ARMM is least HIV-infected region

COTABATO CITY --- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) remains to be the region in the country with the least cases of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV), this according to the Department of Health in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DOH-ARMM).

However, DOH-ARMM’s Infectious Disease Cluster (IDC) head Soraida Amiril reminds the ARMM populace to remain “cautious” and “be aware” about HIV/AIDS.

“Proper education is one key because whether we like it or not, there are still cases of HIV in the region,” she said.

Amiril said it is important to educate the public in order to prevent and take steps to reduce the risks associated with HIV/AIDS.

“October 2016 records show no cases of AIDS, but there were 12 cases of HIV. 19 percent cases of HIV were from heterosexual demographics, while 81 percent came from homosexual demographics, where mostly men having sex with men,” said Amiril.

Dr.Tato Usman, said the ARMM citizens who are vulnerable to acquiring the disease were the ones who usually travel to major urban centers.

“DOH records show that at least 25 Filipinos are affected by HIV on a regular daily basis,” said Usman.

In 2014, there were two cases of AIDS and seven cases of HIV in the ARMM. However, none of these cases have been diagnosed in the region because provincial health units lack social hygiene clinics for HIV diagnostic testing, so the cases have been consulted in the nearby regions --- Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and Davao Region --- where they have the capacity to conduct the screening.

But the DOH-ARMM said this will change come 2017.

“They should not be ashamed. There are preventive measures for HIV/AIDS,” said Amiril.

Accordingly, it is a must that we know our HIV status. Everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 should be tested for HIV at least once. If you are at increased risk for HIV, you should be tested for HIV at least once a year. If you have HIV, you can get medical care, treatment, and supportive services to help you stay healthy and reduce your ability to transmit the virus to others. If you are pregnant and find that you have HIV, treatments are available to reduce the chance that your baby will have the disease, the DOH said. (GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE B. ACOSTA / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

ARMM okays P10.1-B worth of infra in 2017

COTABATO CITY ---  A total of P10.1 billion worth of infrastructure projects are expected to be implemented in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in 2017.

Governor Mujiv Hataman and regional legislators signed Public Works Act of 2017 last December 15 that authorizes the appropriation of P10.1 billion for infrastructure projects in the ARMM. The region’s Public Works and Highways department (DPWH-ARMM), through its district engineering offices, will implement the approved projects.

These cover construction of major roads and bridges, water supply, seaports, shores, drainage canal, flood control, strategic infrastructure projects in support of tourism, agriculture, peace and security, public health or sanitation, and other socio-economic development activities and those in conflict- or calamity-affected areas.

The appropriation will be effective even beyond Fiscal Year 2017 until fully released, obligated, and disbursed for the purpose. The infrastructure funds will be properly distributed to the five provinces and two cities in the region.

“We will make sure that all the provinces will receive development projects from the regional government,” Governor Hataman said.

DPWH-ARMM Secretary Engr. Don Mustapha Loong noted that the implementation of the projects will be undertaken through competitive public bidding.

To effectively oversee the projects, the Regional Project Monitoring Committee, inclusive of the legislative assembly members or representatives, will conduct periodic checking and validation of the status of project implementation based on the approved program of work, project specifications, and time frame of completion. (BUREAU OF PUBLIC INFORMATION – ARMM – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

ESGP-PA scholars hold first student congress

BONGAO, Tawi-tawi  ---  Scholars of the Expanded Student Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA)  of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DSWD-ARMM) gathered recently for the first-ever “Student Congress” held at the Beachside Inn, this town.

The ESGP-PA is under the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps.

Bai Mohara Biruar Mokamad-Amilhasan, ESGP-PA focal person of DSWD-ARMM, said the participants were composed of the program scholars coming from the Tawi-tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (TCTO) and Tawi-tawi Regional Agricultural College (TRAC).

“It was a day of fun and stress debriefing for the 154 scholars from TCTO and another 154 from TRAC. These students enjoyed our various activities, Horoscope (Getting To Know Each Other), Building Bridge, Longest Line, Spider Web, Water Relay, Meeting of Minds, Into The Loop, Caterpillar, and Brain Teaser,” said Amilhasan.

Alminda G. Ladaja, 4Ps regional program coordinator, said ESGP-PA is significant for it is an educational grant which gives priority to the 4Ps beneficiaries by providing them opportunity to get higher college education and increase their chance to land better employment in the future.

“The ESGP-PA provides academic grants for the tertiary education of poor but deserving students, giving priority to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries. The students shall be enrolled in state universities and colleges to take up courses which are aligned with government key growth areas,” said Ladja.

Under the program, grantees of this scholarship shall be enrolled in state colleges and universities (SUCs) with accredited courses aligned with the priorities of the government. A student grantee shall be entitled to a maximum grant of P60,000 per academic year broken down as follows:  (1) P20,000 per academic year for tuition, other fees, and academic and extracurricular expenses;  (2) P5,000 per academic year for textbook and other learning materials; and (3) P3,500 per month for 10 months for food, lodging, clothing, transportation, health or medical needs, basic school supplies, and other related costs.

