Over 2K Marawi IDPs receive relief aid from BARMM

COTABATO CITY – The Bangsamoro government, through the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) has started its week-long Ramadan relief operation to at least 2,859 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Marawi City, who currently living in transitory shelters around the province of Lanao del Sur. 

Relief operations started on Tuesday, April 13, in Boganga shelter and sites built by Catholic Relief Services in Brgy. Pantaon.

Each of the beneficiaries received 25 kilos of rice.

The distribution will continue until April 16, to reach the transitory shelters in Buadi Itowa, Miphaga, Pindolunan, Pagalamatan, and Sagonsongan.

Deputy Chief Minister Ali Solaiman, who chairs the Marawi Rehabilitation Program – Program Steering Committee (PSC), emphasized in his message that the Bangsamoro government has not forgotten the Marawi IDPs.

“The BARMM government, through the BARMM-Marawi rehabilitation program, will do what it can to provide for the needs of the IDPs. We will not only provide rice. Insha Allah, this will be followed by many great things,” he said.

MPOS-BARMM reaches out to PDLs in Tawi-Tawi

 Persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in the provincial jail of Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, receive hygiene and dignity kits during a visit of Ministry of Public Order and Safety of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MPOS-BARMM) Minister Hussein P. Muñoz on Sunday, April 4, 2021 in the said island province. 

COTABATO CITY – A total of 216 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in the provincial jail of Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, received hygiene and dignity kits on Sunday, April 4, from Ministry of Public Order and Safety of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MPOS-BARMM).

The said facility consists of 172 male inmates who received hygiene kits, while 44 female inmates received dignity kits comprised of alcohol, face masks, face towel, vitamins, deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, and sanitary pads.

MPOS Minister Hussein P. Muñoz said the activity aims to provide public services especially to Bangsamoro constituents in the island provinces, under the Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim’s guiding principle, “no one must be left behind.”

“Today we are here because of tawakkul (trusting in Allah’s plan) so that we can give relief assistance to our fellow Bangsamoro people, lillahi taala (for the sake of Allah),” he said in a speech.

He added that the BARMM government has several project proposals for the island provinces, but were postponed for a year due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Meanwhile, Captain Satta Ladja, warden of the said facility, expressed gratitude to Muñoz for personally visiting the island’s jail facility and its PDLs to hand over the kits.

“Mula nang magka-pandemic, ito ang unang pagkakataon na may bumisita sa amin mula sa BARMM government. Malaki po ang pasasalamat po namin dahil hindi kami nakalimutan dito sa isla. Hindi po namin inaasahan na sabay-sabay po ang biyaya sa aming komunidad,” she said. (BANGSAMORO INFORMATION OFFICE/ MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

MP Esmael backs computer literacy training for staff

 Photo shows Mr. Fahmudin A. Salilagia while giving his lecture on Microsoft Office applications’ utilities to the office staff of MP Abduladzis M. Esmael, Al-Haj, held on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, at Cavestone Restaurant, Cotabato City. (Photo courtesy of Muarif Kedtong) 

COTABATO CITY – About 20 staff working under the office of Member of Parliament Abduladzis M. Esmael, Al-Haj attended a computer literacy training on Wednesday, April 7, at the Cavestone Restaurant, this city.

According to Suharto S. Esmael, the need for such training is a response to the dynamic demands of public service, where offices are starting to gradually adapt into virtual modes of transactions.

“The subtle, or more so, the sudden changes in a contemporary office setting contributed to the swift modifications in terms of the approach of how we practice things now,” he said.

Engr. Fahmudin A. Salilagia, of the Bangsamoro Telecommunications Commission (BTC), facilitated the training, which focused on the enhancement of the usage of basic Microsoft programs.

“Though, we could say everyone has the basic or even advance knowledge on operating the applications of Microsoft Office such as the Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, a refresher might also be looked-for to conjure up several utilities anyone may have missed,” he said.

Meanwhile, Legal Officer Abdulmanan Pasigan, a Shariah Law expert, articulated that relating to the activity, Islam calls the believers to seek knowledge mirroring from the experiences of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by “acquiring a full understanding of any material and sharing it with others is an obligation and certainly beneficial for both ends. It, therefore, gives a higher position to the development of humanity.”

