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DECEMBER 4, 2012 VOL. XX No. 44

Erstwhile enemy forcesmeet in “silent guns”

Dubbed “GrandKanduli for Peace,” armedmembers from both sides ofthe erstwhile adversaryforces were seen sharingfriendly exchanges,anywhere from combatexperiences and lives topeace in their midst,according to volunteers forn o n - g o v e r n m e n torganizations documentingthe event.

MILF first vice-chairGhazzali Jaafar, who wasguest speaker, said“kanduli,”Maguindanaonfor “charity and gooddeeds,” is of old Morotradition that should bepreserved as part ofindigenous mechanism inmaintaining peace.

As part of the ceasefireagreement, members of theMILF-TFI are allowed tocarry their firearms. But theshow of high-poweredweapons in Tuesday’sgathering was guided by

SHARIF AGUAK, Maguindanao—With their gunsliterally set on silent mode, armed combatants met herefor the first time, outside the bloody perimeters ofbattlegrounds, and government security forces minglingwith members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s TaskForce Ittihad (peace keeping force) were visibly happy,as they converged here Tuesday.

the Islamic “discipline ofsheer moderation” and inthe tutelage of theInternational MoinitoringTeam (IMT), said TonyMaldisa, a member of theBatch 300 of Moros whofirst trained in Sabah in theearly 70s.

Police estimated thecrowd at around 2,000individuals at its peak, andunder scorching noon sunpeople listened to avernacular explanation onthe Framework Agreementby Dr. Benjamin Domato, amember of the MILF peacepanel and chair of itscommittee on wealth-sharing of the peaceprocess.

The MILF had alsohosted a similar peaceconsultation among Moroleaders last July 6-9 in theirmain stronghold CampDarapanan in SultanKudarat town in

ERSTWHILE/P3

Peace envoy and fashion designerArnold Galang commits to design bags

for women weavers in MaguindanaoRenowned fashion

designer Arnold Galangsaid he has committed tocreate designs of traditionalMaguindanaoan bags,made of materials fromwater lilies, for local womenweavers during animmersion trip as a peaceambassador in the conflict-

affected towns of Gen.Salipada K. Pendatun (SKPendatun) and Datu OdinSinsuat in Maguindanaoprovince.

“It was unexpectedbecause it is a bigresponsibility to give suchcommitment. But when yousee the women and the

weaving centers they workin, it is impossible not tovoluntarily share what youhave,” he said.

“What I committedanyway is just what I doevery day, what I love doing– and that is designing,”added the RTW designer

PEACE/P3

Comelec ARMM delistsdisqualified voter-applicants

COTABATO CITY- TheCommission on Electionsin the AutonomousRegion in MuslimMindanao (ARMM) hasdeleted a total of 280,077applicants from theregion’s voters’ list dueto multiple registrationand being minors, aregional poll official said.

Lawyer ReySumalipao, regionalelection director for theARMM, said the Comelechas conducted severalelection registrationboard hearings fromNov. 26 to 30 todetermine qualified anddisqualified voter-

applicants.“It was found out by

the ERB that there were250,773 double ormultiple registrants and29,304 minor applicantsor a total of 280,077disqualified applicants,”Sumalipao said in a radiointerview Monday.

The poll body hasconducted a generalregistration of voters lastJuly 9 to 18 as part ofelectoral reforms in theregion.

ARMM, composed ofthe provinces ofMaguindanao, Lanao delSur, Basilan, Sulu andTawi-Tawi, has been

known to be the cheatingcapital in the country’selectoral processes.

Sumalipao said duringthe five-day general listup, 1,574,294 have showedup and applied to becomeregistered voters, many ofthem were suspected to beminors and multipleapplicants.

With the help ofAutomated FingerprintingIdentification System(AFIS) of the Comelec,280,077 applicants werefound to be disqualified tovote in next year’s mid-term elections.

Sumalipao said theCOMELEC/P3

VALUED CHARMS - An old Bl’aan woman show of her valued items for sale which she herself takes pride of the native products which tourists and othervisitors alike purchased and takes as souvenirs when visiting tourists’ spots in the province of Sarangani and South Cotabato where most of this ethnicgroup resides. (Mark Navales/MBA)

Women’s Rural Improvement Club chair Sarika Pendatun (left) and Galang (middle) discuss ways on how toimprove water hyacinth products which include bags, wallets, hats, slippers, folders and decorative accessories.(Contibuted Photo)

 founding

SEPTEMBER 21,SEPTEMBER 21,SEPTEMBER 21,SEPTEMBER 21,SEPTEMBER 21,2 NEWS DECEMBER 4, 2012

Hindi ako mandaraya atlalong hindi mandarayaang lahi natin (I am nota cheat much more ourrace),” he stressed.“That is why I am againdedicating this fight toour country and ourcountrymen. Just tellthem I won’t disappointthem this time.”

