PGMA launches today gov’t ‘War vs. Red Tape’
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo launched today the Civil Service Commission’s ‘War vs. red Tape’’ in a move to make the frontline services of government be more client-friendly.
The President, assisted by CSC Chairman Ricardo Saludo cut the ceremonial ‘red tape” to symbolize the launch of the campaign that will make the Philippines more globally competitive.
“To be world-class for global competitiveness, we invest in reducing red tape in all agencies to cut business cost,” the President said in her message.
The launching of the program was held in time for the CSC’s 108th Founding Anniversary celebration today highlighted by the conferment of awards to the 2008 outstanding civil servants.
Republic Act 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, was signed into law by the President last June 18. Its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) were drafted through the joint efforts of the CSC, Development Academy of the Philippines, Office of the Ombudsman and the Presidential Anti-Graft commission.
The CSC, being the prime mover for a more client-friendly bureaucracy with campaigns such as “Mamamayan Muna, Hindi Mamaya Na!” and initiatives such as the TEXTCSC, was tasked to lead the implementation of RA 9485.
The Act puts together a comprehensive host of mechanisms, systems and programs that give teeth to government efforts to stamp out inefficiency and corruption in public service.
One of the most salient provisions in the law is that whenever a government office fails to act within the prescribed period to renew a license, permit or authorization, the document is automatically renewed.
With the implementation of the law, the days when it takes about 88 different signatures to get a housing development permit; to get tax overpayment refunds eight years to be approved (although to its credit, the BIR has begun overhauling tax refund procedures); and the pervasive fixing in government frontline offices, will just be history with the determined effort of government to eradicate red tape in the bureaucracy.
The notable features of the Anti-Red Tape Act includes the following:
• The law applies to all government offices including local government units and government-owned-and-controlled- corporations that provide frontline services. Agencies performing judicial, quasi-judicial and legislative functions are excluded from the coverage of the Act but their frontline services are deemed included;
• The law limits the number of signatures of officials or employees directly supervising the evaluation, approval or disapproval of the frontline service that may include request, application or transaction, to a maximum of five signatures.
• The law requires all government offices to draw up a Citizen’s Charter which identifies the frontline services offered, the step-by-step procedures, the employee responsible for each step, the amount of fees, the documents to be presented by the client and the procedure for filing complaints in relation to requests and applications. The charter must be posted in all information billboards.
• All applications/requests for frontline services shall be acted upon not longer than five working days for simple and 10 working days for complex transaction.
• Denial of request for access to government service shall be fully explained in writing, stating the name of the person making the denial and the grounds for denial.
• Public assistance desks must be set in all offices and shall be attended to even during breaktime.
• The Citizens Help Line is touted the “mother of all call centers” as a single phone number that can connect citizens to every service provided by government will be set up;
• The Report Card Survey, patterned from the popular tv show Hoy Gising that was successful in calling the attention of government offices and officials by pointing out their failures as well as successes, the government will have its own Honor Roll for good performance and Horror Roll for the inept and corrupt.
The Report Card promises to hold non-performing bureaucrats to account while giving credit where it is due.
• The Legal Teeth, the most important feature of the Act as it gives legal teeth to the various government programs that seek to reduce red tape. It defines various violations from a simple failure to attend to clients to something as grave as “fixing.” Fixers may now suffer imprisonment for up to six years or be asked to pay a fine of up to P200,000. This is in addition to the penalty of dismissal and perpetual disqualification from public service to government employees found guilty of administrative offenses.
• The law gives an individual or a group the right to file appropriate charges against Cabinet Secretaries or Bureau Directors whose offices consistently fail to meet the standards of quality service every taxpayer deserves.
The Asian Institute of Management blames red tape for driving away investments and stifling business growth and job creation in the country. Compared with its Asian neighbors, the Philippines lags far behind in terms of competitiveness because of red tape.
A World Bank survey this year showed the Philippines ranking 133rd out of 178 countries in terms of the “ease of doing business” because of its failure to institute reforms in the bureaucracy.
PGMA names Ampatuan and Ayson as undersecretaries of Dept. of Energy
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has appointed Datu Zamzamin L. Ampatuan and Loreta G. Ayson as the new undersecretaries of the Department of Energy (DOE).
Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said in an interview that President Arroyo signed the appointment papers of the newly-appointed DOE officials on Sept. 17, 2008, along with an assistant secretary for the department, DOE Director Ramon Oca.
Dureza said Ampatuan will take over the post vacated by Francisco G. Delfin Jr. who opted to go back to the private sector. Ampatuan was the secretary-general and lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) prior to his appointment.
On the other hand, Ayson will replace Melinda L. Ocampo. A graduate of the University of Santo Tomas with the degree of Bachelor Science in Commerce, she has been with the DOE for almost 29 years or since 1979, and was officer-in-charge (OIC) of the DOE’s Administration, Finance and Legal Department.
She obtained her masteral degree in public administration from the Development Academy of the Philippines.
On the other hand, Asst. Sec. Oca, who has been with the DOE for almost 33 years since 1975, was the director of the DOE’s Energy Resource Development Bureau. He will replace Asst. Sec. Annette M. Rafael.
Oca graduated from the Mapua Institute of Technology with a degree in Mining Engineering, and from the Technological University of the Philippines where he earned his Masters in Management.