The office of MP Esmael vouched to continue in developing programs and trainings to achieve productivity and efficiency in the delivery of public service. (MOHAMADAN ABDULKASAN / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

MOH partners with IOM, Japan to boost COVID-19 response

COTABATO CITY – A project aimed to strengthen the Bangsamoro region’s response against COVID-19 was initiated through the support of the Japanese government and International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Newly installed minister for health, Dr. Bashary Latiph, said the collaboration will considerably help the region’s fight against the pandemic as the ministry has devoted its resources, both manpower and funds, to end the spread of the virus. 

“Through the Ministry of Health (MOH), we put the containment, prevention, and eradication of COVID-19 as our highest priority,” he said.

He also noted that the regional government needs the support of development partners and allies in order to end the pandemic.

IOM Head of Sub-Office in Mindanao Hwahyun Kim said the project, dubbed as “Strengthening BARMM’s Preparedness and Response Capacity for Effective COVID-19 Prevention and Control”, has a total budget of P2.72 million U.S. dollars, which will run for 12 months.

She added that it will establish a more efficient and responsive prevention and control system amid pandemic.

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) provinces are targeted as recipients of the project, which comprised of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, and some communities in Zamboanga.

BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim expressed his gratitude for the support it received from development partners “during one of the most difficult periods in recent history.”

“Our shared fight against the coronavirus is far from over. The project today will help us ease the path and address the effects of coronavirus,” he said. (BANGSAMORO INFORMATION OFFICE/ MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Education Ministry assesses private Madrasahs in BARMM

 File photo

COTABATO CITY – To institutionalize quality and effective Islamic education in the Bangsamoro region, the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) has conducted a region-wide school-based assessment of private Madrasahs for school year 2020-2021, slated on April 5 to 23. 

Through Regional Memorandum No. 391, as posted on MBHTE’s official Facebook page, the Ministry encouraged all Madrasahs – whether accredited, unaccredited and traditional across the region – to participate and submit requested reports.

The said reports must reflect all information required for assessment and these must be treated with confidentiality. Submissions must then be forwarded to the Head of Madrasah for initial consolidation.

Given the data, the Ministry will use it as basis to identify and address the primary needs of Bangsamoro learners, including the teaching personnel.

Deadlines for the submission were set for Cotabato City, 63 barangays in North Cotabato, Maguindanao, Marawi City, and Lanao del Sur on or before April 16.

Meanwhile, the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi must submit the said reports on or before April 23.

According to the Ministry, failure to submit on the set due dates may be a ground for suspension, (BANGSAMORO INFORMATION OFFICE/ MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

 

BARMM acquires new ambulances for 2 island provinces

 Photo shows new ambulances turned over on March 25 and 26, 2021 to the island provinces of Sulu and Basilan through the initiative of the Ministry of Health of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOH-BARMM). 

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Bangsamoro government is stepping up its efforts to improve the delivery of healthcare services through the acquisition of nine ambulance units for the island provinces of Sulu and Basilan.

On March 25 and 26, the Ministry of Health of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOH-BARMM) turned over the emergency vehicles to the said provinces.

Dr. Amirel Usman, OIC health minister, said the units are relevant to the public’s medical needs especially that the region is still on fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

“Ito na ‘yung ginagawa natin sa ngayon — we are trying to be responsive to the needs of our constituents,” he said.

Each ambulance unit is supplied with vital emergency medical equipment such as oxygen cylinder, heavy duty stethoscope, folding stretcher, scoop stretcher, automatic external defibrillator, nebulizer, portable suction machine, examining light, and aneroid sphygmomanometer, among others.

Two units of ambulance were turned over to Sulu’s Provincial Hospital. Also, the rural health units (RHUs) of the municipalities of Panglima Estino, Luuk, Talipao, and Old Panamao received one ambulance each.

Panglima Estino Municipal Health Officer Dr. Sitti Badria Saji-in said the ambulance would increase mobilization and delivery of procured medicines.

“We procure medicines using our own utility vehicles. At times, we borrow from our local government unit,” she said.

She added that it will also benefit the Safe Motherhood Program where the transfer of pregnant women during problematic pregnancies will become more efficient.

