SSB’s new mayor sets town’s thrusts

ON THE MOVE --- Sultan Sa Barongis Mayor Al-Fizzar Allandatu M. Angas (2nd from right) presides over the meeting of the Municipal Development Council, his first call after  as local chief executive.  With him (left to right) are SSB Administrative Officer Danialan B. Utap, Vice Mayor Dhats Mamalo,  and MLGOO Jennifer Ampatuan. (Anne Acosta)

SULTAN SA BARONGIS (SSB), Maguindanao --- The newly assumed mayor of this town had himself appraised of the issues and concerns of the municipality through reportage of local government departments, barangay governments, and government line-agencies when he presided over the meeting of the Municipal Development Council (MDC) last September 30 held at the Gender and Development building.

By succession, elected vice mayor Al-Fizzar Allandatu M. Angas took over the mayoralty position following the demise of his uncle mayor Ramdatu M. Angas last September 8. The municipal vice mayor, also by succession, is now Dhats Mamalo, the elected first councilor.

Datu Unsay LGUconducts multiple awareness drives

Mayor Datu Andal Santiago Amaptuan V

DATU UNSAY, Maguindanao --- The municipal government of this town conducted a day-long multiple  activities last September 30 to elevate or drum up the people’s awareness on wellness and peace paradigms which entail the people’s involvement on programs and projects of which they are the end-clientele.

Mayor Datu Andal Santiago Ampatuan V said they have conducted the Dengue Awareness Symposium so the constituents can aptly apply the measures to prevent the onslaught of the epidemic and spare, especially the children, from suffering the disease but preventable ailment.

At the same time, he said they have launched the “Buntis Congress” in cooperation with the Integrated Provincial Health Office. Some 100 pregnant women participated in the congress as they received hygiene kits for personal consumption and post-natal period.

Ampatuan V said pregnant women and future mothers have to be knowledgeable and sensitive on pre-natal and post-natal care in order to prevent cases of child mortality.

“Pregnancy is an important phase in the life cycle of women as they are with child and this connotes the survival of two lives,” the mayor emphasized, “hence, they need to be aware of the intricacies of motherhood and child care.”

In another activity, the mayor said a delegation from the Switzerland-based Geneva Call, a non-government organization (NGO) that promotes civil engagement in conflict situation, motored to their community to conduct information drive on the rights of civilians in the event of armed conflict as the group lectured  on the “conducts of war and the rules of engagement.”

It is the mission of the Geneva Call to inform or educate the community about their rights in moments of armed conflict such as protection of children from violence, prohibition on sexual abuse of violence, ban on the use of anti-personnel mines, and elimination of gender discrimination, among others. In general terms, the educational drive involved the broad spectrum of the International Humanitarian Law and its corresponding rules.

The NGO cited the enthusiasm of the attendees or participants in the consultation activity, especially the barangay officials who have been so attentive and responsive to the orientation.

It also manifested its interest to be involved as an observer in discussions over Peace and Order Council meetings in its desire to contribute insights on the peace framework and resolution.

The mayor said it is the longing mission of the Geneva Call for the attainment of lasting peace in areas affected by armed conflict so to secure the safety of the constituents. “Even the enemies of the state have to be aware of their conducts or behaviors in the event of armed confrontation… And so do the security forces. The lives of innocent civilians are always compromised in armed conflict situation.”

He further said the local government supports with appreciation the educational drive of the Geneva Call as this is one way of attaining and sustaining the peace and order in the locality. “And out of 36 municipalities here in Maguindanao, we are so glad and lucky that our municipality is among those chosen as a pilot area in the advocacies of the Geneva Call.”

In another development, the mayor said the road clearing operation mandated by the President through the Department of the Interior and Local Government shall be a mainstay of the municipal government so there will be no more obstructions along the road network.

He said obstruction materials along the national highway have to be demolished. “For this, we will see to it that there will be no illegal parking and no illegal vending along the highway.” (Anne Acosta)     

BARMM to consult LGUs on dev’ plan formulation

DRAFTING THE PLANS --- Participants in a workshop session during the conduct of the 1st Bangsamoro Regional Development Plan. (PHOTO BY BPI-ARMM / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY --- An initial draft of the 1st Bangsamoro Regional Development Plan (BRDP) will be presented to the different local government units in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) next month for consultation.

The 1st BRDP will serve as the roadmap for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Regional Government for 2020-2022.

The Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), which is spearheading the crafting of the BRDP with the support of the Office of the Chief Minister and other ministries, has already set specific dates for the consultation in each of the BARMM member provinces, cities, and the 63 barangays in North Cotabato.