PGMA declares Oct. 16 as Special Non-working Day in Calbayog City
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has declared Oct. 16, 2008 as a Special Non-Working Day in Calbayog City to mark its Charter Day Anniversary.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said during his weekly press briefing that by authority of President Arroyo, he signed Proclamation No. 1624 last Sept. 17 declaring Oct. 16 as a Special Non-Working Day in Calbayog City.
Ermita said the proclamation will give the people of Calbayog City ample time to commemorate their Charter Day anniversary with appropriate ceremonies and program of activities.
“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the City of Calbayog will be given the full opportunity to celebrate the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” Ermita said.
Calbayog City rose to political and religious prominence toward the end of the American occupation of the country to become the seat of Roman Catholicism in Samar when the Diocese of Calbayog was created on April 10, 1910. The passage of Republic Act No. 328 made Calbayog a city on Oct. 16, 1948.
A first-class city in the province of Eastern Samar, Calbayog lies along the coast, stretching about 60 miles from the northern tip of the island. Calbayog comprises 157 barangays and is the largest city in Eastern Visayas with total a population of 163,657 people.
ICC-ILIGAN CITY DISPATCH
Nograles assures higher budget for government departments
ICC-ILIGAN CITY (09/19/08) -- The House of Congress is convinced that the budget for each department should be higher than the previous ones.
This was stressed by Speaker Prospero Nograles who was among those that accompanied Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo when she visited the government troops at the 4th Infantry Brigade, Fist Infantry Division (104th Bde), Philippine Army in Ditucalan, Maria Cristina, this city, recently.
Also with the President, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), were Secretary Gilberto Teodoro of the Dept. of National Defense, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales and Press Secretary Jesus Dureza.
Speaker Nograles said the budgets of the departments should be increased to be able to respond to its various programs, specially those on food sufficiency, energy crisis and other projects and programs to fight the poverty of the people.
“For example, we are subsidizing the price of rice, which the government sells at Php18 per kilo as food sufficiency is our flagship program and then we want to help our people with their electric bills. Thus Congress will be giving so much to the government,” Nograles explained.
He said the budget hearings are budget hearing are almost over and that they are setting the timetable to finish it in October. By November, we will be sending it to the Senate for confirmation.
It would be good if we will finish our hearings at the same time. And I hope they will be able to thresh out their little differences and be able to concentrate on the budget because we don’t want to waste our time. (Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob, PIA-10)
TESDA instructor wins Dangal ng Bayan award
NAIDA G. Lasangre, 51, an instructress at the Lupon School of Fisheries (LSF), a TESDA technical-vocational institution in Lupon, Davao Oriental, has won the Civil Service Commission’s 2008 Dangal ng Bayan Award.
She is one of the seven winners in this category of the CSC’s yearly search for outstanding government employees, and was selected on the basis of her remarkable achievements in aquaculture education and community extension work.
As a government employee, she was also cited for her simple living and commitment to democracy.
TESDA director general Secretary Augusto Boboy Syjuco lauded Lasangre for her achievements when she met her and her husband in his office in Taguig City.
“TESDA is proud to have another employee winning the prestigious Dangal ng Bayan Award,” he said, noting how Mrs. Lasangre has motivated her students in Lupon and other communities to pursue careers in tech-voc education.
Mrs. Lasangre goes to work with her husband Eduardo, also an instructor in LSF, even during Saturdays and Sundays when her services are required. She was one of those worked hard in enabling LSF to avail itself of the highest grant amount in Region 11 provided under the TESDA’s jobs directed scholarship program (JDSP).
She also prepared the LSF institutional implementation plan for aquaculture, which hastened the release of an P8 million soft loan from the government of Germany for aquaculture processing tools and equipment.
A TESDA national model employee awardee in 2006, Lasangre, who has been teaching for 27 years, has been instrumental in the development of the LSF fishpond, which now provides practical training to LSF’s aquaculture students.
“LSF aquaculture students now train in bangus grow-out production hands-on in the fishpond, instead of through CDs and tapes which was the case before,” said Delia Lorica, LSF administrator.
“The LSF also earns money from the fishpond, it being the school’s second-highest income-generating project,” she added.
In Belayong, San Isidro, another Davao Oriental town, she trained a group of Muslims whose chieftain is a rebel returnee in growing tilapia in cages and processing them into ‘tamayo’. Today, about 50 families who attended her training are bow engaged in tilapia growing.
Mrs. Lasangre, along with the other awardees, received her award last week from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Malacanang Palace. (TESDA News and Features)
TESDA fast tracks seafarer assessment; continues to issue COCs
TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Secretary Augusto ‘Boboy’ Syjuco yesterday said the TESDA is fast tracking the assessment of seafarers and continues to issue certificates of competency (COCs), belying the complaint of the Retired Seafarers Association (RSA) that the agency has stopped the issuance of COCs.
“The complaint is not true. The complainant may not have checked the matter with TESDA,” Syjuco said in a press release.
“TESDA “As a matter of due course, the TESDA continues to issue COCs and has a fulltime maritime processing officer to attend to seafarer clients”, he added.
Syjuco, who holds the rank of cabinet secretary, also dismissed the RSA’s complaint that the alleged stoppage will cause delay in the deployment of seafarers.
