The Mindanao Cross | January 28, 2023

Abalos lauds BARMM: We’ll be with you every step of the way

Bishops to gather in Manila for 125th plenary assembly

BARMM OKAYS P475-M INVESTMENTS TO START 2023

THE Bangsamoro Board of Investments in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BBOI-BARMM) today announced it approved the registration of three projects in the region with a total investment worth P475 million to kick off this year’s BARMM investment generation.

BBOI-BARMM Chairperson Mohamad Omar Pasigan identified the new investment projects as the Beauty of Life Beach Resort, KS Agricultural Products Trading and Shahada Medical and Diagnostic Clinic.

The Beauty of Life Beach Resort is a tourismrelated facilities and attraction and is a 100 percent Filipino-owned and a sole proprietorship company located at Barangay Kusiong, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

Pasigan said the resort’s total projected cost is PHP295 and will provide automatic employment for 44 job seekrs.

“The beach resort is the first ever of its kind to register in the region. It is an avenue for tourists and BARMM guests to experience the vastness of water. The resort has great facilities and modern amenities,” Pasigan said in a statement.

57 BARMM LGUs cited for good works

By John Felix Unson

DOZENS of local government units in the Bangsamoro region received special awards Monday, January 23, for high performance rating and efficient antinarcotics campaign.

The activity, held and jointly facilitated by Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr. and his counterpart in the region, Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo, was among the highlights of the weeklong celebration of the 4th founding anniversary of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao that started Saturday last week.

BARMM’s charter,

the Republic Act 11054, was ratified via a plebiscite in January 2019, setting up a more empowered regional autonomous government that replaced the then 29year Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Lamitan City, the provincial government of Basilan and two towns in the island province, Maluso and Sumisip, were among 57 local government units that got awards each for high ratings in the Local Government Functionality Appraisal by the BARMM government via its Ministry of the Interior and local government.

Abalos and Sinarimbo also P10

300 families flee due to MILF “infighting”

By Edwin O. Fernandez

HUNDREDS of civilians have fled to safer grounds following skirmishes in Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao de Sur that left a militiaman killed by stray bullets.

Rajah Buayan Mayor Bai Maruja Ampatuan Mastura said at least 300 families (about 1,500 individuals) have fled to safer grounds to avoid stray bullets.

“They fled for fear they might be hit by stray bullets,” Mayor Mastura said, adding that the tension have died down as of Wednesday.

Many of the internally displaced persons are now housed in Bakat Elementary School in Barangay Bakat, Rajah Buayan but refused to return home.

Mayor Mastura said Rajah Buayan Vice Mayor Jerry Makalay had conducted accounting of IDPs, many of whom sougth refuge in their reltives’ homes.

“We appeal for help from the provincial government, we have limited available supplies for the evacuees,” she said, asking assistance from Maguindanao del Sur Gov. Bai Mariam Mangudadatu.

DENR-12 watched thousands of Asian waterbids in

TACURONG CITY — The DENR Community Environmental Natural and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) here and in Sarangani province today reported that its teams have sighted various species of waterbirds during the annual Asian waterbird census in the region.

On Thursday, DENR-12 Regional Executive Director Atty. Felix S. Alicer said these birds were monitored in Baras bird sanctuary in Tacurong City, Lake Buluan natural biotoic area in Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat and in Sarangani province.

The simultaneous census were held on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tacurong CENR Officer Dr.

Soccsksargen

By Edwin O. Fernandez

Badjury H. Mustapha said that the purpose of the annual census is to monitor the population and distribution of waterbirds as well as the condition of wetlands.

Mustapha identified sighted species of birds as the great egret (Ardea alba) and the Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) in Baras Bird Sanctuary. Variety of bird species like Great Egret (Ardea alba), Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes), Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis), Brahminy kite (Haliastur indus) were also seen by the team in Lake Buluan Natural Biotic Area.

DENR-12 personnel also monitored waterbird species in eight wetland sites of Sarangani

DID YOU KNOW?

Children’s Week

province, accoding to RED Alicer.

PENR Officer Maria Elvira V. Lumayag said that the sighted species include both resident and migratory birds that utilize wetlands for breeding, feeding, and resting.

Waterbird species sighted include Cinnamon Bittern, Black-winged Stilt, Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper, Kentish Plover, Whiskered Tern, Lesser Frigatebird, Wandering Whistling Ducks, Curlew, and Common Ringed-plover.

“Sites in barangays Kawas, Alabel town, Badtasan in Kiamba, and Old Poblacion in Maitum were also visited in addition to the usual five sites that

Each year, the Philippines celebrates Children’s Week in the fourth week of January. It’s a chance for Filipino cultural arts to shine, as traditional folktales and classic Filipino literature are transformed and presented in new ways. Storytelling, live performances, movies, and other culturally intensive activities are provided for the children. As a result, Diosdado Macapagal, the President of the Philippines at the time, established the last week of January as Children’s Week to promote children’s welfare and citizenship under Proclamation No. 190, series of 1964.

Deadly gunfights rock Maguindanao del Sur

SAFER GROUNDS. A woman holds on to her valuables as she and husband flee from skirmishes involving MILF forces in Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao del Sur on Tuesday

Photo courtesy of Rajah Buayan Vice Mayor Jerry Makalay

Abalos lauds BARMM: We’ll be with you every step of the way

THE national government will remain steadfast with the Bangsamoro region in “every step of the way,” Interior and Local Governments Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. told local executives here.

Abalos addressed 154 awardwinning local government units (LGUs) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) at the opening Tuesday of the Governance Day, essentially marking the region’s Fourth Founding Anniversary.

He noted that BARMM had the “second-fastest growing economy of all the country’s 14 regions in 2021.” “We converge for development on our own right; and we are with you every step of the way,” Abalos said.

Bangsamoro Chief Minister

Ahod Balawag Ebrahim said the people of BARMM needed “to celebrate the gains of the peace process, from the organizing of the regional government to the milestone and level of accomplishments that we have reached during the last four years.

The BARMM region is now composed of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao Norte, Maguindanao Sur, Sulu, TawiTawi as well as the cities of Cotabato, Marawi and Lamitan, and 63 barangays of Cotabato Province, now comprising a Special Geographical Area (SGA).

BARMM Interior and Local Governments Minister Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo said the Bangsamoro region was honored by the coming of Abalos, confirming on an earlier invitation to keynote the occasion of the BARMM Governance Day.

“Together in the past years,

the Bangsamoro Government has worked more closely with you, not only for the betterment of our LGUs-- but more so, by putting in place programs that you and the Ministry have implemented to help you to achieve the best in local governance that you and your people can proudly call your own,” Sinarimbo said.

BARMM’s accomplishments at LGU levels were hardly known in the national government, Sinarimbo said quoting Abalos’ impression during his visit this week.

Abalos said the country’s goals for the development of LGUs should be achieved, adding that he knew it for the first time that the BARMM was setting the “standards for a leadership that the Bangsamoro can look forward to” in “institutionalized” good practices at local governance.”

“I am delighted to know that Georgina Fernandez of Galing Pook Award is here and is working with you, and we can exchange notes here on institutionalizing the standards for leadership and practices of good local governance.

Three provinces of the Bangsamoro region—Basilan, Lanao Sur and Maguindanao (North and South)—were recipients of National Awards for Seal of Good Local Governance.

Maguindanao had majority of nominations and awards (10 out of 11) for the Search for Model Barangays (SMB) in Rempesl Borongotan, Nuro, Darungao, Kinitaan, all in

Upi, Maguindanao Norte; Mao and Kaya-Kaya, both in Datu Abdullah Sangki, Maguindanao Sur, Dinganen in Buldon and Poblacion, Parang, Maguindanao Norte. The eleventh winning village is Bilaan, in Talipao Sulu.

Two municipalities won the Grant Assistance for Innovative Practices (LGAIP)—Paglat, Maguindanao Sur and Upi, Maguindanao Norte.

Forty municipal and provincial LGUs were recognized for Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) Functionality in Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao Sur, Maguindanao Norte Sulu and Tawi-Tawi Sinarimbo said more LGUs “have now demonstrated capability in project management with the implementation in BARMM of the Local Government Facilities Development (LGFD) and Bangsamoro Local Economic Support Services (BLESS) Programs 2021, and are now regional and national partners in implementing the construction of 220 units barangay halls; 26 units Public Markets; two Public Terminal; one Tourism Building; one PNP Regional Headquarters’ Building; nine units Municipal Police Station type “B/C”; and 21 units Municipal Hall Buildings; two units Legislative Building.

In the category of the Local Government Functionality Appraisal (LOGFA), four municipalities of Basilan were awarded; 17 in Lanao del Sur, 28 in Maguindanao; four in Sulu and five in Tawi-Tawi.

Cultural solidarity seen in BARMM fest

THE celebration of the 4th founding anniversary of the Bangsamoro region was a showcase of the gains of self-governance under the now four-year autonomous regional government covering five provinces and three cities.

Observers, among them local executives in provinces outside of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, had, in fact, expressed oneness with BARMM government officials and their constituents in their anniversary festivities.

“We are thankful, grateful to all those who helped make our anniversary events successful,” BARMM’s regional spokesperson, the Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo, said Thursday.

The Ministry of the Interior and Local Government, the office of Senior Minister Abdulraof Macacua and officials of other ministries under the office of Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim together managed the activities that capped off the weeklong event.

Regional officials reassured, in separate messages then, their support for Malacañang’s Mindanao peace process.

The BARMM replaced the 29-year now defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in February 2019.

Thousands of employees of BARMM ministries paraded from the Sinsuat Avenue here to the regional

Eighteen Municipal and Provincial Local Operations Officers of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government also received National Awards:

Provincial Director (PD) Ra-

Dyan M. Akmad of Basilan; City Director (CD) Indira Patra

Juani of Lamitan City, Basilan; Municipal Local Governments Operations Officer (MLGOO)

Pinky Macapundag and MLGOO

Rasmia Mamacotao; PD Amina

T. Dalandag, MLGOO Norainee

Guialudin, MLGOO Zahara

Sangki, MLGOO Mohammad Jamsid Mosaid; MLGOO Anisa

Abdulkarim, MLGOO Heria

Dalantay, MLGOO Edgardo

Padolino, MLGOO Leilali Limba; MLGOO Toronbai Ambolodto; MLGOO Hannan Ampatuan,

MLGOO Sittie Aisa Ocsio; MLGOO Al-Rasheed Salik, and MLGOO Syrlyn Pananggilan— all of Maguindanao.

Abalos said LGUs needed closer collaboration and coordination to manage complaints, even as they needed to “acknowledge that there is a problem.”

He said sustained communications will break barriers arising from complaints, but leaders should have the “patience to listen to all those complaints.”

“Some decisions may become unpopular, but you knew that it was the right decision (all along), and those complaints may somehow help leaders make good decisions,” Abalos said. NBM

capitol, 800 meters away, as salvo of their weeklong merrymaking, capped off with a parade of floats each representing an entity of the regional government.

Sinarimbo and Ebrahim separately expressed gratitude for the participation in the activity of a number of foreigners representing international donor agencies involved in peace and development programs in the Bangsamoro region.

In a statement sent to reporters via online Messenger, a popular member of the 80-seat BARMM parliament, the physician Kadil Sinolinding, Jr., said the yearly anniversary celebration of the region’s creation ought to remind residents that they now enjoy self-governance based on a regional charter, the RA 11054.

“The BARMM was paid for with the blood and lives of thousands of Moro guerillas who fought it,” Sinolinding, most known by his moniker “doctor in the Bangsamoro parliament, said.

Macacua, who was BARMM natural resources minister before designated as regional senior minister, said what was fascinating with this year’s celebration of the 4th anniversary of BARMM was the tacit show in different events of the religious and cultural solidarity among the Muslim, Christian and non-Moro indigenous communities in the autonomous region. JFU

49 NoCot coops get P300K aid each from DSWD-12

AS part of anti-poverty program of the government, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Soccsksargen region has distributed financial aid Tuesday (Jan. 24) to 49 cooperatives who belonged to Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations (SLPAs).

DSWD-12 Regional Director Loreto Cabaya

said each cooperative got PHP300,000 assistance dispersed during payout program at the North Cotabato provincial capitol with provincial Gov. Emmylou Mendoza in attendance.

“A good working relation exists between DSWD-12 and the provincial government thus more Cotabateños get help for

P21-M agri-fishery aid given to farmers’ coop

THE Bangsamoro agriculture office has distributed over P21 million agri-fishery intervention to farmers’ cooperatives, loans and Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) as part of the 4th Bangsamoro Foundation Day (BFD).