“We experience hardship in referring them to a higher facility when they encounter problems in our health facility including uncontrolled blood pressure, bleeding, complicated delivery, and complicated pregnancy,” she said.

Sulu Provincial Medical Officer Fahra Tan-Omar also received one unit of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and stand, five units of cardiac monitor, one unit of laryngoscope, and a disinfection chamber for the provincial hospital.

Meanwhile, Basilan province received three units of ambulance for the RHUs of Hadji Mohammad Ajul, Akbar, and Tuburan, respectively.

Basilan Governor Jim Hataman and Provincial Medical Officer Harrybert Hadjala received the units in a ceremony held Friday, March 26, at the provincial capitol grounds in Isabela City.

On the same day, MOH-BARMM handed over 800 units of antigen kits to Basilan’s Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO).

Lamitan District Hospital also received one unit of laryngoscope, three units of cardiac monitor, and one HEPA filter. (BANGSAMORO INFORMATION OFFICE / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

MOLE presents 2021 priority programs for Tawi-Tawi

 Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE) Minister Romeo Sema visits Tawi-Tawi on April 6 – 9, 2021, to lay down priority programs and services for the said island province. (Photo courtesy of MOLE-BARMM)

COTABATO CITY – Minister Romeo Sema, of the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE), presented the priority programs and services to constituents of Tawi-Tawi during his visit on April 6 to 9.

The programs centered on rural employment and entrepreneurship, employment assistance for the youth and victims of disasters, elimination of child labor, reintegration of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and assistance for repatriated overseas workers.

Livelihood assistance for rural workers association

Under the Bangsamoro Rural Employment thru Entrepreneurial Development (BREED) program, qualified groups of workers from the informal sector such as farmers, fisherfolks, women, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups, will be provided with livelihood assistance worth P25,000 as their capital to start a business.

At least 150 rural workers associations across the BARMM are targeted as beneficiaries. Of these groups, 20 shall be chosen from Tawi-Tawi.

      The total budget for the said assistance is P3.7 million.

Sema said the groups will also be provided with technical and financial literacy orientation to enable them to efficiently manage their businesses.

He added that former combatants of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) may avail the programs as long as they organize into formal groups.

Bridging employment assistance for the youth

For high school students and out-of-school youth, the Special Program for Employment of Students will provide jobs to students during the summer period. 

A stipend amounting to 60 percent of the minimum wage will be provided by the MOLE, while the other 40 percent share shall be shouldered by the partner-employer.

The program has a total budget of P5.4 million, which targets 1,500 recipients across the region. 200 of them will be coming from Tawi-Tawi.

Fresh college graduates are also provided opportunities to work under the Government Internship Program (GIP). For three months, a monthly stipend equivalent to 75 percent of the minimum wage will be provided by MOLE, while the remaining 25 percent share shall come from partner-employers.

1,900 recipients across the region have been targeted under this program; 150 of whom shall come from Tawi-Tawi.

On Wednesday, April 7, Sema and Tawi-Tawi Provincial Governor Ysmael Sali signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA), allowing 15 fresh graduates to avail the said program. 

Disaster recovery through employment

To prepare for the unprecedented effects of disasters on employment, the Community Emergency Employment Program (CEEP) will provide jobs for members of the informal sectors for 15 days immediately after an emergency or calamity.

“We also have the CEEP where workers in informal sectors will be employed for 15 days immediately after emergency or calamity for them to earn money and recover from such onslaught,” Sema said.

The program has 1,750 recipients across the region, with a total fund of P7.8 million. 250 of the recipients will be coming from the province of Tawi-Tawi.

Eliminating child labor in BARMM

Under the Sagip Batang Manggagawa (SBM) program, MOLE will identify children who are forced to work, compromising their right to education and welfare. Each of the identified children will be provided with P20,000, which shall be managed by their parents through putting up a business.

Given a P15-million budget, the program has 750 recipients across BARMM; 110 of them shall be coming from Tawi-Tawi.

Reintegration program for contractual and repatriated OFWs

Sema said those overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from BARMM who have finished their contracts and have no plans on going back will be provided with livelihood assistance worth P20,000 each.