“Since the TESDA has not stopped issuing COCs, how could there be a delay in the deployment of seafarers?” he asked.
Data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) show that in 2007, the country deployed 266,553 seafarers, or 25 percent of the total OFW deployment of 1.07 million.
Of the number, 61,307 (23 percent) are officers; 165,263 (62 percent) are ratings; and 33,983 (15 percent) are other passenger ship personnel.
The same data also show that as of September 2008, the country has a total skills demonstration administered to new entrants in the seafaring profession.
He emphasized that a seafarer must pass the TESDA competency assessment before he could be issued a COC, which has a validity of five years.
Syjuco said that TESDA has six accredited assessment centers for deck and engine ratings located in Regions 3, 6, 8 and in the National Capital Region. Three assessment centers in Regions 4-A, 7, and 11 are undergoing re-accreditation process.
In Metro Manila, TESDA-NCR conducts portfolio assessment through the Free Assessment Service of TESDA (FAST), while performance assessment is administered by accredited assessment centers. (TESDA News and Features)
Fast-growing BPO industry needs more ICT graduates
DAVAO CITY – With the Philippine Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry growing by 30 to 35 percent annually and a projection of 1 million jobs generated by 2010, key players in the Philippine business process outsourcing (BPO) industry and academe are pushing for a comprehensive and sustainable training program that will develop Mindanao’s human resources on information, communication technology (ICT.
“We need to let the public know the positive economic impact the BPO sector has already gained, and the untapped opportunities that the ICT industry has to offer particularly in creating more jobs and ICT-related businesses,” said Wit Holganza, president of the ICT Davao, Inc. during the first ever BPO Human Resource and Recruitment Forum held last month.
She said that the forum, which gathered BPO experts and HR practitioners from local schools and training institutions, is a good start to prepare the human resource pool to acquire skills that will serve the requirements of the BPO industry players.
The supply of qualified ICT-skilled workers is an increasing concern as the industry needs more ICT graduates with the ICT industry poised for upbeat growth in the next years.
Ditas Formoso, head of the Technical Committee on Government Academe Industry Linkage (TC-GAIL) said that the talent pool is growing at a rate of only 10 percent while the industry grows 30-35 percent annually. In her presentation, she explained that faculty development, industry immersion for students, appropriate school infrastructure and industry-based curricula are factors that make up a talent pool required by the industry.
The TC-GAIL will embark on advocacy and awareness programs to gain industry, academe and local government support for the faculty immersion programs they will be pilot-testing. She also encouraged academic institutions to participate as this will benefit both graduates and faculty. Jamea Garcia, Talent Development Director of the Business
Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) said in her presentation that the supply of talent will determine the level of growth the industry will experience. She said that a comprehensive assessment and training program must be developed to help improve suitability of talent for the industry.
In a recent article, she said that investing in training of human resources is a challenge for stakeholders “in order to supply the quality of talent which will also propel improvements in the industry.” She said that aside from generating 1 million jobs by 2010, it is also projected to generate 1.2 to 1.3 million indirect jobs.
The forum was organized by the ICT Davao, an umbrella organization of different ICT industry associations. The group is planning to develop a databank which will determine Davao’s human resources pool and its capacity to respond to the needs of prospective locators.
The 3-day forum also matched teachers and guidance counselors of schools with HR and recruitment staff of BPO companies on a two-day job fair to allow schools first hand experience in human resource and recruitment processes which can become a benchmark for schools in improving their curriculum particularly in English proficiency and other ICT-related skills.
A career employment track was organized to focus on career opportunities in the different BPO fields which include the contact center, medical transcription, and graphics and animation. On the other hand, the technopreneurship track oriented the participants of opportunities in engaging in ICT start-up businesses.
The Davao Business Plan Competition was also launched during the forum to encourage young ICT entrepreneurs to submit business start-up proposals. (MEDCo)
Mindanao 2000 plan review team all set for regional consultations
DAVAO CITY--- The review team for the Mindanao 2000 Development Framework Plan is all set for a Mindanao-wide consultation with local government, private sector and civil society stakeholders starting next month.
Spearheaded by the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo), along with counterparts from the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Regional offices, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Offices in Mindanao, and the Mindanao Business Council (MinBC), the regional consultations will be conducted to discuss the framework plan with the stakeholders, generate inputs on the assessment as well as gather and validate relevant Mindanao data.
An assessment guideline is already formulated by the team to be used in their rounds of consultation.
The participants are currently doing pre-fieldwork activities in preparation for the consultations and data gathering activities at the regions.
The Mindanao 2000 Development Framework Plan is an economic development blueprint that shows intricate relationship of economic growth and poverty alleviation as well as peace and security in the island-region.
Its advent in 1995 initially paved the way for an integrated Mindanao economy. "Various policy reforms, programs and projects for Mindanao's development have been implemented because of Mindanao 2000", said Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana, MEDCO chair.
Leyretana added, however, that "in recent years, new challenges and opportunities have been cropping up, leading to the call for an integrated peace and development roadmap, which is more in tune with the present and future global context of Mindanao".