Farmers, fisherfolks, and cooperatives from various provinces of the Bangsamoro Autonomous

Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have benefited from the program led by the Economic Development Committee (EDCom) of the Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council (BEDC).

The council by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) and the Cooperative and Social Enterprise

32 extremists yield to BARMM police

THIRTY-two Moro extremists operating in Maguindanao provinces have voluntarily gave up their violent struggle to avail of the government’s reconciliation program to live normal lives.

Brig. Gen. John Guyguyon, police director for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) welcomed the extremists Thursday during surrender rites at the police regional headquarters in Camp SK Pendatun, Parang, Maguindanao del Norte. He said 30 Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and 2 Dawlah Islamiya-listed private armed group under PAG leader Mohammad Andoy peacefully turned in 33 high powered firearms, including improvised explosive devices and hand grenades.

POACHERS. Police in Hadji Panglima Tahil, Sulu arrested eight sea turtle poachers during law enforcement operation in Sitio Puh Higad, Barangay Bubuan, Hadji Panglima Tahil, Sulu on January 22. State forces found 15 slaughtered “Pawikan” from the eight suspects.

Photo courtesy of PRO-BAR photo

Abalos in a huddle with Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Balawag AlHadj Murad Ebrahim. Partly hidden at left is BARMM Senior Minister Abdulraof "Sammy Gambar" Macacua

Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim’s message for the Bangsamoro Foundation Day

Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim. Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh!

My greetings of peace to everyone.

Looking back on our decades of struggle to achieve identity, liberty, and harmony as Bangsamoro people, it now seems almost unimaginable to have reached this point of inclusive and meaningful progress that we all enjoy today. On this fourth anniversary of the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, allow me to join the entire region with sincere joy and gratitude in affirming that we have genuinely delivered what we had promised when we created the BARMM Government in January 2017. The past four years have been so meaningful for all of us. There have been challenges and successes, like the emergence of COVID-19 and the extension of the transition authority, to name a few. But what has prevailed is not only our resilience but also our innovative and collective approach to fulfilling our mission of empowering communities and self-governance.

As I count the years that have passed under this administration, I attribute our success to the commitment of the government of the Philippines to what had been stipulated and decreed in the Bangsamoro Organic Law. This success is also attributed to many actors and players, such as civil society organizations, international non-government organizations, development partners, and friends in pursuit of peace. Another reason for our celebrated success is the warmth and dedication of the Bangsamoro people. The symbiotic relationship between these stakeholders made our endeavors more inclusive and sustainable.

The Bangsamoro Foundation Day is significant for each Bangsamoro. It was and remains our duty to empower the Bangsamoro Government, allowing us to preserve, defend, and deliver the benefits of peace to those who will come after us. Year by year, our commitment to leave perpetual and sustainable accomplishments reflects the foundation of this leadership. Inspired by the cause of those who fought alongside us, we are motivated to serve the people of today and leave a legacy for the future Bangsamoro.

In finality, faith in Allah SWT is the rock on which our vision, mission, and objectives were built. As we continue to count the meaningful years that we all experience under this government, we must all continue to submit our goals and achievements to Allah (SWT). We must all move forward and maintain an inclusive, advanced, and morally governed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

BTA bills seek to construct, upgrade hospitals in Basilan

COTABATO CITY ― Four measures to upgrade and construct hospitals in Basilan were introduced by Bangsamoro lawmakers in an effort to increase healthcare facilities and provide more accessible medical infrastructure.

“Delivering health services that are easily accessible at an affordable cost in times of health emergencies and for underprivileged Bangsamoro constituents is vital to establishing a lasting peace, ensuring progress, and maintaining the progress and gains of the people and the government,” said MP Amilbahar Mawallil.

Under Parliament Bill No. 105, a level 1 general hospital with 25 beds is being pushed for at Maluso, Basilan, which will be directly administratively and technically supervised by the Basilan Integrated Health Office (IPHO).

With only one rural health unit and 15 barangay health stations, residents of Maluso have to travel to its nearby municipality in Sumisip to avail themselves of essential hospital services.

Another proposed measure is also seeking to build a general

hospital in Hadji Muhammad Ajul.

Under PB No. 107, a level 1 general hospital with 25 beds will be constructed in Hadji Muhammad Ajul.

The Hadji Muhammad Ajul Rural Health Unit in Barangay Buton, according to one of the principal authors, MP Mawallil, is the only facility in said area that provides essential health care services, and patients still had to transport to its nearby municipalities during emergencies and other urgent health service needs.

PB No. 108 would also construct a level 1 general hospital with 25 beds in Hadji Muhtamad.

Currently, Hadji Muhtamad has only one rural health unit serving the health care needs of 26,867 residents.

If enacted into law, the said

hospital will be under the direct administrative and technical supervision of the Basilan IPHO.

Lastly, PB No. 106 proposes to convert the Lamitan District Hospital into a level II hospital, under the direct supervision and control of the Ministry of Health.

The proposed measure aims to upgrade the apex or end-referral hospital to protect and promote the right to health of the citizens of Lamitan City and its adjacent areas.

Once approved, the provincial hospital’s bed capacity will increase from 25 to 100 beds.

Its existing service facilities and other services of the hospital are upgraded to conform with the bed capacity increase. The existing medical personnel will also be correspondingly increased.

Mawallil pointed out that people’s inability to afford transportation to access hospitalbased medical services denies them access to health care services that should be theirs by right.

“Imagine the time it takes for these residents to travel to the hospital and their plight if they endure long hours to avail of essential health services,” Mawallil said.

The proposed measures were principally authored by MPs Mawallil, Engr. Baintan Ampatuan, Atty. Suharto Ambolodto, Atty. Rasol Mitmug Jr., Engr. Don Mustapha Loong, Rasul Ismael, Hatimil Hassan, Muslimin Jakilan, and Atty. Laisa Alamia.

Bangsamoro legislators want Tawi-Tawi the seaweed capital of the Philippines

COTABATO CITY –

Considered the biggest producer of seaweed in the Philippines, a measure seeking to make TawiTawi the seaweed capital of the Philippines has been introduced on first reading in the Bangsamoro Parliament.

As explained in BTA Bill No. 101, Tawi-Tawi is the leading producer of seaweed and the largest provider of the vast majority of Philippine exports.

MP Eddie Alih, the main author of the proposed measure, said that seaweed farming has become the primary source of income for thousands of coastal households in the province.

The seaweed industry in Tawi-Tawi, MP Alih said, has become a lifechanging industry that has influenced and improved the people’s quality of life.

“In support to the economic development of the province and promotion of the culture and traditions of the people, it is hereby declared the Tawi-Tawi to be the seaweed capital of the Philippines,” said in the proposed measure.

quarter of 2022, with a total fisheries production of 346.42 metric tons (MT), or 28.6 percent.

The island provinces of Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, and Basilan have significantly contributed to BARMM’s fisheries production, the majority of which comes from aquaculture.

Fisheries produced in the region included seaweeds, frigate tuna (tulingan), round scad (galunggong), big-eyed scad (matambaka), Bali sardinella (tamban), eastern little tuna (bonito), skipjack (gulyasan), Indian mackerel (alumahan), yellowfin tuna (tambako/ bariles), and tilapia, among others.

The Bangsamoro Organic Law mandates the Bangsamoro Government to ensure, support, and promote economic prosperity and the preservation and enrichment of culture within its territorial jurisdiction.

Every September, the province also holds the Agal-Agal Festival, the only seaweed festival in the country.

Bills on shares of LGUs, disaster

preparedness,

splitting MAFAR introduced in the BTA

COTABATO CITY —

Three measures on detailing shares of local government units in taxes collected, strengthening disaster preparedness, and splitting the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform refiled by Member of the Parliament Engr. Baintan Ampatuan has been introduced on first reading.

The Bangsamoro Organic Law states that the Parliament should pass legislation outlining the shares of constituent local government units in the 75% share of national taxes, fees, and charges collected in the Bangsamoro territorial jurisdiction.

In filing BTA Bill No. 97, MP Ampatuan said that it is crucial to improve the governance capacities of the constituent local government units of the Bangsamoro government.

It is also stated in the BOL that the national government’s taxes, fees, and charges collected in the Bangsamoro region, other than tariffs and customs duties, are divided as follows: 25% to the national

government and 75% to the Bangsamoro government, inclusive of the shares of the constituent local government units.

According to the proposed bill, the Bangsamoro government will receive 30% of the 75% share, while the remaining 20% will go to the provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays.

The BARMM is composed of five provinces, three cities, 116 municipalities, and 2,590 barangays, including the 37 barangays in Cotabato City and the 63 barangays in North Cotabato.

Once approved, the Ministry of Finance, Budget, and Management will promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for a simplified disbursement scheme designed for the speedy and effective enforcement of the measure.

Meanwhile, Parliament Bill No. 98 aims to strengthen disaster preparedness and the response of the Bangsamoro government.

It seeks to develop a standard design for

evacuation centers in BARMM based on the Philippine building code and set plans and policies for the construction, operation, and maintenance of these centers.

Ampatuan emphasized the need for clean water as well as facilities for women and nursing mothers, the elderly, and those with special needs.

“The least the government can do for them and their dignity is to provide clean, safe, and spacious places to stay temporarily,” she said.

The proposed measure will help establish standard staffing and capacitybuilding efforts to ensure the buildings’ operation and maintenance.

This will enable the local government units to have a designated center for prepositioning, stocking, repacking, and piling relief goods.

At least 100 to 200 IDPs can be housed at the evacuation center, with the usual precautions taken against the spread of disease.

Evacuation facilities will be directly supervised by the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) and run by municipal or city social welfare personnel.

Other measure is the Parliament Bill No. 102, which seeks to separate the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform into three agencies, namely the Bangsamoro-Ministry of Agriculture (B-MOA), the Bangsamoro-Ministry

of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (B-MFAR), and the Bangsamoro Agrarian Reform Office (BARO).

Ampatuan believes that the agriculture and fishery industries, as well as agrarian reform, must be prioritized and given independent agencies to focus on their development.

“Farmers and fisherfolk serve and provide for this country. They are the very foundation of the industries that we enjoy today. They should be given enough opportunities to improve their lives,” she said.

The Bangsamoro Ministry of Agriculture and its attached agencies and bureaus shall promote sustainable growth and development in agriculture and equitable land distribution, optimum economic benefits, and tenurial security for the use of the landless farmers in the region.

The developing, improving, managing, and conserving of the autonomous region’s fisheries and aquatic resources shall be supervised by the Bangsamoro Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

While the Bangsamoro Agrarian Reform Office shall be mandated to lead in the regional implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) through Land Tenure Improvement (LTI), agrarian justice, and coordinated delivery of essential support services.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that BARMM was the country’s primary fishery contributor in the second

The festival demonstrates how the community values the importance of the seaweed industry, which has long been a part of their way of life.

BTA lawmakers seek to establish, upgrade hospitals in Basilan and Tawi-Tawi

COTABATO CITY ― Bangsamoro lawmakers are pushing for hospitals to be constructed and upgraded in the provinces of Basilan and Tawi-Tawi to address the health and social services needs of the Bangsamoro people.

Parliament Bills No. 99 and 100 were refiled by Members of the Parliament Eddie Alih, Mohagher Iqbal, Pangalian Balindong, Abdulraof Macacua, Amilbahar Mawallil, Eduard Guerra, Ubaida Pacasem, Ali Solaiman, Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba, Raissa Jajurie, Aida Silongan, Anna Tarhata Basman, Lanang Ali Jr., Suharto Ambolodto, Jose Lorena, Nabil Tan, Paisalin Tago, Haron Abas, Mohammad Yacob, Ibrahim Ali, Abdullah Hashim, Marjanie Macasalong, Susana Anayatin, Mudjib Abu, Abdullah Gayak, Ali Salik, Said Shiek, Said Salendab, Akmad Abas, Basit Abbas, Suwaib Oranon, Abdulwahab Pak, Benjamin Loong, John Anthony Lim, Hussein Munoz, and Abdullah Macapaar.

South Ubian Municipal Hospital, a level 1 general hospital with 50 beds, will be constructed in South Ubian, Tawi-Tawi, under Parliament Bill No. 99.

It will be directly supervised by the Ministry P5

BTA holds simultaneous public consultations on Bangsamoro Governance Code in Maguindanao

MAGUINDANAO ― In an effort to involve all constituencies in the Bangsamoro region, the Bangsamoro Parliament’s Committee on Local Government held simultaneous public consultations in Maguindanao del Sur and del Norte on the proposed Local Governance Code.