For the past six orseven weeks, Pacquiaosaid he has beenworking sweat andblood for the Dec. 8 fight(Dec. 9 in Manila)“because I know I haveto prove something notonly for myself but alsofor them (Filipinos).”

“Reports are thathe’s also preparing hardto prove that he reallybeat me three times. Hewas also quoted assaying he’ll be fightingaggressively this time.Well and good becausethat means he’ll be goingafter me,” Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao said he andMarquez both want towin by a knockout.

PAQUIAO...

The VAW Hotline projectaims at encouraging womenwho are suffering from anyform of violence and abusesin every part of the region toreport to authorities theircases through these hotlines.

According to ARMMregional vice-governor andconcurrent social welfaresecretary,Hja. Bainon Karonthat while some of these VAWcases are documented, a lotremain unreported, anoffshoot of the so calledculture of silence.

RCBW RCBW RCBW RCBW RCBW intensifiesintensifiesintensifiesintensifiesintensifies campaign; campaign; campaign; campaign; campaign;launched Vlaunched Vlaunched Vlaunched Vlaunched VAAAAAW Hotline in BuluanW Hotline in BuluanW Hotline in BuluanW Hotline in BuluanW Hotline in Buluan

 Karon said physicalviolence is widespread inthe region and oftentimescaused the untimely deathof its victims.

 ”The 18-day campaignto end violence againstwomen (VAW) started lastNovember 25, calling forthe elimination of all formsof violence and abusest h r o u g h   h e i g h t e n e dawareness on gender-based violence.” saidR C B W - A R M MChairperson Helen Roxas-

Balawag.With the theme “VAW-

Free society in times of peace,conflict and calamity” theactivity aims to raisec o n s c i o u s n e s swithin national governmentagencies, local governmentunits, and the general publicabout gender-based issues incrisis situations.

Regional LegislativeAssembly (RLA) womensectoral representativeSamira Gutoc stressed thatthis year’s theme is relevant

to ARMM because theregion has gone throughseries of natural and man-made calamities.

Most recent of which arethe Bangsamoro IslamicFreedom Fighters (BIFF)and government troopsconfrontations and theinfamous MaguindanaoMassacre in 2009.

Gutoc, a renownedwomen’s rights defender,stressed that womenempowerment had beenreinforced with her

appointment to representthe voice of the women inthe RLA.

“Bilang kinatawan nyo,asahan po ninyo,paghuhusayan natin angpagsulong ng mgakarapatan at pagsugpo salahat ng uri ng abuso atkarahasan sa tulong atpakikiisa ng RCBW at ibapang ahensiya ngpamahalaan.” Gutocdeclared.

Apparently, in a recentstatistical data released by

the Women and ChildrenProtection Center of the Phil.National Police, analarming record showsreported data of 9,693 VAWcases for the entire countryfrom January to July 2012with 9,974 casesinfringement on RA 9262 orthe Anti-VAWC Law.

The VAW hotlinen u m b e r sare 09094848613 for Talk &T e x t ,   0 9 3 5 3 0 6 2 5 1 7   f o rTouch Mobile subscribersand 421-9492 for land line.(armmcommgroup)

Buluan, Maguindanao – In line with the observance of the 18-Day international campaign to end violence against women, the Autonomous Regional Government through itsRegional Commission on Bangsamoro Women (RCBW) launched here yesterday, November 26 the Violence Against Women (VAW) Hotlines.

“And that is what we,members of my trainingstaff and myself, havebeen working hard for,and I believe I have morechance of doing thatbased on our records,” hesaid.

Pacquiao said he sentMarquez to the canvasthree times during theirfirst encounter and oncein the second fight.

“I failed to knock himdown in the third fightbut I proved to havelanded the most punches,including the hard ones,”he reminisced. “My pointis, having sent him downfour times, I believe I amcapable of finishing himoff.”

Pacquiao saidM a r q u e z ’pronouncements do nothold water and is noteven backed up by anyknockdown in theirprevious fights.