As one of the requirements, applicants to this program shall enroll  in one  of the priority programs identified by Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Hadja Pombaen Karon-Kader, assistant regional secretary of DSWD-ARMM, said the ESGP-PA aims to address poverty alleviation by increasing the number of graduates in higher education among poor households.

“We would want to let these graduates be employed in good landing jobs in order to lift their families out of poverty,” said Kader.

Accordingly, the program is implemented by the CHED in partnership with the DSWD-ARMM, Department of Budget and Management, Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges, and the Department of Labor and Employment. (GILMHAR A. LAO / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

OCD-ARMM addresses role of women in resilience building

COTABATO CITY --- The Office of Civil Defense in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (OCD-ARMM) is one with the national government on its 18-Day Campaign To End Violence Against Women, an annual observance in the country from November 25 to December 12 in support to the Philippine government’s goal to protect the rights of women and its commitment to address all forms of VAW.

Myrna J. Angot, officer-in-charge of OCD-ARMM, said the observance adopts the theme, “VAW – Free Community Starts with Me,” to raise awareness that violence against women is a public issue of national concern that needs a multi–sectoral approach to address the problem.

“We are appealing to the public, most especially to the women, to come out and report if in case they are victims of any kind of abuse,” Angot said.

There are two issuances that provide the national legal mandates for the annual VAW campaign: Proclamation 1172 s. 2006 – Declaring 25 November to 12 December as the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) and Republic Act 10398 (2013) – Declaring November 25 of Every Year as National Consciousness Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children.

Angot said that in support of the world-wide Campaign to End VAW, the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence begun in 1991, linking November 25 (International Day Against VAW) and December 10 (International Human Rights Day) to emphasize that VAW is a human rights violation.

“The Philippine government has participated in this world-wide campaign to eliminate VAW since 2002. Recognizing that human trafficking is a form of VAW, Presidential Proclamation 1172 s. 2006 extended the national campaign to 18 days, to include December 12, a historic date that marked the start of opening for signature in year 2000 of the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime,” said Angot.

Further, Angot cited the role of women in advocating for stronger engagement in the planning and implementation of disaster risk reduction program.

“Let us bear in mind the importance of having equal access to information and skills. Therefore, we should strengthen the individual capacities of our women and communities to combat challenges of any disaster,” she said.

Angot said women should be more resilient to face the recurring hazards and stressed they can be of help to make sure that hazards do not turn into disasters.

“Women could enhance disaster planning by focusing on community needs and vulnerable groups,” she added.

Angot added that women must somehow understand the consequences of disasters and its potential long term impacts.

“It is a must to ensure that women’s needs in disaster are represented. For one thing, promoting gender balance is crucial since women are certainly more affected by disasters than men. They need to take care of the children aside from other matters involving the family and their surrounding community” she said.

Angot also emphasized the importance of women in building the resilience of communities for sustainable development.

“In building a disaster resilient community, it is only important to have a gender sensitive DRR approach,” she said. (GILMHAR A. LAO / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

BUDGET ALLOCATION

BUDGET ALLOCATION --- The ARMM  last December 15 approved the Regional Public Works Act of 2017 authorizing  the appropriation of P10.1 billion budget for fiscal year 2017 for the region's public works and highways and Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 329 which authorizes the appropriation of the P1.68 billion worth of local funds for different regional line-agencies. Showing the signed enactments are Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman (4^th from left) and Regional Legislative Assembly Speaker Datu Roonie Sinsuat.  (BUREAU OF PUBLIC INFORMATION – ARMM / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

KIDDIE TIME

KIDDIE TIME --- More than 500 children in Barangay Rosary Heights-10 were treated to the "Pamaskong Handog para sa Kabataan 2016," a feeding program for the children of Cotabato City, spearheaded and initiated by Cotabato City Police Office under Police Director Senior Superintendent  Victor Valencia with support and assistance from City Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi. (City Government of Cotabato / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

PEACE PLAN

PEACE PLAN --- Sultan Sa Barongis Administrator Danialan B. Utap relates the formulated peace undertakings or programs to be initiated  by the municipal government and the 1^st Mechanized Brigade of the Philippine Army during courtesy call of the newly installed brigade commander Col. Bismarck D. Soliva last December 16 at the Municipal Hall.  (ANNE B. ACOSTA / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Datu Odin Sinsuat observes town’s 22nd renaming anniversary

SERVICE GRATITUDE --- Maguindanao 1^st District Rep. Bai Sandra S. Sema is a recipient of a Plaque of Appreciation from Datu Odin Sinsuat Mayor Datu Ombra Sinsuat, Sr. for her invaluable support to the various development programs of the town. The plaque was presented to Sema during the 22nd Renaming Anniversary held at the municipal covered court last December 15. With the mayor are ARMM Governor Mujiv S.  Hataman and 9^th Regional Legislative Assembly Speaker Roonie Sinsuat. (ANNE B. ACOSTA / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY ---  The municipality of Datu Odin Sinsuat gears for another year of competence as it observed last December 15 its 22^nd Renaming Anniversary with the theme, “Sulong Pagbabago tungo sa Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran.”

