DSWD-ARMM conducts Evaluation Workshop on PAMANA CDD Programs

COTABATO CITY - The ARMM's Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is conducting a Midyear Program Review and Evaluation Workshop (PREW) on Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan Community Demand Driven (PAMANA CDD) Programs on Thursday and Friday, July 28-29, in Cotabato City.

The PREW is being conducted "to ensure the smooth flow and process in the current feat of implementation of Expansion Cycle 3." The activity is also being conducted to assess the program targets, and formulate mechanisms for pressing issues and concerns.

The PAMANA CDD Expansion Cycle 3 commenced in 2016 with 340 projects and 680 projects subject for funding.

(Press Release from BUREAU OF PUBLIC INFORMATION-MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

DOH turned-over new health building to LGU Cotabato

COTABATO CITY - The new building of the Office on Health Services was properly turned over, July 28 2016 to the City Government of Cotabato.

This building, financed by the Department of Health, was a project that was conceptualized and implemented during the administration of yours truly, Mayor Jojo Guiani.

It has the same facilities as before, but now better and bigger that is more conducive to admitting and catering to patients from different parts of Cotabato City and from its neighboring towns.

Speaking on behalf of the Regional Office of the Department of Health, Dr. Francisco Mateo sent his challenge to the OHS now headed by OIC City Health Officer Dr. Zul Qarneyn Abas to do better and deliver more efficient services to its clients. He also extended his congratulations to the city government and promised to continuously support all the programs and activities of the City's Office on Health Services.

Dr. Abas answered this challenge and said though the task on their shoulders is gargantuan, the staff of the OHS is ready and is committed to serve the Cotabateños.

Aside from the formal turn over and ribbon cutting ceremony, also distributed during the program are medical kits to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology ( BJMP ) in Cotabato City, to the City Health Suboffice in the People's Palace, and to all 37 barangays in Cotabato City. These medical kits contain a Blood Pressure Monitor, a stethoscope, a nebulizer, a dressing kit, a digital thermometer and many others.

(Press Release by CITY GOVERNMENT OF COTABATO-MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

2015 Launching of Listahanan in ARMM

The ARMM's social welfare and development department (DSWD-ARMM) launched the Listahanan database of poor households in the region, July 27, 2016.

Listahanan formerly known as National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction is an information management system that identifies who and where the poor are in the country.

The 2015 assessment of the DSWD-ARMM in coordination with the DSWD regions 12 and 9 which assessed 925,957 households, identified a total of 573,446 poor households. (BUREAU OF PUBLIC INFORMATION-MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

OCD-ARMM STAGES SUCCESSFUL “FLOOD/TSUNAMI DRILL” IN LANAO DEL SUR

Balabagan, LANAO DEL SUR- Around two hundred fifty (250) residents of the coastal barangay of Banago in this town, considered as tsunami prone area, participated on Saturday, 23 July 2016 during the conduct of “Community Flood/Tsunami Drill” sponsored by the Office of Civil Defense-ARMM.

The one-day activity were also participated in by the Balabagan MDRRMC, Barangay LGUs of Banago and Narra, PNP- Municipal Police Station- Balabagan, Bureau of Fire Protection-Balabagan, and the 6th Infantry (Redskin) Battalion.

OCD-ARMM Operations Section Chief Engr. Amier Ashan Aplal, said that during the drill, the spot has suffered a 7.9 magnitude earthquake in which later on have generated tsunami along the coastal areas.

“The drill seeks to strengthen the mechanism for coordination, as well as the interoperability of key players. We would want to intensify local communities’ preparedness and increase the commitment of local government units in building safe communities,” said Aplal.

Edward Ryan Barrete, MDRRMO of Balabagan, has expressed gratitude to those who took part in the conduct of the one-day activity.

“Many thanks to the Civil Defense team for spearheading this drill, to our partner agencies, and also to the populace of Balabagan. Let us continue to help one another in achieving zero casualty,” said Barrete.

Myrna J. Angot, OIC of the Office of Civil Defense-ARMM, said one of the objectives of the drill is to pursue “community resiliency” and to test the local government’s preparedness in responding to emergency situations.

“This is to prevent hazards from having such a devastating impact and that enhancing the resilience of the community in disasters like earthquake and tsunami is a responsibility of all authorities and stakeholders involved,” said Angot.

In a separate interview, PHIVOLCS Cotabato Station Head Engr. Rainier Amilbahar, said the drill is significant because it provides the locales the basics of what to do during calamities.

“The drill is aimed at increasing and ensuring the safety of the people during and after the incident, evacuation of the affected constituents, with focus on women, children, elderly and persons with disabilities,” said Amilbahar.

Accordingly, the coastlines in both Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao along the Moro Gulf, are dotted with vast communities that were struck by a deadly tsunami in the evening of August 17, 1976.

Meanwhile, Aplal said that in the case of flooding incident, is important to be prepared to evacuate before water levels rise and potentially cut off evacuation routes.

The “Community Flood/Tsunami Drill” is still part of the observance of the National Disaster Consciousness Month 2016 that carries the theme “"Kahandaan at Pagtugon sa Sakuna, Tungkulin ng Bawat Isa". (GILMHAR A. LAO-MINDANAO EXPOSE’ with PHOTO BY JELLY FUENTES-DATUCALI)