“There is a compelling need to update the said framework plan to address pressing issues on climate change among others”, he added. The assessment of the Mindanao 2000 will eventually lead to the formulation of the Mindanao 2020 Peace and Development Framework Plan, which is viewed to be a holistic, multi-dimensional and integrated peace and development framework in sync with the needs and potentials of Mindanao within its historical, social, political, economic and cultural contexts.
The project is being supported by the Philippine Australia Human Resource Development Facility (PAHRDF), in partnership with the Development Academy of the Philippines sa Mindanao (DAP sa Mindanao). It is likewise conducted in close coordination with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Mindanao Business Council (MinBC). (MEDCo)
ICC-ILIGAN CITY DISPATCH
Militiamen repulse rebel attack in Kauswagan
ICC-ILIGAN CITY (Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte) Sept 19 (PNA) – Government militiamen in a remote village in this town repulsed an attacked by an armed group early morning on Friday.
Lt. Col. Agane Adriatico, spokesman of the Army's First Infantry Division, said the incident happened at around 4am, when a band of armed men believed to be followers of Moro rebel leader Abdulrahman Macapaar alias Commander Bravo, fired at a militia detachment in Tingintingin village.
No one from among the militiamen were hurt, Adriatico said.
An ensuing firefight lasted for about ten minutes, prompting the militiamen to call in artillery support.
Two volleys from 105mm howitzers sent the rebels scampering in different directions, Adriatico said.
He said the attack could be a diversionary attempt by the rebels to ease the pressure being experienced now by Bravo and his men in the hinterlands of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte.
The incident came hours after the visit of President Gloria Macapaagal Arroyo at the headquaters of the 104th Infantry Brigade in Ditucalan, this city, where she was presented seized rebel weapons, belongings and communication apparatus.
The two-day Mindanao sortie of the President coincided with the capture of a main camp of Commander Bravo in the slopes of Mt Gurain, which straddles the towns of Piagapo, Madalum in Lanao del Sur and Munai municipality in Lanao del Norte. (PNA)
ICC-ILIGAN CITY DISPATCH
Lawless MILF faction harasses village in Lanao Norte
ICC-ILIGAN CITY (09/19/08) - A faction of the lawless Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) group harassed a Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) detachment at dawn today in the town of Kauswagan in the province of Lanao del Norte in Mindanao, the military reported.
Lt. Col. Agane Adriatico, spokesperson of the 1st Infantry Division, Philippine Army said during a press forum in Iligan City that the incident took place at four o’clock in the morning in the village of Tingin-tingin in Kauswagan town where the CAFGU detachment is located.
The CAFGU is an auxiliary unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
“There was firefight for four to five minutes. We could not confirm the number of forces they have because it was dark. The group then scattered to different areas,” he reported.
He announced that there were no casualties on the part of the military and they could not verify whether there were members of the lawless MILF group wounded.
The lawless MILF group is headed by Abdulrahman Macapaar alias Commander Bravo, one of the rogue MILF commanders who committed atrocities in the towns of Kauswagan and Kolambugan in the province of Lanao del Norte in Mindanao.
“What they did was a just diversionary tactic. They wanted to distract our attention because the forces of Bravo may be planning to move to the coastal areas,” he said.
He added that the military expects diversionary ploys from them every now and then, “but the public should not worry because the army is always ready,” he said.
Adriatico also said that the possibility of Commander Bravo escaping through the coastal areas is slim because the Armed Forces have troops situated there. (Brent M. Bravo, PIA-10)
ICC-ILIGAN CITY DISPATCH
Army says rogue MILF group recruits minors
ICC-ILIGAN CITY (09/19/08) – A military spokesperson confirms that the lawless elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have been recruiting minors as members.
Lt. Col. Agane Adriatico of the 1st Infantry Division, Philippine Army made the announcement during a press forum at the Information Command Center of the Philippine Information Agency in Iligan City today, September 19.
He said that when the military recently took and occupied a vast camp by the rogue MILF group located in the boundaries of the villages of Madalum and Piagapo in the province of Lanao del Sur and Munai in Lanao del Norte, they found documents containing the personal details of their members.
“Based on the documents, we discovered that they have members as young as 14 years old. Not only boys but also girls,” Adriatico said.
He said they also discovered that some elected officials in some villages, whose names he withheld, are also members of the group.
“We have coordinated with the proper authorities in filing charges against these local leaders,” he told reporters.
For his part, Maj. Benedicto Manquiquis, Commanding Officer of the 1st Civil Military Operations Unit, Civil Military Operations Group said that the rogue MILF is recruiting minors because they can easily brainwash them.
“When they’re attacked by the military, they can claim that the army harmed civilians because of the presence of children,” Manquiquis said. (Brent M. Bravo, PIA-10)
ICC-ILIGAN CITY DISPATCH
Armed forces chief says the sooner the rogue MILF leaders are capture, the better
ICC-ILIGAN CITY (09/19/08) - Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Alexander Yano said that there is no particular time table in the capture of the lawless Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leaders like Abdulrahman Macapaar alias Commander Bravo, Ameril Umbra Kato and Aleem Sulaiman Pangalian, and their rouge band.
“Much to our desire to end the war very soon, we are very positive to have them in our hands because we have very competent commanders in the three base commands who penetrated the crimes and atrocities,” he told reporters recently.
