ARMM peace and order council discusses region’s security status

Cotabato City (November 9, 2018) – Members of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) held a meeting on Friday, November 9, at the Office of the Regional Governor here to discuss the status of peace, order, and security in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

ARMM Vice-Governor Haroun Alrashid Lucman, who presided over the meeting, said the key in achieving public safety is to have a discourse about it. “And this is the essence of the RPOC, nagkakaroon ng coordination ang mga civilian and military authorities in working together to address security threats,” he said.

Meanwhile, Atty. Noor Hafizullah Abdullah, regional secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, said his office has been giving directives, thru policy issuance, to local government units (LGUs) in the region to strengthen peace and order council at their levels.

“And they are very cooperative, examples are Basilan and Maguindanao. Napakaganda ng collaboration ng local government, as well as the military and the PNP (Philippine National Police),” he said, noting close cooperation among these institutions have resulted in the reduced number of crimes and armed groups in their respective provinces.

In solving issues like terrorism, Sec. Abdullah said the military and the police cannot do it alone; so, there must be a convergence not only of all groups in the security sector, but also the LGUs and the communities themselves.

“Kasi if the LGU can convince the community to participate in solving these crimes, madali lang actually ma-resolve because the province of Basilan has shown it. Na-resolve yung mga problema nila thru people’s participation,” he said, “If you look at Basilan, yung mga Abu Sayyaf Group almost wiped out na.”

Also discussed during the meeting was the kidnapping incident in Patikul, Sulu involving teachers. “We cannot allow this to happen. One of the basic services of the government is teaching, educating our youth,” said Vice-Governor Lucman.

“Ang ating Department of Education, thru Sec. Rasol Mitmug Jr., napagkasunduan na mag-sumite sila ng ng mga areas where there are threats of security to our teachers, at ang ating AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PNP ay mag-a-augment ng pwersa para ma-ensure yung kanilang seguridad,” he said.

“We are calling on the provincial government of Sulu, tumulong naman sila para hindi masyado mahirapan ang ating mga security sectors,” he added, noting the LGUs in Sulu seem to be not making advances in resolving the issue.

During the meeting, the Armed Forces of the Philippines presented updates on the security challenges in ARMM, the Philippine National Police presented security plans for the upcoming Bangsamoro Organic Law plebiscite and the 2019 midterm elections, and the PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency)-ARMM presented the status of the campaign against illegal drugs in the region. (Bureau of Public Information/ Mindanao Expose’)

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Editorial

Rights of children to keep; rice just right

We have to look on other important issues than keep on ranting over high inflation rate, still at 6.7 percent. This month of November, our country celebrates two events: Children’s Month and Rice Awareness Month. Our staple food is so important to the growth of children that the former should not be voluminously served but just put to waste.

        Statistics is lamenting that there continues to be sexual abuse on children, both in the homes and dens where they are marketed, including the internet. Distressing it is for some parents and relatives who induce children into sex slavery and cyber-sex trade. Those behind these crimes deserve to be unforgivable.

        Parents and those entering family life should be doubly conscious of their obligations on the rights of their sibs, among these: the right to family, education, and health. Supposed to be righteous parents, including guardians, have to raise their children with quality endowments of protection and comfort. Kids have to be properly reared, given the nutritious food, and provided support for their education so they can pursue their respective careers and become self-reliant  andresponsive, productive citizens. When kids grow up, they look on their parents with love and gratitude… and the supposed cycle of family life is sustained qualitatively.

        Planning the size of the family is rather an important optionto provide the offsprings with quality care and attention given the economic standing of couples. Sex appetite has to be tamed and timed as part of family planning so as to prevent the unwanted large family size to the deprivation of the sibs. The fate of the young generation lies on the responsibility of parents who should also join the crusade for child protection.

        On the other hand, wastage of rice is senseless… money is lost by wastage. Statistics indicate that Filipinos leave cooked rice to waste because of left-overs almost every meal, including those ordered in restaurants as they end up in trash containers or fed to the dogs that later desist on consuming them. This recent, our country has suffered rice supply shortage and high price which causes hunger to some segments and nutrition problem. Rice as part of the menu should be properly budgeted in terms of cooking volume to prevent wastage and sustain cost savings at best. What is enough should be enough to our “tummies”… a little of this and that is ideal and not become gluttons. A balanced diet is a healthy habit, including rice intake. So cook rice that is just enough for us in the family… wastage is loss of income in the long run if we count what are thrown away as garbage.