“The consultation will help us in the Parliament enhance the proposed Bangsamoro Local Governance Code,” said Deputy Floor Leader and Committee on Local Government Chair Atty. Raissa Jajurie on the consultations conducted in Guindulungan, Maguindanao del Sur, and Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte today, January 20.

Hundreds of stakeholders from provincial, municipal, and barangay local government units, non-government organizations, and civil society groups attended the consultations.

Among the prevalent concerns raised were the educational attainment and qualifications of running elective officials and anti-political dynasties.

The BLGC introduced qualifications and disqualifications for elective officials based on the proposed code.

According to BTA Bill No. 30, all elective officials for the province, city, and municipality must have reached at least college level; the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan chair must have reached junior high school; and Sangguniang Kabataan members must have reached elementary level.

The code applies to all constituent provinces, cities, municipalities, barangays, and other political

subdivisions, as well as officials, offices, or agencies of the Bangsamoro government.

It will provide a clear direction between the local government units and the Bangsamoro government.

The Bangsamoro Local Government Code was introduced in the first Parliament as the Bangsamoro Local Government Code, but it was later renamed “Bangsamoro Local Governance Code” to highlight citizen participation.

Atty. Jajurie also emphasized the importance of passing the BLGC, which establishes the powers, functions, and responsibilities of the constituent local government units, noting that, unlike other regions in the country, the BARMM has its own government.

The BLGC is among the priority codes the Bangsamoro Transition Authority must enact during the transition period.

Atty. Jajurie said that the Parliament aims to pass the proposed code within the first quarter of the year.

The committee will hold another round of public consultations in Cotabato City, Lanao del Sur, and the BARMM Special Geographic Area in February.

The first leg of public consultations for the BLGC was held in the region’s island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi in December last year.

of Health, which will also determine and approve its organizational structure and plantilla positions.

Another measure is also pushing for the upgrade of a municipal hospital in Tawi-Tawi.

The Datu Alawaddin T. Bandon Sr. Municipal Hospital, which currently has 10 beds, will be upgraded into a level II general hospital with 50 beds.

Once approved, the Datu Alawaddin T. Bandon Sr. Municipal Hospital, originally located in Sitangkai, will be established in Sibutu.

Other legislators also introduced bills for the establishment of general hospitals in Basilan.

Under the administrative and technical supervision of the Basilan Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), a level 1 general hospital with 25 beds will be established in Tabuan-Lasa, Basilan, as proposed under PB No. 103.

Another proposed measure, PB No. 104, calls for the establishment of a level 1 general hospital with 25 beds in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan.

MP Amilbahar Mawallil, one of the main

authors of PB Nos. 103 and 104, said that the bills aim to give people access to health care services that are adequate, excellent, and effective.

Based on PB Nos. 103 and 104, the MOH will formulate the necessary guidelines and other complementary infrastructure, facilities, and medical equipment, as well as the costs for the necessary maintenance and personnel services.

MPs Hatimil Hassan, Muslimin Jakilan, and Atty. Laisa Alamia are also the principal authors of the said bills.

Ampatuan files bills for Bangsamoro minors, development projects, establishment of annex Bangsamoro Government Center

COTABATO CITY —

Legislative measures promoting the safety and welfare of the Bangsamoro minors, requiring the mandatory social preparation of development projects, and authorizing the establishment of an annex Bangsamoro Government Center were filed in the Bangsamoro Parliament.

Engr. Baintan AdilAmpatuan filed BTA Bill No. 94, which seeks to promote the safety and welfare of Bangsamoro minors by establishing general guidelines for curfew implementation in the region.

According to Ampatuan, it is important to limit minors’ movement, particularly at night, in order to safeguard them

from harmful situations like violence, exploitation, abuse, cruelty, and neglect.

Minors will be subject to a curfew from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., which prevents them from loitering, wandering, staying, meandering, or being in public locations during curfew hours.

It also prohibits parents and guardians from allowing their children to be on the streets during designated curfew hours.

Minors are only permitted to go out beyond curfew hours if they: are accompanied by or have written authorization from their parents, guardians, or the proper authorities to run errands; are attending graduation ceremonies, religious activities, and extracurricular

school activities; are in emergency situations such as conflagrations, earthquakes, hospitalization, road accidents, law enforcement encounters, and other similar incidents; are going or returning home from work; are in any mode of transportation accompanied by an adult; and can present papers certifying that the minor is a working student.

Ampatuan also introduced legislation requiring the mandatory social preparation of regional development initiatives.

It is explained in BTA Bill No. 95 that social preparation entails conducting a social analysis of the community in which organizers engage in institutional preparations, area selection, and social investigation or integration.

Ampatuan also intends to create an annex of the Bangsamoro Government Center in its proposed bill.

The current center has become overcrowded as new offices, ministries, and organizations have been established, she claims.

She said that there is a need for an annex center to decongest and unclog the current center.

MIDSAYAP, NORTH COTABATO — In a recently concluded public consultation for the Bangsamoro Electoral Code here today, Bangsamoro Parliament Floor Leader Atty. Sha Elijah DumamaAlba remarked that the BARMM Special Geographic Area came into full force.

The said consultation was participated by 63 barangays under the BARMM SGA as well as other Members of the Parliament.

All clusters are wellrepresented, according to Floor Leader Atty. Dumama-Alba, with representatives from local and barangay government units, as well as government agencies, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.

Midsayap Mayor Rolando Sacdalan has expressed support for the proposed priority code and hopes for the bill’s immediate passage.

Sacdalan added that he is confident that those barangays under the BARMM SGA that joined the Bangsamoro region are well taken care of, adding that the Bangsamoro

Organic Law is a reflection of the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people.

Representing the youth sector, Nurolhidaya Mentoc, president of the Active Youth Alliance, also supported the proposed code and provided some proposals to the BEC.

Meanwhile, Ferdaussee Ali, the legal officer of the MBHTE-Schools Division Office of the SGA, raised concerns about the compensation and security of teachers during the election.

The BARMM SGA is composed of 63 villages from the towns of Midsayap, Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Pikit, and Pigcawayan.

As proposed under Parliament Bill No. 29, also known as the Bangsamoro Electoral Code of 2022, the BEC will design the structural, functional, and

procedural principles for the election of officers within the region in 2025.

The Bangsamoro Electoral Code is among the priority codes of the Bangsamoro Parliament that must be enacted within the transition period, along with administrative, education, civil service, local governance, revenue, and indigenous people codes.

The Administrative, Education, and Civil Service Codes are the three priority codes already passed into law during the first Parliament.

The Committee on Rules, chaired by Floor Leader Atty. Dumama-Alba, will hold another round of public consultations in the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Sur, and Del Norte in the following weeks.

THREE resolutions were adopted on Wednesday’s regular session of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, presided over by Deputy Speaker Atty. Omar Yasser Sema.

The Bangsamoro Parliament commends four Bangsamoro young professionals who placed first in the recently concluded December 2022 X-ray Technologist Licensure Examination as well as Abdul Baterbonia Lumanggal for placing in the top 10 in the October 2022

Licensure Examination for Teachers at the elementary level.

They also urged the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to require airport announcements in the region to be delivered in local languages other than English and Filipino. Meanwhile, MP Romeo Sema delivered his sponsorship speech on Parliament Bill No. 59 or the Bangsamoro Labor and Employment Code of 2022.

BEC pubcon “well-attended” by BARMM SGA stakeholders, says BTA Floor Leader Atty. Dumama-Alba

BTA adopts 3 resolutions during sessions presided over by Deputy Speaker Sema

BTA lawmakers seek to establish, upgrade...from P4

Bishops to gather in Manila for 125th plenary assembly

Catholic bishops from across the country will gather in Manila this weekend for their 125th plenary assembly.

The Jan. 28-30 gathering will bring together the members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines for in-person meetings for the second time since the pandemic struck in early 2020.

The CBCP is currently composed of 88 active bishops, two diocesan priestadministrators, and 38 honorary members who are retired bishops.

Msgr. Bernardo Pantin, CBCP Secretary General, said the meeting at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center involves discussion on a broad range of topics affecting the faithful in the country.

Other topics on the agenda, he said, include:

 the updated Ratio Nationalis, a program for the formation of candidates for the priesthood

 the Praedicate Evangelium and its implications to the local conferences

 and the proposal for a Permanent Diaconate in the Philippines

THE ordination of the firstever blind Catholic priest in Kenya will help show people that “disability is not inability,” the archbishop of Nyeri has said.

In a message shared with ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, Archbishop Anthony Muheria of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri reflected on the Jan. 14 ordination to the priesthood of Father Michael Mithamo King’ori, who lost his sight while serving as a deacon.

“This new priest, Father Michael, will help us to appreciate, in a very new way, the capacity, the ‘enabledness,’ of people who may have a deficiency of ability because of [their] situations,” Muheria said in the Jan. 15 message a day after presiding over the priestly ordination of the Kenyan priest.

The archbishop added that the priestly ordination of Mithamo King’ori “is a reason for great joy because in spite of his limitation, in spite of the hurdles he has had to go through, he has come out to give evidence and testimony that disability is not a hindrance to answer[ing] God’s call, that disability is not inability.”

The Kenyan Catholic archbishop said the priestly ordination of the first-ever blind Catholic priest in Kenya “is a

Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan and current CBCP President will preside over the meeting. He will be assisted by the vice president, Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara.

The gathering typically includes an address by the CBCP President and by the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines.

Decisions taken over by the plenary assembly represent the highest instance of authority within the CBCP, which meets in regular session twice a year in January and in July.

Msgr. Pantin also said the plenary assembly will be preceded by a threeday bishops’ seminar on the episcopal conference and its commissions and offices.

“The seminar is being held so that there will be a levelling of the idea about the nature and functions of the episcopal conference, especially among the new and old bishops,” he said. CBCP News

First-ever blind Catholic priest in Kenya is ordained

great wake-up call” for everybody to give opportunities to people living with disabilities.

“Many people who may not have the abilities, the normal abilities that we value, are very gifted in so many other ways that make them still very effective in the ministry, in evangelization, and in fulfilling the call that they have received. Of course, it is ours to ensure that they are well prepared,” he said.

Father Mithamo King’ori was ordained to the priesthood alongside five other deacons during Mass at St. John Bosco Kiamuiru Primary School grounds in which the archbishop emeritus of Nyeri, Peter Kairu, members of the clergy ministering in the archdiocese, women and men religious, and laity participated.

In his Jan. 15 audio message, Archbishop Muheria said the historic priestly ordination in the East African nation “is a moment to also embrace that disabilities are gifts that God gives so that those people can develop new other gifts and enrich our society.”

“When Our Lord walked on the streets of Jerusalem, Galilee, Nazareth, where he spoke to the crowds, he always had a special eye for those in need,” he explained.

In Filipino, when somebody receives an unexpected blessing, we say “Maswerte ka Mare, may natanggap kang ayuda.” Or we say “Mapalad ka dahil mabait ang mga anak mo.” We may apply the terms “mapalad” or “maswerte” to future blessings such as the coming of government aid to build a school or a health center in the locality. The English word “blessed” such as what is used in the Beatitudes can be rendered in Filipino as “Maswerte, mapalad, or pinagpala.” It refers to an improved state of affairs considered as blessings. We have to read the Beatitudes with this as a background.

The member of Opus Dei who started his episcopal ministry in January 2004 as the bishop of Kenya’s Embu Diocese said he finds it regrettable that a section of persons living with disabilities are discriminated against.

“Many of our children in those places, in schools, are not given the dignity due to them. Toilets are badly done, the caretakers are few, the teachers sent there are very few; they can’t handle them,” Muheria said, adding that there are many hurdles limiting the supervision of special schools and institutions.

Families of children living with disabilities have been forgotten, yet they require social and financial support, he lamented.

“We in the Church, you in the parish, at least take this challenge. At least let us visit the homes of families with disabilities, and the schools of children with disabilities regularly to help, not just to give food, but to help improve infrastructure, to walk with them, to clean, to give them new shades,” Muheria said.

He continued: “Let us pay more attention to the people with disabilities, then indeed we will see the face of Christ in them. Reach out to those in marginalized areas in ways that

The Blessed Ones

Reflections

Rev. Fr. Antonio P. Pueyo, DCC tonypoy_dcc0@yahoo.com

you can; don’t pass by. Let us be there because Christ calls us to reach out to our brothers and sisters.”

