Lopez, ARMM execs lead tree-planting in Maguindanao

HABITAT PROTECTION --- Environment Secretary Gina Lopez and Maguindanao Governor EsmaelMangudadatu led the symbolic planting of tree seedlings along a tributary of the Buluan River in Pandag town. (CONTRIBUTED BY MEDIA PARTNER – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

MAGUINDANAO ---Environment Secretary Gina Lopez and Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu on Wednesday last week planted mangrove tree seedlings together as start of their joint protection of marshes in the province.

The event capped off a two-hour dialogue between Lopez and mayors led by the governor who all pledged support to the efforts of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to protect the 220,000-hectare Liguasan Delta from ecological hazards and overfishing. 

The activity was held in Buluan town, the capital of Maguindanao, which has 36 towns.

The Liguasan Delta, touted as Asia’s largest, is surrounded by the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato, both in Region-12, and Maguindanao, a component province of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Lopez, Mangudadatu, and Hadji Kahal Kedtag, who is regional secretary of DENR in the autonomous region, agreed to cooperate in protecting the delta.

They also reached a consensus to initiate social interventions meant to promote consciousness among marsh dwellers on the importance of preserving its biodiversity.

Lopez also talked about the need to provide the communities thriving in the delta with livelihood while they help implement environmental protection projects.

Lopez said socio-economic interventions are needed to ensure the cooperation of ethnic Maguindanaons who dwell in the Liguasan area to help push government environmental-protection initiatives forward.

“We can bring in development and empowerment to the people there without unwisely taking out whatever wealth there is in the area,” Lopez said.

The Liguasan Delta is said to have vast deposits of natural gas waiting to be tapped.

Lopez, while in Buluan, also awarded the office of Mayor Zamzamin Ampatuan of Rajah Buayan with a P21-million special government grant for massive propagation of bamboos near swamps and rivers in the municipality.

Ampatuan said he would spend the money for nurseries and planting of bamboos along rivers and swamps in Rajah Buayan, located in the second district of Maguindanao.

The advocacy for planting of bamboos in Maguindanao’s hinterlands and farming enclaves along the Liguasan Delta is not something new to the local Muslim, Christian, and Lumad communities.

The provincial government first embarked on planting of bamboos in wetlands in Maguindanao four years ago as part of a domestic environmental-protection thrust.

The office of Mangudadatu procured last year a multi-million dredging machine to clear rivers that spring from the Liguasan Delta from silt and other debris preventing the downstream flow of floodwaters to the western seashores of Cotabato City.

Lopez had also urged the police, the military, and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to help the DENR carry out its programs in Central Mindanao.

The wetlands in Maguindanao are acknowledged as MILF strongholds covered by the group’s July 1997 Agreement on General Cessation of Hostilities with Malacañang.

Lopez wrapped up her official engagement in Buluan on Wednesday last week with a symbolic tree-planting activity along a river in nearby Pandag town to mark the start of cooperation between her office and the Mangudadatu administration.

The tree planting activity was assisted by the mayor of Pandag, Jihan  Mangelen-Mangudadatu. (CONTRIBUTED BY MEDIA PARTNER – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Cotabato City enacts GAD Code

Christina “Enggay” Chua

COTABATO CITY --- The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) here has passed Ordinance No. 4395, which enacted the Gender and Development Code.

Councilor Christina Chua, who chairs the SP committee on women, said the ordinance shall be known as the “Gender and Development (GAD) Code of Cotabato City.”

“The enactment of the GAD Code is in consonance with the existing national laws and policies and international commitments that encourage local government units in addressing the issues related to gender and development,” said Chua.

Chua said local laws and policiesin Cotabato City include: Ordinance No. 3698, series of 2009, “An Ordinance Providing for the Women’s Development Code of Cotabato City and for Other purposes;”Resolution No. 5417, series of 2013, “A Resolution Expressing Support to the Creation of Women and Children’s Desk in the City of Cotabato;” Cotabato City Children’s Code;” and the“Cotabato City Manual of Operations.”

“The Local Government of Cotabato City upholds the rights of all persons and respect their dignity as human beings. Men and women shall be recognized as full and equal partners in development.All efforts that the city will undertake towards international, national, and local social and economic development based on equitable growth and ecological conservation shall involve the full potential of women and improve the quality of their lives,” she said.

Further, Chua said the city government shall promote women’s empowerment, gender equality, women’s rights, and gender-responsive development as indispensable social interventions in the task of building a progressive yet peaceful and harmonious community.