2,450 recipients have been targeted across the region, where 200 will be from Tawi-Tawi. The program has an allotted budget of P49 million.

For repatriated overseas workers from BARMM, P10,000 will be given to chosen 250 recipients upon their arrival at their homes. The program has an allotted budget of P2.5 million.

Meanwhile, Sema said that for the year 2021, the ministry has established field offices in the province of Tawi-Tawi and other cluster areas for an efficient delivery of necessary socio-economic interventions from the Bangsamoro government.

For Tawi-Tawi, a total share of 11.5 million will be rolled out for the entire operation of MOLE in the said province. (BANGSAMORO INFORMATION OFFICE / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Communal unity

 By : Jupiter D. Cabig, Jr.

 Trending right now in social media platforms are community pantries in Luzon and Visayas (it reached Boracay), where people are encouraged to give or receive, according to their capacities and needs.Though, this is not a new concept, but the burdening effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has inspired members of community, regardless of economic status, to respond proactively to current dilemma such as hunger, inability to purchase basic commodities, limited movement, among others. This act of deviation from the individualistic nature of human beings also unpacks our deep sense of empathy and compassion in times of crises. It showcases our ability to overcome situations, not by mere resilience, but by empowering the ones who are capable to lead and give and committing to greater causes. 

In the Philippine culture, the rise of community pantries is likened to bayanihan. Simply, it translates to the inclination to help as a community, grounded on the recognition of other Filipinos as kapwa, which is coined by Filipino psychologist Virgilio Enriquez to denote shared identity and equal respect of fellow human beings. Such Filipino character also appreciates one’s role in the social sphere – to contribute for the betterment of your kapwa. Given the tight social relations among Filipinos, the distinct culture of bayanihan transcends certain limitations. This is observed in community pantries where even those who had lost so much during the pandemic have contributed significantly just to sustain the pantries. Tricycle drivers, business and shop owners, farmers, locals, and many more took the initiative to be there for one another.

The observed communal unity is also a show of communal resistance. In an article published by Philippine Daily Inquirer, sociologist Athena Charanne Presto posited that, “Community pantries can be seen as acts of resistance against three things: first, against a government that fails to adequately address citizens’ needs; second, against a biased and discriminatory view of the poor as selfish and greedy; and third, against aid initiatives from institutions that are difficult to trust.” Given her analysis, it suggests that social problems, exacerbated by the pandemic, are structural and systematic. Of course, this is not to solely blame the government for the inefficiency of vaccine rollout and slow distribution of relief and monetary assistance, but to make those perpetrators of abuse and corruption accountable such as those who cut off the vaccination list for “VIP treatment”, or those who pocketed the money for personal gains, or those who spread false and malicious information amidst the health crisis.

Indeed, the rise of community pantries is sign of empowered communities and vibrant culture of pakikipagkapwa-tao. It sparks a movement of building communities that are self-sufficient, regardless of the situation. It manifests a symbiosis, which is void of negative Filipino values such as crab mentality, passivity, “bahala na”, among others. It grounds us on our Filipino roots – of pakikipagkapwa-tao – which highlights the importance of collective action without demanding for something in return. Above all, let us continue to call for mass testing, aggressive contact tracing, dissemination of accurate information, and immediate vaccination to surely put an end to this pandemic.

Editorial

Sovereign authority

Territorial and maritime disputes in the Philippine-held features in the Spratlys islands over China’s occupation and militarization has once more gained the attention of Filipinos and media outlets after an incident involving Chiara Zambrano, an ABS-CBN reporter, along with some crew and boat operator, who were prevented by Chinese ships while traversing the West Philippine Sea heading to Ayungin Shoal. Reports said that Zambrano noticed a white ship of the Chinese Coast Guard coming in their direction while in an area four miles from the entrance of the said shoal. A radio message was relayed to them but the boat operator decided to return to the mainland since the message was in English and he was unable to respond. While on their way back, the spotted Chinese vessel accelerated and chased the Filipino boat for an hour. After the chase, two smaller and faster vessels resumed, and afterwards two missile boats emerged. All these happened just 90 nautical miles from Palawan – clearly within the Philippine borders.