Rajah Buayan adopts Army general as ‘son’

ADOPTED SON ---  Mayor Zamzamin Ampatuan (right) of Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao, hands over a memento to Maj. Gen. Diosdado Carreon,  chief of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, last October 10. Carreon will be known as “Datu Didagen,” a Moro term for “impregnable leader,” as he was made an adopted son of Rajah Buayan for his contribution to the town’s peace and development initiatives. (PHOTO COURTESY OF 6TH ID / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

RAJAH BUAYAN, Maguindanao --- An Army general became an adopted son of this Maguindanao town last October 10.

Maj. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, commander of the 6th Infantry Division and head of the Army-led Joint Task Force Central, is now known as “Datu Didagen” to residents of this municipality situated in the province’s second district.

“Datu Didagen” is a Moro term for “impregnable leader.”

“I am humbled by this recognition, I did not see this coming,” Carreon said after the conferment program led by Rajah Buayan Mayor Zamzamin Ampatuan.

During the simple yet meaningful and colorful program, the local government honored Carreon for his valuable contribution to peace and development initiatives in this once conflict-affected town.

Ampatuan, who was vested with the authority by the town’s Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council), said the recognition was bestowed to Carreon for his role as a partner in the development of the Buayan area.

“Yes, he is an ‘adopted son’ of Rajah Buayan and we accord him respect, courtesy, and honor as Datu,” Ampatuan said.

The conferment ceremony was held in time for the celebration of Rajah Buayan’s 15th Founding Anniversary, a town carved from the municipality of Sultan sa Barongis.

BARMM outreach benefits 200 IPs

SERVICING THE INDIGENTS ---  Health ministry workers of the Bangsamoro Autonomous in Muslim Mindanao attend to a member of the indigenous people  during an outreach mission in Datu Blah Sinsuat, Maguindanao last October 9.  Similar programs are set to take place in chosen IP areas across the BARMM during the celebration of the IP month this October. (PHOTO COURTESY OF MIPA-BARMM / MINDANAO EXPOSE’) 

COTABATO CITY  ---  In celebration of the Indigenous Peoples’ (IPs) Month, the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MIPA-BARMM) organized a medical-dental outreach program in Datu Blah Sinsuat, Maguindanao last October 9 that benefitted at least 200 IPs.

MIPA Minister Melanio Ulama said the outreach program, conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Health (MOH)-BARMM and the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, seeks to bring government services to far-flung tribal communities in the region.

Ulama said the team from the MOH-BARMM offered medical and dental consultation and free circumcision and distributed medicines and vitamins to the IPs, particularly children.

The group also distributed slippers and hygiene kits that include a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, and towel.

“They also had a feeding program to IP children consisting of hot arrozcaldo (rice porridge) and boiled eggs,” Ulama said.

Mayor Datu Marshall Sinsuat lauded the MIPA and its partners for choosing his town as a recipient of basic services and medical programs.

He said the smiles that the recipients showed were indications of their appreciation for the MIPA efforts.

Ulama said the program was just the beginning for the series of activities planned by MIPA for remote communities in the BARMM during the IP month of October. (EDWIN FERNANDEZ, PNA – COTABATO / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Cotabato engineer to represent BARMM in national OWWA tilt

MODEL FAMILY MAN --- Cotabato City Administrator Dr. Danda Juanday congratulates Surafah A. Campiao, a civil engineer, for bringing honor to Cotabato City after being chosen recently as the regional winner of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao competition for model families. Campiao will represent Cotabato City and the BARMM for the national level competition. (PHOTO COURTESY OF COTABATO CIO / MINDANAO EXPOSE’) 

COTABATO CITY ---  A Cotabateño will represent the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration - Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (OWWA-BARMM) in the Model Overseas Filipino Workers' (OFW) Family of the Year Award (national level) contest set to take place in Manila next month.

