DOH-ARMM head tofurther pursue healthprograms

Dr. Kadil “Jojo” M. Sinolinding, Jr.

COTABATO CITY --- Newly confirmed regional cabinet secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Dr.Kadil “Jojo” M. Sinolinding, Jr. vows to strengthen the implementation of various health programs of the department.

Sinolindingwas sworn in last February 12 before Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) Speaker Ronnie Sinsuatright after members of the 9th RLA confirmed his appointment as DOH-ARMM Secretary together with Department of the Interior Local Government- ARMM Secretary Atty. Noor Hafizulla “Kirby” M. Abdullah and Department of Labor and Employment- ARMM Secretary Muslimin A. Jakilan.

“Confirmation is a process that will test you based on your performance, present activities,accomplishments, and your future plans in the agency,” said Sinolinding.

Sinolinding said he is thankful to have surpassed the interrogation of the members of the assembly both as a public official and on personal basis

“It’s a process designed to determine if you are qualifiedenough to run the agency,” said Sinolinding.

Sinolindingsaid that with the renewed trust and confidence of the RLA, he felt relieved.

“As a leader, I recognize all the lapses except those that are beyond my capacity,” he said.

Sinolinding said that right after confirmation, they are slated to focus on strengthening the basic health programs and services of the agency for the benefit of the ARMM populace.

“I ama steward. I gather all forces,people, and talents for a common goal and forthe bestinterest of the region,” he said.

Sinolinding added that it should be a convergent effort of various government partners with the participation of the stakeholders

“Disease is the result of failure of our government to respond to health issues. We would want to strengthen the advocacy of our various programs,” he said.

Other than being head of the health department, Sinolinding hadpersonally provided free medical interventions, including various eye surgeries to mostly poor Moro and Christian residents in the ARMM and Central Mindanao.

He was highly commended by the members of the RLA for the reforms he has brought to the health department of the region for seven years now, a complement the secretary humbly accepted, saying that the success of the DOH is not because of him but because of all the different partners who are very supportive to the health initiatives of the region. (GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE B. ACOSTA - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

KEEPING IN TOUCH

KEEPING IN TOUCH --- Cotabato City Mayor Atty. Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi convenes all the department heads of the city government for the monthly executive meeting.Each department head reports the progress on the regular programs that his/her office is implementing and airs out the problems that is being experienced by his/her office.The executive meeting is a regular practice of Mayor Guiani-Sayadi since the time she assumed office as getting personally in touch with the department heads is one of her leadership strategies to maintain a sound and healthy working environment. (COTABATO CITY GOVERNMENT - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

ARMM launches MASA MASID

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION --- ARMM Governor Mujiv S. Hataman appealed for public support to the newest community-based program for the prevention of corruption, illegal drugs and criminality, the “MamamayangAyawsaAnomalya, MamamayangAyaw sa IlegalnaDroga” or MASA MASID programduring a regional launching last February 21, 2017held at ShariffKabunsuan Cultural Complex, ORG Compound in Cotabato City. (GILMHAR A. LAO- MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY– The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is bound to strengthen the implementation of the newest community-based program for the prevention of corruption, illegal drugs, and criminality with the regional launching of “MamamayangAyaw sa Anomalya, MamamayangAyaw sa IlegalnaDroga” or MASA MASID program last February 21at the ShariffKabunsuan Cultural Complex, ORG Compound in this city.

Atty. Noor Hafizullah Abdullah, DILG-ARMM Secretary, said the program seeks to enlist the involvement of communities in taking action against all forms of irregularities and illegal activities, especially drug abuse.

“MASA MASID is a collaborative effort of the Philippine National Police (PNP), provincial and local government officials, barangay leaders, religious sectors, civil society groups, and non-government organizations,” he said

ARMM Governor MujivS. Hataman said the MASA MASID intends to unite different organizations in creating safer and drug-free communities in the country.

“We would want to take a pro-active stance and strengthen the participation of everybody in the government’s fight against corruption and illegal drugs,” said Hataman.