“Let’s just see comesSaturday,” Pacquiao said.From what I know, I willremain the man standingafter the fight,” Pacquaiosaid. (PNA)

ARMM acquires heavyequipment for road projects

Cotabato City – TheAutonomous Region inMuslim Mindanao(ARMM) has acquired thisweek a set of heavyequipment and surveyinstruments to helpaccelerate variousinfrastructure and roadprojects in the region.

The equipment,amounting to a total ofaround P41-million,include a single drumvibratory compactor, amotor grader and a wheelloader and a set roadconditioning and surveyinstruments. The roadconditioning instrumentswere donated by theJapan InternationalCooperation Agency(JICA).

During Tuesday’sceremonial turnover, EmilSadain, secretary ofARMM’s Department ofPublic Works andHighways, said theequipment will help speed

up ongoing road projectsand maintenance in partsof Maguindanao andLanao del Sur.

Sadain said they haveexercised appropriatemeasure to ensuretransparency andaccountability in theprocurement process.

“We like to ensurethat government funds,down to the last centavo,are accounted for,” hesaid. 

ARMM CabinetSecretary KhalMambuay-Campong saidthat “gone are the dayswhen equipment areprocured and deliveredonly in paper.”

“We go to greatextent to continue topurge the ARMM ofghosts and implementvital projects. We knowthese equipment willhelp expeditegovernment projects inthe region,” she said.

Campong laudedJICA for its continuingsupport to the ARMM.

Recent administrativereforms have producedsavings for DPWH-ARMM, according toSadain. However, headmitted that the agencystill lacks sufficientfunding to supportnecessary projects acrossthe region.

“We recompense ourlack of funding byexercising fiscalprudence,” Sadain said.

For his part, SinichiMasuda, JICA seniorr e p r e s e n t a t i v eacknowledged theaccomplishment of theDPWH aligned with theregional reform agenda ofthe Hatamana d m i n i s t r a t i o n ,commends cooperationwhile declaring continuedstrengthening on futurep a r t n e r s h i p .(armmcommgroup)

Seminar-workshop for LGU staff and CSOs organized by Social Watch Philippines in partnership with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Civil Service Commission (CSC),endorsed by Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), aims to capacitate both LGUs and civil society organizations (CSOs) to better understand the processes and intricacies oflocal public finance. ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman took part in the event and provided insights on the importance of local public finance in local governance and what needs to be done.“I encourage civil society organizations to participate in the formulation of policies, programs and projects for local development. (armmcommgroup)

2 die, 3hurt when

Morowarring

clans clashin Pikit

PIKIT, North Cotabato -Two persons were killedand three were woundedwhen firefight between twoMuslim clans erupted ininterior villages of this townSunday, police said.

Peaceful efforts areunderway to settle themisunderstanding whichpolice described as “rido”(family feud).

Senior Insp. EliasDandan, police chief of Pikittown in North Cotabato,said efforts are underway tosettle the dispute peacefully.

“It was a long timedispute over politicalboundaries betweenfamilies in Langayen andDungguan, both in Pikit,”Dandan said.

Col. Prudencio Asto,spokesperson of the 6thInfantry “Kampilan”Division, said involved inthe dispute wereCommander Kuyo of theMoro Islamic LiberationFront (MILF) 105th BaseCommand and Tayuanfamily.

He identified thewounded as Kanapia Musa,42, Eric Pasandalan, 19 andKamir Pasandalan, 23, allfollowers of CommanderKuyo. The two fatalitiesfrom the side of Tayuanfamily remainedunidentified.

Asto said on Sundaydawn, followers ofCommander Kuyo harassedthe village of Langayenwhere the Tayuan familyresides.

The Tayuan familyretaliated and engaged theattackers in a two-hourfirefight that left two killedon Tayuan side.

Asto said the conflictwas triggered by the killinglast month of CommanderKuyo’s younger brotherwhom the MILF field officialblamed on the Tayuanfamily.

Dandan and Asto saidboth sides are claimingownership of a large patchof lands in the borders ofBarangays Dungguan andLangayen.

Dandan said the localgovernment of Pikit has seta settlement meetingbetween warring groupswho both expressedwillingness to show up toend bloodshed.

