City SP names new avenue after late mayor

Councilor Eduardo C. Rabago

COTABATO CITY --- The 15th Sangguniang Panlungsod of this city has  named a new avenue after the late Mayor Japal “Jojo” J. Guiani, Jr.

Councilor Eduardo C. Rabago, author and sponsor of Ordinance No. 4495 s. 2017, said the ordinance names a new road abutting at S.K. Pendatun Avenue in Barangay Poblacion Mother, extending along Barangay Poblacion I up to Delta Bridge as Mayor Japal J. Guiani,  Jr. Avenue.

Rabago said the people of Cotabato City and Maguindanao Province are privileged to have an outstanding public servant in the person of the late Mayor Guiani.

“The late Mayor Jojo has dedicated his life in the service of the people of Cotabato City and Maguindanao Province with honor and distinction, having served the city as elected councilor from 1992 to 1998; overwhelmingly elected vice mayor and presiding chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod in 2001, re-elected in 2004 and 2007; and elected mayor of the City of Cotabato in 2010, re-elected in 2013, and 2016, and died in the line of duty,” Rabago said.

Rabago said that during the term of the late mayor “Jojo” Guiani, the city government was awarded many national awards, namely: Seal of Good House-Keeping in 2911, 2012, and 2013; top-three Most Business Friendly Cities and Municipalities (1^st Class City Category) in 2014 by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry; top-three Most Child-Friendly Cities and Municipalities (Ind. Component Cities Category) in 2015 by the President; top-four  Most Competitive City in the Search for Most Competitive Cities and Municipalities in 2015; top-two in Top Performance in Real Property Tax (RPT) Collection in Region XII in 2014 and 2015; 2014 Regional Sandugo Awardee (Top LGU in Mobile Blood Donation); top-10 Outstanding Movers of the Philippines by the Save Me Movement; and Outstanding Local Chief Executive Award by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-12 and Philippine National Police-12 in 2014 and 2015, among others.

“It is but fitting, therefore, that the people of Cotabato City and Maguindanao Province, in memory of our late mayor, to name the new road in his name,” Rabago added.

He said the City Engineering Office has been requested to install the street names/signs at the corner of the named road and S.K. Pendatun Avenue and at the end of the so named road at the approach of the Delta Bridge.

“The installation of the street names/signs shall be completed by June 7, 2017, in commemoration of the 55^th Birth Anniversary of the late Mayor Japal J. Guiani, Jr.,” said Rabago. (GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE ACOSTA- MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

601st Brigade imposes curfew hours

PEACE AND ORDER --- Shariff Aguak municipal government led by Mayor Marop B. Ampatuan (3^rd from left) held an emergency MPOC meeting last June 1 in support to PDU30’s martial law declaration. With him are (L-R) Shariff Aguak PNP Chief of Police Chief Inspector Armando L. Liwan, MLGOO Monina Guialudin, 57^th IB commander Lt. Col. Enrique L. Clemente, 40th IB commander Lt. Col. Edgar L. Catu, and Capt. Jerome Yee of the 601^st Brigade. At inset is 601st Brigade commander Col. Diosdado C. Carreon. (ANNE ACOSTA - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY --- The 601^st Brigade of the Philippine Army, in support to President Rodrigo Duterte's martial law declaration, started last Thursday the imposition  of local curfew hours.

Col. Diosdado C. Carreon, commander of the 601st Brigade, said the move is being implemented within the brigade’s area of responsibility.

He said there would be no changes in their security procedures, especially on checkpoints. However, the public should expect a more thorough inspection and search.

“We assure the public that we are still in total control of the daily operations. Curfew hours start from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m.,” said Col. Carreon.

In Shariff Aguak town, Mayor Engr. Marop B. Ampatuan and Vice Mayor Datu Akmad Mitra Ampatuan called on their constituents to remain calm and be vigilant in this time of crisis with the declaration of martial law by President Duterte.

The municipal government, in its Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) meeting last week, solicitedthe support of the municipal and barangay officials to the  implementation of martial law in Mindanao.

Mayor Ampatuan said the move of the President has gained support from the Filipino people and “so with the municipal government of Shariff Aguak.”

“The local government appeals to its people to remain at home when there are no necessary or urgent matters to attend to and if it cannot be avoided, one must bring along with him personal identification to avoid complications when travelling outside of this town,” said the mayor.

