ARMM gov't enhances DepEd-ARMM data management system

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman gathered officials of the region's Department of Education (DepEd) and nine schools division superintendents for a meeting to resolve discrepancies and inconsistencies in the department's database system on Friday, August 26 at the ARMM governor's office in Cotabato City.

Governor Hataman said the continuing efforts of the regional government to validate and verify the data in the education department is a reflection of the reforms being institutionalized in the region.

DepEd-ARMM Secretary John Magno said the Learner Information System (LIS) and Enhanced Basic Education Information System (EBEIS), two data management systems of the DepEd, are being enhanced to establish accurate and reliable registries of learners, teachers, staff and schools.

Governor Hataman scheduled a series of meetings to continually validate data will be conducted in the coming months. (BUREAU OF PUBLIC INFORMATION-MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

City Government Of Cotabato through the office of the City Vice Mayor extends support to local athletes.

August 23, 2016, The youngest representative of Metro GenSan Gun Club Jhutari Rosdi Dumama Piang visited Acting City Mayor VM Atty. Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi at Sangguniang Panlungsod to express his intentions of representing Cotabato City in a practical shooting competition this month.

Mr. Piang, 12 years old, born and currently residing in Cotabato City will be joining the Governor Taliño Cup, level 3 of Philippine Practical Shooters Association (PPSA), 1911 Classic Division shooter in Mindanao competition to be held on August 25-26, 2016 at Kidapawan, North Cotabato.

"We should be proud and support our children who are actively participating in sports competitions. Just the thought of them carrying the name of our city brings honor to us Cotabateños", said Acting Mayor VM Atty. Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi.

Piang has already joined several shooting competitions in Cotabato City and in other areas in Region 12. (COURTESY CITY GOVERNMENT OF COTABATO-MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

RBMO-ARMM celebrates 21st anniversary, awards performing agencies.

The Regional Budget and Management Office (RBMO) of the ARMM marked the celebration of its 21st foundation anniversary on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at Pagana Kutawato Native Resto in Cotabato City.

The RBMO-ARMM has also awarded top compliant agency, most cooperative agency, top performing agency head, and top performing agency to bureaus, offices and line agencies of the ARMM in complying with the policy of the regional government.

Lawyer Mimbalawag Mangutara, RBMO-ARMM OIC exeutive director, commended the ARMM government for allowing the RBMO-ARMM to have fiscal autonomy in terms of managing the fiscal transaction or financial transactions of the locally funded agencies. (BUREAU OF PUBLIC INFORMATION-MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

The Information Technology Business Solutions (ITBS) Corporation

August 23, The City Government of Cotabato gears up for the Full Computerization System of the entire Local Government Unit, expected to launch its first phase before the year 2016 ends.

The Information Technology Business Solutions (ITBS) Corporation, a well known IT Company in Manila, presented the program that the City Government can use to make all of its transaction to be available online and make it more convenient to its clients.

This program uses intranet or a connection between the base computers, to work. It doesn't need internet connection unless you are at the user's or client's end. An application shall be made downloadable for the clients so they will be able to use it through their smart phones and computers.

Business license applications, building permit applications, cedula, and other transactions-even payments-can be made online. Even information that tourists and visitors need shall be more comprehensive and easier to access with this program.

But ITBS representatives said, all of these will be created on a phase by phase basis. The first phase of software shall include services from all income generating departments of the city governments to be followed by phase that shall include other information like human resource, job vacancies, tourist destinations and etc.

Acting Mayor VM Atty. Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi says the city government will prepare the funding for this project as soon as possible. This is one of the priorities of the administration for 2016 to streamline its services and make every bit of information about Cotabato City be available to anyone who will download the application.

"We are eyeing a solution that can expedite transactions in our City in order for us to be more client-friendly and become more efficient in serving our fellow Cotabateños", said Acting Mayor VM Guiani-Sayadi.

Being one of the top business friendly cities in the country, the computerization of the city government services is truly a big leap ahead of all the other first class cities in the country. (HALIMA K. SATOL IBRAHIM-MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Tabun Halal officers and members

Tabun Halal officers and members pose for a photo with the top executives of Johor Corporation, a prestigious Muslim corporation that owns hundreds of companies in Malaysia, after a very interesting dialogue evening of August 20.