In an interview with Kenya Television Network (KTN) News posted on YouTube Jan. 16, Father Mithamo King’ori traced his priestly vocation to the grace of God and expressed his gratitude to Archbishop Muheria for giving him the hope he needed to remain focused on his dream vocation.

“I can’t forget Archbishop Anthony Muheria, who has really journeyed with me,” he told KTN News shortly after presiding over

his first Mass on Jan. 15. He added in reference to his local ordinary: “He has really encouraged me; at those times when I became sick and fell down as if my vocation, my life, [had] come to an end, he didn’t leave me. He held me very well with his fatherly love that I still remember, words of encouragement, and he even dared to give me work to do because he believed that I had something that I could offer.”

“I am dedicating everything to God himself because I believe in giving God the best. He is the one who has given me the best I have to give, the P11

The Beatitudes are a series of “Blessed are…” statements. First the Blessed Ones are those who because of their lowly status in life are chosen to receive blessings. They are fortunate, “Mapalad sila.” The poor, the hungry, the thirsty, those who mourn and even the persecuted are blessed because better state of affairs are coming with the coming of the Kingdom. Blessed also are those who spread God’s blessings: the compassionate, the merciful, the peacemakers, and those who are clean of heart. They are the sowers of the Kingdom. They sow the seed of God’s kingdom of peace, justice, love. and care. They are blessed because they are chosen to be agents of God’s blessings.

Instead of interpreting the Beatitudes as encouraging passivity, it should encourage proactivity. It should not be interpreted to mean, “Blessed are you poor, remain poor and you will go to heaven.”

The poor are blessed because with the help of the merciful, the peacemaker, and the compassionate they

will find well-being. Also, by realizing their human dignity and discovering the power they possess within they become partners in their own liberation. The poor, the meek, the hungry, and the persecuted are the majority and they have the power of numbers to participate in the determination of their own destiny – if only they are united. This is where community building is important. When people are united as communities then they can obtain and share more blessings.

By understanding the Beatitudes this way, church workers may discover another dimension of mission among the lowly and the underprivileged. From being recipients of aid and relief, communities can move another step upwards to rehabilitation and self-sufficiency. There are many successful examples of communities taking responsibility for their own improvement and sharing their experience with others such as the Grameen banking experience of Bangladesh and the Antigonish cooperative movement in Canada. I am sure there are also successful selfhelp community movements in the Philippines. I know of a local group of poor farmers who started their own farming cooperative with twelve members. They were poor but they gathered their resources as capital to lend to one another for their farming needs. The cooperative grew and their capital reached more than a million and they eventually became legally recognized. From a lending cooperative they are now into production and marketing of their special product of coconut virgin oil. Blessed are those who share their blessings.

Daily Scripture Readings

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mon

Zephaniah 2.3; 3.12-13; 1 Corinthians 1.26-31; Matthew 5.1-12

Readings: no. 323, p. 146

1st Reading: Hebrews 11.32-40

Gospel: Mark 5.1-20

Readings: no. 324, p. 149 or no. 523, p. 634

1st Reading: Hebrews 12.1-4

Gospel: Mark 5.21-43

Readings: no. 325, p. 152

1st Reading: Hebrews 12.4-7, 11-15

Gospel: Mark 6.1-6

Readings: no. 524, p. 635; BG, p. 40

1st Reading: Malachi 3.1-4 or Hebrews 2.10-11, 13b-18++

Gospel: Luke 2.22-40

Readings: no. 327, p. 156

1st Reading: Hebrews 13.1-8

Gospel: Mark 6.14-29

Readings: no. 328, p. 159

1st Reading: Hebrews 13.15-17, 20-21

Gospel: Mark 6.30-34

Bishops during Mass at the start of the CBCP 124th plenary assembly at the chapel of the Carmelite Missionaries Center of Spirituality in Tagaytay City on July 9, 2022.

Photo courtesy of CBCP News

Areviewof our history shows that the most influential foreigners who stepped into our shores are the Chinese, not the Spaniards or the Americans. It may be due to the overpopulation experienced in mainland China; which pushed many of its residents to neighboring countries like the Philippines. This push factor is responsible for the development of Singapore, and Taiwan (although the latter was due to the rise of communism.) This diaspora seem to exist until the present. We have Chinese immigrants even before the second world war, who remained settled in the Philippines even after the war. Do you wonder why there are so many Filipinos with Chinese blood? Even Jose Rizal is known to be a “mestizo”.

Those who came earlier figured prominently in our economic life. They were the traders who even crossed to Indonesia and Malaysia to sell their wares from China. Ask the old Chinese residents of Cotabato City, Dulawan, and Buluan. They are proud to say that their economic activities reach as far as Sabah and Indonesia, with Cotabato City as the center of trade (not Zamboanga as many believed).

Few dabbled in politics but those who did, like Datu Piang, left a permanent imprint in our region. Datu Piang, who married into royalty of Dulawan, sired a number of professionals who are now holding strategic positions in the region. Mike Mastura’s mother is surnamed Ong, who comes from Upi. I personally married a “mestizo” from Dulawan, and am often asked if I am related to this or that resident whom I haven’t even met. Apparently, the family name chosen by many were adopted from their “sponsors”, or their place of origin in China.

Unfortunately, the advent of modern roads changed the course of trading in the region. The river ports had to give way to the road vehicles, thus the decline in the use of the Rio Grande (Pulangi) as the main mode of transport. At present, due to the need to upgrade the roads that were often subjected to flooding, the transport hub has shifted to Midsayap, especially with the improvement of the bridge spanning Midsayap and Datu Piang.

Lately, the policy of the government allowing workers from China to be employed in our POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) or more known as casinos, have become controversial since many claims that allowing Chinese workers are displacing Filipino employees. The POGOs were allowed in the first place to provide more employment to Filipinos, and due to some loopholes in the policy the migration of Chinese workers have increased. This is now being looked into by the government, while the investigation is moving slowly due to diplomatic problems (remember the pastillas issue?). Hopefully, this controversy will be solved soon. There were some problems before of the entry of “Hongkong Boys” when China took over Hongkong and Macao from the British, but the problem is too small compared to the POGO controversy.

Being involved closely in the Chinese issue, I for one wish that the government can solve the present controversies swiftly, and with less stepping on human rights. As Sen. Villar said, it is difficult to put in “exemptions” in any policy because it will surely invite corruption in government. MC

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has reportedly told investors during the recent 2023 World Economic Forum annual meet in Davos, Switzerland that initiatives are being undertaken to ensure the country’s continued recovery and making it more conducive for business.

Marcos reportedly said the country’s economy is projected to grow by around 7.0 percent in 2023 and that “strong macroeconomic fundamentals, fiscal discipline, structural reforms and liberalization of key sectors instituted over the years have enabled us to withstand the negative shocks caused by the pandemic and succeeding economic downturns and map a route toward a strong recovery.”

The Philippine president, apparently mindful of current economic realities hounding the Filipino people, noted rising inflation in recent months and said there is a “need to ensure that sufficient welfare measures are in place to cushion the impact of elevated inflationary pressures, especially towards the most affected and vulnerable sectors.”

More recently, Marcos was quoted as saying “That’s the problem that makes me unable to sleep — this inflation. That’s what I lose sleep every night over is how to bring down inflation.” He said he is determined to bring it down staring the first quarter of this year.

That is definitely something that majority of Filipinos expect him and his government to do – ease the burdens resulting from increased inflation which has skyrocketed to 8.1 percent in December 2022 from 8 percent in November. This December 2022 inflation was the highest since November 2008 and was more than twice as high as the 3.1 percent recorded in December 2021.

Inflationary pressure on the cost of food and other basic commodities is presumably one of the reasons why the number of Filipino families who rate themselves poor rose to 51%, about 12.9 million, in the fourth quarter of 2022 as shown by the national Social Weather Survey on Self-Rated Poverty conducted in December 2022.

The same survey showed that around 11.8% of Filipino families, three million families, had nothing to eat at least once in the past three months. This was slightly higher than both the 11.3% hunger rate in October 2022 and 11.6% in June 2022. This latest survey showed that hunger rate was highest in Mindanao at 12.7%, followed by Visayas at 12.0%, Metro Manila at 11.7%, and Balance Luzon at 11.3%.

IN 2018, the Philippine registered a poverty threshold of 16.1 percent, while in the Autonomous Region in Muslim, the poverty threshold which is also known as poverty, line was pegged at 56.6 percent in 2018.

Data on poverty threshold or poverty line is released every three years, based on the prior period of a three-year economic performance of a country or region.

In 2021, the poverty line in the whole country leaped back at -61.75 percent to 42.10 percent from 16.1 percent during the previous three years. On the other hand, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) performs better than the national level with a poverty threshold reduced at 76.67 percent from 56.6 percent in 2018 to 13.2 percent in 2021.

is published every Saturday by the Mindanao Cross Publishers, Inc., Sinsuat cor Quezon Avenues, Cotabato City. Tel Nos. (064) 4217161 and E-mail Address: mindanao.cross@gmail.com | mincross101@yahoo.com.ph

Fr. Rogelio Tabuada, OMI, Chief-Executive-Officer

Eva Kimpo - Tan, Editor-in-Chief

Edwin O. Fernandez, News Editor

Gemma A. Peñaflor, Administration and Marketing Executive

Julito P. Torres, Circulation Officer

John M. Unson, Ferdinandh B. Cabrera, Charlie C. Señase

Nash B. Maulana

NORTH / SOUTH COTABATO CORRESPONDENTS

Williamor Magbanua, Romer “Bong” Sarmiento, Roel Osano & Drema Quitayen Bravo

CARTOONIST

These facts did not escape the citation of Interior and Local Government Secretary Banjamin Abalos Jr. in his speech at the Governance Day last Monday (January 23), hosted by the BARMM Ministry of the Interior and Local Government under Minister Naguib G. Sinarimbo for award-winning local government units (LGUs) and leaders.

Poverty Incidence rate among population also increased 7.73 percent at the national level from 16.7 percent in 2018 to 18.1 percent in 2021. In BARMM, the numbers went also down in the same period by 61.49 percent from 60.4 percent in 2018 to 37.4 percent.

The value of Fisheries Production in BARMM increased by 52.46 percent: the total value of production of BARMM for fisheries increased by 52.46 percent during the First Quarter of 2022 that is from 4,435,212.90 in the First Quarter of the previous year (2021) to PhP 6,761,715.04 to the First Quarter of 2022. Production in all provinces has posted an increased growth rate. Maguindanao, Tawitawi, Sulu, Lanao del Sur and Basilan increased its value of fisheries production by 199.74 percent, 4.32 percent, 9.14 percent, 6.52 percent and 56.28 percent, respectively.

Member:

Maguindanao recorded the highest value of fisheries production in the region during the same period. The province has contributed 44.93 percent of the total regional production. This was followed by Tawi-Tawi with 26.16 percent share; while Sulu, Lanao del Sur and Basilan contributed the remaining 19.61 percent, respectively at 5.37 percent, and 3.93 percent..

The value of fisheries production in BARMM is mostly contributed by Municipal Fisheries at 45.28 percent.

While the government’s import liberalization policies have brought in more and more food products from other countries, it has not dampened increase in prices of food items. Instead, this policy has continued to weaken the position of local producers and deprived them of muchneeded income to develop further.

A survey conducted in October 2022 by OCTA Research showed that around 36% of adult Filipinos were dissatisfied with the response of the Marcos administration to inflation.

Independent socioeconomic think-tank IBON Foundation said the Marcos Jr. administration let inflation accelerate virtually throughout 2022 and “gave only token relief to just a small portion of distressed families,” indicating little for the poor’s deteriorating welfare.

“The government has not undertaken any significant measures to address the supply shocks that are the underlying drivers of inflation. Instead, it relied mainly on the monetary measure of matching large rate hikes in the United States– as if raising interest rates would increase domestic food supply or moderate global food and fuel price spikes that make production more expensive,” IBON said.

The development organization sees a number of “harsh realities” for the Philippines in 2023: slow growth, worsened joblessness and informality, prices still high and rising, worsened corruption, scarcer social services and social protection along with worsening infrastructure privatization, the likelihood of more taxes as debt and debt service continue to bloat. It also says “Climate action will be all talk.”

The first quarter of this year will expectedly show whether or not the government can and will really do something that will make the Filipino people’s lives better.

