USAID inks partnerships to improve pre-service teacher education

DAVAO CITY – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through its ABC+: Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines project, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Bicol University (BU) and West Visayas State University (WVSU) on Wednesday, February 3, to develop and deliver a curriculum for pre-service education focusing on early literacy instruction in the context of Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education Program (MTB-MLE).

After a series of studies and consultations, BU and WVSU were identified because they are both public universities recognized by the Commission on Higher Education as Center of Excellence in teacher education. They also produce the most Department of Education (DepEd) teachers in their respective regions.

“USAID supports pre-service teacher education to ensure that incoming early grade teachers are equipped with practical knowledge and skills to address the needs of K-3 learners. With the shift in learning delivery, these future teachers will be introduced to performance-based modules, rather than lecture-based approach, giving them more opportunities to practice their new learning through targeted micro-teaching and demonstration,” said Tom LeBlanc, Director of USAID Philippines Office of Education.

The two universities will work with Florida State University (FSU) to develop and improve their respective syllabi for Bachelor in Elementary Education (BEE) and Bachelor in Early Childhood Education (BECE). The Florida State University - Learning Systems Institute is an internationally recognized, university-based research and development organization that bridges the gap between theory and practice in education. FSU has collaborated with USAID, UNICEF, and CARE International, working in various countries, including the Philippines.

“This intervention builds upon both universities’ existing practices and the work that the Commission for Higher Education (CHED) and the Teacher Education Council (TEC) have already undertaken to align the pre-service curricula to DepEd’s Early Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program for K-3,” LeBlanc added.

BU’s Early Childhood Education Division (BECEd) has already started the pilot run of the Literacy Development Course for pre-service students while preparatory work is underway at WVSU for the course implementation during the incoming semester, which will run from February to July 2021.

The initial implementation results, including key findings, insights, and lessons learned, will be shared with DepEd and other Teacher Education Institutions across the three regions of Bicol, Western Visayas, and BARMM. USAID’s ABC+ project aims to share the findings and results with CHED for consideration in the BEE-BECE curriculum.

About the ABC+ project

The ABC+: Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines is a five-year DepEd project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) that started in July 2019.

This aims to improve the quality of instruction and learning outcomes in Kindergarten through Grade 3 (K–3) in early literacy, foundational math, and social and emotional learning (SEL) in Regions V and VI and in the province of Maguindanao in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. It is implemented by RTI International in partnership with The Asia Foundation, SIL LEAD, and Florida State University. (PR)

Speaker Balindong lauds dev on BTA term ext

 BTA Parliament Speaker Atty. Pangalian Balindong

COTABATO CITY – Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament Speaker Atty. Pangalian Balindong lauded on Friday, February 5, the development on BTA term extension. 

Five bills have been filed at the House of Representatives, seeking to amend section 13 article XVI of the Republic Act 11054, or the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), and to fix the first regular election of the region.

The bills include House Bill 8116, House Bill 8117, House Bill 8161, House Bill 8222, and House Bill 8277 filed by Representatives Loren Legarda, Esmael “Toto” G. Mangudadatu, Ferdinandh Martin G. Romualdez, Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo, and Isidro Ungab, respectively.

Balindong said bills pending in the House of Representatives which seek to extend the term of the BTA from 2022 to 2025 are a welcome development for the Bangsamoro people.

“Such extension will provide a fresh mandate to BTA members to roll out its plans and programs for the welfare and well-being of our constituents,” Balindong said.

Balindong cited challenges in the current economic and public health situations prompted the regional government to change its priorities such that the implementation of its major plans and programs

“This is the situation prevailing in the Bangsamoro region. As an autonomous and transitional government, it is doing its best to prevent the escalation of the health crisis. Thus, the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) has suffered an inordinate delay, which now imperatively demands a longer period for completion,” Balindong said.

The speaker emphasized that in the Bangsamoro Parliament alone, its mandate to enact major legislations has been seriously hampered.

“Although the major bills were already drafted even before the pandemic, their approval cannot be expedited without the requisite public consultations. The restriction on the people’s movements and poor internet connection among stakeholders have prevented the conduct of hearings and meetings for the deliberations of the pending bills,” he said.

Balindong stressed the fact that the BTA has only become fully operational in August 2019 when funds were allotted to enable the parliament members to acquire their own staff.

