News Feature: Kalilang sa Ranao marks 33rd anniversary of Marawi City

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, April 15 (PIA) -- The lone Islamic City in the country marked its 33rd founding anniversary Sunday with a cultural fest called Kalilang (celebration) sa Ranao.

Gongs and kulintang were resounded as residents wearing colourful Maranao garb and malongs marched to the City Hall Grounds to join the city government in celebrating the richness of Maranao culture and strong history of the city and its people.

Home to some 180,000 residents, Marawi is the melting pot of the 40 municipalities of Lanao del Sur. It has 96 barangays with Lake Lanao dominating its landscape.

It is considered as the center of religion, politics and commerce of the Maranaos or lake dwellers.

The city offers a unique and rich experience from the scenic sight of the mountain across the lake called by locals as “sleeping lady” down to the serene Lake Lanao, to the sound of azan at every nook and corner of the city at prayer times, to the sight of locals, and onward to the academic milieu of Mindanao State University.

Dansalan, the city’s original name, was explored by the Spaniards as early as 1940. In August 24, 1981, Maranao warriors led by Amai Pakpak routed and defeated the Spanish forces driving them back to Iligan Bay.

Dansalan was derived from the word ‘dansal’ which means destination point. It was proclaimed as a municipality under the Act of the Moro Province Legislative Council by the American colonial government.

It was given a charter as a city on August 14, 1940 and subsequently renamed to Marawi in June 16, 1956 through Congressional Amendment of the Charter sponsored by Senator Domocao Alonto.

Recognizing that 92 percent of its population are Muslims, Marawi was declared as Islamic City on April 15, 1980. (APB/PIA10) 

Marawi School Division gets thumbs-up from DepEd-ARMM chief

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, April 15 (PIA) -- The regional secretary of the Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepED-ARMM) lauded the teachers and pupils under the Marawi City School Division.

Lawyer Jamar Kulayan, who graced the city’s 33rd founding anniversary on Sunday, said he is proud and impressed by the recent performance of the Marawi City School Division.

He said Marawi City School Division recorded a high rating in the regional assessment in Science, Mathematics and English.

Most passers of the National Qualifying Examination for school heads in the region were also from the said division, he added.

The ARMM Education Secretary, thus, hopes that all the schools division in the ARMM will be like Marawi City School Division.

It is only in this city and in Lamitan that the ARMM can be proud of in terms of producing competent students, he cited.

Kulayan meantime assured the locals that the regional government is doing its best to solve the problems including the region’s educational system before the Bangsamoro entity comes in.

Just this month, DepEd-ARMM started releasing the back pays of public school teachers that have not been paid during the past administrations.

Although it attracted criticisms, he said what they have done to reform the region’s educational system have also gained respect from constituents. (APB/PIA10) 

58IB New Commanding Officer assumes post

CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City, April 15 -- A simple turn-over ceremony of the 58th Infantry “Dimalulupig” Battalion of 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division was held at the Battalion Headquarters, Migbanday, Claveria, Misamis Oriental, April 12.

Lieutenant Colonel George L Banzon, Commanding Officer of the unit relinquished his leadership of 58IB to Lieutenant Colonel Evan M Bermudo as the new Battalion Commander of the unit.

Lieutenant Colonel Bermudo, prior to this new designation, held various positions in the Philippine Army such as: the Deputy Chief of Staff for Education and Training, G8; Operation Officer of Task Force PANAY; Chief Management Fiscal Office, Executive Officer of 47IB and Executive Officer of 301st Brigade all of 3rd Infantry “Spearhead” Division based at Camp General Macario Peralta Jr, Jamindan, Capiz. His most recent assignment was with 402nd Infantry “Stringers” Brigade as the unit’s Executive Officer.

He replaced Lieutenant Colonel George L Banzon, who is set to assume his new post as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, G3 of the 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division.

In his message, Ltc Banzon, extended his thanks and gratitude to the officers and enlisted personnel of the unit for their untiring support and dedication to service rendered during his incumbency as battalion commander.

He encouraged all officers and personnel to offer their sincere dedication and support to his successor since the success of a Commander and the unit he is leading is on the hands of all the members of the unit - officers and enlisted personnel.

Lieutenant Colonel Bermudo in his assumption speech vowed to give his best in order to lead the unit to greater successes. He also urged the personnel to help him sustain the successes of the unit in the past and helped him accomplish the given mission for the unit.