Lt. Col. Enrique L. Clemente, commanding officer of the 57^th Infantry Battalion, and 40th Infantry Battalion chief Lt. Col. Edgar L. Catu were present during the MPOC meeting.

In Sultan Sa Barongis, Mayor Ramdatu Angas said the curfew was reached after their recent MOPC meeting.

“For the law-abiding citizens who need to come out of their homes during the curfew hours, all they have to do is bring proper identification cards issued by the government such as driver’s license, postal ID, or COMELEC ID, among others,” said Mayor Angas.

In Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Mayor Bai Anida U. Dimaukom said the local government supports the national government’s efforts to stabilize the situation in Mindanao.

“Police and Army checkpoints have been put up in all entry and exit points to prevent lawless elements from sowing violence and terror. We also call on the support not only of our municipal and barangay officials, but also of our residents so we can sustain peace and order” said Mayor Dimaukom. (GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE ACOSTA- MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

S. Aguak prepares oval for motocross

PREPARATION --- An oval is being prepared for the motocross by the municipal government of Shariff Aguak as one of the highlights in the upcoming 54th Founding Anniversary come September 2017. (ShariffAguak Municipal Government - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao --- This local government has prepared an oval ground or surface for the upcoming motocross showdown in the 54th Founding Anniversary come September 2017.

Mayor Engr. Marop B. Ampatuan said the motocross is one of the highlights in the celebration, first of its kind since this municipality was created in September 11, 1963.

“Motocross enthusiasts are flocking in the Shariff Aguak oval every afternoon to watch some local riders practicing in preparation for the big event in September. The enthusiasts have come from the different municipalities in Maguindanao and other provinces,” Mayor Ampatuan said.

Only weeks ago, a rider from General Santos City came with his group to discuss, among others, the possibility of inviting some famous national riders from all over the archipelago.

In addition, the afternoon practice of some local riders has become an entertainment to the people of this town as hundreds of individuals from all walks of life flock in the oval.

“We are glad seeing our people converge in the municipal hall grounds where the oval is situated,” said Mayor Ampatuan. (GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE ACOSTA- MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

ARMM continues humanitarian aid to Marawi residents

CRISIS UPDATE --- ARMM Governor Mujiv S. Hataman gives updates on humanitarian efforts of the regional government in the Marawi City Crisis during a press conference last May 29 held at the Office of the Regional Governor in Cotabato City.(GILMHAR A. LAO - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY --- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) government, through its crisis management committee, continues to respond to the emergency needs of Marawi City residents since clashes erupted last May 23 between the Armed Forces and the extremist Maute group.

Personnel from different ARMM line-agencies are currently working as volunteers manning the 24/7 emergency helpline which the regional government has set up in Cotabato City. The volunteers take three eight-hour shifts daily.

The hotline receives 500 calls on the average per day aside from hundreds of text messages from affected residents asking for relief packs and assistance, especially for those who are still in Marawi City.

The committee reports stranded or trapped civilians in the battlefield and provides updates on the status of such cases. The volunteers take note of the caller’s identity, location, and contact details. These pieces of information are critical in providing the appropriate assistance the callers need.

The ARMM crisis management committee has been active in gathering information and assessing as well as in monitoring the situation on the ground, keeping track of the needs of individuals affected by the ongoing offensive against the terror group.

As of this posting last June 2, some 26,720 families or 133,700 individuals from the city and its nearby towns have evacuated, either in designated evacuation centers or at their relatives’ houses. Still, over 3,000 individuals are stranded in war-torn Marawi.

These pieces of information, collected and verified, help significantly in the committee’s decision making, planning actions, and taking steps to continually ease the plight of evacuees, stranded individuals, and missing persons.

Meanwhile, the ARMM has set up a relief operation center in the town of Malabang, Lanao del Sur to coordinate and manage its humanitarian response to the ongoing crisis in Marawi City.

The regional government continues to provide humanitarian aid to the thousands of displaced families. As of May 31, it served around 134,420 internally displaced persons (IDPs), who are either home-based or in designated evacuation centers.

Department of Social Welfare and Development-ARMM Assistant Secretary Hadja Pombaen Karon-Kader, who also serves as the head of the ARMM's coordinating center in Malabang, led the distribution last May 31 of around 400 relief packs to MarawiCity evacuees staying in several evacuation centers in Lanao del Sur.

