More peace programs under new 6th ID chief

THE new commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, Major Gen. Alex Rellira has assured to sustain and even expand 6th ID’s peace programs aiming to secure the surrender of more violent religious extremists and members of the New People’s Army.

Rillera took over the 6th ID’s leadership from the now WestMinCom chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido in a turnover rite here Friday, January 27, officiated by Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner, Jr.

Galido was commander of the 6th ID from August 2022 until he took over WestMinCom’s highest post also last week.

Rillera told reporters he will sustain the peacebuilding projects of his predecessors, particularly in securing the surrender and reintroduction into mainstream society of New People’s Army guerillas and members of local terrorists groups inspired by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

“I’m confident the new division commander, Gen. Rillera, will do better than us, who led the 6th ID before him,” Galido said after the turnover of command.

Galido and Rillera had separately assured of their support, as 6th ID and WestMinCom commander, respectively, to the peace programs of the Bangsamoro government and Malacañang that aim to put diplomatic closure to the “Moro issue” hounding Mindanao since the 1970s.

Units of the 6th ID and local government officials in central Mindanao had, since 2017, secured the surrender in batches of more than 400 members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and its allies, the Dawlah Islamiya and the AlKhobar.

No fewer than 200 NPAs had also returned to the fold of law, through the intercession of the 6th ID and local executives, in the past 14 months. JFU

Kidapawan’s fruit plantations hit by fungus

KIDAPAWAN CITY — Vast fruit tree plantations in at least 26 of the 40 villages in this city have been hit by a fungus called algal spots disease, an agriculture expert confirmed Thursday.

Elpedio Gaspan, the city assistant agriculturist, disclosed that at least 900 hectares of fruit trees have been infected and can no longer bear fruits due to infestations that was earlier reported in 2019.

Gaspan said the infestation affected a total of 1,041 fruit growers and farmers. Most of the fruit trees plantations are already in a productive stages thus affecting the development of its fruits.

Hardest hit fruit varieties are lanzones, rambutan, mangosteen, mango, cacao and even oil palm plantations.

"Our office has documented at least 932 hectares of fruit trees that were damaged due to infestations," Gaspan said.

Gaspan said spots brought by fungus will cover the entire leaf preventing the process of photosynthesis to nourish the trees in order to produce good quality of fruits.

He recommended that a synchronized spraying of fungicide is necessary to prevent the spread further of the fungus.

However, he suggested to the fruit growers to use power spray or drone sprayers in treating the trees.

"This is to ensure that the fungicides can penetrate in every leaf of the tree to kill and prevent the spread of the disease,” Gaspan said.

He admitted that he was sad despite massive information campaign and dispersal of free fungicide only few farmers have availed of it.

"In fact out of more than a thousand farmers affected, only 26 of them availed our free fungicide to combat the disease," Gaspan said.

Mayor Jose Paolo Evangelista has ordered the city agriculture office to strengthen their information dissemination campaign and encourage farmers to avail of free fungicides.

More known as the "City of fruits and highland springs" due to abundance of fruits, the city council approved an ordinance for the conduct of annual fruit festival every August.

Due to the dwindling and scarcity of tropical fruits brought by the infestations, officials believed it could affect future fruit festival celebrations WM

MP Sinolinding seeks creation of Bangsamoro Popcom

A member of parliament in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is seeking to establish the Bangsamoro Commission on Population Management and Development (BCPD) to ensure an improve mechanism in the implementation of the Philippine population management program in the region.

On Wednesday, MP Sinolinding, an eye doctor, said he filed the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Bill No. 110 or the proposed Bangsamoro Commission on Population and Development Act of 2022, “seeking to create an enabling environment for people to achieve their development goals through a wellmanaged population.”

Sinolinding said a well-managed population is one that realizes population processes and outputs that are consistent, complementary, and facilitative to the region’s socioeconomic and human development.

Under the proposal, the proposed BCPD which will be under or attached agency of the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), will be in charge of recommending, planning, coordinating, executing, and monitoring population management and development policies and programs in the Bangsamoro region. The commission will have the same structure as that of the Population Commission (PopCom), supervised by the National Economic and Development Authority, for efficient mechanisms from the national to the local level.