At least 30 families whoare related to the warringgroups have fled to safergrounds. (PNA)

PEOPLE AND EVENTSCLASSIFIED ADS 3DECEMBER 4, 2012

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITHSIMULTANEOUS WAIVER OF RIGHTS AND

ATTORNEY-IN-FACT

Extra-judicial settlement of estate with simultaneous waiverof rights and attorney-in-fact made and entered into by andbetween Datu Alonto M. Sultan, Makanauya M. Sultan,Datuhasim G. Sultan, Fahad K. Sultan, Zainudin Sultan, DatunaSultan, Kamut Sultan and Dengadeng S. Dilangalen that partieshereto are the surviving and intestate heirs to the lateMANUKOB LUMANTAG and MORA PUTI who died intestateor without a will on December 6, 1965 and September 4, 1964,respectively both in New Panay, Aleosan Cotabato and thatlate MANUKOB LUMANTAG is the registered owner of a parcelof land covered by ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE of Title No. RO-315 (NA) and more particularly described in LOT 2766, PSD103344 and the Lots covered by OCT No. RO 315(NA) are LotNos. 2766-A with an area of 72,944 square meters ; 2766 -D withan area of 15, 291 square meters ; 2766-E with an area of 542square meters and 2766-H with an area of 9,004 square meterslocated in Libungan, Cotabato has been the subject of ExtraJudicial Settlement, before Notary Public Atty. Abdul Hafiz TanAdil, Jr. entered into his Notarial Registry as Doc. No. 195, PageNo. 39; Book No. VII, Series of 2012.

KOTEX Issues November 20, 27 and December 4, 2012

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINESREGIONAL TRIAL COURT

12TH judicial RegionCotabato City

Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135, asamended, filed by PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK, Cotabato Branch,Cotabato City, Mortgagee, against HRS. OF SPS. PERLITO L.CAPUNDAG AND ROWENA T. CAPUNDAG; PAUL CHRISTOPHERT. CAPUNDAG AND RICHELLE JOY T. CAPUNDAG, both of legalage, Filipinos and a residents of Cor. Ramon Rabago Ave., and SolidadSousa St., Rosary Heights, Cotabato City, c/o Atonli Marketing NationalHighway, Midsayap, North Cotabato and 49 Mac Arthur Highway,Bangkal, Talomo, Davao City; and SPS. AGUSTIN L. MACION ANDAIDA TINGCANG MACION, both of legal age, Filipinos and a residentof Notre Dame Ave., Cotabato City or No. 3 Dona Theresa St., ViloSubd., Poblacion 4, Cotabato City, Mortagagors to satisfy the mortgageeindebtedness which as of October 15, 2012 amounts to TWO MILLIONTWO HUNDRED NINETY THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED FORTYSEVEN AND 02/100 (Php 2,290,547.02), Philippine Currency,excluding daily interest thereon, penalties, charges, attorney’s fees andexpenses of foreclosure the undersigned or his duly authorized Sheriffwill sell at public auction on JANUARY 3, 2013 at 10:00 o’clock in themorning at the main entrance/lobby of the Regional Trial Court Bldg.,Office of the Clerk of Court, ORC Compound, Cotabato City to highestbidder for CASH and in Philippine Currency, the following properties,together with all existing improvements thereon to wit:

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-36086COTABATO CITY

“A parcel of land (Lot 7, Block 8 of the subdivision plan (LRC)Psd-86511,being a portion of Lot 1, described on plan (LRC) Psd-83715, LRC (GLRO) Cad. Record No. 296), situated in the Barrio ofMalagapas, City of Cotabato, Island of Mindanao. Containing an area ofSIX HUNDRED (600) SQUARE METERS, more or less.”

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-21773CITY OF COTABATO

A parcel of land (Lot 4, Block 7-D-4 of the subdivision plan(LRC) Psd-5549, being a portion of Lot 2, Block 7-D, described on plan(LRC) Psd-4063, LRC (GLRO) Cad. Record No. 296, situated in theBarrio of Parang Road, Municipality of Cotabato, Province of Cotabato,Island of Mindanao. Containing an area of THREE HUNDRED TWENTYONE (321) SQUARE METERS, more or less.”

Prospective bidder or buyers are hereby enjoined toinvestigate for themselves the title of the properties and encumbrancesthereon, if any there be.

Cotabato City, Philippines, November 28, 2012.

ATTY. JANIS ROHANIAH G. DUMAMA-KADATUANClerk of Court VI

Ex-Oficio Provincial Sheriff

IBRAHIM T. BINASINGSheriff IV

Maguindanao. The oneheld here, however,became the first face-to-face meeting ofcombatants fromopposing forces foramong lowly members ofthe Philippine militaryand the BangsamoroArmed Forces (BIAF),outside war zones.