Datu Odin Sinsuat, well-known for peaceful co-existence amid diverse ethnicity and formerly known as Dinaig, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Maguindanao. The town's name Dinaig was changed into Datu Odin Sinsuat in 1994 by virtue of Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 29.

In a simple program held at the municipal covered court, Municipal Mayor Datu Ombra Sinsuat, Sr. said that through the years peace and order have been their primary concern.

“This is the reason why come every election, our town delivers very well. We are conducting it the peaceful way because of the dialogue between the local leaders and our constituents. They discuss, like for instance, who should run in the elections. It is all about sincerity and respect,” he said.

Bai Sandra S. Sema, House representative for the 1st District of Maguindanao, expressed in her message how proud she is for the greatest achievements of the town under the leadership of Sinsuat.

“We have many things to be thankful for. Firstly, we have an effective peace and order campaign. Another, the town has several tourist attractions where residents from Maguindanao and Cotabato City could enjoy like the Kusiong Beach, the famous Blue Lagoon, and others,” she said.

To add another milestone in history, Sema added she will also file a bill in Congress in January creating the province of Northern Maguindanao where the municipality of Datu Odin Sinsuat will be its capital.

“We will push on the creation of another province in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM),” she said.

ARMM Governor Mujiv S. Hataman, who was the guest of honour and speaker in the event, greeted the constituents in the renaming anniversary of the town.

“This is a promise that before I finish my term, roads shall be cemented and it includes Datu Odin Sinsuat,” he said.

Other personalities present during the affair included Maguindanao Vice-Governor Datu Lester S. Sinsuat, Maguindanao Board Members Russman U. Sinsuat, Jr., Datu Bimbo Q. Sinsuat, Nashrullah Imam, Department of Transportation and Communication-ARMM Regional Secretary Datu Ombra Sinsuat, Jr., and PNP Maguindanao Police Provincial Director Senior Superintendent Agustin Tello.

Datu Odin Sinsuat is politically subdivided into 34 barangays --- Ambolodto, Awang, Badak, Bagoenged, Baka, Benolen, Bitu, Bongued, Bugawas, Capiton, Dados, Dalican-Poblacion, Dinaig Proper, Dulangan, Kakar, Kenebeka, Kurintem, Kusiong, Labungan, Linek, Makir, Margues, Mompong, Nekitan, Sapalan, Semba, Sibuto, Sifaren (Sifaran), Tambak, Tamontaka, Tanuel, Tapian, Taviran, and Tenonggos. (GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE B. ACOSTA / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Shariff Aguak now focused on public service and peace

COTABATO CITY --- The local government unit of Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao is determined to push the development agenda and social services for the poor as well as strengthening the fight against illegal drugs for the benefit of the town constituents.

Mayor Marop B. Ampatuan said the main priority of the local government is the infrastructure.

Ampatuan, who is also a licensed civil engineer, said that only two weeks ago, they have completed the road widening project along the national highway, from Barangay Poblacion to the boundary in Barangay Labulabu.

“Our focus now is with the infrastructure. The heavy equipment of the local government has arrived recently and we would want to show to our constituents that we are serious with our governance.  As what the President earlier said that change is coming, “I must say, change has taken place in Shariff Aguak,” he said.

Ampatuan added that he intends to accomplish until his term in 2019 the road network of the barangays in the town.

“Our constituents are the ones who suffer with the current situation of the roads. Their farm products could not be easily transported to the market and this is the thing we would want to look into for immediate solution,” he said.

Ampatuan said canals which serve as drainages are also being reconstructed to prevent flooding.

“We have extended the width of our canals to prevent flooding at the low-lying barangays,” he said.

Ampatuan also emphasized that they are strengthening the municipal anti-drug abuse campaign. “We have previously listed 330 drug users who surrendered to local authorities. To ensure that they are not going back to their illegal activities, we monitor their daily routines.”

The chief executive added that the surrenderees are also engaged into sports and various activities such as zumba dance exercise, tree planting, and clean-up dive.

“We also provide them livelihood assistance so they can fully turn their backs out of drugs. We provide them with fertilizers for backyard gardening in coordination with the barangay chairmen,” he said.

Shariff Aguak, formerly Maganoy, is politically subdivided into 13 barangays:  Bagong, Bialong, Kuloy, Labu-labu, Lapok (Lepok), Malingao, Poblacion, Poblacion I, Poblacion II, Satan, Tapikan, Timbangan, and Tina. (GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE B. ACOSTA / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)