Once enacted into law, the BCPD office will also create the Population Management and Development Program (PMDP), in the context of human rights, gender equality, and existing cultural norms and religious convictions of the people, to ensure sustainable human and socio-economic development and better health outcomes in the region.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) 2020 Census Population and Housing results, BARMM recorded 4.4 million population, a 3.26 percent increase from 2.89 percent in 2015. EOF

BARMM releases P21-M to Mercury Drug for indigent patients

INDIGENT patients in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) can now avail of free medical assistance from the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) through Mercury Drug pharmacies, officials said today.

This after MSSD Minister Atty. Raissa Jajurie issued a P21 million worth of checks to Mr. Daniel Ulep, Mercury Drug Cotabato branch manager to efficiently provide medical services for indigent patients in need.

It was held at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex inside BARMM government center on Jan. 26 as the region celebrates its 4th founding anniversary.

Patients holding referral from MSSD can withdraw medicine from Mercury Drug Pharmacy branches in in Cotabato City, Tacurong City, Iligan City, Zamboanga

OFFICIALS were elated with how the 4th founding anniversary celebration of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) went, grateful to all sectors that supported the activities during the weeklong event.

BARMM Senior Minister Abdulrauf Macacua said Thursday he is grateful to the police and the military for ensuring the safety of the BARMM capitol as the 4th regional merrymaking proceeded.

“For that we are thankful to the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and the 6th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army,” Macacua said.

Transportation and Communication Minister Paisalin Tago told reporters he was elated with how employees of agencies under

– City, Midsayap and Kabacan branches, both in North Cotabato.

Minister Jajurie said the amount aims to enhance the delivery of MSSD’s Bangsamoro Critical Assistance for Indigents in Response to Emergency Situations (B-CARES) Program for indigent patients to immediately receive the medicines they urgently need.

Jajurie said patients or their authorized representavtives will be interviewed and assessed by social workers to determine if they qualify as beneficiaries of the program.

"Once deemed qualified, a guaranty letter will be issued, they can proceed to Mercury Drug to get the medicine," Jajurie said.

She added that patients seeking assistance may go to MSSD’s office and present the prescription of the medicines, him participated in all of the activities during the celebration of BARMM’s 4th founding anniversary.

“There was enormous zeal, utmost enthusiasm among them,” Tago said.

The BARMM was established in early 2019, after residents in its proposed core territory then --- the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan and Marawi --- voted for the ratification of its charter, the Republic Act 11054.

The creation of BARMM was premised on two compacts between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the 2012 Framework on Bangsamoro and the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on which includes the date of issuance of the prescription, complete name, and the PRC license number and signature of the attending physician.

"Through this, the indigent patients or a representative will no longer go through tedious process of seeking assistance from BARMM,” Jajurie added. “We have no program like this in the past, so indigent Bangsamoro are luckier now.”

Mercury Ulep lauded MSSD BARMM for choosing Mercury Drug company as partner in providing fast, right and adequate health services for the indigents.

"Hopefully, this program will continue to help make life easy for indigents, especially those in need of immediate medication,” Ulep said. “Mercury Drug is a happy and efficient MSSD partner.” EOF

Bangsamoro, replacing the less empowered Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“The creation of BARMM was not an easy process. It is, thus, fitting to commemorate its creation every January,” BARMM’s Deputy

Senior Minister Abdullah Cusain said.

Cusain said he and Macacua are also grateful to the provincial and city officials in all of BARMM component provinces and cities for their presence in some of the important events at the regional capitol.

Regional spokesperson Naguib Sinarimbo, who is BARMM’s local government minister, said the seven day 4th regional anniversary celebration was a showcase of what the still infant Bangsamoro government had accomplished in 48 months and what it aims to do in years to come in terms of governance and in furthering the Mindanao peace process.

Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr., who was special guest to an event facilitated by Sinarimbo’s office during the anniversary feast, had said in a message that he was impressed with how far the Bangsamoro government had gone in strengthening governance in its territory, in the context of autonomy based in RA 11054.

The celebration was capped off with presentations that showed the religious and cultural solidarity among BARMM residents, according to Brig Gen. John Guyguyon, director of the regional police.