Police officerFernando Gumandel saidhe was surprised to meetand talked with an armedMILF member who spokeIlocano, and is from LaUnion.

There were no onstagetalks about politics, andonly three politicians werenominated to speak onspecific topics—M a g u i n d a n a oRepresentative SimeonDatumanong, a formerjustice secretary, talkedmainly on governanceand the history of thepeace talks; SultanKudarat Mayor TocaoMastura, CPA, onMaguindanao’s historic

10th of the first lunar monthof the Hijrah Calendar.Barangay ChairmanZamzamin Ampatuan ofRajah Buayan said the daymarks the martyrdom ofAmir Hussein, the grandsonof the Prophet Muhammad,and 30 of his companions ina massacre in Kufa (now partof Iraq) by the UmayyadDynasty in the 30th year ofthe lunar Hijrah calendar(632 AD).

Chairman Ampatuansaid residents of the townalso voluntarily submitted tobloodletting for blooddonation.

He said the bloodlettingactivity is hoped to”reorientlives in a perennially violentenviron,” such that “whenblood is not wasted and isinstead used to help save andextend lives, it becomes aworthy contribution tohumankind.” He saidhaving been a victim ofviolence himself, he has beeninto such activities involvingvoluntary blood donationsince his student years. NBM

peace treaties with othernations. The third wasMayor Zahara Ampatuan,explaining her town’s rolein hosting of the first face-to-face meeting ofgovernment and MILFforces— with members ofboth sides sporting theirfirearms—after the signingof the FrameworkAgreement on theBangsamoro.

She said since thegathering’s theme wassupposed to be apolitical,she never talked onstageabout the Maguindanaomassacre for which at leastthree members of herimmediate family havebeen detained and arefacing trial.

Annie Datumanong, apeace and human rightsactivist, said it wasinspiring to see forces fromthe opposite sides of along-standing conflict,now sitting together, sharestories with each other, andeven partook of foodsserved in the traditionalformat of a kanduli.

Major-General Cesar

Ronnie Ordoyo,commander of the 6thArmyInfantry Division inMaguindanao, assured that“the continuing search forpeace”by both parties andother stakeholders had thefull backing of the militaryunder him. His predecessor,Major-General Rey Ardo,now chief of the WesternMindanao Command, senta similar message to theconverging forces and peacegroups.

Jaafar also appealed toMuslim families locked inrido (violent clashes) to endtheir conflict, saying evenpoliticians in the comingMay elections shouldrefrain from engaging intopolitical mudslinging.

Bobby Benito, director ofthe Bangsamoro Center forPeace and Justice said manyfrom among the crowd hadexpressed hopes thatpeople would then bepeacefully carrying theirharvests to the market,instead of injured personsor fatalities of wars.

November 27, Tuesday,also corresponds to the

ERSTWHILE

who is among the peaceambassadors recentlyenlisted by the Office of thePresidential Adviser on thePeace Process (OPAPP).

Galang was welcomedin Maguindanao bymembers of the Women’sRural Improvement ClubCooperative in BarangayPoblacion in SK Pendatun.The women, who arewidows of fallen Mororebels, have been weavingbags from water liliesharvested from the nearbyLiguasan Marsh to supporttheir families.

Their livelihood projectis being supported by thegovernment’s Payapa atMasaganang Pamayanan(Peaceful and ResilientCommunities) program.

This municipality usedto be a hotbed of Moroinsurgency. In 2008, theoutbreak of armedhostilities after the failedsigning of theMemorandum ofAgreement on AncestralDomain between thegovernment and the MoroIslamic Liberation Front(MILF) displacedhundreds of thousands offamilies from their homes.

Galang told theweavers that he hadpreviously ordered bags asgiveaway at this year’sPhilippine Fashion Week.“People were asking wherethey can get your bags.Unfortunately I didn’tknow where to find you.But now that I’m here, I willhelp you improve your bagsand find a market.”

Sarika Pendatun, chairof the women’s group,demonstrated theproduction process fromharvest to bag-making anddiscussed with Galangfuture projects that theycan run together.

Galang also visited theAl Jamelah Organizationthat produces traditionalinaul garments inBarangay Tamontaka,Datu Odin Sinsuat.“Inaul” is the

Maguindanaoan way ofweaving of intricatelydetailed table cloths, tablerunners, and malong.

The organization’spresident, AlbayaWampa(aka Bai Albi), recalled howtheir area used to be a warzone at the height of MoroNational Liberation Front(MNLF) insurgency.