Hadji Aminudin Dawam, Senior Vice President of JCorp, was able to give advise to the entrepreneur members of Tabun Halal on how to ensure the success any business endeavor. He said planning is very crucial and one must be able to conduct a thorough research about the business, study its risks and potentials, before going into it.

TH members were also able to learn several strategies that they can apply in their own businesses. They have also laid down the areas wherein there is an opportunity for JCorp to extend assistance and create possible partnerships.

Mr. Dawam and his colleagues promised to conduct deeper study, get to know more about the potential market and look into the possibility of establishing one of their companies in this part of the country. (HALIMA SATOL-IBRAHIM-MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

DENR-ARMM provides trash bins to Marawi City.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-ARMM turned-over 40 units of garbage bins to the City of Marawi on Monday, August 22, to help improve solid waste management in the city.

The DENR-ARMM officials handed over the units to Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra in a simple ceremony held at the Marawi City Hall.

ARMM Environment Secretary Kahal Kedtag said the turn-over also marked the launching in the city of the "Basuranihan" program, an advocacy to promote proper waste disposal and management in the ARMM.

The DENR-ARMM is also set to conduct a three-day orientation on the Basuranihan to officials in the 96 barangays in Marawi City. (BUREAU OF PUBLIC INFORMATION-MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

HOM joins World Humanitarian Day Celebration

During the delivery of message of commitment

 by the different organizations in the Bajau Hall.

Humanitarian Organizations based in Cotabato City converged at Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex (SKCC), ORG Compound last August 19 to celebrate the World Humanitarian Day. The event is highlighted by a photo exhibit, showcasing the resilience of calamity-affected communities and the heroic acts executed by humanitarian organizations.

This year's celebration bears the theme: "Share Humanity".

The event kicked off with a motorcade from the City Plaza to ORG Compound to raise the public's awareness regarding the celebration. It was immediately followed by the opening of photo exhibit at SKCC which will last until August 26, Friday.

Consequently, representatives from each organization convened at the Bajau Hall to express their message of commitment.

Omar John Sinsuat, Executive Director of HOM, stressed "We commit our relentless service to humanity through our health and nutrition activities as well as youth and peacebuilding initiatives". He also expressed gratitude to all their partners for the trust and confidence they give to HOM.

Meanwhile, the Office of the ARMM Regional Governor through Executive Secretary Laisa M. Alamia, also expressed its unwavering support and commitment to all humanitarian workers operating within the region.

"There's a lot of suffering in humanity but less humanity in all of us. That's why I urge everyone of you to continue to be humane, to have compassion, to serve and feel the pain of others due to humanitarian crisis."

Atty. Alamia also assured that the ARMM government will continue to improve its mechanisms of support and response to all cases of humanitarian crisis. She ended her talk by saying, "The best way to look forward is to work together."

According to Muktar Farah, Head of OCHA Sub-Office for Mindanao, there are about 130 million people worldwide needing humanitarian assistance due to calamities. And humanitarian workers play a pivotal role in alleviating the suffering of these people.

"Today is the day we recognize the noble act of one humanity...It is in all of us", he added.

World Humanitarian Day is celebrated annually all around the globe every 19th of August to commemorate and recognize the noble acts of humanitarian workers who selflessly execute humanitarian operations amidst danger and challenges. (OLIVER ESMUNDO, HOM-MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

OCD-ARMM HOLDS “ARAW NG PARANGAL 2016”

COTABATO CITY- The Office of Civil Defense-ARMM has successfully concluded on 19 August 2016 the “Araw ng Parangal 2016”, which recognized the efforts, initiatives, and perseverance of various partners and stakeholders in the program implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) as per Republic Act (RA) 10121 with the end result of achieving and building-up “disaster resiliency” especially among high risk communities in ARMM.

