ARMM Ramadan Trade Fair 2016 officially concludes

The ARMM government officially concluded the Ramadan Trade Fair 2016 with a closing program Monday, July 4 inside the ARMM Compound in Cotabato City.

The partner agencies and exhibitors for the month-long trade fair were awarded with certificates of appreciation during the program.

As of June 27, the trade fair had total sales of P10.83 M since it opened on June 6. There were 59 food exhibitors and 15 non-food exhibitors.

Assistant Secretary Shalimar Candao of Department of Tourism-ARMM and Assistant Secretary Abubakar Datumanong of Department of Trade and Industry-ARMM served as the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, respectively, of ARMM Ramadan 2016.

(Bureau of Public Information – Mindanao Expose)

Bangsamoro Mass Iftar

COTABATO CITY (July 2, 2016)-- More or less 1000 people were served at the Bangsamoro Mass Iftar held at the People's Palace, Saturday.

Despite the heavy rainfall that Cotabato City experienced, dozens of people still flocked the city hall for the first ever mass Iftar held in the country. Several establishments, institutions, and organizations, to include the city government of Cotabato, the Darul Ifta, the Ulamas, city restaurants, and others, participated in the activity by donating hundreds of packed food.

Bangsamoro Grand Mufti Sheikh Abu Huraira Abdulrahman Udasan also gave Muhadhaea before the Iftar and after breaking fast, led the Magrib prayer.

The mass Iftar was still a successful event despite the low turn out of people (due to the bad weather). Dr. Danda Juanday, City Administrator said, what is important is that the activity has successfully conveyed to the people its message of unity and solidarity.

The city government of Cotabato wishes all the Muslim faithful in Cotabato City a peaceful celebration of the Eid'l Fitr. City Mayor Japal Guiani, Jr. reminds everyone to welcome the Eid solemnly without the use of any firecrackers and guns as these are extremely prohibited. Violators will be apprehended by the city police. (Halima K. Satol-Ibrahim)

South Upi VM wants a functional Sanggunian

TURN-OVER RITES --- Outgoing South Upi Mayor and now Vice Mayor Abdullah “Bedz” Campong, Al-hadj (seated) congratulates his successor Mayor Reynalbert O. Insular during inaugural ceremony last June 30 at the municipal gymnasium witnessed by municipal officials and  employees, residents, and organizational representatives. Standing with the two are outgoing SB member Lynda Erese (left) and Mary Elizabeth  Angot, private secretary to the outgoing municipal mayor. (Anne B. Acosta)

UPON assuming his elective post noontime last June 30, former mayor and now Vice Mayor Abdullah “Bedz” Campong of South Upi, Maguindanao said he will introduce changes at the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) so the municipal legislature be a functional entity of the people it serves.

As SB presiding officer, Campong, in an interview by this paper, said he will implement the rule of the conduct of weekly regular session, emphasizing the full attendance of the council members.

“Absenteism is strictly prohibited under my governance,” the vice mayor stressed as one point of a functional legislative body.

Ridding the council of habitual absenteeism, Campong said SB members will rotate as “officer of the day” from Monday to Friday so each can attend to the office businesses and feel the ways how a government body is administered.

To be effective legislators, he said the SB members have to undergo training on legislation and governance and “how to preside over meetings” as these are fundaments in discharging the functions of elected municipal officials or kagawads.

He said there is no sense for some members to belong to the silent majority since every kagawad has to speak up in behalf of the people and lead the functional committee they hold in the chamber for deliberation of issues and how to address municipal concerns.

Campong said every member has to act independently as an official and not merely rely on the chief of office who cannot always be around as he has other functions to attend. “If there is wrong in that system, then he will fix as soon as he can.”

In the inaugural, Campong officially handed over the ceremonial key to Reynalbert O. Insular as the new mayor of South Upi as the former also received the key to the SB.

Mayor Insular expressed gratefulness for the trust and support given him for his election as municipal chief executive, stressing his ascendancy is for the service of his constituents. (Anne B. Acosta and Zubaida P. Malawani)

OCD-ARMM kicks off Disaster Consciousness Mo.