More good news in BARMM economy

P enlight

Nash B. Maulana nash.penlight@gmail.com

Aquaculture and Commercial Fisheries follow and which respectively comprised 42.21 percent and 12.51 percent, of the total value. The Value of municipal fisheries is derived from value of production of marine fisheries (53.97 percent) and inland fisheries (36.35 percent). The value of production in all subsectors also posted corresponding growth rates increases of 49.69 percent for Municipal Fisheries; 78.91 percent for Aquaculture, and 6.45 percent for Commercial Fisheries.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) explains that the poverty threshold also known as the poverty line is the minimum income required for a family or individual to meet the basic food and non-foods.

Thanks to my niece Melanie Pendatun Mohammad for patiently sending in the data, and to his able boss, Engineer Akan G. Tula MPA for helping explain these numbers to lay mortals like us.

An average monthly poverty threshold of about PhP 11, 957 means that income was enough to meet family needs in terms of food and non-food necessities in 2021.

The food threshold is the minimum income required for a family or individual to meet the basic food needs with which satisfy the nutritional requirements for economically necessary and socially desirable physical activities, the PSA said.

On Food Threshold, a person needed at least PhP 1,683 on average per month to meet individual basic food needs in 2021. A family of five needed at least PhP 8,413. Among the population, 12.8 percent were not able to meet their basic needs in 2021, or 0.59 million food-poor Filipinos.

On the other hand, subsistence incidence among families was observed at 9.0 percent or 0.07 million or 70,000 people remain poor in terms of food among families in BARMM.

MC hinking A loud Carlos C. Bautista caloyb@gmail.com What the people say MC

COTABATO CITY / ARMM CORRESPONDENTS

Mask-covered faces

Charlie Señase csenase@yahoo.com

Areflection of old that when someone’s face is half-covered with a hankie, a hold-upper is on the loose. And now, it’s back with a well-fashioned face-covering as mandatory safety net against deadly viruses that some conservatives consider as both physical and spiritual wake-up call. It takes COVID-19 pandemic to account this week for a total of 6.7 million dead with 664.1 million afflicted and over 13 trillion vaccinated, according to the World Health Organization. And this global health outlook appears in cadence with the widespread scandal and callous shamelessness of men to cover their faces.

BIBLICAL WICKEDNESS TO PONDER

The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on earth and that every intent of thoughts from his heart was only evil. And the LORD was sorry that He made man on earth and He was grieved in His heart to unleash the biblical floodwaters during Noah’s time (Genesis 6:5-6).

Prophet David told God: “A day in your court is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness (Psalm 84:10).

The danger of false teaching: “I listened and heard, but they do not speak aright; and no man repented of his wickedness, saying – What have I done? Everyone turned to his own course as the horse rushes into the battle ground” (Jeremiah 8:6).

The LORD told the Pharisees, “You make the outside of your cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness” (Luke 11:39). They are hypocrites of filthiness full of unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evilmindedness, gossipers, backbiters, ungodly, violent, proud, boasters, manipulators, disobedient to parents, unloving,

unforgiving and ungrateful. Those who have these traits are deserving of death (Romans 1:29-32).

Therefore, lay aside all filthiness and overflowing wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted WORD of God which will save our souls. Let us be doers of the WORD not hearers only deceiving ourselves (James 1:21-22).

And to keep ourselves abreast on who are the PH’s richest amid health and economic woes is on the latest Oxfam International yearend survey. The Sy family has a net worth of 12.6 billion US dollars followed by Manuel Villar, $7.8 billion; Enrique Razon, Jr., $5.6 billion; Lance Gokongwei family, $3.1 billion; Aboitiz family, $2.9 billion; Isidro Consunji family, $2.9 billion; Tony Tan Caktiong family, $2.6 billion; Jaime Zobel de Ayala family, $2.5 billion and Ramon Ang with $2.4 billion.

With their huge fortune, Oxfam PH Executive Director Erika Geronimo described it as “disheartening to see many are dying due to lack of health care while others experiencing hunger due to high cost of living, the rich increased their wealth during the pandemic.”

This brings us to the frequent power outages in areas served by the National Grid Corporation, the main hydropower source of private power firms like Colight and other electric cooperatives. It’s about time for NGCP’s top executive to officially sound-off and explain how to eradicate or minimize this problem. Unlike before that a power outage happened only when a transmitter tower is toppled down by bomb blasts. Who is to blame in a world of experts with all bright ideas with hidden agenda?

To all obedient and God-fearing people, the LORD who cannot lie promised to sustain their needs as in peace, provision and protection that ensure joy and contentment in life. Yet most still aspire to be rich amid Christ’s caution saying: “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?” Still many ignore the LORD’s warning as they pursue their own cravings of worldly things. They believe that their silver and gold can save them in the end. MC

10 Essential Health Screenings for Men

h e A lth c o R ne R

A reprint from HEALTH FOR ALL. Reviewed By: Melissa

Conrad Stöppler, MD

Detectingsymptoms of certain health conditions early, when they are more easily treatable, is a critical factor in helping men stay healthy. That’s why getting all your doctor-recommended health care screenings in a timely fashion is the kind of to-do list that no man should ignore.

Below is information about ten important health screenings for men, including the appropriate timing for each.

1. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm— Men between the ages of 65 and 75 who have ever smoked tobacco should get screened for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. An imaging test, such as a computed tomography (CT) scan, ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study, can help determine the presence, size, and extent of an aortic aneurysm. The major risk of this aortic bulging is a rupture resulting in severe or fatal internal bleeding.

2. Blood Cholesterol — All men 35 or older should get their blood cholesterol levels checked regularly. Men who use tobacco; are overweight or obese; have a relative who had a heart attack before the age of 50; or have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a history of heart disease should get their cholesterol checked much earlier, at the age of 20. There are several measures of cholesterol, and all are important in determining heart disease risk.

3. Blood Pressure— Every man should have their blood pressure checked regularly, and patients with other cardiovascular risk factors should check their blood pressure more frequently. This can be performed at your doctor’s office. High blood pressure is the biggest risk for heart disease and a significant risk for other serious health conditions.

4. Colon Cancer—All men should get screened for colorectal (colon or rectal) cancer by age 50. People with a family history of colorectal cancer should get a colonoscopy even sooner. There are several different tests that can help detect colon cancer, but colonoscopy continues to be the gold standard.

5. Depression— Don’t ignore

Showcasing Cultural Heritage

Despitethe horrendous traffic that took us two and a half hours travel to the BARMM compound; the heavy downpour that nearly marred the booths of the participating provinces , and a heavy heart over the sudden loss of our 45 year business, I don’t regret braving all the roadblocks that kept me from getting to the compound soonest for lack of that very important security protocol, the gate pass. It goes without saying, I was late! It was worth all the trouble though, believe me. Let me describe the booths one by one, later. At this point, it was a great surprise that I was warmly met by Ms. Normina , our “suki” at my great passion, the Ghuia Boutique some years back. Just wait, Normina we shall return, bigger, better.

An encounter at a spa with Ms. Roselyn Sampulna Ambolodto led to an invitation to this extraordinary cultural competition to be held at the BangsaMoro Government Center on January 21, 2023. I knew all along, I would be inspired by what I shall see, true enough, the booths did not disappoint.

Joining me as members of the Board of Judges were colleagues from the National Commission of Culture and the Arts, namely Mr. Carlo Ebeo, Cultural worker of domestic and international engagements in research, production education and festival organizing. He is also the Vice President of the Provincial Tourism Council of South Cotabato. The second member was Mr. Al-Nezzar Ali, incoming Executive Council Secretary and Representative of the National Committee on Visual Arts . Third was the visual artist Mr. Kevin Kyle Elijay, Tourism Officer of the Provincial Government of Davao del Sur, and the 4th member was home-grown artist of a pool of directors , presently connected with the National Book Development Board as cluster Coordinator for Mindanao. I belong to the Sub-committee on Communication while my companions were more on the visual arts, a good mix, I should say, My interest was more on the embroidered and hand-woven products on display.

I had the privilege of being introduced to Assistant Senior Minister Abdullah M. Cusain a very polite young man who happens to be contemporaries with one of my daughters. All the more, I got the warmth of welcoming feeling in the office. It has been years since I last went beyond the gates of the then ARMM compound when I used to bring my pharmacy documents at what was then known as BFAD, now FDA, which had been transferred to Marbel. Thanks for reaching out to this innocent bystander.

I must say, the entire BARMM compound has been developed such that the government offices are readily accessible by their proximity to each other. There is the Moro Café that serves freshly prepared native brewed coffee. Most of the offices have centralized air conditioning, indeed, the entire compound underwent a physical transformation befitting the high officials that occupy them.

About the Competition: All the participants, Basilan, Sulu, Lanao del Sur, Tawi-tawi and Maguindanao were within the requirements of the guidelines. They came prepared to win, no less. How I wish I could make all of them winners. Their ushers and commentators were articulate, they knew where of they spoke, very knowledgeable about their distinct culture and heritage. The ladies wore their best woven enaul, most of them were fair complexioned, charming and accommodating. Authentic delicacies were generously handed out to guests, and a lunch pack as well. My decisions were aided by the brochures they prepared, while some had the history of their place on tarps and a video to boost their presentation.

It is heart-warming to know that the BARMM is serious in promoting the Preservation of Cultural Heritage of the provinces in its jurisdiction through the creation of a Commission. Currently, Salem Y. Lingasa, Ph.D is the Chairperson, Commissioner for Maguindanao; Robert M. Alonto, Commissioner for Lanao del Sur; Ardan D. Sali, Commissioner for Sulu; Merfa M. Ampao For Basilan; Emasia M. Madjilon for Tawi-tawi; and Guiamal B. Abdulrahman –Exofficio Commissioner for Indigenous People. I am running out of space, next week we shall see and describe those that I named “precious treasures”, the work of the Yakans,

your mental health. An estimated six million men suffer from depression each year, and many of these men are under-diagnosed and under-treated. Talk to your doctor about getting screened for depression if you have experienced any of the following symptoms for more than two weeks:

If you’re having recurring thoughts of death or suicide, seek treatment immediately.

6. Diabetes— Men who have high blood pressure or take medication to control their high blood pressure should get screened for diabetes (high blood sugar). Anyone experiencing symptoms of persistently severe thirst, frequent urination, unexpected weight loss, increased hunger, and tingling in the hands or feet also should talk to their doctor about getting tested. The preferred screening for diabetes is a blood test that measures your average blood sugar over the last three months.

7. Hepatitis C Virus—A man should get a blood test for hepatitis C if he was born between 1945 and 1965; was born to a mother with the virus; needs dialysis for kidney failure; received a blood transfusion before 1992; received blood clotting factors before 1987; or ever injected drugs. Hepatitis C is the number one cause of liver cancer in the U.S.

8. HIV— All men 65 or younger, regardless of perceived risks, should get screened for HIV. Men over 65 should talk to their doctor about getting screened.

9. Obesity—Using a BMI calculator to determine your body mass index (BMI) is usually a reliable, but not conclusive, indicator of whether you’re at a healthy weight. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered healthy, a BMI above 25 is overweight, and a BMI greater than 30 is obese. If you have a high BMI, your doctor may use one or more other methods to help further assess whether you are overweight or obese.

10. Prostate Cancer—

Recommendations regarding prostate cancer screening, particularly PSA screening, vary widely among health care professionals. Talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of screening to determine what is best for you.

So We Want to Be First World(part 2)

The regular World Economic Forum (WEF) had just been concluded last week at Davos, Switzerland. This is a gathering of world leaders (from the political, business, and civil society) to discuss economic and other development-related concerns.

The Philippines sent a large delegation to the Annual WEF and the President and the members of his entourage met with political and business leaders from other countries, including former British PM Tony Blair. A soft launch of the Maharlika Wealth Fund was done there though specifics of this Fund had not yet been resolved by Congress and the Executive.

For this week, we will continue discussions on the major things preventing the country from moving up and becoming a more modern and equitable society.

Last Saturday, we tackled how our laws on real property ownership and use tend to lead to the accumulation of land in the hands of the few as well as prevent the use of lands for agricultural activities (with economies of scale) due to our land reform program.

Another factor that hinder our development and cause inequities in Philippine society is the transportation sector. The country does not only lack connectivity but the existing transport systems are inadequate and inefficient, to say the least.

A good transport system is crucial to the Philippines, being an archipelago, to improve mobility of people and goods. While air and sea transport are very important for the country, the discussion in this article will focus on land transport.

There are several things wrong with our land transportation system. First, roads are not evenly distributed

with some areas having very high road density while others have very low density (and usually, lower quality) of roads.

Second, most roads, especially those within older cities and towns, are inadequate (narrower than they should be) for the volume of vehicles that pass through them.