“Specifically, it adheres to the following principles: that human rights are shared equally by men and women, regardless of gender preferences(s); that women are full and equal partners of men in all spheres of life; that human rights must be promoted, protected, and fulfilled; that women’s empowerment towards gender equality must be pursued in all aspects of local governance to ensure that women and men equally contribute to and benefit from development; and that local development must be rights-based and gender-responsive to ensure that human dignity, social justice, and equality are upheld,” she said.

Chua further said the Code shall provide the city a genuine policy direction to formulate program and strategies that will eliminate gender biases in all policies, systems, and procedures and maintain gender fairness and adherence to the principles of empowerment and equality by instituting measures aimed at eradicating all forms of abuses against women and their children.

It was learned that the code shall integrate gender concerns in sectoral development plan, policies, and programs to fully address discriminations and inequalities as well strengthen GO-PO-NGO partnership to maximize the effectiveness of awareness campaign, programs and services addressing GAD concerns;encourage, support, and expand the participation of women in the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of development programs and projects; and mainstream gender concerns at any academic level.

Chua said the code shall also provide gender-responsive relief and rehabilitation programs with special focus on women and children’s need; involve both men and women in family-planning programs, maternal and child care, nutrition and other health and sanitation concerns; set up crisis intervention centers and shelters in the city for survivors of violence against women and children and other social conflicts; promote gender sensitivity in local media and advertising agencies; and encourage the participation of women in decision and policy-making positions.

“Aside from that, it would also enable indigenous women to participate in development programs and gain access to non-traditional sources of livelihood, credit financing, productive skills, and labor saving technologies,” said Chua. (GILMHAR A. LAO– MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

City LGU honors top PNPA graduate

HONOR --- Police Inspector MacdumDarpingEnca receives a Plaque of Recognition from Cotabato City Mayor Atty. Frances Cynthia-GuianiSayadi for his great achievement as a Cotabateño during  testimonial dinner last April 3 held at the South Seas Convention Hall. Enca graduated as “valedictorian” of the Philippine National Police Academy --- Masidlak Class of 2017. (GILMHAR A. LAO – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY --- The city government of Cotabato has recognized with honor a Moro Cotabateño who graduated as “valedictorian” in the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), “Masidlak” Class of 2017,as he received a warm welcome during his homecoming.

Inspector MacdumDarpingEnca, born and raised in Cotabato City, was givena homecoming tribute last April 3 prepared by City Mayor Atty. Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi.

Guiani-Sayaditendered a testimonial dinner for Enca attended by his relatives and friendswith the presence of local government officials.

In her message, the mayor lauded the feat of Enca whom she cited as the new role model of young Cotabateños.

“Enca is a perfect role model for the youth nowadays. We encourage the young ones to strive hard despite whatever hardships they may face in life. Look at him now, he succeeded in achieving his dream. Let him be their inspiration,” she said.

Aside from the Plaque of Recognition, Enca also received P100,000 as cash gift from the city government for his “great achievement.”

In an interview, Enca said that, if given the chance to serve here, he would open an avenue to educate young Muslims so they won’t be misguided by the teachings disseminated by extremist groups.

“I would enlighten them that joining violent extremism is not the right thing to do,” he said.

Enca was also given honor by the municipal government of Sultan Kudarat where Mayor ShameemMastura awarded him with a Special Citation Plaque tor topping the MasidlakClass of 2017.

Enca finished elementary and high school with honorsat the Sultan Kudarat Islamic Academy in Sultan Kudarat town.

Enca was the first Moro to graduate top of the PNPA since its creation in 1978.

He led the 114 members of PNPA Masidlak Class of 2017 during graduation rites at Camp Mariano Castañeda in Silang, Cavite.

Encasaid he did not expect  to be given a leadership role, serving as a regimental commander of the entire PNP cadet corps during his senior year.

Despite the achievement, Enca reminded his fellow cadets the importance of humility, particularly in their line of duties.

"In all the things we do, our people will always have to say something for our improvement. We should have the humility to continue to receive feedback and try to get better," he said.

The other top-9PNPA Masidlak Class of 2017, in their order,are Cadets MidzfarHamis Omar, Jan Ace Elcid Pascua Layug, Juan Paolo AldayPorciuncula, Harley Glenn Bacarro, Michael SalendabDaunotan, Ian Rey CanenDiolanto,AbdulcaharBacaratArmama, Michael John SuniegaSentinta, andMaysyVillaflorCataquiz.

Six of them will join the PNP, two with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and two with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

The PNPA, which was established in 1978, is the public safety school of the PNP, BFP, and the BJMP. (GILMHAR A. LAO– MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

DSA recipient of ANGAT DAPAT

ENTREPRENEURIAL THRUST --- Residents of Barangay Madia in Datu Saudi Ampatuan attended a community assembly last April 2 organized by the Moropreneur Incorporated as part of the preparation in the implementation of ANGAT DAPAT program. (COURTESY OF THE MOROPRENEUR INCORPORATED – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

DATU SAUDI AMPATUAN (DSA), Maguindanao --- The local government unit here is a recipient of a project called All-iNclusive Growth Activities towards Development and Poverty Alleviation (ANGAT DAPAT) implemented by a non-government organization, The Moropreneur Incorporated (TMI).