“Working a gargantuan task on a shortened period is nearly impossible. Even transitional governments in other countries have been given ample time to fulfil their mandate. The push for a term extension is necessary to reaffirm the government’s commitment to give the BTA a full authority to implement its own plans and programs, and enable the peace dividends to reach all our stakeholders in the region. The clamor of our people to immediately achieve economic progress and stable peace and order now lies in the hands of the Congress of the Philippines,” Balindong said. (GALao, Publication and Media Relations Division)

Shariff Aguak launches BOSS to expedite business transactions

Business operator (left photo) files a permit during the launch of the Business One Stop Shop, a program that promotes efficiency and expediency in business transactions. Meanwhile, Municipal Treasurer Nadine G. Bayhon (seated, right photo) checks documents and files inside the office. (Anne B. Acosta) 

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao – The local government here, through its treasury department, launched on Monday, January 11, the Business One Stop Shop (BOSS) that aims to eliminate red tape and shorten the processing time of business permits and licenses from one week to one day.

The launching of BOSS was led by Municipal Treasurer Nadine G. Bayhon, Aniza Rosal A. Mamasapano of the BPLO, Municipal Accountant Al Jazzar C. Adam, Mylene Abad of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Hoiser Malang of the Department of Trade and Industry, and Insp. Ronald Ali Ampang of the Bureau of Fire Protection.

The municipal town hall was used as the venue of the one stop shop that ran until January 15.

However, Bayhon said they have given an extension of the processing until February 28 for those who were not able to file their business permits on time due to the pandemic.

Bayhon added that business operators with the said cases can pay and comply their requirements without penalt

Under the BOSS, a client could complete the processing of business permit in less than an hour, provided all the needed requirements are presented.

Licensing Officer Aniza Rosal Mamasapano said business operators were given ample time to process and comply all the requirements needed.

Meanwhile, Bayhon said in an interview that due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the revenue collection was drastically affected, which decreased to 10-15% percent compared to the previous 2019 collection.

“In 2019, our revenue collection was P139,993,380.75. The 2020 target revenue collection was P170,000,000. But the actual receipts reflected only a total P159,000,000 million. We hope that in the year 2021, the revenue collection target of P180 million will be met. And this can only be realized with the support and cooperation of our business sectors amidst COVID-19.

Mayor Engr. Datu Marop B. Ampatuan expressed his gratitude to all business sectors and operators for their contribution to make their municipality into a more developed and progressive community.

"The progress of our municipality lies in your (business operators) hands. With your unending support, we'll be able to uprise and stabilize our economy," he said. (Anne B. Acosta)

MP Shiek conducts community dialogues in Pantar, Balo-i towns

 Photo shows MP Said M. Shiek (seated second left) together with the community leaders, MILF officials, and members of Pantar and Baloi during the Kakhahaipa – a community dialogue with the vulnerable individuals in aid of legislation held Monday, February 1, 2021, at Brgy. Pantao Ranao, Pantar town. (Mohammad S. Pandapatan, OMPSS)  

Conducted Monday, February 1, the activity "Kakhakaipa: A Community Dialogue in Aid of Legislation" in Pantar and Balo-i towns.

'Kakhakaipa' is a Meranaw term which means “kumustahan” in Tagalog.

Some community leaders and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) officers and members attended the dialogue in a Madrasah in Brgy. Pantao Ranao, Pantar town.

In his message, MP Said Shiek explained the purpose of conducting a community dialogue.

"Ang dialogue na ito ay isang paraan ng pagbibigay ng mahahalagang impormasyon at balita patungkol sa Bangsamoro Parliament at sa BARMM. Isa rin sa aming pakay sa pagbisita sa inyo ay ang kumustahin ang inyong kalagayan lalo na sa panahon ngayon na may pandemya. Nais rin po naming marinig muli ang boses ng Pantar," MP Shiek said.

Meanwhile, Balo-i's selected community leaders and MILF members from barangays of Pacalundo, Basagad, and Lumbac participated in the community dialogue held Monday afternoon at the Momungan Livelihood Learning Center in Brgy. Pacalundo, Balo-i, Lanao del Norte.

Lope, one of the participants, queried MP Shiek of the Bangsamoro Government's effort for the Bangsamoro Communities Outside BARMM (BCOBAR), specifically in the towns of Balo-i, Pantar, Tagoloan, Munai, Tangcal, and Nunungan who strongly expressed their intent to be included in the BARMM through a plebiscite in February 2019.

"Dahil hindi nanalo ang anim na bayan ng Lanao del Norte para mapabilang sa BARMM noong 2019, ano ang pwedeng itulong ng BARMM na matagal nang gustong mapabilang sa Bangsamoro?" Lope asked.

MP Shiek responded, "Mayroong bill na nasa Parliament na patungkol sa Bangsamoro Communities Outside BARMM o BCOBAR. Naglalayon ang bill na ito na maitatag ang isang opisina para sa BCOBAR. Sa ngayon ay inuuna muna ng Parliament ang priority codes na kabilang sa kanilang mandato.

He also reiterated the proposed programs under the Transitional Development Impact Fund (TDIF) of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament which are intended for the orphans, college students, women, and families who are seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in BCOBAR.

