SSB-LGU launches D’ Reformists program

REFORM is what the mayor of Sultan Sa Barongis, Ramdatu M. Angas, tells the D’ Reformists by delving on productive activities than be enslaved by prohibited and dangerous drugs that will only ruin lives. (Anne Acosta)

SULTAN SA BARONGIS (SSB), Maguindanao ---The municipal  government of this town conducted last September 10 its Municipal Conference on Livelihood Program for D’ Reformists held at the municipal gymnasium under the theme “Creating Opportunities, Transforming Lives.”

        Municipal Mayor Ramdatu M. Angas said the program is offered for drug reformists or those who surrendered their vices and would want to reform and avail of economic assistance.

        There are more than a hundred drug reformists, all residents of Sultan Sa Barongis , who have undergone rehabilitation program, the so-called matrix  intensive out-patient process.

One of the program process is monitoring the reformists’ activities and movements to determine if they have changed and gave up the vices until they are declared drug-free.

        They have to engage with productive activities to counter illegal drug urgings, the mayor stressed.

Editorial

Response to storms

Our country’s disaster preparedness and response program has again been put into action and test when super typhoon “Ompong” (International code name “Mankhut”) struck many provinces in Northern Luzon last week. It’s strong wind and rain also affected several areas in Central Luzon and parts of the Visayas. Mindanao was not spared by the effects of Habagat spawned by the super typhoon. Similarly, monster typhoon Hurricane Florence also battered North and South Carolina in the U.S. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE.....

        Some 5 million population have been affected by the storm and thousands have been evacuated to safer grounds --- schools and gymnasiums. Damage to agriculture and infrastructures are always expected in the aftermath but our prayer is to have zero casualties, but this depends on the receptivity of the population exposed to risks.

        Before the onslaught of the super typhoon, disaster preparedness was at its heels in the affected areas with communication system in full gusto in response to emergency calls. The response system has to be well coordinated under emergency situation until the strong winds and torrents come to appease. As of late Saturday and early Sunday, severe weather condition was expected to be tempered after ‘Ompong” exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility. And then comes damage assessment and costly rehabilitation… time to pick up the pieces when the sky clears.

        People have responded to warning signals and call for pre-emptive evacuation. This shows the receptivity of a population to disaster preparedness and response as we want to be safe under such circumstances. We cannot control the wrath of nature but only to be prepared on any eventuality and be responsive to disaster preparedness which have been put into drill for its effectivity, including earthquake incidence.

        So far, our region is still spared from monster storms but this should not be an excuse for lack of preparedness because when it comes, it will batter us. While people in prone-areas are used to be swept by super or monster typhoons, they are no longer complacent on the hazards of disasters… they move when it is time to act for dear lives. While in many instances we only suffer floodings, especially in lowland areas, we have to be always alert and respond to the government’s warning system.

        Just this recent, the two bombings in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat gave us a scenario on how vital is vigilance against terrorism, which is a man-made calamity. Bombings continue to be a threat in our region and vigilance is the call for our security. We are the force multipliers in the security system… vigilance is our weapon to suppress terrorism or lawlessness as this is also a form of a storm or disaster.

        How quick are we to respond to disaster situation? Typhoons or bombings, these spell danger.

Shariff Aguak town celebrates its 55th founding anniversary

GROUP SUPPORT --- Shariff Aguak Mayor Datu Marop Ampatuan (standing 3rd from left) is joined in the Foundation Day celebration by key government officials and development stakeholders, among them Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu (seated 2nd from left). --- Photo by Anne Acosta 

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao---The local government of this town celebrated its 55^th Founding Anniversary whose ceremonies were held at the municipal gymnasium last September 11.

Municipal Secretary to the Mayor Anwar Emblawa, speaking for Mayor Datu Marop Ampatuan, said the anniversary day was“historic” because, for the first timesince the incidence of the so-called Maguindanao Massacre on November 23, 2009, the Mangudadatu siblings visited the town and celebrated with the folks theirFoundation Day. 