MASA MASID is designed to enhance the conduct of advocacy and education campaigns, information gathering, and reporting to reduce the supply and demand of illegal drugs and the inducement of community-based rehabilitation program to address the need for interventions of the surrendering drug personalities.

With such strategy, the barangay governments can get immediate action from the people in the barangays since the program intends to heighten community involvement and mobilizing the support of the stakeholders, volunteers, civic organization, faith-based organizations, and the private sector.

The Barangay MASA MASID teams will be composed of representatives of faith-based organizations, civil society organizations, non-government organizations, people’s organizations, and representative from the Barangay Peace and Order Council  and Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council.

Under DILG Memorandum Circular 2016-116, the program has four main thrusts: information and education campaign in communities for government programs against corruption, illegal drugs, and criminality; creation of a reporting mechanism on illegal drugs-related activities; formulation of community-based rehabilitation programs; and revive the spirit of volunteerism by creating a volunteer-friendly atmosphere for organizations that wish to be partners for change.

The circular mandates the expansion of existing UBAS Technical Working Groups in LGUs to be chaired by a City or Municipal Local Government Operations Officer with representatives from a faith-based group, Liga ng mga Barangay, PNP, and City or Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council.

Senior Superintendent Agustin J. Tello, director of the Maguindanao Provincial Police Office, said the move of the DILG-ARMM is a great help in the fight against illegal activities.

“We commend the DILG-ARMM and the fullest implementation of the program,” he said.

Senior Superintendent Oscar D. Nantes, director of the Lanaodel Sur Provincial Police Office, said they are going to intensify the campaign within their area of jurisdiction.

“I only assumed recently the post as chief of Lanaodel Sur PPO, but rest assured we are going strengthen the campaign of President Rodrigo R. Duterte against illegal activities,” he said.

The expanded UBAS Technical Working Group shall be responsible in promoting MASA MASID as a mechanism to respond to the needs of their respective LGUs and shall provide technical assistance to the program’s teams in every village.(GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE B. ACOSTA - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

PLEDGE

PLEDGE --- Sultan Sa BarongisLiga ng mga Barangay president Bai Junee M. Angas signs the “Pledge of Commitment” to the implementation of MASA MASID during the recent launching of the program held at the ShariffKabunsuan Cultural Complex, ORG compound in Cotabato City. (Anne B. Acosta - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

TJRC explains root of conflicts in report

REPORTAGE --- The Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission launched its report last February 22 in Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao which explains the roots of conflict, among others. TJRC Chair Ms. Mo Bleeker (4th from left) formally handed over the commission's consolidated reports to GPH Peace Implementing Panel chair Ms. Irene Santiago (4^th from right). The event was attended by MILF Peace Implementing Peace Panel MohagherIqbal and representatives from different foreign countries. (GILMHAR A. LAO - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY---Roots of Conflicts, which are integral in the launching of the report of the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC),   will form part of the inputs for the Government of the Philippines peace negotiating panel in the dynamics of the  peace process with rebel groups.

The TJRC launched its report last February 22 at Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

The commission was created in 2014 by both the GPH and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) negotiating panels as normalization annex to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

It is mandated to undertake a study and make recommendations to address: legitimate grievances of the Bangsamoro people; human rights violations andcorrect historical injustices; and marginalization through land dispossession.

Mo Bleeker, TJRC chair, said they handed over the complete report to the peace panel with conclusive findings on causes of various anguishes, which also highlighted land-ownership dispute through open dialogues with the Indigenous People, Muslims, and Christians.

“The case study was the result of listening to at least 3,000 residents and local officials in 211 poor communities of the autonomous region,” she said.

Further, the TJRC report alsomentioned legitimate grievances  of the populace, some human rights violations, correcting historical injustices, and marginalization through land dispossessionthat often lead to violence and armed conflict.

Bleeker stressed that they based these findings from the listening sessions and verified by study groups.

“We arranged specific topics through conduct of interviews with key policymakers and experts, comparing them with past assessment study,” she said.

In addition, Bleeker said the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) believes that by addressing the legacy of violence in a constructive manner by dealing with the past, it could offer a unique opportunity for the Philippines to be  a State that which maintains equal opportunity for everybody.