Major General Nestor A Añonuevo, Commander, 4ID, extended his congratulations to Ltc Banzon as the outgoing Commanding Officer of 58IB and to Ltc Bermudo as the incoming Commanding Officer of 58IB.

“I’m very thankful to Ltc Banzon for his dedication of service as Battalion Commander and for his contributions in our internal peace and security operations in the province of Misamis Oriental which has been very helpful in improving the peace and security development in the province and the neighbouring municipalities of Agusan del Norte. To Ltc Bermudo, you have my confidence that you are the right person to lead this unit and I believed that you can equal or even surpass what Ltc Banzon had accomplished,” Major General Añonuevo said. (8IB/4ID/PA/PIA10) 

Hataman says ARMM reform agenda continues to bear fruit

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, April 14 (PIA) -- The bureaucratic reforms introduced in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) yielded unprecedented savings and have put a stop on influence peddling and other anomalous practices that have come to define ARMM.

This was emphasized by ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman in his presentation during the visit of President Benigno S. Aqino III to Cotabato City, Friday.

The President made his first ever visit to the seat of the ARMM government to check on the reforms being instituted by his appointed caretakers in the 23-year old regional institution.

He listened to a 15-minute presentation that highlighted the remarkable performance of the region’s caretaker administration in its 15 months in office.

During his visit, Hataman provided a rundown of ongoing projects and the overall status of reforming the institution that has been previously dubbed as a “failed experiment” by President Aquino.

The regional caretaker cited the savings generated by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the region from its 2012 budget, which amounts to P136.362 million, through fiscal prudence and the enforcement of open and competitive biddings.

The savings were not pocketed, Hataman said, but used by the agency to procure 13 heavy equipment and 15 motor vehicles and nine survey instruments.

DPWH-ARMM Secretary Emil Sadain said the acquisition was first of its kind in 22 years.

“Wala ng palakasan, wala ng lagayan (No more influence peddling, no more bribery),” he said.

Hataman said the regional government no longer allows the hiring and promotion of employees based on influence or reasons that do not warrant their qualification.

A special screening board has been set up to oversee hiring and promotion in the regional government, he said.

Hataman further said the reforms they started are primarily meant to curb corruptions in the region, but, apparently, they have also caused the optimization of government funds.

“The president supported the deferment of the scheduled ARMM elections in 2011 to make way for needed reforms in the ARMM. Now, key improvements are starting to take hold a year and three months after his appointed officials took on the regional leadership,” a civil society organization (CSO) worker observed. (ARMM Comm Group/PIA10)

DOH pours in 587M infra assistance to health facilities in Normin

By Sweet Elah A. Mahinay

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 12 (PIA) – The Department of Health (DOH) has approved a total of P578million funding assistance for the enhancement of various hospitals, rural health units (RHUs), and barangay health stations (BHS) in Northern Mindanao.

  

The DOH region 10 Health Facility Enhancement Unit bared this in a media conference on Friday.

Luis Simbajon of the DOH Health Facility Enhancement Program explained that the approved projects were culled from Health Investment Plan submitted earlier by the local government units.

The projects will be implemented jointly with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), where it carries most of the improvement in the rural health units and barangay health centers in the amount of P227million.

Part of the amount will also be used for the development of Balo-i Provincial Hospital (5M), Sultan Naga Dimaporo Provincial Hospital (20M), Iligan City Hospital (4M), Ozamiz City Puericulture Center (2M), Balingasag Provincial Hospital (3.5M), Gingoog Provincial Hospital (15M), Talisayan Provincial Hospital (5M) and the JR Borja General Hospital (20M).

A total of P312million was likewise allocated to some DOH retained hospitals, to include the Amai Pakpak Medical Center (26M), Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (100M), and the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (185M), while the remaining P48million still goes for the development of the RHUs and BHS that will be implemented under the DOH.

Meanwhile, to complement the physical improvement, the DOH has also released additional P94million for equipment purchases.

DOH noted this assistance is in support to the Aquino Health Agenda (AHA), which is set to achieve universal health care coverage. (SEAM/JCV/PIA10)

Classes for SY 2013-2014 start June 3, 2013

By Rutchie C. Aguhob

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, Apr. 16 (PIA) -- The start of classes for School Year (SY) 2013-2014 will be on June 3, 2013, Monday and ends on March 31, 2014, also a Monday, the last day of classes.