“I organized thewomen here so that theywill have livelihood. Theyare mostly unmarriedwomen or wives of MNLFmembers,” she said. BaiAlbi also welcomedrecommendations fromGalang on how tocommercialize inaul andrevive the industry.

Peace as personalmission

Galang said he will“definitely go back inMindanao.”

“If I had just relied onhearsays about Mindanao,I wouldn’t have givenmyself the chance todiscover the people andbeauty here. There is moreto Mindanao than the badthings that we hear,” headded.

He also commended thewomen who lead theorganization andlivelihood projects. “They

are the real heroes,” he said.As a designer and peace

ambassador, he hopes thatwhatever help he can givethe weavers “will showwhat the Philippines cando.”

“I also want to relay toother people that we canmake the country a betterplace by starting withmaking peace withourselves and with otherpeople,” Galang said.

Galang also met withyoung designers in Buluanwhom he promised tosponsor in the nextPhilippine Fashion Week.

Arnold Galang is arenowned designer who hasbeen in the fashion industry formore than 20 years. He workedas a designer for fashion lines,such as Bobby Novenario,Bench, Oxygen, BumEquipment and Calypso, toname a few.  He is currently theVice President forMerchandising for BlutabJeans and the CreativeConsultant/Merchandising forSakaya Ladies wear. Further,he is an outright supplier forSM ladies wear, girls teenswear and boys teens wear. Hecurrently operates the A.Galang line at the SM ladieswear boutique department.

PEACE...

names of qualifiedregistered voters willbe posted in themunicipal electionoffices regionwidestarting on Jan. 13. (PNA)

COMELEC...

during evacuation and theDepartment of SocialWelfare and Developmentto prepare food packs andready-to-eat food.

Malang also directedthe Department ofEducation to makeannouncement ofsuspension of classesearly to avoid childrenfrom going to school onlyto find out classes weresuspended.

Towns closelywatched by the RDRRMCare the towns of SultanKudarat, Sultan Mastura,Pagalungan, DatuMontawal, Sultan saBarongis, MotherKabuntalan, NorthernKabuntalan, Paglat,Salipada K. Pendatun,Raja Buayan, Datu Piang,Buluan, Datu Paglas,Talitay, Datu Saudi,Mamasapano and ShariffSaidona, all inMaguindanao. (PNA)

ARMM...

was attended by over 3, 000elders,” Hernandez said in abrief huddle with newsmen.  

She said the ceremonialdistribution was officiallyopened by Philhealthrepresentatives andConstantino, together withJinky Pacquiao who came inbehalf of the congressman,before the presence of elderswho participated the latelyheld  activity of the MHOdubbed as “KalusugangPangkalahatan: Lolo at Lola... Pangalagaan” at themunicipal gymnasium, here.

Speaking in behalf ofPacquiao, Jinky reportedlysaid the Congressman havealso assured to assist thefunding of Philhealth cards tosenior citizens who areusually caught by sicknessdue to old age.  

“I am certain that ourbeloved Congressman isalways very willing to encloseyou with such kind of benefitsdahil alam ko na talagangkailangan nyo po ito,” saidJinky in a vernacular, as shethen lead the distributionof  complimentary Pacmanbags, umbrellas and t-shirts tothe delightful elders.   

In his speech, Constantinosaid aside from making

Malungon a leader ofdevelopment inSarangani, he is doing hisbest for the stabilization ofhealth, education andother priority projects ofthe government in a bid touplift the living conditionof his people before histerm of office ends in 2013.

“Despite of all myshortcomings in theyounger years, I amcertain that I have donemy best in uplifting ourtown into what it is today.Once again, as I extendmy most humble apologyto you my beloved elders,I would like to assureeveryone (parents) of afirmer, capable andtrustworthy kind ofgovernance ... evenbeyond the scheduledmidterm May elections,”Constantino added.(Isagani Palma)

ELDERS...Small oil player

Eastern PetroleumPhilippines will alsoslash at past midnightP0.60 per liter onunleaded and premiumas well as P0.40 per literon kerosene but no pricerollback in their dieselproducts.

Other oil playershave yet to announce arollback as of press time.

Local oil companiesrecently enforced a back-to-back price hikes,resulting in accumulatedincreases worth P1.75per liter for premium,P0.70 per liter for bothdiesel and regular andP0.75 for kerosene.