I entrust the responsibility to General Cardoso Luna, Joint Force Mindanao Commander, Lt. General Nelson Allaga, commanding officer of the Western Mindanao Command, and Maj.General Nehemias Pajarito, commanding officer, First Infantry Tabak Division.
Operation is on-going in Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat. We are running after the criminal lawless group under Umbra Kato, and we will continue pursuing them, together with the police until we can crave with their capabilities, Yano stressed, adding that they have to answer for the crimes they have committed.
He said that they are very positive of the development of the operation because of the fact that the criminals are in the run, and this is good enough, he reiterated.
The lawless MILF group is now under pressure, being deprived of their own areas because we occupied most of their areas already, said Yano.
Observation of Ramadhan will soon end, thus, the Armed forces has always been prepared in any contingencies with or Ramadhan. That is always been the case. We do not just prepare during crucial events but the AFP’s concern is not only the affected areas but the whole country.
All these senseless violence committed by the rouge group should be stopped, we have to pursue justice and the rule of law, Yano disclosed. (Lorry V. Gabule/PIA 10)
ICC-ILIGAN CITY DISPATCH
We don’t have Commander Bravo - PNP
ICC-ILIGAN CITY (09/19/08) – The Philippine National Police (PNP) belies reports that they already have in their custody renegade Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leader Abdulrahman Macapaar alias commander Bravo.
SPO4 Teodoro Llanes, Police Community Relations Officer of PNP-Iligan gave this statement in a press forum at the Information Command Center of the Philippine Information Agency in Iligan City today, reacting to the issue that the police has possession of the MILF leader and will surrender him to PNP Chief Avelino Razon, Jr.
Razon is due to retire on September 27 and is said to have vowed to get Commander Bravo before he retires.
“We don’t have Bravo. These are all just stories,” he stressed.
He added that it would be a good accomplishment on the part of the PNP if they have captured him and it would also be a good retirement gift to the PNP chief.
Llanes also said that the police’s intelligence networks are also looking to track the MILF leader in the hope that they will be able to capture him before Gen. Razon retires.
“But we’re also asking the people for help. We need any information from them for the capture of Bravo for the crimes he had committed,” he said.
Commander Bravo is one of the rogue MILF commanders being pursued by the military and police since August 18 for their atrocities in the towns of Kauswagan and Kolambugan in the province of Lanao del Norte in Mindanao. (Brent M. Bravo, PIA-10)
ICC-ILIGAN CITY DISPATCH
Displaced families in Lanao Norte condemn rogue MILF group
ICC-ILIGAN CITY (09/19/08) – A police official in Iligan City said that people living in the evacuation centers in some areas in the province of Lanao del Norte in Mindanao condemn the atrocities made Abdulrahman Macapaar alias Commander Bravo in the towns of Kauswagan and Kolambugan.
Commander Bravo and his men created havoc in the two towns by attacking civilians, burning houses and slaughtering animals, leaving scores dead and several wounded, which caused hundreds of families to flee to evacuation centers.
SPO4 Teodoro Llanes, Police Community Relations Officer of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Iligan City said that based on his experience on the field and his conversation with some evacuees, they don’t like what is happening to their lives right now.
“And they’re blaming Commander Bravo for their fate. If not for him, they’re still living peacefully in their own homes right now,” he said.
Although they are taken care of in evacuation centers, they still don’t like their condition there because they can easily get sick and they don’t have privacy due to congestion.
Lt. Col. Agane Adriatico, spokesperson of the 1st Infantry Division, Philippine Army also supported the statement of the police saying that even Muslim evacuees condemn the acts of Commander Bravo and his men.
“They believe what he did was un-Islamic and they don’t condone that,” Adriatico said.
As a matter of fact, the people in the evacuation centers are supporting the military because of the relief efforts it is doing, in the coordination with support government agencies and non-governmental organizations. (Brent M. Bravo, PIA-10)
ICC-ILIGAN CITY DISPATCH
CMO include providing security to companies – WestMin
ICC-ILIGAN CITY (09/18/08) – Aside from the offensive operations, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), particularly the Western Mindanao (WestMin) Command, is also conducting civil military operations (CMO) to help the communities improve their lives.
This was emphasized by Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga, Commander of the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) during a briefing at the information Command Center (ICC) in Iligan City who said his units are now helping out in solving the security problems of some companies in their areas of coverage.
An example of this is the Hanjin Corp. which has its headquarters in Kauswagan, LDN, Bravo’s hometown, which had been constructing a 20-km. access road from Bacolod, an adjacent town, towards the Munai Complex in the hinterland.
Funded by the Asian Development Bank(ADB), this provincial road project is supposed to be completed in five years. However, four years have passed and only 50% of the job have been accomplished.
“The company representatives told us the delay is because of a security problem, as they have been victims of kidnapping, harassment and extortion by the lawless MILF group (LMG) of Bravo,” he said.
“I have ordered my men in the area to help provide Hanjin with the security they need to speed up the construction of that access road knowing how important it will be for the resident in the area, especially, the farmers,” the WestMin commander said.
Once completed, it will now be easy for the farmers to bring their goods to the markets, send their children to school and bring the sick members of their families to hospitals for professional medical attention.
“More than these, it will also give us the needed access to go after the terrorists responsible for the bombings of electric towers in the hinterlands that cause brown outs and result in the loss of investments, work stoppage and negative slippage of government projects,” he said.