Third, public transportation is not prioritized, thus, public utility and private vehicles crowd each other out in using primary or main roads (such as EDSA) resulting to traffic congestion.

Fourth, the rolling stock (vehicles) in most cities and urban areas are inefficient since their capacity is limited. Multi-cabs and jeepneys that carry a small number of passengers are used instead of mini-buses, regular buses, or double-decked buses that result in too many vehicles plying the limited number of roads.

In Metro Manila, there are dozens (if not hundreds) of different bus and taxi companies plying various routes which make it hard to establish regular bus stops and to monitor the performance of these transport companies.

To improve the situation, the following are the options:

1. There should be a land transport master plan that would link rails and roads for efficient movement from the rural to the urban areas and vice versa;

2. Public transport should have primary right to use the main roads to promote patronage of public transport and lessen the number of private vehicles on the roads;

3. Improve infrastructure and provide incentives to public transport operators to have more high-capacity vehicles to serve the public;

4. In relation to the above, gradually phase out low-capacity PUVs and PUJs in cities and urban areas;

5. The number of bus operators and taxi companies in Metro Manila and other urban areas should be limited so that travel time could be made predictable as bus routes and bus stops are established,

AR ket d R iven Danny Buenbrazo danny_buenbrazo@yahoo.com

he s tuff of l ife Victoria R. Franco, RPh, MS Pharmacy franco1573victoria@gmail.com

Philippines Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Parang, Maguindanao OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL CIVIL REGISTRAR

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. 9048/R.A. 10172, a notice is hereby served to the public that Mary Jane Seguiente Caspe has filed with this office a petition for change of date of birth from 10 April 1979 to 29 March 1979 in the birth certificate of Mary Jane Seguiente Caspe who was born on April 10, 1979 at Sarmiento, Parang, Maguindanao and whose parents are Antonio Galache Caspe and Estelita Seguiente.

Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this office not later than February 1, 2023.

(Sgd.) KARIM O. OMAR, MPA

Municipal Civil Registrar

MC: Jan. 21 & 28, 2023

Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT 5th SHARI’A DISTRICT COURT Cotabato City

SDC SPL. PROC. NO. 2022-578

IN THE MATTER OF PETITION FOR CORRECTION OF ERRONEOUS ENTRIES IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH UNDER REGISTRY NO. 2015-08 IN THE NAME OF FAHAD BLAH RAPA

FAHAD BLAH RAPA Petitoner, -versusTHE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF MAMASAPANO, MAGUINDANAO PROVINCE Respondent. x———————————x ORDER

Filed with this Court is a petition for correction of erroneous entries in the Certificate of Live Birth of the petitioner, FAHAD BLAH RAPA who alleged, among others: That his parents are Rapa Dalangalan Tiago and Nor-ain Ahmad Puasa; That he was born on January 01, 2003 at Bagumbong, Mamasapano, Maguindanao;

That in his Certificate of Live Birth, the name of his mother was erroneously entered as “Gandalia Idza Blah” instead of “Nor-ain Ahmad Puasa”;

That his middle name was erroneously entered as “Blah” instead of “Puasa”; That Gandalia Izda Blah is not the biological mother of petitioner but the one who took care of him when his mother Nor-ain Ahmad Puasa was working abroad, and; That the purpose of filing this petition is to straighten petitioner’s record, not to deceive anybody.

The Court after reading the petition finds the same sufficient in form and substance.

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the case is set for hearing on February 8, 2023 at 8:30 in the morning. The petitioner must cause the publication of this Order once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation. Furnish copy of this petition to the Honorable Solicitor General for information and proper representation. Anybody who maybe prejudiced by this petition may file his/her comment thereto, or appear on said hearing and show cause why this petition should not be granted.

SO ORDERED.

Marawi City for Cotabato City, Philippines, December 15, 2022.

(Sgd.) Hon. RASAD S. LAGUINDAB

300 families flee due to MILF “infighting”...from P1

“We are afraid to return home, the fighting may erupt anytime,” said Baikong Tato (not her real name), a mother of four, who temporarily sought shelter at the village public school.

Tato requested she remained unidentified “because everyone knows everybody in our village.”

“These commanders have been at odds, they settled amicably last year

TRIAL COURT 12th Judicial Region BRANCH 14 Cotabato city SPL. PROC. CASE NO. 2022-1601 IN THE MATTER OF PETITION FOR CORRECTION OF ENTRIES IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF DJENABA LYNN ANDOL MAÑARA UNDER LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRY NO. 2001-2127

DJENABA LYNN MAÑARA NERI Petitioner, -versusTHE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF COTABATO CITY, FLORANTE A. NERI, JESUSIMA M. NERI, DESIREE MAÑARA NERI, PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF DAVAO OCCIDENTAL AND CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION REGION XI, Respondents. x--------------------------------------------x

ORDER A verified petition was filed by the petitioner, assisted by counsel, praying that after due notice, publication and hearing, an order be issued directing the LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF COTABATO CITY to correct the following entries in the Certificate of Live Birth of DJENABA

LYNN MAÑARA NERI, under Local Civil Registry No. 2001-2127, to wit:

iii. Petitioner’s middle name, from ANDOL to MAÑARA; and

iv. Petitioner’s last name, from MAÑARA to NERI; An Order be issued allowing the Petitioner to be able to retain her surname, NERI by virtue of being a legitimated child of private respondents FLORANTE and JESUSIMA;

FINDING the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, let this case be set for hearing on March 28, 2023 at 1:30 o’clock in the afternoon, at which place, date and time, any person who may have interest, if any, may show cause why the petition should not be granted.

Let this Order be published in a newspaper edited and of general circulation in the City of Cotabato and Province of Maguindanao, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks prior to the date of hearing at the expense of the petitioner.

SO ORDERED.

Cotabato City, Philippines, this 16th day of January, 2023.

(Sgd.) KASAN K. ABDULRAKMAN Acting Presiding Judge MC: Jan. 28, Feb 4 & 11, 2023

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the late LAMBERTO LACUMBO PRAGADOS, who died intestate on October 19, 2003, left parcels of land Lot No. 1491, Pls-222, OCT No. V-11349, area of 99,576 sq. mts. in New Panay, M’lang (now Tulunan), Cotabato; Lot 2165B, (LRC) Psd-136752, TCT No. T-32877, area of 46,420 sq. mts. in Tuburan, Tulunan, Cotabato; and untitled land Lot No. 2969-TS268, area of 800 sq. mts. in Poblacion, M’lang, Cotabato; Lot No. 2778, Pls-222, area of 600 sq. mts. and Lot No. 2777, Pls-222, area of 600 sq. mts., more or less, both in Poblacion, Tulunan, Cotabato are subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with deed of partition before Notary Public Jose Robelle C. Portaje as per Doc. No. 484; Page No. 98; Book No. LXXXII; Series of 2023.

with the help of LGU and the Army but because a drunk son of an MILF commander who fired his gun indiscriminately, the other side thought the gun fire was for them, so they also fired their guns too, so fighting erupted,” she said in the vernacular.

“We know them,

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the late CONCORDIA YAP, who died intestate in General Santos City, on December 02, 2022, left parcels of land Lot 2586-G-29-D, (LRC) Psd-114673, TCT No. T-28153, area of 1,027 sq. mts. in Katingawan, Midsayap, Cotabato; Lot No. 1890, TCT No. T-6664, area of 72,516 sq. mts. in Municipal District of Dalauan; Lot No.10 Bsd-11551, OCT No. P-57851 Free Patent No. FP-124709-92-820P, area of 227 sq. mts., more or less are subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate before Notary Public Teresita Carreon Llaban as per Doc. No. 130; Page No. 26 Book No. XXVII; Series of 2023.

MC: Jan. 28, Feb. 4 & 11, 2023

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the late CANDAO DILAO KEMPA, who died on December 3, 2017, left a Savings Account with Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) under Account No. 0376 4224 53 is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with waiver of rights before Notary Public Atty. Agnes R. De Castro-Jagunap as per Doc. No. 104; Page No. 104; Book No. XXIX; Series of 2023.

MC: Jan. 21, 28 & Feb. 4, 2023

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late Spouses SALILAGUIA

K. MASABPI and PINDA

B. MASABPI who died on February 27, 1990 and November 4, 1992, respectively in Brgy. Poblacion VII, Cotabato City, a parcel of land Lot 6990, Buluan Pls-73, containing an area of 97,785 sq. mts., more or less, covered by OCT No. (V-334) P-149 is subject of extrajudicial settlement with waiver of rights before Notary Public Atty. Agnes r. De Castro-Jagunap as per Doc. No. 080; Page No. 080; Book No. XXIX; Series of 2023.

MC: Jan. 14, 21 & 28, 2023

anytime they will resume fighting, so we fled for our safety,” Tato said.

A member of Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) was killed while evacuating his family after clashes erupted between and among Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members in Maguindanao del Sur on Tuesday morning.

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. No. 9048, a notice is hereby served to the public that Mariel Angelo N. Ferrer has filed with this office a petition for change of first name from Mariel to Mariel Angelo in the birth certificate of Mariel Ng Ferrer who was born on 12 July 1989 at Kidapawan, Cotabato and whose parents are Mario Ferrer and Marichu Ng. Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this office.

(Sgd.) MERCEDES P. TOLENTINO Acting Civil Registrar MC: Jan. 28 & Feb 4, 2023

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ELEUTERIO CALUNGSOD, who died on May 2, 1991 at San Isidro, Midsayap, Cotabato, and wife LUCIANA JUMUAD CALUNGSOD, a parcel of land Lot No. 2404-B,Psd-27275, covered by TCT No. T-4803, located at Barrio Katingawan now (San Isidro) Midsayap, Cotabato with an area of 118,024 sq. mts., more or less is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with partition among heirs before Notary Public Teresita Carreon Llaban as per Doc. No. 40; Page No. 08; Book No. 23; Series of 2022.

MC: Jan. 28, Feb. 4 & 11, 2023

ADJUDICATION BY SOLE HEIR

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late MACARIO B. BEGONIA, who died intestate on June 24, 1985 in Libungan, Cotabato, a parcel of land Lot No. 188, Pls134, containing an area of 66,061 sq. mts., more or less, covered by OCT No. P-37678, located in Montay, Midsayap now Libungan, Cotabato is subject of adjudication by sole heir with simultaneous deed of absolute sale of a portion of land before Notary Public Noel A. Gretare, CPA as per Doc. No. 4315; Page No. 17; Book No. LXXXVIII; Series of 2022. Mc: Jan. 14, 21 & 28, 2023

NOTICE

VGM PAWNSHOP INC. BRANCH I AND BRANCH II will hold a public auction sale of all unredeemed and unrenewed items pawned from July 1 to August 31, 2022 on February 8, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. at VGM PAWNSHOP INC. BRANCH I, Dayao St., and VGM PAWNSHOP INC. II, Jose Abad Santos St., Kidapawan City Be There, Management Ang VGM PAWNSHOP INC. BRANCH I ug BRANCH II magsubasta sa tanan nga wala lukata ug wala tubui gikan sa bulan sa Hulyo 1 hangtud sa bulan sa Agosto 31, 2022 sa alas 9:00 sa buntag karung Pebrero 8, 2023 sa VGM PAWNSHOP INC. BRANCH I, Dayao St., ug sa VGM PAWNSHOP BRANCH II, Jose Abad Santos St., Kidapawan City.

Involved in the skirmishes were members of MILF’s 105th and 106th base commands who have been locked in “rido” (clan war) since 2020.

Capt. Joel Lebrilla, municipal station chief of Rajah Buayan town in Maguindanao del Sur, said the conflict among MILF members was due to “rido.”

“This is due to conflict over control of vast territory in Rajah Buayan, the warring groups actually have agreed to an amicable settlement last September 2022,” Capt. Lebrilla said. “Now they start fighting

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the late HADJI MUKAMAD ZACARIA, who died intestate on December 27, 1997 at Bagua III, Cotabato City, left a parcel of land Lot No. 522-A-2, (LRC) Psd210426, covered by TCT No. T-12637, situated in Bagua, Cotabato City with an area of 500 sq. mts., more or less is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with simultaneous sale before Notary Public Atty. Abbyr A. Nul as per Doc. No. 398; Page No. 76; Book No. XL; Series of 2023.