The highlight of the activity held at Glamour Convention Hall was the awarding ceremonies of the annual Gawad KALASAG (KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan, SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan) where plaques of Recognition” have been given for the outstanding performance of Local DRRM Councils, Civil Society Organizations, Volunteer or People’s Organizations as well as Government Emergency Response Management sectors and Individuals especially in providing response to people needing prompt rescue and humanitarian assistance to disaster-affected communities in the region.

The regional winners of the Search for Gawad Kalasag 2016 are as follows: Best LDRRMC (Provincial Category)- 1st Place- Maguindanao Province, 2nd Place- Lanao del Sur Province; Best LDRRMC (City Category)- 1st Place- Lamitan City, Basilan; Best LDRRMC (Municipal 1st-3rd Class Category)- 1st Place,- Upi, Maguindanao, 2nd Place- Wao, Lanao del Sur, 3rd Place- Pagalungan; Best LDRRMC (Municipal 4th-6th Class Category)- 1st Place, Kabuntalan, Maguindanao, 2nd Place- Buldon, Maguindanao, 3rd Place- Guindulungan, Maguindanao; Best Civil Society Organization (CSO) Category- 1st Place- Kadtabanga Foundation for Peace and Development Advocates, Inc., 2nd Place- Community Organizers Multiversity, 3rd Place- SULADS; Best Volunteer Category- 1st Place- Bangsamoro Rescue Team (BARET); Heroic Act Awardee- Myrna Jocelyn Henry of ARMM-HEART; Special Recognition Awardees- Hadja Pombaen Karon Kader of DSWD-ARMM, His Eminence Orlando B. Cardinal Quevedo, OMI DD, Zenaida Naga of Marawi City MDRRMC, and the ARMM HEART (Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team).

Also in attendance alongside the awardees and guests were ARMM RDRRMO Dir. Ramil Masukat and His Eminence Orlando B. Cardinal Quevedo, OMI DD.

Myrna J. Angot, Officer-in-Charge of OCD-ARMM, said the Gawad “KALASAG” is the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s (NDRRMC’s) annual recognition scheme in search for excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) and humanitarian assistance since 1998.

“This time, we are holding the regional awarding ceremonies. What comes next would be the national search. I must say that the Gawad Kalasag provides the mechanism in obtaining sustained commitment and support from the highest level of governments by recognizing the exceptional contributions of various DRRM practitioners in rebuilding the resilience of nations and communities against disaster,” said Angot.

Further, the RDRRMC-ARMM Regional Selection Committee (RSC) was tasked to oversee the implementation of the activities of the annual Gawad KALASAG Search in the region with the regional partners and stakeholders of the Regional Council as members per revised guidelines on the matter set forth by the National DRRM Council (NDRRMC).

Earlier, the RDRRMC-ARMM RSC has conducted desk evaluation and field validation, and eventually determined the regional winners in various categories to include Best Local DRRM Councils (Provincial, City, and Municipal Levels), Volunteer Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, Heroic Act, and Special Recognition.

The Gawad Kalasag 2016 Evaluators includes Mauricio Civiles of DILG-ARMM, Mary Ann Mendez of OCD-ARMM, Palawan Mamaon of RPDO-ARMM, Gilmhar Lao of OCD-ARMM, Jimmy Hedesin of DOST-ARMM, Gecile Gonzales of OCD-ARMM, Puasa Enok of DSWD-ARMM, Noralyn Nul of ARMM HEART and Alaudin Masabpi of the Philippine Red Cross- Cotabato Chapter.

In the previous year, a total of 120 LDRRMCs, 42 NGOs, 24 individuals and 119 groups/institutions have been awarded.

Angot said that as an advocate of the disaster risk reduction and management, there is still a need to strengthen our endeavours in disaster preparedness and prevention and mitigation.

“In our setting, the government, through the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) faces great challenges through the years to heighten its vigilance in ensuring that disaster risks are prevented or minimized as it also prepares to address the needs of affected population when disasters or emergencies take place. Rest assured that the council is doing utmost best to further strengthen the advocacy on the DRRM,” said Angot. (GILMHAR A. LAO, INFORMATION OFFICER-MINDANAO EXPOSE’)