S. Upi SB undergoes performance assessment

OUTPUT PERFORMANCE --- Provincial Assessment and Evaluation on Local Legislative Award 2018 team in a pictorial pose with UpiSangguniang Bayan members headed by Vice Mayor Abdullah “Bedz” Campong. (Anne Acosta)

SOUTH UPI, Maguindanao ---The Sangguniang Bayan members of this town  headed by Vice Mayor Abdullah ‘Bedz” Campong has undergone the first ever Provincial Assessment and Evaluation on Local Legisative held at the Legislative Hall last November 27.

        The Provincial Assessment and Evaluation Committee 2018 was headed by Focal Person and Local Legislation Specialist Tarhata L. Balading of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Maguindanao.

        With the committee are Torombai M. Ambolodto of DILG-Maguindanao, Ampatuan Municipal Local Government Operations Officer (MLGOO) Nuhad Kamaong Kadil, Salama G. Kadon of the Provincial Agriculture Office, those from the Department of Social Welfare and Development – Maguindanao and Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and other composite team.

In their opening statements, both Mayor Reynalbert Insular and Vice Mayor Campong expressed their thankfulness to the assessment and evaluation team for choosing their locality as part of the program.

RSCWC holds culmination program of 26th Children's Month celebration

CHILDREN'S WELFARE --- Hundreds of children joined the culmination program of the 26th Children's Month celebration last November 28 held at Golden Lace Resto in Cotabato City. (GILMHAR A. LAO – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY --- The Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Children (RSCWC) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) held last November 28 the culmination program of the 26th Children's Month 2018 celebration held at Golden Lace Resto, this city.

Hadja Emma Ali, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer (DSWD) - Maguindanao, said they were lucky since Maguindanao was chosen as their area of implementation.

Ali said, as part of the various activities, a community session on “positive parenting” was conducted in the municipalities of Parang and Sultan Kudarat last November 26-27 participated by the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries as part of their family development session.

"We are glad on the positive outcome of the activity," Ali said.

Highlights during the culmination program were the Presentation and Rationale of Positive Discipline Bill by the Save the Children Foundation, Signature Campaign on Positive Discipline Bill spearheaded by 2nd District Board Member King Jazzer Mangudadatu, and the Presentation of Panatang Makabata. Hundreds of children joined the activity.

"For the very first time, we also had the Day Care Children Got Talent and OSY Theater Arts competitions participated by various LGUs in Maguindanao," Ali said.

Ali said they would like to thank all partners who contributed on the success of the month-long celebration.

"Thank you to all RSCWC member-agencies, DSWD-ARMM Secretary Atty. Laisa Masuhud Alamia, Asst. Sec. Hadja Pombaen Karon Kader, Governor EsmailMangudadatu, Board Member King Jazzer Mangudadatu, and the UNICEF," she said. (GILMHAR A. LAO)

Relatives seek justice on death of one LGU employee, 3 others

CRYING FOR JUSTICE --- Shown (L-R) are Bai Norhanie Edzla, wife of the victim Bohari Edzla;  Atty. Ronald Torres, legal counsel of the victims; Samsudin Kusain, brother of  Esmael “Kokoy” Kusain; and  mother of Badruddin Singgon. (Anne Acosta)

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao --- Relatives have cried for justice when they faced the local media last November 30 following the death of one employee of the Shariff Aguak municipal government and three others found dead in two separate areas.

Earlier, local authorities said two of them were killed in an encounter with policemen in Tacurong City while the two others were shot dead and left along a road in Banga, South Cotabato.

They were identified as Faizal Ampatuan, Bohari Uday Edzla,  Esmael "Kokoy" Kusain Datumanong, and Badruddin Singgon.

Singgonwas an employee of the Shariff Aguak municipal government.

Atty. Ronald Torres, who acts as legal counsel of the group, stressed that they are not members of any local Islamic State-inspired group.

"We are just waiting for the documents to be completed so we can formally file a case," Atty. Torres said.

Previously, the Regional Police Office-12 has released a statement that Edzla and Datumanong were Islamic militants killed in a gunfight with a police team before in Tacurong City when they were about to transport an improvised explosive device somewhere in the city and were intercepted by police personnel.

Later that day, their companions, Singgon and Ampatuan, were found dead, with gunshot wounds, along a highway in Banga town in South Cotabato.

Accordingly, a black Islamic State flag was also recovered from their possession.

Relatives of the four have denied such allegation and said they will seek help from the Commission on Human Rights to act on the case. (Gilmhar A. Lao and Anne Acosta

Kabuntalan marks 12th founding anniversary

SURELY, the constituents of Northern Kabuntalan are the prime guests and stakeholders in the celebration of the municipality’s 12th Founding Anniversary as they partake of the festive program. (Anne Acosta)

NORTHERN KABUNTALAN ---  Created on November  29, 2006 but without endowment of Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), this municipality continues  to celebrate its foundation anniversary, its 12th last November 29 with a program at the town’s municipal gymnasium.

        Maguindanao Deputy Governor and founding mayor, Datu Umbra “Ramil” Dilangalen, greeted the crowd in the foundation day gathering as he extended his gratitude to all development stakeholders and townfolks for their support to the municipal government endeavours.

“The 12 years of existence without receiving any IRA from the national government is not a hindrance for a performing leader to implement more projects sponsored by our national leaders and those channeled to us by different line-agencies,” he said.