READINESS --- OCD-ARMM Officer In-Charge Ms. Myrna Angot explains to media partners the importance of Disaster Consciousness Training for LGUs and different line-agencies as responders. With her is 6th ID Chief of Staff Col. Bernie S. Langub, who is also the Division Training School commander.  (Anne B. Acosta)

DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao (July 2, 2016) --- The Office of Civil Defense in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (OCD), the Secretariat of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of the ARMM, held a kick-off ceremony for the region’s activities on the National Disaster Consciousness Month (NDCM) last July 1 at the 6th Infantry (Kampilan) Division Training School (DTS).

Attended by various government agencies and other organizations, the activity was spearheaded by OCD-ARMM Officer-in-Charge Myrna Angot together with 6th ID Chief of Staff and at the same time DTS Commander Col. Bernie S. Langub.

After a short program and prayer offering, the event formally opened with a press conference  followed by the “Showcasing of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Equipment”  at the DTS, where members of the media had a glimpse of the capabilities of responders come any disaster.

Various personalities who took part during the opening of the NDCM 2016 included the four pillars under the DRRM Thematic Areas:  the Department of the Interior and Local Government-ARMM Focal Person Mauricio Civiles, Department of Science and Technology-ARMM Focal Person Jimmy Hedesin, Department of Social Welfare and Development-ARMM Representative Abie Ayao, and Regional Planning and Development Office-ARMM Focal Person Palawan Mamaon.

Other partner line-agency representatives present were Bureau of Fire Protection-ARMM Regional Director Superintendent Adam Ali Guiamad, 6th ID DRO Col. Gerardo Cap-atan, 6 CMO Bn Commander Col. Noman Alcovindas, PAGASA Cotabato Chief Charlyn Jamero, and PRO-ARMM RPCRD P/Senior Superintendent John Roderick A. Morales.

Angot said the disaster risk reduction is vital for the building a more equitable and sustainable future.

“In fact, it is a must that we make serious investments in prevention and preparedness, including our various drills for it is a contributor to the systematic efforts aimed at increasing disaster resilience,” said Angot.

Leo Alicas, DRRM division chief, said the responsibility for disaster risk management does not lie solely with disaster managers. “This is a concern of everybody and it should come down from the grassroots. We must be empowered to make decisions which reduce risk into various platforms. For one thing, the country has a comprehensive disaster risk reduction and management law since the birth of R.A. 10121.”

Alicias added that the DRRM putting into practice may appear to be complicated task for others, but he said there are basic steps to break and generate effective approaches in reducing risks.

“Concerned government line-agencies are now focusing on local needs, such as capacity building which is cost effective. With increased capacity, local government units can find support from their community for disaster risk reduction program,” said Alicias.

Col. Langub, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of water search and rescue training as one of the priority programs under the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management.

“It is very significant that we have a pool of responders who are well trained and that we are also well equipped when it comes to the DRR. Right now, you have witnessed how prepared we are,” said Langub, adding its importance “so we could lessen the threats on rescuers when rescuing victims or people during incidents.”

“They will be more aware on how to find hazards, and at the same time learn the mechanisms on personal safety and survival and basic lifesaving. We would want to strengthen the capacities of our rescue teams in the ARMM,” said Langub.

The NDCM-related activities for the ARMM include the Medical First Responders (MFR) Training, Media Forum on DRRM, Poster Making Contest, 2nd Quarter National Simulation Earthquake Drill (NSED), Flood Drill for Sultan Kudarat, Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) Training for the Mainland Provinces, Contingency Planning Formulation Workshop (CPFW) for Lanao del Sur, DRRM Government Orientation for Regional Agencies, Multi-Hazard Simulation Exercise, and the Gawad Kalasag 2016 Desk Evaluation.

Earlier, Angot encouraged various government line-agencies in the ARMM to hang on with their respective tarpaulins in observance of the Disaster Consciousness Month.

The NDCM 2016 theme is: "Kahandaan at Pagtugon sa Sakuna, Tungkulin ng Bawat Isa." (Gilmhar A. Lao, OCD-ARMM Information Officer)

DEMO SAMPLING --- A member of the Cotabato “City-based media, Anthony Henilo of Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation, is on the go for the seat hip rappelling demonstration at the 6th ID Division Training School in Barangay Simba, Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat ,Maguindanao.  The demonstration is part of the month-long celebration of the National Disaster Consciousness Month 2016. Related story on page 8.  (Anne B. Acosta)