It has earlier organized a series of workshops for the planning officers and technical staff of the different BARMM ministries and offices to formulate the 1st BRDP.  The third round of which was held in Davao City on September 25-27.

Mohajirin Ali, BPDA acting executive director, said they plan to finish the formulation of the 1st BRDP by November.

He said the development plan will be presented to the regional cabinet for its adoption after the provincial consultations. It will also be presented to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority for approval and eventually to the Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council (BEDC),  which will be the highest policymaking body in the BARMM.

The BEDC will replace the Regional Economic and Development Planning Board (REDPB) of the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. It would be the regional counterpart of the National Economic and Development Authority.

Article XIII, Section 4 of Republic Act No. 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law, provides that the "Parliament shall establish the Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council which shall serve as the planning, monitoring, and coordinating agency for all development plans, programs, and projects of the Bangsamoro Government."

Ali said his office has already endorsed to the BTA a draft bill proposing the creation of the BEDC. (Bureau of Public Information-BARMM / Mindanao expose’)

Cotabato City as ‘most business-friendly’ LGU

MOST BUSINESS-FRIENDLY ---  The award received by Cotabato City as “2019 Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit Award City Level 2” from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) in Manila last October 2. Cotabato City Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi (inset) said a PCCI board panel interviewed her on the business potentials of the locality before the awarding ceremony. (PHOTO COURTESY OF COTABATO CIO / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY --- This city has been named the most business-friendly local government unit nation-wide by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

In a statement last October 4,  Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi said the city was recognized by the PCCI by presenting it with the “2019 Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit Award City Level 2” recognition.

The mayor received the award in Manila last October 2.

“This is an indication the city is improving in terms of business and economy,” Sayadi said.

She told members of the country’s association of business leaders that the city had implemented measures and programs, including tax holidays that lured investors, both local and national, to test the city’s business climate.

She said more than 8,700 individuals have been employed by various businesses that came to the city since the late mayor Japal Guiani, Jr. opened the locality to investors by making it investment-friendly.

The late mayor was Sayadi’s elder brother. She said about 98 percent of the city’s businesses belong to the small to medium enterprises or SMEs.

Sayadi attributed the improved business confidence among traders to the cooperation of every Cotabateño in helping the city government achieve what it has accomplished in the past three years. (NOEL PUNZALAN, PNA – COTABATO / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Editorial

Thank you teachers!

When as students, greeting our teachers in school and off-campuses is a form of brief interaction to show respect to the so-called second parents of pupils and higher level students and to symbolize the presence of each other. We acknowledge the presence of each other even when the verbal encounters sound routine. This communication goes on after the educational course when incidentally we meet our mentors off-campus.

Last October 5 was World Teachers’ Day, the designated date to salute and give praise to our teachers from whom we have learned the basic rudiments through education. How many of us could still recall the names of our teachers since the elementary years until we exited the schools? Of course, there are favorite ones which the beholder could only know or endear for himself or herself… We call this the much “significant others.”

Let’s see. Have you hated a teacher for flanking you in an academic subject, especially if one deserves a failing mark? Don’t you know that giving a failing mark to a student is one of the depressing moments of a teacher? A mentor is all too happy if all students in a section make it through the examinations. But when there are many flankers, a teacher would ask himself/herself the question: “Where did I go wrong?” This is one question to ponder. Generally, it is a student who gives himself/herself the academic mark since accomplishment or achievements is the exercise of an individual with the teachers acting as resource persons or academic providers in the pursuit of education, assuming that the teachers are very qualified educators… Precisely, teachers have to acquire professional credentials to qualify one as an educator or teacher and these people continue updating their know-how or careers through series of trainings in the course of teaching chores. Professionals continue to update or upgrade their careers to be abreast with changing developments and trending.

In a way, teacher(s) have contributed to our growth toward professionalism. In our life cycle, teachers have blended with our lives as they coach us on the rigidities of academics. Yes, we learn from them as they, too, have learned from their own mentors. One becomes a school teacher because of another mentor before him or her. One becomes a respectable professional because of the coach… the teacher.

Tese people have contributed something in our lives. When we talk about them in a conversation with classmates or friends later in life, it is reminiscing those moments of togetherness in the campus. It means we have cherished our encounters with these teachers. Who knows when one of your child would enroll in a collegiate education course. Welcome to the club.

To be a teacher is one multiple role playing. Take it from them.

Thank you teacher(s) for being part of our lives. Thank you for being our second parents. Thank you for giving us counsel. Thank you for being with us in all those academic moments in time. We give you our salutation.