Anchored on its principle of creating an innovative and evidence-based sustainable livelihood program, the TMI conducted a baseline study of families in Datu Saudi Ampatuan from March 22 to April 2.

Jonathan Gorre, Program Director of TMI, said the output of the study form part of a comprehensive report on the socio-economic profile of the target municipalities and specific barangays which will be used in designing the entrepreneurial and skills-based trainings for the selected beneficiaries of the ANGAT DAPAT program.

“For Datu Saudi Ampatuan, we have selected Madia and Elian as pilot areas and checked on at least 348 families,” said Gorre.

Selahuddin Yu Hashim, TMI’s founding chair and executive director, related that “documented and reliable information or data sources are often limited in conflict-affected areas of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.”

“The baseline study, therefore, is critical to enhance the quality of information needed to effectively design the series of capacity-building activities and the establishment of community-based micro-enterprise component of the project,” said Hashim.

The study methodology includes a review of secondary data, key informant interview, and family survey.

To ensure the quality, accuracy, and fast collection of data, Maisalam K. Tahir, TMI’s Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation officer, spearheaded the use of the KoBoCollect app in conducting the survey. This app is based on the OpenDataKit and is used for primary data collection in humanitarian emergencies and other challenging field environments.

Gorre said that at the local level, key officials of Datu Saudi Ampatuan were interviewed and the secondary data have been reviewed. The TMI made an assessment of the socio-economic conditions of five municipalities and the distinct conditions of respective barangays. Key commodities were identified and assessed to determine potential products to be developed as part of the establishment of micro-enterprises.

The families surveyed were asked to answer questions based on the five sections, such as: demography; social welfare community participation; income and livelihood activities; and skills.

“The result of the Baseline Study will be published and presented to the public,” said Gorre.

BaiAnida U. Dimaukom, municipal mayor of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, lauded the efforts of the TMI for choosing the town as one of the pilot areas of its ANGAT DAPAT program.

“This will surely boost the entrepreneurial potentials of our local residents,” said Mayor Dimaukom.

ANGAT DAPAT project is a sustainable livelihood initiative focusing on developing micro-enterprise in five municipalities of Maguindanao province in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). It aims to provide opportunities to at least 900 women, persons with disabilities, and youths to get engaged in agri-business based on climate resilient agriculture and by producing high-value products out of resources available. The project is being implemented in partnership with the Islamic Relief Worldwide – Philippines and supported by the IRW-Australia.

This social enterprise initiative is seen to contribute to the ARMM and Maguindanao government’s plan of reducing poverty incidence to 30 percent by 2019. Based on the recent Family Income Expenditure Survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority, the poverty incidence among households in the ARMM region is still the highest in the country with an incidence rate of 53.4 percent during the first semester of 2015. This means that one out of two families in the ARMM has an income lower than the poverty threshold or the minimum income to meet the basic food and non-food necessities.

Aside from Datu Saudi Ampatuan, families were also interviewed in the towns Datu Odin Sinsuat, Sultan Kudarat, DatuPiang, and South Upi. Selection of barangays from these towns are based on the criteria agreed both by the TMI and the local government units.(GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE ACOSTA– MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

DSWD-ARMM distributes rice subsidy to 4Ps beneficiaries

RICE SUBSIDY --- PantawidPamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries of North and South Upi received their first rice subsidy for this year along with the education and health grants during a mass payout last March 29 at the municipal gymnasium in North Upi, Maguindanao. (Photo Courtesy of John Olympus E. Colcol, MCCT Focal, DSWD-ARMM / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY --- The PantawidPamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have started receiving their rice subsidy amounting to P600 per month aside from the regular cash grant following the directive of President Rodrigo R. Duterte during his first State of the Nation Address in June 2016.

Alminda G. Ladja, 4Ps regional coordinator, said around 415,389 households for the whole region, including Modified Conditional Cash Transfer Program (MCCT) beneficiaries, are expected to receive the subsidy which will be paid in six bi-monthly installments along with the education and health grant.

“The subsidy is a commitment of President Duterte and is now being implemented by the DSWD-ARMM,” said Ladja.

Pombaen Karon Kader, assistant secretary of DSWD-ARMM, said the rice subsidy will truly give aid among the poorest of the poor beneficiaries in the region’s five component provinces of Maguindanao, Lanaodel Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-tawi.

