SSB recipient of SAAD program

SULTAN SA BARONGIS (SSB), Maguindanao --- This town is lucky to be one of the recipients of the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in support to farmers in food production, especially those in conflict-affected areas.

Mayor Ramdatu Angas said it is going to be a great help for their farmer- beneficiaries.

“We are grateful of this program of the national leadership because it focuses on the most marginalized agricultural and fishery sectors,” Mayor Angas said.

In a gathering last May 2 at the BBGM Function Hall in Buluan, Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu led the launching ceremony of the SAAD program together with DA Assistant Secretary for Planning and Special Projects LereyArevalo Panes.

“The program was attended by hundreds of farmers from various towns,” GovernorMangudadatu said.

In his message, Panes said that Maguindanao has vast fertile lands and enormous human resources that can be tapped to transform the province into a giant economy of the south.

Mangudadatu said that instead of P150 million earlier committed through the SAAD program, President Duterte has doubled it to P300 million.

Accordingly, Maguindanao is ranked fourth among the top-10 poorest provinces in the country.

It was learned thatthe DA has an initial fund of P25 million for the implementation of the first phase with 270 corn growers in the upland area of Maguindanao, particularly in the towns of Matanog, Buldon, Barira, South Upi, Upi, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Abdullah Sangki, and Ampatuan.

Aside from Sultan SaBarongis, other beneficiaries in the lower areas include Buluan, Pandag, Mangudadatu, Rajah Buayan, Datu Piang, General SK Pendatun, Paglat, Datu Muntawal, and DatuSalibo. They will be given support for rice production in the second phase.

The SAAD program is assessed and supervised by the provincial government in partnership with the DA-Region 12.(GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE ACOSTA – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Cotabato City village officials told to stop illegal drugs or resign

PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT THRUST ---Cotabato City Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi presiding over the quarterly meeting of the city’s Peace and Order Council last May 4. (PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY GOVERNMENT OF COTABATO – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY ---Village officials here will be penalized if they do nothing in containing the proliferation of illegal drugs in their respective areas, a top local government official said.

Last May 4, Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani Sayadi, chairperson of the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC), announced the creation of a special committee empowered to penalize erring village officials who have been turning "a blind eye and deaf ears" on illegal drug activities in their localities.

The Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BDAC) will be closely monitored by the special oversight committee, she said.

Non-performing village officials will be made accountable, Sayadi said.

During Thursday's CCPOC meeting, Sayadi announced that the peace and order situation of the city has greatly improved, with the number of crime incidents dramatically reduced by about 50 percent compared to the same period last year.

Also present during the meeting were Maj. Gen. Ariel dela Vega of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, and representatives from the police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Speaking to village officials present, Sayadi said: "If you cannot do your job for one reason or another, just tell me. I will not hesitate to accept your resignation."

Cotabato City now is safer than ever, she said, adding that business confidence has been restored, especially that the military-led Task Force Kutawato is in place.

Renewed commitment

The city government and law enforcement agency officials have renewed their commitment to ensuring peace and security in Cotabato City as they were in full attendance during the quarterly meeting of the City Peace and Order Council last May 4.

In her speech, City Mayor Atty. Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi emphasized the role of every barangay official in securing the different areas of the city.

She has enjoined their support and coordination to the operations of the City Police Office, the Task Force Kutawato, and other law enforcement agencies.

She has also announced the creation of the Oversight Committee which will be tasked to oversee the activities of the Barangay Anti Drug Abuse Council or BADAC.

Mayor Guiani-Sayadi said the committee will have the power to recommend to her any administrative sanction to barangay officials who will not do their role in the anti-illegal drugs campaign of the government.

"If you cannot do your job, for one reason or the other, just tell me and I will not hesitate nor regret to accept your resignation", the city mayor warned the barangay officials.

6th ID commander Maj. Gen. Arneldela Vega also reiterated the military's support to the peace and security measures that Cotabato City is implementing, saying that the city's programs can become a template to other cities and municipalities with the strong interdependence among the different government agencies.     

"Natutuwanaginawanyokamingkabalikat sa mga programa ng city government," Dela Vega said.