The attending siblings were Governor Esmael “Toto” G. Mangudadatu, former Buluanmayor Ibrahim “Jong’ G. Mangudadatu, Congressman (2nd District, Maguindanao) Zajid “Dong” G. Mangudadatu, Maguindanao 2nd District Assemblyman Khadafeh “Toy”G. Mangudadatu, Maguindanao Mayors’ League president Mayor Freddie ‘Ogie” G. Mangudadatuof Mangudadatu and Maguindanao 2^nd District Board Member King Jhazzer  T. Mangudadatu, the son of Governor Mangudadatu.

Editorial

Bracing for inflation…

Inflation rate in our country rose to 6.4 percent in August from 5.7 percent in July, the highest so far among other countries after nine years. The rate increase, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority, is driven by price increases in food and non-alcoholic beverages. While this is so, pegging of prices are higher than the present inflation rate. Gasoline prices have gone to P12 per liter since January when the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion 1 took effect with added excise taxes on fuel and other commodities.

        Inflation rate, however, differs among regions, thus, affecting also commodity prices. In Mindanao, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, considered the lowest in economic index, has the highest inflation rate at 8.1 percent. The rest: Region-9 (6.4%), Region-10 (6.1%), Region-11 (7.1%), Region-12 (7.9%), and Region 13 (4.8%), the latter with the lowest percentage.

        What would it be then? Is this normal when consumers are grumbling on commodity prices, including rice which run from P80 to P100 a kilo in some areas where the staple food is nil.  Our economic managers have to devise practical solutions to bring down rising prices. There is fear that inflation would still rise next year. There is a call in reversing the fuel excise tax to temper run-away prices. When fuel prices jack up, so do prices of commodities… we know that fuel price fluctuates in the world market.

        As voiced by Senator Nancy Binay, “the government should identify the key drivers and the range of internal and external factors that continue to have a material impact on the increase of prices: adding: “The high inflation rate would have a profound impact on the long-term anti-poverty programs if there was no intervention from the government.”

        Senator PanfiloLacsonvoiced of an impending food crisis following dwindling supply of staple food which should have been imported earlier.

        Is the TRAIN Law responsible for the high inflation rate as some analysts figure out? The TRAIN is supposed to increase revenues but then it heightened inflation. How could our government economic managers deflate the trend? We cannot just wait for the prices to get higher or getting out of control as Senator Joel Villanueva said.

        There is a call for economic managers to focus on this scary economic situation and come out with solutions before the poorest sector further suffer its pangs. Already, several households have their own “discarte” to face the spiraling cost of products and services. In our region folks, perhaps you can cost the prices of commodity by 7.9 percent at the crudest accounting.

        It is our pray that inflation rate is tamed. This one is an utmost priority to focus on.

‘No ID,No Entry’

COTABATO CITY --- One needs a valid identification document (ID) to enter this city nowadays.

“A huge ‘No ID, No Entry’ signage along Matampay Bridge in the north and the Esteros Bridge in the southern part of the city says it all,” Senior Superintendent  Rolly Octavio, city police director, told newsmen here last August 7.

He said the strict implementation of the “No ID, No Entry” policy came about following an emergency meeting of the City Peace and Order Council here last September 4 in connection with the August 28 and September 2 bombings in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.

"The mayor has requested us to impose strictly the policy in all our checkpoints,” Octavio said.

Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi earlier asked Cotabateños for understanding, saying she was bound to ensure the safety of everybody amid existing threats of terrorism.

She also ordered the strict implementation of the 10:30 p.m. – 3:30 a.m. curfew hours to further strengthen the city’s security program.

“Except for emergency cases that one has to be brought to a hospital due to illness, then they will be allowed to do so,” Sayadi said.

Octavio said the new “No ID, No Entry” policy exempts no one. (NOEL PUNZALAN  & EDWIN FERNANDEZ,  PNA – COTABATO / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

City mayor calls for public vigilance

RISING AGAINST TERROR ---  Cotabato City Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi speaks before members of the City Peace and Order Council as she called the body for an emergency meeting last September 4) on efforts to strengthen the city’s security against terrorism. (Photo courtesy of CIO)

COTABATO CITY --  The mayor here convened the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) for an emergency meeting last September 4 to design steps that would strengthen security measures following the recent twin bombings in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.

"I am requesting our authorities to impose strictly the No I.D (identification document), No Entry policy in all our checkpoints,” Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi said during the CPOC meeting at the South Seas Complex attended by police and military officials, local officials, the private sector, and other city elected officials.