“That for me is so important because I belong to an indigenous community in Luzon,” he said. JFU

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

SPECIAL PROCEEDING CASE NO. 2022-1575

IN THE MATTER OF PETITION FOR CORRECTION OF ENTRIES IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF DESIREE ANDOL MAÑARA UNDER LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRY NO. 97-70,

DESIREE MAÑARA NERI, Petitioner, -versusTHE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF COTABATO CITY, FLORANTE NERI, JESUSIMA M. NERI AND DJENABA MAÑARA NERI, Respondents, x--------------------------------------x

ORDER A verified petition has been filed with this Court by the Petitioner through counsel, praying that after due notice, publication and hearing, an Order be issued directing the Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Cotabato City to correct the Certificate of Live Birth of DESIRRE MAÑARA NERI under Local Civil Registry No. 97-70. Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, it is hereby ordered that the said petition be set for hearing before this Court on March 7, 2023 at 1:30 in the afternoon, at which place, date and time, all interested parties are required to appear and show cause, if they have any, why the petition should not be granted.

WHEREFORE, let this Order be published in a newspaper accredited, 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 and at the expense of the petitioner.

SO ORDERED.

GIVEN this 30th of January, 2023 at Cotabato City, Philippines.

(Sgd.) ANNABELLE D. P. PIANG Acting Presiding Judge

MC: Feb. 4, 11 & 18, 2023

Notice Of Loss

Collection Receipt Series

CR E# 15494-15500 of Visayas Ram Cycles, Inc (RUSI) under the custodianship of Lorben Jay C. Montejo, resident of Salimbao, Sultan Kudarat are no longer found and deemed lost, therefore, null and void effective immediately.

Visayas Ram Cycles, Inc. will no longer honor any transaction involving any of the aforementioned series of receipts.

MC: Feb. 4, 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

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

0909-265-9677

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

Extrajudicial Settlement

Notice is hereby given that the late LUISA ASUNCION BUENO, who died intestate on January 20, 2023 in Midsayap, Cotabato, left a bank deposits at Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Midsayap Branch under Savings Account No. 0133-0024-78 is subject of extrajudicial settlement with waiver of rights with deed of indemnity before Notary Public Renie Jay Abad Soriano as per Doc. No. 481; Pahe No. 97; Book No. XXXVII; Series of 2023. MC: Feb. 4, 11 & 18, 2023

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

In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. No. 10172, a notice is hereby served to the public that Leah C. Cajutol has filed with this office, a petition for change of sex from Female to Male in the birth certificate of Arly Cantallopez Cajutol who was born on 18 July 2006 at Pentil, Aleosan, Cotabato and whose parents are Arnel C. Cajutol and Leah O. Cantallopez. Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this office not later than 6 February 2023.

(Sgd.) MARILOU G. NANLABI Municipal Civil Registrar

MC: Feb. 4 & 11, 2023

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

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

Shaping Public Policy for Peace and Good Governance

The Institute for Autonomy and Governance congratulates the Mindanao Cross on its 75th foundation anniversary. For more than seven (7) decades, Mindanao Cross has not only reported the developments and upheavals in Mindanao. It has, more importantly, helped shape perceptions and public policies towards a just, humane and open society as envisioned by its founder, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The call for a peaceful, caring, and prosperous Mindanao made 75 years ago by the founding fathers of Mindanao Cross rings true today.

Today, our quest for sustainable peace and development is facing many challenges. Intolerance, bigotry and dominance of self-interests over the common good threaten our communities which long for a peaceful and prosperous life. For good or bad, social media is the main source of fast but not always reliable and credible information and analysis of news and developments. Mindanao Cross has reinvented itself not only as broadsheet but also gaining a significant presence in social media. The “little paper with a big cause” may have joined the bandwagon along the modern technological highway, but the vision laid down for the newspaper 75 years ago rings strong today.

IAG shares Mindanao Cross’ vision and mission and will continue to be its partner in insuring that our society is open, democratic and tolerant of differences. With Mindanao Cross, we will help facilitate that citizens receive accurate and credible information so that they can make informed and evidence-based decision on their choice of leaders and issues that directly affect them.

Atty. Benedicto Bacani Executive Director, IAG