He also recognized the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s commitment to lasting peace and order as 105th Base commander UstadzZacariaGuma was also in attendance.

Furthermore, Task Force Kutawato commander Col. Jose Gongona, Jr. also gave a brief orientation to the council members of its composition, its areas of responsibility, and its tasks.

Other reports on their accomplishments were also given by City Police Director Senior superintendent Victor Valencia, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Chief Superintendent Allan James Logan, and PDEA-ARMM Director Bryan Babang.

Also in attendance during the meeting were the city's department heads, barangay officials, the business communities, the media, and others.  (GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE ACOSTA &PNA – Cotabato & Cotabato City Government – MINDANAO EXPOSE’ )

PSA presents ARMM economic performance

ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE --- PSA-ARMM Director Abubakar Asaad (2^nd from left) presents the 2016 economic performance of the ARMM during a press forum last May 4. With him are ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia, RPDO-ARMM Executive Director Baintan Ampatuan, and chief of Satellite Accounts Division Eduardo Sanguyo. (ANNE ACOSTA – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY --- The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) revealed the 2016 economic performance of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in a press forum last May 4 held at the EM Manor Hotel here.

Abubakar Asaad, PSA-ARMM director, presented the growth rates by sector/ sub-sector: agriculture, hunting, forestry, and fishing (AHFF); industry sector which includes mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, electricity, gas, and water supply; and service sector which includes transport, storage, communication, trade, and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, personal and household goods, financial intermediation, real state, renting and business activities, public administration and defense, compulsory social sector, and other services.

“The economy of the ARMM rebounded from -0.4 percent in 2015 to 0.3 percent in 2016,” said Asaad.

It was learned that the AHFF remains to be the dominant industry in the ARMM as its share to the region’s economic output is the largest.

The ARMM contributed 0.6 percent to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2016.

Among those present during the presentation were ARMM Executive Secretary LaisaAlamia, Regional Planning and Development Office-ARMM Executive Director BaintanAmpatuan, and chief of Satellite Accounts Division Eduardo Sanguyo. (GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE ACOSTA – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

MTDCPI confirms titles of Iranun Royal Houses

CONFIRMATION --- Her Royal Highness HadjaPutriBaiMarieta Nor-Aisha P. Mindalano-Adam (right), president/CEO of MTDCPI, and her husband, His Majesty HadjiDatuLihondo E. Adam (center), led the confirmation of 700 titles from 22 Royal Houses of the Royal Iranun Council of the Philippines last April 29 in Barira, Maguindanao. With them is Sultan Ali AmpasoUmpa (left), the first enthroned Paramount Sultan of the Philippines.(ANNE ACOSTA – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

BARIRA, Maguindanao --- The Maharadjah Tabunaway Descendants Council of the Philippines, Inc. (MTDCPI), the official and sole organization in charge of implementing the programs and activities of the Royal Empire of Rajah Tabunaway Kinship in Mindanao Darussalam Philippines, formally confirmed 700 titles from 22 Royal Houses of the Royal Iranun Council of the Philippines during rites held last April 29 at the town of Barira in Maguindanao.

Her Royal Highness Hadja Putri Bai Rhanne Marieta Nor-Aisha P. Mindalano-Adam, president and chief executive officer of MTDCPI, said the confirmed titles of the Iranun Royal Houses includes the Royal Houses of Nabalawag,  Angke’nem, Tuga-ig, Cagarawan, Cadinglian, Rumayas, Manuang, Calagan, Townside,  Diromoyod,  Pagalungan, Madaya, Bagowa Inged, Bader, Gumatong, Thamanaan, Madalum, Cabasaran, Inodaran,  Mimbantas, Raya Madalum, and Somiorang.

“The reactivation of royal titles and ranks of traditional leaders and the confirmation and affirmation of noble royal titles of Sultans and Bae’sare definitely a breakthrough in our generation,” said Mindalano-Adam.

Mindalano-Adam, together with her husband, His Majesty Hadji Datu Lihondo E. Adam, led the confirmation of about 700 traditional leaders in 22 royal titles.

“We did the rituals and by way of acknowledgment, we also gave them certificates,” said Mindalano-Adam.