The ARMM, through its Humanitarian Emergency and Action Response Team (HEART), served relief packs to a total of 22,103 families in various evacuation centers.

On May 27, a Regional Command and Coordination Center for Regions X and ARMM was set up in Iligan City.

Myrna J. Angot, officer-in-charge of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-ARMM, said that in response to the incident, clusters have been activated, including food and non-food, education, protection, health and sanitation, camp coordination and camp management,law andorder, logistics, search rescue and retrieval, management of the dead and missing, and emergency telecommunications.

P77-M for Marawi humanitarian assistance

In another development, the ARMM has earmarked about P77 million for emergency response to the crisis in Marawi City.

Speaking in a radio interview last June 30, ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said the regional government is making it sure nobody among the internally displaced persons (IDPs) go hungry.

"No one should be left without food and water. We should show to our IDPs that the government is here to protect them," Hataman said in Filipino.

As of (June 29) Monday afternoon, the ARMM Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team (HEART) has recorded 17,007 families or 84,460 individuals affected by the hostilities after terrorists stormed Marawi City two weeks ago.

Of this number, 67,870 persons are housed in 38 designated evacuation centers in Lanao del Sur and Iligan City while 2,633 families or 16,590 individuals are staying in the houses of their relatives in the province.

When human exodus was reported in Marawi City the morning after the Maute Group and Abu Sayyaf Group stormed the city last may 23, Hataman immediately formed a health team, headed by Department of Health-ARMM  Secretary Dr. Kadil Sinolinding, Jr, to address the health needs of displaced families while government forces are pursuing the armed men.

The regional governor said the financial resources used in the emergency response and post-conflict intervention come from the ARMM Special Purpose Fund of the Office of the Regional Governor (ORG).

Hataman said the ARMM humanitarian response is being conducted in partnership with other government agencies in Northern Mindanao.

The ARMM Crisis Management Center has also confirmed at least 3,717 stranded individuals and 59 missing persons.

It also recorded at least 100 persons dead as fighting entered its 8th day last June 30. This includes 61 Maute and Abu Sayyaf extremists, 20 government troops, and 19 civilians.

He said 33 soldiers were injured and have been treated in various hospitals in Iligan City. (EOF/PNA – COTABATO GILMHAR A. LAO WITH BUREAU OF PUBLIC INFORMATION-ARMM / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Hugpong Federal appoints officers in Barangay Making

PARANG, Maguindanao---The Hugpong Federal Movement of the Philippines, Inc.,a private organization that supports and promotes the shift to a federal form of  Philippine government has appointed its officials in Barangay Making of this town.

Faisal D. Mantawil, vice chairman of the multi-sectoral/parallel group in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and municipal director in Parang town, said the organization is a mass-based, multi-sectoral social movement committed to work for the transformation of the present system of government from unitary into a federal form of government.

Mantawil said their objective is to serve as an instrument for change in realizing the vision of a more democratic government where the essentials of federalism are practiced.

“Advocacy mechanism is important down to the grassroots level so the people would be able to understand what a federal form of government is,” said Mantawil.

The officers for Barangay Making include Rosita T. Humpay (Barangay Executive Director), admin for Finance Mamerto Amadeo (Admin for Finance), David O. Laguna(Admin for Sectoral Organization), Rollybert B. Lao (Admin for Media), Pepito M. Almirante (Admin for Secretariat), Rodrigo F. Paculanang (Chairman), Zenaida C. Nuñez (Vice Chairwoman), Zenaida P. Salleva (Secretary), Nelda G. Paglinawan (Treasurer),  Arlyn H. Bagasao (Assistant Treasurer), Nelson D. Mortola (Auditor), Florian T. Verano (Public Information Officer), and Praxedes C. Tulbanos (Sergean-At-Arms).

Mantawil said they would want to embrace a system which is best suited for the needs of the populace in Mindanao.(GILMHAR A. LAO- MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

SOAKING WET

SOAKING WET --- Residents of Kabuntalan town in Maguindanao soak in flood waters just outside the Municipal Government Hall. Heavy rains the past weeks flooded most areas of the town’s 17 barangays. (ANNE ACOSTA – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)