But these recent pricehikes would be temperedby the price cutsTuesday, thus resultingin slightly loweredaverage retail prices —P53 for premium, P42for diesel and P53 forkerosene. (PNA)

BIG...

 founding

2

Chief Photographer

Layout Artist

Marzawan Avelino B. Acoymo Jr.

KOTA WATO EXPRESSPublished, edited and circulated every Monday in Cotabato City, Provinces of the Autonomous Region in MuslimMindanao (ARMM) and Central Mindanao (Region XII). Editorial and Business Office located at H-4 IsodoreStreet, Block 9, Notre Dame Village, Barangay Rosary Heights 8, Cotabato City. Entered as Second Class Mailat the Cotabato City Post Office. Telefax No. (064) 421-1670, e-mail address: vel_kotex11@yahoo.com

Mhohiden B. AcoymoChief Editor

Bayog B. AcoymoPublisher

ColumnistATTY. JESUS "JESS" DUREZA

Iskak L. PaguitalShamera B. AcoymoAtty. Rudy M. ChungDr. Lulu Marquez, MD

Bruce MatabalaoPrincess Joy M. Maulana

Rudy AprostaOmar Magoorsi

Marlon Peter DedumoAssociate Editor

Circulation in-ChargeRogelio A. Santander

Rhazol Acoymo

Avelino "Vel" M. AcoymoFounding Publisher

Ramadin Uday

Cartoonist

Geonarri Solmerano (Kidapawan City)

Isagani Palma (General Santos City and

Sarangani)

Jeoffrey Maitem (Koronadal City)

Nasser Felix Cambal(North Cotabato)

Dennis Arcon (Maguindanao)

Mindanao Bureaus Mark Navales

AdvocacyMindaNOW

AdvocacyMindaNOW

Atty. Jesus "Jess" G. Dureza

EDITORIALEDITORIAL

Marketing Consultant

Rowella Berja Dayawan

Mike Suan

Contributors

OPINION4 DECEMBER 4, 2012

By the way things are going, there are no moreimpediments to the plan of establishing a veritableautonomous Bangsamoro land conceptualized in theFramework Agreement that was agreed and signed byand between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and thegovernment under the administration of Pres. BenignoAquino III. The guiding principles are popularly hailedby several fronts and the sentiments of hope for theeventual settlement of decades of discords are echoed acrossthe land and all over the globe. World leaders who closelywatch and monitor the progress of the tedious process ofpeace settlement share our enthusiasm that yet anotherconflict among mankind is settled.

Even the Moro National Liberation Front which wassaber-rattling had recently declared that they do not comein way towards stable peace in the region once ravagedby war.  MNLF officials who had participated in thepolitical processes and won are the ones leading the clarioncall to settle once and for all the discord that had rend theregion apart. Cotabato City Vice Mayor Muslimin Sema,the erstwhile chief of the MNLF combatants, came out firstwith a strong message that peace accord should now bepursued and that they are willing to stand side by sidewith the MILF to push for peace.

The only negative vibration is from the New PeoplesArmy who cautioned the MILF from giving up their arms.But the voice is pipsqueak. While there was some kind ofa tactical alliance between the MILF and the NPAs theadmonition of the latter does not matter anymore. Thenegotiators have gone over the hump. Besides even themost radical elements in the secessionist fronts hadrealized that they have become isolated. The awesomeresponse that comes in the way of celebration followingthe signing of the Framework Agreement carries a strongmessage that reverberates in their bivouacs shocking themto realization that the overwhelming majority includingtheir own closest of kin wanted peace. They wanted tolive a normal life.

The truth is it will be insane to ignore what theFramework guarantees to offer. Those outside looking inand monitoring the progress of the peace talks maybesalivating by now. For every Mindanaowons this meansliberation from the selfishness and unresponsiveness ofthe Centrist government that knows only Metro Manila.Those in the Bangsamoro land only deserve to benefit whathad been deprived of them in the past. They are handedthe key to a door that leads to peace and bonanza.

That is why the next weapon to hold on is prayer andfaith that all these expectations will come into fruition. Theseed of peace has germinated and while this has passedthe delicate stage of gestation it must be nurtured withutmost care least all the efforts will give birth to a mongrelor worse, stillborn. Either way it could trigger anotherupheaval. Something which we all abhor. 

Nurturing peaceStem Cell Treatment At Villa Medica 

(A special Report - Day 1 )DAY ONE (Thursday) —

It was still early in themorning about 6 a.m.when Cathay Pacific(CX) Flight 0289 docked atthe Frankfurt InternationalAirportBay no. 2. Beth wasstill nursing some stiff neckand the usual neck painswhen we unbuckled todisembark. It was an 11-hourflight from Hongkong andlike in all previous foreigntrips, Beth never had somegood sleep — despite thecomfortable and totallyreclinable CX modernizedseats in the Business Classsection.