MC: Jan. 28, Feb. 4 & 11, 2023

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 12th Judicial Region BRANCH 14 Cotabato City

SPL. PROC. CASE NO. 2022-1594

IN RE: PETITION FOR THE PROBATE OF THE NOTARIAL WILL OF JESUS PERFECTO MARQUEZ MARTINEZ AND THE ISSUANCE OF LETTERS TESTAMENTARY

MICHELLE B. MARTINEZ, Petitioner. x---------------------------------------------x ORDER

A verified petition was filed by petitioner, assisted by counsel, praying that the Honorable Court:

a) Set the present petition for hearing and thereafter issue the required notices to the following: (i)

Vivian Biruar Martinez, Marie-vie B. Martinez, Anthony John B. Martinez42 Ramon Rabago St., Rosary Heights XIII, Cotabato City; (ii) Tomas Ringo B. Martinez- 71 First St., Don E. Sero, Rosary Heights V, Cotabato City (iii) Agnes Farida Bagaforo- 40 Don T.V. Juliano Avenue, Bagua II, Cotabato City; and (iv) Erlie Josefa R. Babayen-on- 360A Uriel St., Peñafrancia Subdivision, Rosary Heights XII, Cotabato City; b) Admit the notarial will of Jesus Perfecto Marquez Martinez dated 10 September 2021 into probate; c) Issue letters testamentary in favor of Agnes Farida Bagaforo-Arellano, or in case of her incapacity to Erlie Josefa R. Babayen-on, without the necessity of filing a bond.

FINDING the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, let this case be set for hearing on February 9, 2023 at 8:30 o’clock in the morning, at which place, date and time, any person who may have interest, if any, may show cause why the petition should not be granted.

Let this Order be published in a newspaper edited and of general circulation in the City of Cotabato and Province of Maguindanao once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks prior to the date of hearing at the expense of the petitioner.

SO ORDERED.

Cotabato City, Philippines, this 9th of January, 2023.

(Sgd.) KASAN K. ABDULRAKMAN Acting Presiding Judge

MC: Jan. 21, 28 & Feb. 4, 2023

again.”

Mayor Mastura said the protagonists in the firefight were followers of 106th base commander Jacky Dagandal and 105th base commander Datu Macky Uto.

Brig. Gen. Oriel Pangcog, commander of the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade, said the hostilities in Rajah Buayan have died down and that the government and MILF coordinating committee on cessation of hostilities are already on the ground to pacify those involved in the “internal conflict.”

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the late LUTHER ABALDE MANEJA, who died intestate on 20 September 2022, left a PHILAM AIA POLICY INSURANCE Policy No. 0611579178 is subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate/ partition of specific property (Insurance Claims/proceeds) with special power of attorney before Notary Public Atty. Roniel L. Inot as per Doc. No. 393; Page No. 80; Book No. 13; Series of 2022.

MC: Jan. 28, Feb. 4 & 11, 2023

Republic of the Philippines

REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 12th Judicial Region BRANCH 14 Cotabato City

SPECIAL PROC. NO. 20221580 -forCANCELLATION OF ENTRIES IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF AL-SHAMER SINSUAT SANGKIGAY (REGISTRY NO. 96-1813)

AL-SHAMER FOUZIE SINSUAT SANGKIGAY a.k.a. SHAMIER SINSUAT DE CASTRO and MANUEL L. DE CASTRO, JR., Petitioners, -versusVICKY GARDNER SINSUAT, JERRY PANGAWILAN SANGKIGAY, AND CIVIL REGISTRAR OF COTABATO CITY, Respondents.

x----------------------------------------x ORDER

A verified petition was filed by petitioners, assisted by counsel, Atty. Jirah L. Jareta, praying that an Order be issued directing the Civil Registrar of Cotabato City to CANCEL Shamier Sinsuat De Castro’s Certificate of Live Birth (Registry No, 96-1813).

Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, let this case be set for hearing on February 21, 2023 at 1:30 o’clock in the afternoon.

Let this Order be published in a newspaper edited and of general circulation in the City of Cotabato and Province of Maguindanao, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks prior to the date of hearing at the expense of the petitioner.

SO ORDERED.

Cotabato City, Philippines, this 13th day of December, 2022.

(Sgd.) KASAN K. ABDULRAKMAN

Acting Presiding Judge MC: Jan. 14, 21 & 28, 2023

MISSING PERSON

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC that URBANO EBALLES

CEDEÑO who was born on April 07, 1927, 95 years old, Filipino citizen and a residence of Midsayap, North Cotabato and married to a certain FLAVIA SUMALPONG was MISSING since he left his hometown last January 1986. Until this date and time of reporting said missing person has nowhere to found.

IF FOUND in your respective area, PLEASE CONTACT

MRS. FE B. APATAN MRS. ELVIE BIGTASIN

0910-908-4044

0909-265-9677

MC:

Republic of the

Republic of the Philippines Province of Cotabato City of Kidapawan LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRY OFFICE

DENR-12 watched .from P1

we monitor annually,” PENRO Lumayag said.

In Barangay Buayan, Gen. Santos City, a total of 2,593 waterbirds were observed by the Conservation and

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late PRAXEDES A. NADELA, who died intestate on January 14, 1985 at Central Katingawan, Midsayap, Cotabato, a parcel of land Lot No. 2446-A, Csd-12-001353-D, covered by OCT No. P-48151, situated at Bo. of Central Katingawan, Midsayap, Cotabato, containing an area of 40,000 sq. mts., more or less is subject of deed of extrajudicial settlement of estate with simultaneous sale before Notary Public Roland D. Jungco as per Doc. No. 22; Page No. 05; Book No. IX; Series of 2022. MC: Dec.

ERRATUM

This is to correct the December 24, 31, 2022 & January 7, 2023 issues of the above Extrajudicial Settlement.

57 BARMM LGUs cited for good works .. .from P1

Development Section Personnel of Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO) General Santos City during the Asian Waterbird Census.

The most common species that were observed during the census were the Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), Great Egret (Ardea alba), Blackwinged stilt (Himantopus himantopus), Lesser Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus) and Whistling Ducks (Dendrocygninae).

The Asian Waterbird Census is annually conducted during the second to the third week of January to monitor the condition of wetlands and the status of the migratory birds in the area.

“Their presence is one of the key indicators which tell whether wetlands, such as mangrove areas, are still ecologically healthy,” RED Alicer said.

PMARK PAWNSHOP MAIN & PMARK PAWNSHOP ALNOR BRANCH

Patalastas ng Subasta

PMARK Pawnshop Main Branch ng S.K. Pendatun Avenue, Cotabato City, PMARK Pawnshop Alnor Branch, Mall of Alnor, Sinsuat Avenue, Cotabato City ay nagpatalastas na mayroon silang Subasta ng hindi natutubos na mga sangla. Ang mga ito ay isinangla magmula noong Agosto 2022. Ang Subasta ay sa Pebrero 1, 2023 sa ganap na ika 9:00 ng umaga hanggang 4:00 ng hapon sa nasabing lugar.

MC: Jan. 28, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENT

Ang Feroce Pawnshop & Money Changer-Main at Branches I, II, S.K. Pendatun, Sinsuat Avenue, sa Cotabato City, Branch III sa Midsayap, Kidapawan Branch, Isulan Branch at San Pedro Branch sa Davao City ay magkakaroon ng “Subasta Sale” sa darating na Pebrero 28, 2023 sa ganap na alas 8:00 ng umaga hanggang alas 4:30 ng hapon para sa mga hindi natubos na sangla sa buwan ng Setyembre 2022.

Upang hindi maremate ang inyong mga alahas magbigay ng interest bago dumating ang araw ng subasta.

“Sa Feroce Pawnshop na tayo kumpleto na ang serbisyo”

MC: Jan. 28, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENT

Ang Feroce Pawnshop & Money Changer Inc.- Main , Duterte, Davao City, at Branches I, II, III, IV, V, VI sa Cotabato City, Branch VII sa Parang, Maguindanao, Pigcawayan Branch, Midsayap Branch, Pikit Branch at Kabacan Branch sa North Cotabato, ay magkakaroon ng “Subasta Sale” sa darating na Pebrero 28, 2023 sa ganap na alas 8:00 ng umaga hanggang alas 4:30 ng hapon para sa mga hindi natubos na sangla sa buwan ng Setyembre 2022.

Upang hindi maremate ang inyong mga alahas magbigay ng interest bago dumating ang araw ng subasta.

“Sa Feroce Pawnshop na tayo kumpleto na ang serbisyo”

MC: Jan. 28, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENT

Ang G-ROCE Pawnshop sa Cotabato City at G-ROCE Pawnshop Damosa, Davao City, ay magkakaroon ng “Subasta Sale” sa darating na Pebrero 28, 2023 sa ganap na alas 8:00 ng umaga hanggang alas 4:30 ng hapon para sa mga hindi natubos na sangla sa buwan ng Setyembre 2022.

Upang hindi maremate ang inyong mga alahas magbigay ng interest bago dumating ang araw ng subasta.

MC: Jan. 28, 2023

released the monetary incentives, amounting to millions of pesos, to Lamitan City and 14 other municipal governments, including Upi town in Maguindanao del Norte, which is bastion of the nonMoro Teduray tribe, for having received the Seal of Good Local Governance last year from the DILG central office.

The yearly grant by DILG’s central office of the SGLG to deserving municipal, city and provincial governments is premised on good governance and efficient public service, environmental, socio-economic and security thrusts of nominated LGUs.

Ten barangays in Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur and another in Sulu, also each got awards for having won the regional local government ministry’s 2022 Search for Model Barangays.

A total of 39 LGUs, including Lamitan City, one of three cities in BARMM, got special citations for getting through, with high ratings, the joint Anti-Drug Abuse Council Functionality evaluation by the Bangsamoro government, the regional police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Five municipalities - Datu Blah Sinsuat and Upi, both in Maguindanao del Norte, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Abdullah Sangki, and Datu Paglat, all in Maguindanao del Sur - had earlier received awards for having passed the national ADAC evaluation.

Datu Blah Sinsuat, covering 13 seaside barangays in the west of Maguindanao del Norte, is a peaceful town and touted as the fishing capital of the province.

Datu Blah Sinsuat Mayor Marshall Sinsuat and the office of Sinarimbo

are together constructing now a municipal government center and five barangay halls in the municipality.

In a message, Abalos told participating LGU officials and guests to Monday’s event, among them BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, Senior Minister Abdulraof Macacua and regional police chief Brig. Gen. John Guyguyon, that he was impressed with the improvements in local governance in the autonomous region, brought about by interventions by the barely four-year regional government.

The program was capped off with the MILG’s grant of special recognition and other incentives to Mayor Reynalbert Insular of South Upi, Maguindanao del Norte, recipient of the Bangsamoro government’s Salamat Excellence Award for Leadership.

BARMM okays P475-M investments to start 2023 .. .from P1

“Hopefully, other beach resorts will follow and that will provide a much needed boost to help sustain many tourism destinations and businesses in the region and will continue to be a key driver of recovery especially that the Covid-19 pandemic hits the tourism economy hard,” he added.

He said the second investor, the KS Agricultural Products Trading, is also a 100 percent Filipino-owned and a sole proprietorship company engaged in halal poultry production and processing.

It is located at Barangay Kamasi, Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur.

The company’s total project

cost is about PHP149 million and will provide employment to about 150 local employees.

Pasigan said the proponent is a halal producer of poultry broilers – growing for slaughtering and marketing.

It has a halal poultry dressing plant for dressing, processing and marketing, a halal feed mill for the production of corn, palay, copra and malunggay to be processed into formulated halal feed concentrate in the form of mash, pellets and crumble feeds for commercial use.

“The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) is promoting the halal industry in the region. And we are very happy that we now

32 extremists yield to.. .from P2

Among the firearms presented to the police were eight sniper rifles and two 60 mm mortar tubes.

Brig. Gen. Guyguyon said the 30 BIFF members under Commander Kagi Karialan and Commander Bungos factions were all operating in Maguindanao del Sur, including in the neighboring municipalities in Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato.

Two DI-Listed PPAG operating in Barangay Kudal, Pagalungan, Maguindanao also joined the surrenderees.

Brig. Gen. Guyguyon said the continued struggle and pressure felt by the BIFF members, with discontentment to

their former group coupled with the realization of being utilized by their commanders for personal gains, have made them surrender to the folds of law.

“The police office is preparing their reintegration, and return to their families and be productive part of society,”

Brig. Gen. Guyguyon said, expressing gratitude to the support extended by local officials of Maguindanao del Sur led by Gov. Bai Mariam Mangudadatu.