        Remember: Children have their rights when they are born. They are born because of love between couples and this love is shared on children. On the other hand, we don’t put to waste staple food so we continue to have such supply in the homes for all members of the family to share, including the young sibs. Just think that the poorest, including children,  out there go hungry and yet we throw away much rice. Pity yourself when the time comes you go hungry because you can no longer afford to buy the staple food.

       

Carmen LGU extends livelihood to lumads

Mayor Roger TamondongTaliño

CARMEN, North Cotabato ---The municipal government of this town celebrated its Indigenous People’s (IPs) Month last October 29 with the Theme: “Convergence for IP Empowerment towards Compatible Lives.”

The activity was a gathering of the IPs from the different municipalities of the 3rd district in North Cotabato. It was also the opening salvo for the week-long celebration of the 62ndFounding Anniversary of this locality on November 15. 

Mayor Roger TamondongTaliño, in an interview, emphasized the important role of the IPs because “they are a component population of this town and they, too, are also Filipinos… Without them, this locality (Carmen) is not fully complete. They have shared in the development landscape of the town.”

The mayor said this is the first time that the “lumads” celebrated its IP’s Month here, “that’s why we support their festive moment and extend the resources they want in order to pursue their whole day activity… the LGU of this locality is fully supportive of their needs.”

The local government unit of Carmen has extended amedical outreach during the celebration program, to include free medical check-up for senior citizens and children and distribution of medicines to more than a thousand IP beneficiaries.

The IPs in Carmen constitute 15 percent of the population while the Muslim inhabitants comprise 35 percent and the Christian constituents at 50 percent.

“The tri-people here live harmoniously and are very united without any discrimination among each other, ”Taliño vouched of his constituency.

Mayor Taliño also stated that they have provided livelihood projects for the IPs with capitalization of some Php300,000 under certain terms and conditions. Among the economic assistance are the distribution of palm oil and rubber seedlings to private land owners.

He said the recipients of the livelihood projects have to pay their taxes to the LGU  amounting to Php5,000 as stakeholders’ counterpart. Tax payment is proof of land ownership with corresponding real property tax. “And then you will receive the total of Php300,000 worth of these seedlings.”

The other IPs who are beneficiaries of ancestral domain, the mayor said, will also receive the same amount of seedlings but free of charge,provided “you plant and cultivate these seedlings properly, until they grow maturely… I’m doing this for your own good and for the welfare of your entire family and to uplift your way of living.”

“Through these projects, you will earn a lot.And I’m begging to thesepeople, please don’t sell your rubber and palm oil to other individuals. I ncase of emergency or if anything would happen to your family circle, just tell me so that we could arrange some or find certain solutions to your problems,” themayor added.

The participation and involvement of the IPs in the celebration of the town’s  62^nd Founding Anniversary continues to be the center-piece of the event as more recipients will be extended livelihood assistance, especially to those who have not yet received their share of support services.

“Perhaps, some of them would not believe in my administration’s gesture because I’m a politician… My offer is not enough for them to believe. But, I should say, I really understand the ways and customs of these people (to see is to believe for them).

The distribution on the first and second batches have been successful and this time, we are going to distribute for the third batch of recipients. My intention is really to help these people so they could improve their way of living and be co-equal among the other population here,” the mayor further said. (Anne Acosta)

Mamasapano celebrates its 20thFounding Day

Mayor TahirodinBenzar A. Ampatuan

MAMASAPANO, Maguindanao ---  The municipal government here celebrated simply but in a special and memorable way the town’s 20^th Founding Anniversary last October 31 with no invited dignitaries, except the folks and support groups.

The celebration, led by Mayor TahirodinBenzar A. Ampatuan, was held at the lobby of the Municipal Hall building. 

Mayor Ampatuan, on his last term as local chief executive, said they wanted to celebrate the occasion just that simpleamong local government personnel, department heads, municipal kagawads, barangay chairs and officials, religious sector, and other representatives from the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, among others.

The mayor said he wanted to give his attention to his employees and other officials of the locality.

The highlight of the celebration was the distributions of fund support to senior citizens and agricultural inputs such as palay and corn seeds to the farmer beneficiaries. The other event is the ongoing basketball tournament to run until this month for the development of sports and physical fitness.

Mayor Ampatuan, in his emotional message to all of his staff and employees, extended his  thankfulness and gratitude for the support extended to his administration for three consecutive terms as municipal mayor.

“I owe everything to all of you, especially to the heads of all departments... Without your advice and support, I am nothing in this administration. So, to all of you, thank you so much for your understanding and untiring support to my administration. And to our stakeholders, thank you so much for your contribution in making this locality into a peaceful, progressive, and developed community. I’m proud to say that the people living in this town are united,” he said. (Anne Acosta)