierce battles against government troops.
Today, residents witnessed a very different scenario when the team headed by Maj. Gen. Edmundo R. Pangilinan and Maguindanao Governor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu came for the turnover of a two-room Islamic school named Madrasa Tarbiya Al-Islamiyah, which aims to cater to more than 100 school children.
The project was initiated and built when Pangilinan was still a commander of the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade stationed in Tacurong City in 2013.
“The first time we came here, not a single child was seen roaming. It was almost an abandoned area, and that made me worry because it’s so abnormal,” recalled Pangilinan, now commanding general of the 6th Infantry Division.
“What we witnessed now is far different, with jubilant young children gladly welcoming us. This is the scene we want to see in every Moro community,” he said.
Mangudadatu said exposing children to education is his administration’s only legacy to achieve long lasting peace in Mindanao because everybody has the chance to widen understanding.
In his speech inspired by the Ramadhan, the governor expressed concerns on extremist teachings to the young generation, which he said is dangerous as it may be an opening for future conflicts.
“That is why we prioritize education in our governance agenda because this is what we believe is the greatest enemy of poverty and insurgency. I’m praying this madrasah will give the children proper upbringing, will impart to them the moderate teachings of Islam,” he said.
The two-room madrasah, constructed by soldiers with the cooperation of local residents and P1-million support fund from the governor’s office for the construction materials, was built beside a dilapidated makeshift building, which served as the children’s classroom.
Army and provincial officials pledged to rehabilitate the old building to be used as a multi-purpose structure for the community’s use.
Barangay Kulasi chair Mamisan Akoy said they didn’t ask money or food from the local government. But he stressed that the madrasah was the greatest gift received by the community this Ramadhan.
He urged his fellow constituents who left the village because they are aligned with the BIFF to come back home and lead normal lives. Several houses in the village, mostly makeshift huts, are in a state of abandon.
BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama, when asked about Akoy’s appeal, replied over telephone: “No problem with that. We too want to live a normal and peaceful life.”