He also lauded the operating troops for the success of this operation and contribution to the efforts towards lasting peace in the Bangsamoro Region. EOF

49 NoCot coops get.. .from P2

livelihood enhancement,”

Director Cabaya said.

Mendoza lauded DSWD 12 for its continuous livelihood program for farmers and indigents across the province.

Speaking to cooperative member-beneficiaries, Cabaya challenged them to make good of the government’s intervention “and make it grow for the benefit of every member.”

Most of the beneficiaries, Cabaya said, have chosen and will venture into General Merchandising

and Agriculture-related enterprise.

They belonged under the “PAMANA” program or “Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan” program of DA-12, one of the agency’s programs for conflictvulnerable areas (CVA).

The SLPAs were from far flung communities in North Cotabato’s 11 towns of Alamada, Aleosan, Antipas, Arakan, Kidapawan, Magpet, Makilala, M'lang, Pigcawayan, President Roxas and Tulunan. EOF

BIFF’s “vehicle theft .from P12

had served as commander of the 6th Infantry Division before he got to the helm of WestMinCom, said Monday their units in central Mindanao had long been alerted about such a plan by the BIFF.

The sources, among them members of different municipal peace and order councils, had said the BIFF’s extortion activities were curtailed by the surrender, in the past 12 months, of more than 50 members collecting “protection money” from traders and owners of public conveyances via the intercession of police units and the 6th ID. JFU

No clues yet on.. .from P12

identify the killers of Mangansakan, who have fled using motorcycles.

Officials of the 6th Infantry Division told reporters Tuesday Army intelligence agents under 6th ID’s unit in this city and in Cotabato province are helping put a closure on the murder of Mangansakan by still unknown perpetrators. JFU

First-ever blind Catholic.. .from P6

best, and that is the best; I’m offering myself,” Mithamo King’ori said.

Asked about what kept him focused on his priestly vocation, he said: “It is that spirit of God that really kept me discerning my vocation because I believe that having lost my eyes does not mean that I have lost my dream.”

“Through prayer I was convinced that there is a difference between the problem that I’m facing … and the vocation that is within me, that which God is calling me to serve,” he said. “I convinced myself through prayer that loss of eyesight doesn’t mean loss of my vocation.”

He encouraged persons living with any form of disability not to lose sight of the presence of God in their lives.

“To those people who may be disabled in one way or the other, that doesn’t mean the end of life. It is important, it is imperative to know that God is already aware of it, and having God aware of it is enough,” he said. Magdalene Kahiu/Catholic News Agency

have halal poultry in the region,” MAFAR Minister and Ex-Officio Board Member Mohammad S. Yacob said.

“The BARMM government will strengthen regulations on halal certification for products in the region especially where the majority of the population is Muslim,” said Minister Yacob, also BBOI board member.

The Shahada Medical and Diagnostic Clinic is the first medical facility to register in the region. It is a medical and diagnostic center and is a 100 percent Filipino-owned company located at Sousa Street, Rosary Heights 13, Cotabato City.

It has a total project cost of Php30.7 million and will

generate 20 employments. The clinic is an avenue for health professionals with subspecialties that facilitate the provision of timely, cost-effective, and high-quality diagnostic care for patients in a safe and secure environment.

Minister Abuamri Taddik of BARMM Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism, and BBOI board member, said the private health sector is growing rapidly and this newly-health facility in the region is a good implication that investments are pouring in.

“This trend will continue due to the fundamentals that drive demand – population growth, increasing life expectancy,

growing disease burdens, and patients’ demands for treatment,” Minister Taddik said.

“Given the increasing demand for health services, private sectors should consider entering the health care market,” he added.

The BBOI is kicking off 2023 with a number of investments already lined-up for approval, targeting about P2 billion this year.

“We will continue to invite potential investors - local, national and international in the Bangsamoro region with our aims to boost our economy,” said newly appointed Board Member Datu Habib S. Ambolodto. EOF

P21-M agri-fishery aid given to farmers’ coop .. .from P2

Authority (CSEA).

“We are given the opportunity to showcase what these ministries can offer to our clients and beneficiaries through the ceremonial distribution of inputs, programs, grants, assistance, and services including CLOA Land Titles,” MAFAR Minister Mohammad Yacob said.

He stressed that BARMM is among the country’s top 5 fish producing regions.

The agri-fisheries inputs Rice Transplanter, Hand tractor, Rice Thresher, Corn Sheller, Hammer, Inbred Palay Seeds-Registered

Seed, insecticide and herbicides, Assorted vegetable seeds, and Foliar Fertilizers.

The office also distributed a total of 1,509 CLOA to provinces of Maguindanao (5 new lands), Basilan (684 new lands), Sulu (474 new lands), and Tawi-Tawi (311 new lands) with 3,316.8542 total number of hectares.

The record shows that a total of 1,474 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) received the new land titles.

Ito also provided loans to farmers’ cooperatives under

the Loans for Enhancement of Necessary Development Strategies (MAFARLENDS) of P100,000 each.

Yacob said MAFAR also Freezers to six cooperatives, fishing gears, tilapia fingerlings and other equipment to increase productivity of fisherfolks in the region.

Each of the 38 farmers’ cooperatives received a P150,000 financial assistance from MAFAR for their economic recovery and rehabilitation whose business operations have been severely affected by the pandemic and armed conflict. EOF

Deadly gunfights rock Maguindanao del Sur

TWO were killed while six others were hurt in separate gunfights in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte between late Tuesday and before dawn Wednesday.

Col. Querubin Manalang, director of the Cotabato City Police Office, told reporters Wednesday two members of the Moro National Liberation Front were killed while five others were hurt when men armed with assault rifles from Barangay Bitu in Datu Odin Sinsuat town attacked their village in Barangay Tamontaka 2 here early Wednesday, sparking a gunfight.

“Our personnel who went to the scene of the encounter to investigate found out that two MNLF members were killed while five more were wounded in the encounter,” Manalang said.

He said the group that attacked the MNLF’s enclave in Barangay

Rosary Heights 2 is led by a certain Sammy, who has enemies in the area.

Manalang declined to reveal the names of the MNLF fatalities and their wounded companions due to possible retaliations by relatives residing in Datu Odin Sinsuat against their attackers from the municipality once they would know.

Manalang said investigators are still trying to determine what precipitated the deadly gunfight in Barangay Tamontaka 2 that waned only after Sammy and his followers scampered away when they sensed that responding policemen were closing in.

The incident was preceded

by sporadic exchanges of gunfire that lasted for about two hours on Tuesday night between two heavily armed groups in Barangay Sapalan in Datu Odin Sinsuat, about 25 kilometers south of this city.

In a report to the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region Wednesday, the Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Police Station said a 65-year-old villager named Edna Pablo Urbano was wounded in the crossfire as the two groups, one led by Mohaimin Abas and the other by Eden Mantawil, traded shots.

Traditional Moro elders and local officials told reporters the duo are locked in a deep-seated political dispute. JFU

NEWSBRIEFS

Koronadal steps up drive vs. filariasis

THE epidemiology and surveillance unit of the City Health Office here, along with South Cotabato’s Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), has strengthened case-finding activities against filariasis to keep the disease from spreading in the area. Acting CHO chief, Dr. Vincent Ende, confirmed on Wednesday a case of lymphatic filariasis in one of the sitios in remote Barangay Assumption here.

The patient, who was not identified by local health authorities, was one of 38 individuals who underwent blood smearing as part of the IPHO’s outreach activity last week. PNA

257 BARMM-funded housing units ready for occupancy

THE Bangsamoro Government through the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development (MHSD) has turned over 257 housing units after a successful ceremonial handover from the latter's contractor.

Of the total units, 150 units under the Resettlement Project were distributed to Bangsamoro families of former combatants, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), informal settlers, and those poorest of the poor across the region.

Fifty of the units were built in Barangay Tubig Dakula, in Indanan, Sulu; 50 in Brgy. Townsite in Maluso, Basilan, and another 50 at Brgy. Buricain in Pigcawayan Cluster in Special Geographic Area (SGA).

BARMM capitol flaunts Moro ethnicity to rejoice diversity on 4th anniv

HONORING the flamboyant cultural diversity on its 4th founding anniversary, the Government of the Day is showcasing and raising the level of appreciation and awareness of the rich cultural heritage of Moro ethnic groups from the Provinces of Lanao Del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

Being held at the Bangsamoro Government Center (BGC) here in this city, participating ministries and offices officially opened on Monday, Jan. 23, the several cultural booths representing their ethnic groups.

Teacher dead, 2 minors hurt in MagSur attack

POLICE investigators are still clueless in Monday’s gun attack in Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao that hurt a Moro elementary school teacher and seriously hurt his son and nephew.

The Maguindanao Provincial Police Office, in a report to Brig. Gen. John Guyguyon of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, identified the fatality as Benjie Maon of the Mileb Elementary School in Radjah Buayan, Maguindanao del Sur. Maon, an ethnic Maguindanaon, died on the spot.

He and his 5-year-old son and a 7-year-old nephew were attacked by men armed with pistols in Sitio Nadal in Barangay Barurao in Sultan sa Barongis town in Maguindanao del Sur.

The two children sustained gunshot wounds in different parts of their bodies, now confined in a hospital.

Brig. Gen. John Guyguyon, director of the Police Regional OfficeBangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said Tuesday he has directed municipal police probers to enlist the help of local officials in

AUTHORITIES are guarding against possible rise in cases of vehicle theft after policemen gunned down a local terrorist who stole a motorcycle in Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat early this week.

The slain suspect, Zapale Omar, was a member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, according to police and Army intelligence units.

Personnel of the Esperanza Municipal Police Station, led by Major Samuel Domingo, tried to flag him down in Barangay Sagasa after he stole a motorcycle in the area but neutralized him instead when he pulled a gun and opened fire.

Omar got killed only about a week after religious leaders and traditional Moro elders in central Mindanao had told media outfits in the region about a plot by the BIFF to mobilize members to engage in cattle and vehicle theft to raise funds.

Major Gen. Roy Galido, now Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief who

identifying the killers of Maon.

Another Moro man, Ansari Salendab, was killed by pistolwielding men in Barangay Dapiawan in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town, also in Maguindanao del Sur, at past 5:00 p.m. the same day.

Lt. Melvin Laguting, Datu Saudi Ampatuan police chief, told reporters Tuesday Salendab, a resident of Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur, was buying something from a roadside store in Barangay Dapiawan when his attackers approached from behind and opened fire, killing him instantly. JFU

POLICE investigators and intelligence agents of units under the 6th Infantry Division are together in trying to solve last week’s murder here of a Moro barangay official, right on the eve of his wedding day.

The fatality, Kingdom Mangansakan, a Moro datu and a barangay councilor in Pikit town in Cotabato province, died on the spot from multiple bullet wounds.

He was attacked by men near the entrance to a function facility of the Alnor Commercial

Complex where he and a policewoman were to be wed in an Islamic rite.

He and companions were to set-up tarpaulins announcing the event when his attackers approached him and opened fire.

Col. Querubin

Manalang, director of the Cotabato City police, said probers have collected video recordings from security cameras of establishments in the periphery of the crime scene.

He said personnel of the city police are still trying to

In his message, delivered by Assistant Senior Minister Abdullah Cusain, BARMM Senior Minister Abdulraof Macacua stressed, "in a few days that we can dedicate to this joyous 4th commemoration of the historic decision to establish the Bangsamoro Region, let us bring to the fore the culture of the Bangsamoro.”

Financial aid released MILF ex-combatants

THE Office of the Chief Minister (OCM) launched on Monday, Jan 23, the SALAM or Strengthening Access to Livelihood Assistance for Marginalized Project for indigent Bangsamoro who are mostly combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Created by the OCM, Project SALAM is a special program aimed to uplift the living condition of 10,000 beneficiaries through the provision of Conditional Cash Transfer, Peace Education, Skills, and Community Development programs.

BARMM launches digital payout system

THE Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) formally launched the roadmap for the digitalization of payouts, on January 24, 2022, at the Al-Nor Convention Hall. This marks the first of its kind initiative in the region, called Financial Assistance System Transformation (FAST).

The launching was led by MSSD Minister Raissa H. Jajurie.

The FAST roadmap, spanning from 2023 to 2028, aims to digitalize the process of payouts for social services such as financial assistance, pensions, and other benefits.

LET THERE BE LIGHT. Beautiful and colorful lights (as seen from above) brighten Bangsamoro Government Center in Cotabato City as the region celebrates its 4th founding anniversary

Photo courtesy of BIO-BARMM

“vehicle theft plot” uncovered No clues yet on Mangansakan’s murder