Education Secretary Armin A. Luistro issued the School Calendar for SY 2013-2014 to synchronize all core events and teaching-learning activities in order to maximize the use of a total of 201 school days, Jonathan Dela Peňa, Superintendent of the Misamis Occidental Schools Division, said.

The SY 2013-2014 will then include the 180 days to be used for non-negotiable teacher-pupils/students contact time and the four days In-Service Training (INSET) break and parent-teacher conference, he said.

Private schools, however, may deviate from the School Calendar, as long as they will not start their classes earlier than June 3, 2013 and not later than the last day of August, this year.

Such is provided in Republic Act (RA) No. 7797 entitled “An Act to Lengthen the School Calendar from Two-Hundred (200) Days to Not More Than Two Hundred Twenty-Two (220) Class Days.”

Meanwhile, the private schools shall then notify the appropriate/respective offices of the Department of Education (DepEd) in advance of any deviation.

On the other hand, the Regional and Division Offices of DepEd have been directed to provide support to the schools, especially in the areas of instruction and progress and monitoring and evaluation.

Schools may also observe national and local celebrations/activities and holidays, provided that the total number of school days is maintained and make-up classes shall be conducted to compensate for the school days spent for such activities.

In this regard, the Education Secretary said the Regional Offices may issue a regional school calendar to reflect their respective concerns, provided the total number of school days is not compromised, Dela Peňa added. (RCAguhob/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)

PESO Malaybalay employs 150 students this summer

By Ruby Leonora R. Balistoy

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon, April 16 (PIA) -- The Public Employment Service Office (PESO) here employed 150 students under the government’s Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES).

Herculano S. Ronolo, city administrator, said the hired students underwent an orientation urging them to follow government rules and policies, specifically on the aspect of working hours and the delivery of quality public service.

Ronolo said that of 150 student grantees, 100 of them will work for the period April 6-24, while the remaining 50 will work from April 6-30, this summer.

“I urge the students to utilize the SPES to help their parents face financial challenges and learn about the value of work and money,” he said. The 150 students compose 
this year’s first batch of SPES beneficiaries who will receive a salary of P254.09 per day.

The program is jointly undertaken by the city government and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) based on Republic Act 7323 also known as an Act to help poor but deserving students pursue their studies by providing them employment during vacation. 

The act prohibits and penalizes fraudulent filers and fictitious claimants. (Joni Ester P. Parrado, Mlybly LGU/RLRB-PIA10, Bukidnon)

Comelec to set up RMA Teams in the May 13 elections

By Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, April 16 (PIA) – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will set up a team to conduct the Random Manual Audit (RMA) in the polling place of randomly selected clustered precincts, in the May 13, 2013 national and local elections. 

Composed of five (5) members per legislative district, members of the RMA Team will act as deputies of the RMA Committee in the conduct, supervision and control of the RMA, during which time, they are tasked in the maintenance of peace and order in the polling place and keep it open and unobstructed and enforce obedience to its lawful orders.

Pursuant to Comelec Resolution No. 9595, if a person refuses to obey the lawful orders of the RMA, or conducts himself/ herself in a disorderly manner in its or within its proceedings, or interrupts or disturbs the same, the RMAT may issue an order in writing, directing any peace officer to take such person into custody until adjournment of the RMA.

Meanwhile, the random selection of the clustered precincts to be audited will be done not later than four (4) days prior to the day of the elections by the RMA Committee.

The list of Municipalities involved in RMA shall be released four (4) days before the day of the elections while the List of Specific Clustered Precincts that will undergo RMA shall be disclosed two (2) days prior to the day of the Elections.

The selection of the clustered precinct will be open to the Media, Political Parties and other election stakeholders to ensure speedy dissemination of information and for transparency.

The RMA shall take place in the polling place of the randomly selected clustered precinct, immediately after the sealing of the ballot box by the Board of Election Inspector (BEI) and in the presence of Poll Watchers Political Parties, Citizen's Arm Groups, Media and the Public.

Resolution 9595 has also set the honorarium for each RMAT member at P2,000, which shall cover their remuneration for services rendered in performing the RMA, in addition to their meal allowance and their transportation allowance. (RCAguhob/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)