“The schedule of the region-wide simultaneous payout for this period began in the last week of March and will run throughout the whole month of April,” said Kader.

DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalosaid the rice subsidy hopes to address the hunger problem that the poor households continue to battle.

However, she added, only households who are active and compliant with the program conditionalities are entitled to receive the additional P600.

“The President wants that the poor households are able to eat everyday” said Taguiwalo.

The 4Ps is a social protection program of the national government. It invests on the health and education of poor households, primarily of children aged 18 and below. Households shall receive their cash grant provided that they comply with the program conditionalities.

These conditions include school attendance of at least 85percent per month for children enrolled in the elementary or high school. Children aged five and below would need to undergo preventive check-up as mandated by the Department of Health while children enrolled in the elementary must receive deworming pills twice within the school year. On the other hand,pregnant women must receive pre and post-natal care based on DoH’s protocol. Lastly, parent/s or guardians are required to attend the monthly Family Development Session (FDS).

The additional cash grant as rice assistance/subsidy is included as part of the P72,115,230 cash grant budget approved for calendar year 2017. The additional P600 rice subsidy was activated to the Period 6 2016 payment.(GILMHAR A. LAO– MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Cotabato City organizes tourism promotion board

TOURISM PROMOTION --- City Tourism Officer GurlieFrondoza (seated, fifth from left) flanks with the new set of officers of the Cotabato City Tourism Promotion Board which assured to help boost tourism potentials of the city. (GILMHAR A. LAO – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY --- The city government of Cotabato organized last April 3 the City Tourism Promotion Board with the aim to boost tourism activities.

Gurlie Frondoza, City Tourism Officer, said that in year 2011 the city government under the late mayor Japal J. Guiani, Jr. issued Executive Order No. 34 giving recognition to the Cotabato City Tourism Promotion Board with the sole purpose of becoming an umbrella organization of different members or institutions in the private sectors.

“They will primarily be responsible in encouraging, promoting, and developing tourism as a major socio-economic activity to generate foreign currency and employment and to spread the benefits of tourism to both the private and public sectors in Cotabato City,” said Frondoza.

Frondoza stressed that the current leadership of City Mayor Atty. Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi has always been supportive of tourism development programs because in advocating them, the industry is “equated with more jobs and even a stable economic activity.”

“Right now, we are doing our best to have strong linkages, very strong relationship with our private sectors to make sure that this is going to be a partnership, not just amongst the people in the local government. We will involve the private sector as well, which also includes the academe,” she added.

Frondoza said the Tourism Promotion Board will be involved in the framing of  tourism development plans and promotion.

“We have the marching orders from the city mayor. In fact, we have just started with the tourism development plan. Our target is on the second quarter that we can present and adapt this plan. At the moment, we are also planning to strengthen our festivals. We will make sure that we will bring in more people to Cotabato City,” she said.

Further, Frondoza said Cotabato City has established the highest percentage in tourist arrivals in Region-12.

“It was the biggest tourist arrival increase in Region-12. When I am asked why we have at least 50 percent increase in tourist arrivals, I would tell them that last year (2016) we launched the tourism awareness year, wherein regularly we checked in the figures with our partners from the private sector most especially in our hotels and other accommodation establishments to make sure that information given to us are accurate and real,” she claimed.

In working with the local government, she said “the number one responsibility of the Tourism Promotion Board is to help in the promotion of Cotabato City. We will also encourage people to come to Cotabato City and join us in our festivals,” said Frondoza.

In his message, Secretary to the Mayor AnicetoRasalan, who represented Mayor Guiani-Sayadi, related the importance of tourism promotion among Cotabateños.

“For instance, let us not forget that we have our very own local delicacies tinagtag, kumukunsi, and tinapayan. We can first work on that,” he said.

The new set of City Tourism Promotion Board officers are Bai Sandra Siang (executive chairman), Architect Christine Mañara (vice chairman), STI College Cotabato (secretary), “Kap” JanethDalagan (treasurer), and Gilmhar Lao (information officer).

The Board of Directors are composed of Pete Marquez (business sector);  Estosan Garden Hotel (restaurant and hotel sector); RVM College of Cotabato and Department of Education (education sector); Manny Balabaran, Omar Patadon, and RicUday (culture and heritage); Norma Yap and BaiKabaiCanaya (barangay tourism); GurlieFrondoza and AmmarahDumama (city government).

Executive Chairman Bai Sandra Siang thanked the city government of Cotabato and her fellow officers on this new challenge. “May we work hand in hand to fully develop tourism activities in our beloved City of Cotabato.”(GILMHAR A. LAO– MINDANAO EXPOSE’)