HAIL PH --- Miss Asia Pacific International 2018

HAIL PH --- Miss Asia Pacific International 2018 Sharifa Akeel from the Philippines (center) poses for photos with 3rd runner-up Misheelt Narmandakh of Mongolia (left), 2nd runner-up Melania Gonzales of Costa Rica (2nd left), 1st runner-up Gabriela Palma of Brazil (2nd right), and 4th runner-up Marani Angarita of Venezuela (right) during the coronation night at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City last October 4. Sharifa hails from Lebak in Sultan Kudarat province. (Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News / Google News PH / MINDANAO EXPOSE’) 

REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN TROOPS

REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN TROOPS --- Families of soldiers and police personnel slain in the Marawi City siege pose with Lt. Gen. Rolando Joselito Bautista (9th from right), commanding general of the Philippine Army, during the soft inauguration of the Marawi Heroes Memorial Murals at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Metro Manila last October 5. The mural highlights the heroism of troops in the five-month battle to take back Marawi City from members of the Islamic State-inspired Maute Group. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

23 ARMM LGUs SGLG awardees

COTABATO CITY --- Twenty-three (23) local government units (LGUs) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have been conferred with the 2018 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG), awarded by the national Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

In an official statement released last October 1, the awardees from the region include the provincial government of Basilan, the city government of Lamitan, and 21 municipal governments acrosss the region.

The ARMM ranks fifth in the country based on the number of SGLG awardees.

“Our efforts this year have resulted to the most number of SGLG passers in the history of the region, but at the end of the day, we all worked hard not only for recognition from the national government,” said ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman.

“We did this because this is the kind of public service that the people of the ARMM deserve,” he said.

The ARMM also has the most number of passers among Mindanao regions.

“We are thankful to our Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman for making sure that we have every opportunity to showcase the excellence of our LGUs in the ARMM,” said Secretary Noor Hafizullah Abdullah of the DILG-ARMM.

Secretary Abdullah also noted that the DILG-ARMM has consistently worked on their good governance targets since October last year.

The SGLG awardees from the ARMM in the municipal category this year are: Maluso and Sumisip in Basilan; Buadiposo-Buntong, Kapatagan, Piagapo, Taraka, and Wao in Lanao del Sur; Barira, Buldon, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Paglas, Guindulungan, Matanog, Parang, Shariff Aguak, South Upi, Sultan Kudarat, and Upi in Maguindanao; Talipao in Sulu; and Sibutu and Simunul in Tawi-tawi.

To be a recipient of an SGLG award, an LGU needs to meet standards set by the national government, which include improvements on performance, accountability, transparency, and participation. These encompass three core assessment areas: Good Financial Housekeeping, Social Protection and Disaster Preparedness, and at least one from essential assessment areas, namely Business-Friendliness and Competitiveness, Peace and Order, or Environmental Management.

“We salute our staff and all the ARMM agencies who helped us achieve this year’s feat,” said Governor Hataman.

Just three years ago, in 2015, ARMM had no SGLG passer. Following good governance initiatives of the regional government, the region had six passers in 2016, which then significantly increased to 22 in 2017.

The ARMM government under Governor Hataman’s administration has made it a priority to provide better services to the region’s constituents, especially through the ARMM LGUs. (Bureau of Public Information – ARMM / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

ARMM gets new ISO certification

ISO-CERTIFIED ---  Top officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao led by ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Masuhud Alamia (3rd from right) receives the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-9001:2015 from representatives of TUV Rheinland Philippines, Inc. last October 1. (Bureau of Public Information – ARMM / MINDANAO EXPOSE

COTABATO CITY --- The Office of the Regional Governor in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ORG-ARMM) passed the accreditation process and attained the quality management certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-9001:2015.

Following a two-day intensive evaluation on the efficacy of the ORG’s quality management system (QMS) by the TUV Rheinland Philippines, Inc., the certificate was awarded last October 1.