“May we appeal to both peace panel negotiators of their commitment to ensure that the TJRC official recommendations are realized,” she said.

Irene Santiago of the GPH and MohagherIqbal of the MILF,approvedthe review of the TJRC’s final report with assurance of their imprimatur.

The two said the Bleeker-led findings reflect centuries-old sentiments of the Moros in Mindanao portrayed negatively and stripped of their dignity and sense of identity.

“The rights of the Moro people have been abused and violated,” said Iqbal.

Bleeker emphasized that the case of land dispossession is a reality.

“The land dispossession issuehas resulted in the social and political and economic marginalization of the Moros and indigenous people,” she said.(GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE B. ACOSTA - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

SSB supports MASA MASID

SUPPORT MECHANISM --- Sultan Sa Barongis Mayor RamdatuAngas (right) discusses with Maguindanao Provincial Police Office Director Senior Superintendent Agustin J. Tello on how the local government and Maguindanao PPO can both strengthen collaborative efforts in the implementation of MASA MASID within the locality following the launching of the program in the ARMM. (ANNE B. ACOSTA - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY--- The local government of Sultan SaBarongis(SSB) in Maguindanao strongly supports the implementation of the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s initiative program, the “MamamayangAyaw sa Anomalya, MamamayangAyaw saIlegalnaDroga” or MASA MASID.

Mayor RamdatuAngas reiterated his support to the program during the regional launching of the MASA MASID last February 21 at the ORG Compound in Cotabato City.

Since the program is aimed at encouraging communities to take a pro-active stance in the government’s fight against corruption and illegal drugs, the mayor said he is committed to fully implement it in his town.

“We are doing this to protect the welfare of the people in our 12 barangays:Angkayamat, Barurao, Bulod, Darampua, Gadungan, Kulambog, Langgapanan, Masulot, Papakan,Tugal, Tukanakuden, and Paldong,” he said.

Angassaid he will solicit the support of residents and different sectors in his town in putting into effect the intents of  MASA MASIDfor the creation of  safer and drug-free communities.

“This program could bring together barangay officials, religious groups, and other non-government organizations with the common goal to establish good governance,” he said.

Further, Angas cited the importance of multi-sectoral linkages in the grassroots to prevent the spread of illegal drugs and other criminalities.

“The local government of Sultan SaBarongis could not do this alone, so we call for the help of our residents as we fight against illegal drug activities,” he said.

He said theywill encourage the populace, most especially the barangay leaders, to aid in the advocacy of the national leadership.

“You may extend help by reporting any irregularity in your respective areas. Let us be vigilant,” he said. (Gilmhar A. Lao & Anne B. Acosta - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Shariff Aguak to have water system

POTABLE, SAFE WATER --- Residents of Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao await the completion of their town’s water system which is now undergoing installation. Shown inset is Mayor Engr. Marop Ampatuan. (SHARIFF AGUAK MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao --- The local government of Shariff Aguak will soon have its own “water system” being a recipient of the “Central Maguindanao Integrated Potable Water System” under the ARMM-Humanitarian and Development Action Plan and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Engr. Marop B. Ampatuan, municipal mayor of Shariff Aguak, said the municipal government requested the installation of a water system in response to the needs of the town residents.

“We are lucky that the request was granted and the project is now on its implementation,” said Mayor Ampatuan.

Mayor Ampatuan said the project costs P20 million and the source would be from the Ampatuan River.

Further, Vice-Mayor Datu Akmad Mitra Ampatuan said the local government is eager to have its own water system because most residents only share some amount of water donated by them for the people through a commercial water truck.

“This water system can truly be of help for all of us,” he said.

Mayor Ampatuan said that upon completion of the project, the populace can be assured of a good supply of drinking water to their faucets in the near future.

“This is just one of the many projects acquired by the municipal government from the different concerned line-agencies,” the mayor said.

Vice-Mayor Ampatuan said the works are strictly monitored by the local government.

“In the part of legislation,we want to ensure that whatever laws the Sangguniang Bayan passes to the executive shall be implemented,” he said.(GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE B. ACOSTA – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)