In fact, the LMG has destroyed at least five (5) towers of the National Transmission Corp. in the area shortly before the Aug. 18, 2008 attack, Allaga said.
Another attempt to bomb a Transco tower in Tingin-Tingin, also of Kauswagan, took place, last night but was luckily foiled by government forces in the area.
“That is why people should realize that turning Komander Bravo in is not only for the welfare of the people of LDN but also for the general welfare of everybody in Mindanao,” Allaga added. (Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob, PIA-10)
ICC-ILIGAN CITY DISPATCH
DDR does not only mean laying down arms by the rebels – Sec. Gonzales
ICC-ILIGAN CITY (09/19/08) – Since we are in a democracy, we will talk about the proposed changes in our system without the use of arms.
Thus explained Secretary Norberto Gonzales, National Security Adviser on the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) framework of Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Sec. Gonzales was with the President when she visited the troops of the 4th Infantry Brigade, First Infantry Division (104th Bde), Philippine Army in Ditucalan, Maria Cristina, this city, on Sept. 18, 2008.
The National Security Adviser retary clarified that the DDR framework does not only mean laying down of arms by rebel groups, such as, the lawless MILF group (LMG) but talking about their problems, as well.
For so long now, we have been trying to understand and justify these rebel groups that use arms in ventilating their complaints.
“This time, the use of arms in ventilating complaints had to stop. If you have complaints, tell us about them. We will listen to you and maybe grant your wishes. But do not do it with a gun pointed to us,” the Sec. Gonzales said.
The accepted mode in the 20th century was that people who use arms in this kind of job were called freedom and guerilla fighters.
But now, this is no longer accepted in the 21st century. There is no more government in the whole world now that helps armed groups to get what they want through the use of arms.
“I heard Mumar Khadaffy of Libya when he talked to the MILF leaders. He said there is only one reason why I will help the MILF and that is if there is religious persecution. Of course, we know there is no religious persecution that has taken place in our country,” Sec. Gonzales said.
“Sa mundo ngayon, bawal na ang paggamit ang dahas (In the world today, using arms .is already prohibited) and there is no reason why the LMG they will be assisted by anything or anybody in the world,” the National Security Adviser added. (Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob, PIA-10)
ICC-ILIGAN CITY DISPATCH
National Security Adviser says peace process to continue
ICC-ILIGAN CITY (09/19/08) -- The government is prepared to continue the peace process and part of this process is to bring the lawless MILF group (LMG) to justice.
This was stressed by the National Secretary Adviser, Secretary Norberto Gonzales who said it is very clear that the LMG led by Bravo had committed grievous crimes when they attacked the villages of Kauswagan and Kolambugan in Lanao del Norte (LDN) last Aug. 18.
The incident resulted in the death of 42 persons, the injury of 65 others and two (2) persons missing and affected a total of 12,742 families with 57,215 persons.
Also burned were 55 houses, nine (9) commercial establishments and a unit each of a private owner-type jeep, PNP patrol car and 37 classrooms.
Likewise, the LMG ransacked and looted 15 commercial establishment and 20 houses and partly damaged 30 classrooms due to bombings.
Sec. Gonzales was with Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), when she visited the 4th Infantry Brigade, First Infantry Division, Philippine Army in Ditucalan, Maria Cristina, this city, recently.
The President is only right in issuing the order to the AFP to continue the relentless drive to go after Bravo in the pursuit of justice and ensure that the criminal elements of the LMG are brought to justice, the National Security Adviser said. (Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob, PIA-10)
ICC-ILIGAN CITY DISPATCH
Terrorist tag of armed groups up to sponsoring countries – Sec. Gonzales
ICC-ILIGAN CITY 09/19/08) – Although the government can not just declare the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as “terrorist,” it is confident its lawless elements has made a mark on the countries that campaigns against global terrorism
Thus explained Secretary Norberto Gonzales, National Security Adviser who said there is a very strict protocol when it comes to declaring a group “terrorist.”
“It is actually the international agencies or sponsoring countries that make the declaration,” the National Security Adviser said.
“These countries don’t have to tell us that. They just observe the fight against terror in the country and they will look at the potential groups of the terrorist organization that conducts the terrorist activities,” Sec. Gonzales said.
Global terrorism is a problem of all countries and major countries in the world that were victims of global terrorism are assisting to solve this problem.
As you may have noticed, there are some foreigners who we occasionally see around. They are just observing and are only looking at the extent of terrorism done by the LMG.
Since the atrocities done by the MLG are very clear and obvious manifestations of their criminal acts that resulted in the death of numerous innocent civilians and loss and damage to properties, then at a given time, they will make such decision to declare the MILF “terrorists.”
“We in the government are only following the laws of the land. We only follow our constitution. It’s the MILF who violated our laws,” Sec. Gonzales said. (Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob, PIA-10)
ICC-ILIGAN CITY DISPATCH
Militiamen repulse rebel attack in Kauswagan
ICC-ILIGAN CITY (Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte), Sept 19 (PNA) – Government militiamen in a remote village in this town repulsed an attacked by an armed group early morning on Friday.
Lt. Col. Agane Adriatico, spokesman of the Army's First Infantry Division, said the incident happened at around 4am, when a band of armed men believed to be followers of Moro rebel leader Abdulrahman Macapaar alias Commander Bravo, fired at a militia detachment in Tingintingin village.