Earning the ISO 9001:2015, the latest edition of the ISO’s flagship QMS standard, means that the ORG-ARMM has attained the international standard and requirements for an excellent management system. The scope of the certification includes the provision of completed staff work for the governor’s issuances and engagements.

With the accreditation, ARMM's Executive Secretary Atty. Laisa Alamia recognized the team's hard work and urged it to continue serving the Bangsamoro people.

“It will further boost the efforts of the regional government to provide quality and efficient services to its constituents,” Atty. Alamia said as she received the certification on behalf of the ORG.

“Today is a memorable day for us. It has always been a dream since RG Hataman took his post,” said the governor’s chief of staff Norkhalila Mambuay-Campong.

She recalled the hardships the governor’s team experienced to provide quality services, improve facilities, and address the needs of the regional government’s constituents.

Tristan ArwenLoveres, managing director of TUV Rheinland, emphasized that the award process requires an organization to be able to “consistently provide products and services that meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.”

“I know the hard work of the ISO core team. And I told you that time that the greater challenge is how you can maintain the quality management system,” Loveres said.

The ORG-ARMM has been awarded its first ISO 9001:2008 certification in 2016.

“True enough, the ORG-ARMM just not continuously maintain the quality management system but you continuously improved on it,” he said, commending the team in further elevating its services.

As explained by Loveres, the new QMS standard (ISO 9001:2015) gives more emphasis on risk management and greater leadership involvement to ensure a more timely and responsive approach in the offices.

“No doubt, the ORG-ARMM, led by ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman, doesn’t lack in leadership. It also clearly shows the top management commitment, involvement in giving the quality services, and achieve conformity and customer satisfaction.”

As the new Bangsamoro entity is set to be established next year, Atty. Alamia hopes the next regional government would continue to have a quality management system that will have a significant impact on the lives of the Bangsamoro people. (Bureau of Public Information – ARMM / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Editorial

Our salutation to teachers

Ask what they would like to become in the future, a number of youngsters would say “to be a teacher.” Welcome to the club… a profession so endearing that teachers also act as counsellors in different ways. My mother was an elementary school teacher, my step sister is also a mentor in the national high school, and I, too, was a collegiate instructor.

        We honoured them last October 5 on occasion of the National and World Teachers’ Day. Students showered their mentors/class advisers with flowers, simple gifts, and salutations. They deserve such honor and recognition. Some were given accolades for their exemplary and extra-ordinary services… our congratulations. 

        What makes them so endeared? To answer the question is to quote the statement of Henry Adams: “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” The statement is figuratively immense.

        I remember the counsel of our dean of studies way back in high school days in prodding me to improve my academic grades. I said “I would try.” But then instead, perhaps as a matter of a mandate, said: “Do it.” And so I did and earned my academic honors. Big deal, indeed! That is what I mean immense influence… a mandate of inspiration that “it can be done.”

        I thank my Sociology class (batch 1991 to 1995) for coinciding their first reunion with my birth date in December 2017. In their program remarks, they said having learned so much from my instructions. My response was this: “Each one of you has his/her own way of dealing with your respective lives. It’s not the grades for you have earned the marks, but how you apply the lessons for your sake.” Teachers provide the inputs and the outputs belong to the students or would-be professionals.

        Yes, we learn so much from our mentors… our gratitude for imparting the knowledge and harnessing our hidden skills. So many of them in our life’s schooling days… some of them so close to us more than friends for we have endeared each other so much. Perhaps, their counselling has inspired us and has affected our pursuits in our lives. You yourself know how they could have influenced your life in one instance or another.

        Now, can you recall their names and images in your minds? Of course, you have your own favourites and not so favourites. Whatever, we salute them for being part of our lives. Without them… what? Folks, we are also teachers/mentors in a way but being a full-time one is a matter of a profession and dedication.

        Ask the young ones if they want to become teachers and you will see the hands-up for taking the teachers’ course. Be good at that career status, guys.