Dr. Danda Juanday, Cotabato City administrator, endorsed last October 14 the nomination of Engr. Surafah A. Campiao, Al-Haj, a civil engineer who worked for 36 years in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as the city and region’s best for the national honor.

Juanday said Campiao is the OWWA regional winner and received such merit for his exemplary performance abroad while maintaining to have a good relationship with his family, provide for their needs, and remain active in civic and community involvement.

He said Campiao left and sacrificed for a long time in seeking greener pasture to secure a better life for him and his entire family.

“For him, working abroad is inevitable but an inspiring venture since we aspire to provide only the best for our loved ones,” Juanday said.

“But as leaders and prime movers in the government, we look for alternatives we can offer our people to make them stay and land a decent job,” he added.

Campiao will compete with other regional winners in the country in Metro Manila for a chance to emerge as the national winner. (EDWIN FERNANDEZ, PNA – COTABATO / MINDANAO EXPOSE’

Government troops seized illegal drugs, firearms in drug raid

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao --- Firearms and suspected 'shabu' were seized in a joint operation by government forces in Rajah Buayan last October 4.

The combined government forces of 33rd Infantry Battalion and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) conducted the operation against the drug suspects, Welly Akil Utto and his cohorts.

At around 11:45 a.m., the operating troops served search warrant for the violation of RA 9516 known as the Illegal Possession of explosive, RA 10591 known as Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition, and RA 9165 known as Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002 at Barangay Panadtaban in Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao.

Confiscated from the operation were two cal. 45 pistols, two Baofeng, eight cellular phones, assorted ammunition, suspected shabu with an estimated value of P500, and illegal drug paraphernalia.

Lt. Col. Elmer M. Boongaling, commander of 33rd IB, said that the suspects managed to escape when they saw the arresting troops approaching towards their location.

"I commend our government troops for their fast action and I assure you that the 6th ID will continue to support the law enforcement operations on government campaigns against Illegal drugs and other forms of criminalities," said Maj. Gen. Diosdado C. Carreon.

"I am urging our civilian counterparts to be vigilant at all times and report immediately any suspicious act or person to the authority," Maj. Gen. Carreon added. (DPAO, 6TH ID / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Editorial

LGU as business-friendly

        It’s another repeat feat for Cotabato City for being business-friendly aside from previous accolades as child-friendly and most peaceful after a remarkable low crime rate in the country. Our city is gaining big in the country’s geography.

The  Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry has given our city a recognition when it  presented the “2019 Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit Award  City Level 2.” It was our mayor, Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, who received the prestigious award in Manila last October 2. With this recognition, the city has to keep up the edge and sustain the image as one competitive urban unit and make big its name in commerce and industry. Yes, it is a big deal. 

Our city could not achieve such feat(s) without instituting measures to attract investments given the conducive climate of doing business in our territoriality. We ourselves could visibly see or sense the rate of progress going on in our area. So far, investments keep coming in with ventures that offer more opportunities, which is also a big plus for employment.

Cotabato City is now making a big deal, further developing itself as the seat of regional government. Eventually it will evolve into a scenario when population floats since the community becomes the center of multi-faceted transactions. In due time, the pace of development will diffuse toward the fringe with a bigger scale of commerce and trade.

With the evolving progression, our local government is faced with a momentous challenge of sustaining the fast pace of development as it has also to offer more facilities and inputs to accommodate further requirements in investments. The mainstay lies on the cooperation and pooling of resources among the sectors, keeping alive the quest for betterment. Most of all is the assurance of quality of life in the backdrop of economic growth. It is always quality that is foremost the stand-out in any community --- that is, doing business the friendly way.

Fellow Cotabateños, we now witness the growth of our city. Let us support the initiatives of our political leadership toward the progress of our beloved community. For the many, giving our support and cooperation are our contribution to make our city that business-friendly and a peaceful habitat. Make it a business to preserve the peace by always being vigilant against threat to progress and development. Take note, peace and business are correlates.