“We should not loosen our guard because terrorism is everywhere,” she stressed. “We need to work together to ensure our people are safe from terrorism.”

Sayadi also called on her constituents to be calm and watchful, especially when in public places.

“Again, I urge our people to remain calm but vigilant against the threat of terrorism, immediately report to authorities all suspicious persons or packages left unattended,” she said.

“I ask for your understanding, we need to strictly impose curfew hours,” Sayadi said, adding that village officials have vital roles in ensuring anyone coming into the village are known to them.

She asked people in populated public places like churches, mosques, markets, terminals, and plazas to remain watchful of people around them. “Terrorism will not succeed when all of us are working together against it,” the mayor said.

In the past, lawless elements from nearby Maguindanao province had repeatedly tried to set off improvised bombs in the city but alert police and military personnel operating under Task Force Kutawato foiled most of them.

The mayor also ordered the posting on social media of police and military hotline numbers that the public can use to report any suspicious persons or things in their midst.

Barely an hour after the September 3 bombing of an Isulan internet café, Sayadi ordered a lockdown of the entire Cotabato City to thwart possible diversionary bomb attacks. (NOEL PUNZALAN  & EDWIN FERNANDEZ,  PNA – COTABATO / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Datu Piang has new town mayor

OATH TAKING ---Datu PiangVice Mayor Victor T. Samama taking his oath as municipal mayor of Datu Piang, Maguindanao before Governor Esmael “Toto” G. Mangudadatuat the Provincial Governor’s Office in Buluan. Among those who witnessed therites were (L-R) Datu Piang MLGOO Monina Guialudin and Deputy Governor Ombra “Ramel” Dilangalen. Also present were former mayor Datu Antao Midtimbang of Guindulungan, who is standing at the back of  the governor. (ANNE ACOSTA)

DATU PIANG, Maguindanao ---The local government of this town has a new municipal chief executive following the death of Datu Piang municipal mayor Genuine Piang Kamaong last August 28.

By law of succession, automatically the vice mayor takes over.

Vice Mayor Victor Tirando Samama of Datu Piang municipality took his oath of office as municipal mayor last September 4 before Maguindanao Governor Esmael “Toto” G. Mangudadatuin Buluan.

Last September 6, Samama assumed his office as municipal mayor.

In an exclusive interview by this paper, Mayor Samamarelayed his priorities, one of which is how to remedy the flooding in Barangay Butaloof Datu Salibo municipality.

Though the flooded barangay is not within Datu Piang’s political jurisdiction, he said the people in Datu Piangare mostly affected bythis problem.

“Even the commuters, businessmen, and employees who are residing in Cotabato City or even in nearby municipalities  passing through have to wade above knee-high water in this particular area . It is hard for them to enter this town for the reason that, maybe, their vehicles are submerged into water,” he said.

Other than flood control, the newly assumed municipal mayor said: “Every politician has his/her own vision for the good of the locality. In my case, I engaged into politics not because I want to earn more money… earning is not my priority because my children are already professionals and they are already well established.My ultimate goal and vision as a politician is to develop and to uplift the living condition of my constituents and to put or builda certain legacy that nobody in the town of Datu Piang will forget.”

        “It’s very embarrassing in our part because Datu Piang, named after our late grandparents, for how many decades already and yet, until now, this municipality is not yet fully developed,” he said.

Buthere again, one of the grand children of the late Datu Piangis convinced, as  a promise again to the constituents, to develop and uplift the living condition of the people residing inthis locality, Mayor Samama said.

“If this commitment and promise are never realized, it would not only negate my name and that of my family, but the entire DatuPiang clan… and this would be embarrassing as this would fume negative comments,” he said.

Datu Piang is an agricultural land area, yet, he laments that people living in the place suffer in poverty. “I strongly believe that poverty is the root causeof allcrimes that we are facing right now.”

With the remaining nine months of his administration, he said “I’ll do my best to fast-track the implementation of the Infra projects, such as the concreting of farm-to-market roads which is one of my first priorities as of now. I believe that development is the only way in unitingthe people living in this locality,”the mayor said. (Anne Acosta)