Sultan Ali Ampaso Umpa, who is the first enthroned Paramount Sultan of the Philippines of the Royal Kingdom of Kapatagan Valley Foundation, also gave his inspirational message.

The MTDCPI is the official and sole organization in charge of implementing the programs and activities of the Royal Empire of Rajah Tabunaway Kinship in Mindanao Darussalam Philippines.

It is a non-political, non-partisan, non-profit, and non-stock organization established in 2011 to respond to the current needs of the Moro and tri-people in a bid  to sustain, strengthen, and promote human rights, cultural heritage, peace building, good governance initiatives, and humanitarian service to underprivileged Muslim Ummah and tri-people of the country.

The MTDCPI is managed by independent and non-partisan Muslim leaders with varied  expertiseand are practical and technical-minded individuals and compassionate on various fields of capacity buildings, humanitarian services, and community development.

The organization is a mass-based community group whose members have special trainings on humanitarian interventions, human rights, child protection, and capacity building programs.

Further, its goal is to help lead the powerless, the reserved individuals, and the indigenous people to achieve and realize their honour and dignity, rights and capabilities, justice, and freedom as well as imbibe in them the value of supporting one another.

It has been engaging in charity work for almost 10 years and because of their noble work and achievements, many local and international institutions and groups of organizations have  recognized their efforts and initiatives.

Also included in its program is the advocacy on federalism and the declaration of a drug- free kingdom.

Sultan Umpa said federalism promotes equality and transparency.

“The Royal Houses can be of help, most especially that various sultanates are equally represented. What we are trying to find now is the rectification of the imbalance in education, employment, and even in business opportunity,” said Sultan Umpa.

HRH Sultan Quirino L. Oranto, chairman of the MRRD-NECC-PENAMFED Maguindanao Chapter, said they strongly support federalism.

“The Royal Houses play a significant role in promoting federalism among their territories. It is also expected they would help their communities in settling problems such as rido (clan feud),” said Sultan Oranto.(GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE ACOSTA – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

City Tourism Promotion Board officers take oath

TOURISM BOOSTERS --- Cotabato City Mayor Atty. Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi officiates the oath-taking of the new set of officers of the Cotabato City Tourism Promotion Board. (PHOTO BY ROMMEL BAGUIO – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY ---The newly elected officers of the City Tourism Promotion Board here took their oath before Mayor Atty. Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi in a gathering last May 2 at the People’s Palace.

The new set of officers are Bai Sandra Siang (Executive Chairman), Architect Christine Mañara (Vice Chairman), Averel Saglayan (Secretary), “Kap” Janeth Dalagan (Treasurer), and Gilmhar Lao (Information Officer).

The Board of Directors are composed of Pete Marquez (Business sector); Estosan Garden Hotel (Restaurant and Hotel sector); RVM College of Cotabato and Department of Education (Education sector); Manny Balabaran, Omar Patadon, and Ric Uday (Culture and Heritage); Norma Yap and Bai Kabai Canaya (Barangay Tourism); and Gurlie Frondoza and Ammarah Dumama (City Government).

Mayor Guiani-Sayadi said the City Tourism Promotion Board’s purpose is to serve as umbrella organization of different members or institutions in the private sector.

“The promotion board aims to boost tourism activities. It would encourage, promote, and develop tourism as a major socio-economic activity to generate foreign currency and employment, and to spread the benefits of tourism to both the private and public sectors in Cotabato City,” said the lady mayor.

Mayor Guiani-Sayadi said they are strengthening linkages and relationship with the private sector“purpose of which is to ensure that this is going to be a true partnership, not just among the people in the local government.”

Executive Chairman Bai Sandra Siang expressed the board’s commitment to boost tourism potentials of the city.

“The Tourism Promotion Board is strongly committed in its advocacy to fully promote tourism. It will be a collaborative effort of different sectors,” said Siang.

Gurlie Frondoza, City Tourism Officer, said the Tourism Promotion Board shall work hand in hand with the local government in terms of tourism, adding that they have prepared the “tourism development plan.”

“Our main objective is to encourage people to come to Cotabato city and join us in our various tourism activities,” said Frondoza. (GILMHAR A. LAO – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)