No one from among the militiamen were hurt, Adriatico said.
An ensuing firefight lasted for about ten minutes, prompting the militiamen to call in artillery support.
Two volleys from 105mm howitzers sent the rebels scampering in different directions, Adriatico said.
He said the attack could be a diversionary attempt by the rebels to ease the pressure being experienced now by Bravo and his men in the hinterlands of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte.
The incident came hours after the visit of President Gloria Macapaagal Arroyo at the headquaters of the 104th Infantry Brigade in Ditucalan, this city, where she was presented seized rebel weapons, belongings and communication apparatus.
The two-day Mindanao sortie of the President coincided with the capture of a main camp of Commander Bravo in the slopes of Mt Gurain, which straddles the towns of Piagapo, Madalum in Lanao del Sur and Munai municipality in Lanao del Norte. (PNA)
ICC-ILIGAN CITY DISPATCH
Counter-terrorism is a shared responsibility--PNP RD
ICC-GENERAL SANTOS CITY (18 September)--Regional Director PCSupt. Felizardo Serapio Jr. underscored that counter-terrorism is a shared responsibility between the people and the government.
“The PNP cannot afford to take chances whenever there is a threat of a terrorist activity and counter-terrorism is a shared responsibility of the people and the government. The public must do their own part to ascertain their own safety,” he said.
Recently, Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. commended the PNP 12 authorities for their quick action that had somehow deterred expansion of atrocities in the provinces of Cotabato and Sarangani.
Meanwhile SarGen Coastal Area Sultanate Consultative Body for Peace of the Municipality of Malapatan, Sarangani Province in a published statement condemned the brutal destructions of private properties as well as the consequent killings of innocent civilians, Muslims and Christians alike in Lanao del Norte, North Cotabato and Sarangani Province describing the act “as horrible and inhuman.”
Just like the consultative body, Police Regional Office 12 highly condemns the transgression as terrible and despicable crime against God and people.
In order to address greater escalation of MILF atrocities all over region 12 and in anticipation of actions of various threat groups for larger destabilization, a contingency plan was devised by Police Regional Office 12 in close coordination with other concerned government agencies.
The contingency plan intends to oversee the preparedness of the different operating units in dealing with various crises that will affect the survival of the government institutions, ensure the protection of lives and critical infrastructures, economic key points, the defense and security of the community.
Different commanders on the ground were also directed to simulate drills as part of the preparation.
Aside from augmentation of troops from other Mindanao-based regions, the Regional Mobile Group (RMG) from Police Regional Office 6, 7, and 8 are now deployed in some municipalities and villages in North Cotabato to prevent further incursions by lawless MILF Groups (LMGs).
Clearing operations by the police and AFP units also continue in some villages and municipalities in North Cotabato to allow internally displaced persons (IDPs) to return to their homes and farmlands and start a normal life. (PNP-PRO 12/PIA SarGen)
ICC-ILIGAN CITY DISPATCH
Residents disprove desecration of mosque
ICC-GENERAL SANTOS CITY (Daliao, Maasim, Sarangani), 18 September – Villagers joined army troops and local officials Wednesday (September 17) to see for themselves a mosque in Camp Khalid bin Walid reportedly devastated by the military.
However, they found out such reports were false.
"Ang mosque diri wala natandog (The mosque here was not touched)," said barangay captain Abdurajes Pangolima, who led scores of other residents to the camp.
"Wala man poy natandog sa mga gamit nila, gamit sa mga brothers natong MILF ok man. Ang mga balay pud mao gihapon (Their things were not touched, things of our brothers MILF are ok. Their houses are just the same)," he added.
The mosque was built at the center of MILF's Camp Khalid bin Walid.
Less than 50 meters from this mosque is an old dilapidated mosque used to be the resting place of the armed group before an encounter took place September 12 some 500 meters away from the camp.
"Hindi totoo na na-disturbo ng military 'yong pagsambayang nila. Kasi kung nagsambayang sila, naabutan sila dyan (It's not true that the military disturbed their prayer because if they did pray, surely they were captured there)," recounted Julis Maguid, a Muslim leader.
"Hindi naman sinunog ang mga bahay. 'Yong mga civilian wala namang order ang military na mag-bakwit ang lahat ng civilian pero yong hindi nakatiis yon ang lumipat (Houses were not burned. The civilians were not ordered by the military to evacuate, but those who were scared really left)," Maguid disclosed.
"Pero kami nandyan man kami hindi po kami umalis (But we were just in our houses. We did not leave)," he said.
The military said it was in Camp Khalid where a rogue MILF group planned the August 18 attack of Maasim poblacion which resulted to the murder of two innocent civilians.
Police provincial director S/Supt. Danilo Peralta, in a press briefing Wednesday morning (September 1), disclosed that according to intelligence reports, Commander Alo Binago, under the command of Commander Ameril Umbra Kato of the 105th MILF base command, arrived in Camp Khalid earlier and led the attack in Maasim poblacion on August 18.
In the said briefing, Peralta showed local media warrants of arrest for Commander Binago, Taha Maguid Sapal alias Commander Taha, Manawi Ibrahim alias Commander Lawin, Jayon Saligan alias Commander Aguilar, and 45 others for murder, frustrated murder, arson, and robbery.