"Hinihintay natin ang resulta sa ngayon para sa 2020. Susubukan muli nating mag-propose sa taong ito para tayo ay makatulong sa ganoong paraan. Mahaba-habang trabaho ito," Shiek stressed.

Kakhakaipa is a series of community dialogues which officially kicked off on January 26 in Tagoloan, Lanao del Norte. It is part of the OMPSS week-long celebration in commemoration of the second year of the "Yes Win" in the 9 towns of Lanao del Norte during the 2019 Bangsamoro plebiscite. (Mohammad S. Pandapatan, OMPSS)

MOLE-BARMM gets P274-M 2021 budget, to expand programs

 COTABATO CITY – The Bangsamoro government has allocated P274 million for the 2021 operation of its labor ministry, P81 million higher than its P193 million budget last year. 

Romeo Sema, labor minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said Thursday, February 4, he and his subordinate-employees can together comprehensively expand this year their programs intended to empower the labor sector in all five BARMM provinces.

“We are grateful to BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim and all members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, functioning as the interim parliament of the Bangsamoro region, for this 2021 budget grant for our ministry,” Sema said.

He said the Ministry of Labor and Employment-BARMM will continue with its Community Emergency Employment Program that helped thousands who got displaced by the 2020 COVID-19 quarantine restrictions.

Sema said the MOLE-BARMM shall also embark on a new project, the Bangsamoro Entrepreneurs Program, or BEP, for the region’s entrepreneurial communities.

He said they shall continue this year their Sagip Batang Manggagawa Program, the Hanapbuhay for Bangsamoro Balik Manggagawa, the Government Internship Program, the Special Program for the Employment of Students, the COVID-19 Assistance Program and the Bangsamoro Assistance for Science Education Program.

“All of these are in line with the efforts of the office of the Bangsamoro chief minister to improve the condition of stakeholders, particularly those affected by conflicts and whose lives were made problematic by the coronavirus pandemic,” Sema said.

He said the MOLE-BARMM’s office in Cotabato City, the capital of the Bangsamoro region, has actively been reaching out to the local labor sector since the regional government took over last month the operations of the Department of Labor and Employment-12 in the area.

MOLE-BARMM now has a satellite office in Zamboanga City. Zamboanga City is under Region 9 but is the gateway, or transshipment point to the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

The now 25-month BARMM covers the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and the cities of Marawi, Lamitan, and Cotabato. (Contributor)

BIFF surrenderers reunite with family

 CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – Eleven more Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) members have reunited with their families after they decided to abandon extremism and joined the government and live normal lives on Saturday, February 6. 

The surrender of 11 former extremist combatants was a joint effort of the 6th Infantry “Redskin” Battalion of the 1st Mechanized Brigade, headed by its commanding officer, Lt. Col. Charlie Banaag, the 90th Infantry “Bigkis-Lahi” Battalion of the 602nd Infantry Brigade, and the various intelligence units under the Joint Task Force Central.

The surrenderers belonging to the Karialan faction BIFF presented themselves at the Headquarters of 6th Infantry “Redskin” Battalion, Sitio Landing Fish, Brgy Buayan, Datu Piang, Maguindanao

The former BIFF members turned over one M653 A1 rifle, two M16 A1, one M16 A3, one Browning automatic rifle, one .50 caliber Sniper Rifle, one .30 caliber Sniper Rifle, one .30 caliber Garand Rifle, two M14 Rifle, and one 40mm M79 grenade launcher.

Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division and Joint Task Force Central, lauded the troops for their continuous efforts in bringing former “violent extremist” members to the folds of the government. He said, “The balance use of military and non-military efforts are being operationalized by our line units and now proven effective.”

One of the surrenderers, with an alias Anito, was emotional upon seeing his daughter who was still a year old when he left his family. He said, “Ako ay umalis noon para sumapi sa grupo ng mga armado noong maliit pa ang anak ko. Ngayon ay may apo na ako. Gusto ko lang mabuhay ng tahimik at makasama ang aking pamilya.”

The remarkable series of surrenders were made possible through the following programs of the government such as PCVE (preventing and countering violent extremism) education forums, seminars, and AGILA-HAVEN (Anak na may GInintuang LAyunin upang Hintuan Ang Violent Extremism Ngayon) that was initiated last September 2020.

Since the assumption of Maj. Gen. Uy on September 7, 2020 until present, a total of 71 BIFF members laid down their arms and went back to the folds of law. “Ang patuloy na pagbalik-loob ng mga extremists na ito sa hanay ng gobyerno ay resulta ng pagtugon sa mga pangangailangan ng kani-kanilang pamilya. Ito ay ating nakamit sa tulong ng lokal na gobyerno ng Maguindanao,” Uy stated. (DPAO)