“As what you can see and observe,  our municipality right now boasts ofa lot of development and improvements such as concreting of farm-to-market roads, and stable peace and order condition. You see, we continue to be progressive and we can say that we are living in a very peaceful community with unity among our constituents,” he further said.

"Maliwanag ang Pasko sa Cotabato" launched

Cotabateños can now enjoy a more colorful Christmas season as the city government of Cotabato launched last November 29 the "Maliwanag ang Pasko sa Cotabato" at the City Plaza. (Gilmhar A. Lao)

COTABATO CITY --- This city government launched last November 29the “Maliwanagang Paskosa Cotabato,” which marks the beginning of the celebration of the festive month of December.

Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, in her message during the launching program at the city plaza, said  the event is one of the city government’s ways of celebrating the festive month of December whenthe ShariffKabunsuan Festival and the Christmas season are being celebrated.

“It only shows that Cotabateños are truly united. Here in Cotabato City, the Christmas season is recognized as one of our biggest celebrations," Mayor Guiani-Sayadi said.

The lady mayor emphasized that Christmas is being openly celebrated by the Christians here and is being highly respected by the Muslims.

"Christmas time is significant not only among the Christian brethren since it is the time where we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, who is also the Prophet Isha of the Muslims,” Guiani-Sayadi stressed.

City Tourism Officer GurlieFrondoza was delighted to announce that Cotabateños can now enjoy the colorful and more spacious city plaza.

"This is what everyone love about our city, what we love about us. We are inclusive, not exclusive. We are a uniting people, never divisive. This is where we are now, who we are at present. I’m sure you’ll agree with me that what we want is a continuity of respect and admiration for each other," Frondoza said. 

Frondoza added that what they want is a community liveable among Christians, Muslims, and Lumads. 

"What we constantly hope for is freedom for everyone to practice each other’s beliefs, tradition, and religion. I am truly proud of Mayor Cyn for championing always the welfare of our city and always thinking about making us happy to be Cotabateños," Frondoza said.

Other atendees during the activity were local government officials, city council members, department heads, division chiefs, civil society organizations, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Office, partner line-agencies, business groups, and employees of the city government. (GILMHAR A. LAO – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Army joins ARMM Outreach

HEALTH MISSION --- An Army dentist attends to a patient during the November 26-28 outreach program of the ARMM-HEART in Maguindanao. (PHOTO BY 6^TH ID – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao --- Government forces are not only for armed conflicts, but they primarily help the government save lives by participating in medical missions for indigent residents, an Army official here said last November 29.

Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Army's 6th Infantry Division based in Maguindanao, said that with major armed conflicts declining due to the improved peace and order situation, soldiers under the division have joined medical and dental outreach programs of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

“Army doctors and nurses joined the ARMM People’s Day activities for the past three days that ended Wednesday (November 28) in Maguindanao,” he said.

The soldiers, equipped with medical equipment and led by 40th Infantry Battalion commander Lt. Col. Edgar Catu spearheaded the medical mission in partnership with the ARMM-Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team (HEART).

They served more than 500 indigent residents of Raja Buayan and its near environs in Maguindanao in the health services conducted at the municipal gymnasium on November 26-28.

Myrna Jo Henry, ARMM HEART spokesperson, said the outreach program served 250 residents who availed of medical check-ups, 150 tooth extractions, 50 circumcisions, and 50 free haircuts.

Maj. Arvin John Encinas, speaking for the 6thID, said the Army's participation in the outreach activity seeks to strengthen its alliance among the different stakeholders of the government and the communities.

Sobejana said it also aims to strengthen stakeholder’s relationship where trust and confidence are built among the populace and the military as partners for peace and development. (EDWIN FERNANDEZ / PNA – COTABATO / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Editorial

The worth of Christmas

Christmas Day (December 25) is nearing with the traditional “Dawn Mass” to start December 16. There are “panatas” to complete the “Misa de Gallo” out of religious devotion and strengthening of faith, especially among Christians. But the yuletide season is not only for the Christians but for everyone since all partake of the holidays and share with the merriment… a sign of oneness amid diverse religious affiliations.

        Christmas season has a duality --- Love and Peace. Hence the Christmas carol “Peace on Earth.” The two concepts intertwine with each other… without one, the isgone. 

        The Department of Education has ordered the longer celebration of Christmas break to start December 15 instead of December 22 so children and parents can have longer bonding moments and further strengthen familization; that is if the family stays together during the season.

        During this moment, children expect gifts from parents and other loved ones. Of course, adult children also give gifts to parents as a sign of love, affection, and thankfulness. Exchange gifts would be wonderful to show our thoughtfulness and belongingness. Really, Christmas is a family affair…making us closer to one another.

        Better for those who can afford to extend gifts to the indigents. A program for this gift-giving and merriment can be arranged on the neighborhood level. This will fill our heart’s joy from a beloved community member(s)… it’s Christmas and we make the spirit liven.

        It’s also the moment when we pause or reflect on life existence… our birth on earth and why we exist and how we make worth our individual life with others. Human beings are social and we interact with others for our needs, not using each other but complementing each other’s needs. It’s time again to say thanks to the “significant others,” not necessarily our parents but somebody else who are important to us --- a close relative, a teacher, a friend, or whoever they are near to your heart. Yes, thereare “significant others” we can reach to give us solace, inspiration, encouragement, and the needed help.

        Each one needs each other. This season is one moment to cherish the human longingness and closeness. Let’s make the Christmas season another meaningful month --- giving gratitude.  This is the message of Christmas or Yuletide Season.