The warrants of arrest were issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 38 Tuesday (September 16).
"With these warrants of arrest, these men are now no less than Commander Umbra Kato and Commander Bravo who are considered as Lawless MILF Groups (LMGs)," Peralta said.
Commander Aguilar is the base camp commander of the 107th base command in Daliao.
Police said the MILF has transferred its 107th base command at least thrice - from Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat, then to barangay Pananag in Maasim, and now in Daliao.
"Dito talaga sila nagtagal (They really stayed here longer)," Maguid said.
"Makita ta tanan diri karon nga wala nahitabo sa Mosque, wala mi ga-damage, wala namo gisunog (Now we see for ourselves nothing happened to the mosque, we did not damage it, we did not burn it)," 2nd Lt. Angel Cinco of the 73rd Infantry Battalion told villagers and local officials at the site.
"Kung buot huna-hunaon sa nakita nato nga ebidensiya mao na ang ilhanan nga nagrespeto gyud ta sa ilaha (If we really come to think of it, this evidence show that we really respect them)," a resident who refused to disclose his name said.
"Siyempre ginahimo sa military ang sugo sa ilaha nga sudlon. Normal na kay naay nahitabo (Of course, the military just follow their orders. It's normal because something happened)," another resident said.
Armed men responsible for the attack of Maasim town hall, the police office, and the killing of two innocent civilians were sighted and engaged by patrolling troops of 73rd IB in the area that Friday. The said group has been the subject of complaints by civilians who have virtually evacuated the area for fear of atrocities to be perpetrated by the group.
"Regular yong patrol kasi may persistent report, pag hindi namin ginawa yong pagpa-patrol, eh hindi naming ginagawa yong tungkulin namin," said Lt. Col. Edgardo De Leon, battalion commander of the 73rd IB. (PIO Sarangani/ICC General Santos City)
ICC-ILIGAN CITY DISPATCH
PNP strengthens target-hardening measures to counter MILF attacks
ICC-PAGADIAN CITY (19 September)--Central Mindanao Police Chief Superintendent Felizardo M. Serapio Jr. presided a coordinating conference to discuss measures strengthening local security plan in the region.
The conference on Wednesday, September 17 sought to discuss and formulate target hardening measures in the airport including the seaport and fuel depots as part of vital institutions security in the region to deter threat groups from conducting unruly acts.
In attendance during the meeting at the Civil Aviation Authority Office in General Santos City International Airport were airport personnel including the security force, PETRON, General Santos City Police, PNP AVSECOM, Joint Task Force Gensan, CIDG, PNP Maritime Office, Regional Mobile Group and Special Action Force.
Police forces are pre-positioned in the different areas to avert any possible attacks following an intelligence report from the PNP Directorate for Operations that the MILF under the 113th Base Command is allegedly planning to conduct hostile move in the cities of Zamboanga, Davao and Cotabato targeting Christian-dominated areas.
Police said MILF supporters are reportedly doing rounds in the different Islamic Communities in Metro Manila to get the consensus of the Muslim residents regarding MILF’s possible Jihad. (RPIO-PRO 12/PIA SarGen)
Shelter, cash assistance from DSWD for Aklan typhoon victims now more than P10M
KALIBO, AKLAN--The Department of Social Welfare and Development's shelter and cash assistance extended to victims of Typhoon Frank in Aklan has reached P10,218,200.00 as of September.
According to Janet T. Calizo, Project Development Officer II of DSWD-Aklan, the assistance from the office is broken down as follows: Shelter Assistance for Kalibo for 43 beneficiaries at P50,000 each, P2,150,000; Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) for 455 beneficiaries from Kalibo's 13 barangays at P10,000 each, P4,550,000; ESA for 191 beneficiaries of Bubog, Numancia at P10,000 each, P1,910,000; and Cash for Work Program in Kalibo with 480 beneficiaries, P1,252,900; and Numancia, 190 beneficiaries amounting to P355,300.00.
Calizo said the releases made by the DSWD for emergency shelter assistance were only for Category A beneficiaries.
She said however, that DSWD Field Office 6 is trying very hard to come up with cash releases for more victims whose houses were totally damaged.
ESA has three categories – A, B and C. For Category A, beneficiaries will receive P10,000.00; B, P7,500 and C, P5,000.00.
Based on the final report of the PDCC here, there were 11,210 houses which were totally destroyed in Aklan, with Kalibo listing the highest with 3,395, followed by Numancia, 1,827 and New Washington, 1,706.
After validation made by social workers from Regions 10 and 11, however, Calizo said that the number of damaged houses reduced.
Soon, Calizo said the DSWD will be implementing the Food for Work Program in Aklan, another scheme of the department to help Aklan's typhoon victims.
In this program, beneficiaries hired by the barangays will receive a food pack everyday worth P140.00 consisting of canned goods and coffee. The program will be implemented in all Aklan municipalities except Malay.
The workers will be hired for five days.
"The goods are still part of donations for typhoon victims, but instead of giving these out as relief goods, these will be used as payment for workers in the barangays hired to do certain jobs like cleaning streets and roads, etc.," Calizo said.
The DSWD will implement this program in coordination with municipalities through their barangays captains. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)
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