From the glass windowsat the tube, we saw the heavyfog outside.  After gatheringour luggages, Villa Medica(VM) representative (namedSammy, an Iranian) wasflashing the VM sign at thearrival gate for us.  We werethe only 2 passengers in hisvan for the 140 km. tripto Edenkoben. Sammy saidthere were about 8 guestsf r o mThailand and Vietnam inour batch but they werearriving later in the day.

(An interesting factfor President WillieTorres and my colleaguesat the Davao Sports andClassics Cars Club:there’s NO SPEED limit intheir highwayst h r o u g h o u t   G e r m a n y ,according to Sammy. A goodspot for a fun drive!    )

 Sammy, while drivingwas a good source ofinformation. I was curiousand I could not wait for thebriefing by the VM doctors. He said the fresh cells aretaken from ”BlackMountain” sheeps,specially raised in a farmand transported to VMlaboratories for tests andprocedures before they areslaughtered while18- weekpregnant. The mother sheepis slaughtered on the day ofthe injection onthe ”client” (they don’t usethe word “patients”.)The unborn fetus, about 18weeks old is still alive whenthe fresh cells are takenand within 2 hours, the cellsharvested must be injectedon the guest. He gave a fewprominent names inthe Philippines who havecome to VM. And many keptcoming back, he said.

We arrived at VillaMedica facilities after aboutone hour and a half of travelpassing through grapevineyards that have startedto wilt and darken with theonset of winter. Grapes wereusually harvestedin October, except for thespecial variety that they usedto make ”ice wine”, a black-colored wine, so heavilysweet and fruity.

VILLA MEDICA lookedlike a mansion house in themiddle of the forest. It standson its lonesome self after the

van ascended towards theforest past the centerof EDENKOBEN, a quaint,quiet town, with verynarrow two-way streets,with a population ofabout 7,000. Houses were inbricks and mortar.

When we disembarked,although properly wrappedas instructed, the 4-degreetemperature gnawed at ourface even with some sunrays filtering through goldcolored autumn leavesoverhead. It was 8 a.m. atEdenkoben although it wasalready 3 in theafternoon back home by mywatch, Philippine time (a 7hour difference). We weremet at the door by VM HeadStaff named Joyce,a Malaysian who turnedout to be Sammy’s wife. Wewere conducted to the diningarea for breakfast where afew guests were eating,talking in hushed tones. Inone table nearby I spottedan oldgraying German couple,must be in their nineties.

Before being conductedto our room upstairs, wewere told: ”Please proceedto PRAXIS (name of the room)on the ground floor for the firstinfusion.”

We entered a room withabout 12 reclinedseats facing a drape-lesswindow looking out into theforests. The first infusionmeant being hatched toanoxygen aerator attachedto your nose and getting anintravenous flow of somepinkish-looking fluidcontaining concentrates ofVitamin C, B12 andGlutathione combined. Theprocedure was over inabout 45 minutes.

When I asked theGerman lady nurse whatwas the infusion for, sheexplained that it was toloosen up the body inpreparation for the nextday’s fresh cell injections.

Next to Beth lined up inthe infusion chairs wereyoung Thais. I could notmiss their nationality as theyspoke. The young petite ladybeside her looked so young,maybe no more than 25years old. She was tweakingher IPAD continuously andwhen I peeped, she was in a“casino playing” mode. Later during the day, VM’sJoyce told me she was one ofthe youngest casino ownersin Thailand. No wonder shehad a battery of assistantstending to her needs andkeeping her engaged. At theother end was a husbandand wife couplefrom Vietnam. I was toldthis was their 3rd visit toVM for the treatment.

 After the first infusionwe were conducted toour Room No 19 on the 2ndfloor. It was a functionalroom, with a heater (ofcourse!)  With two beds on

each side of the wall, atoilet and an opening to abalcony facing the treesand the forests outside. This was to be our homefor the next four days.

Then, we were calledback downstairs to meetwith two VM Residentmedical doctors Dr.Andre Morato,a Filipino who’s been inGermany almost all hislifetime and Dr.Hurtgen for an interviewand dialogue.  Theyexplained the wholeprocess. They had beenfamiliar with Beth’skidney problems as hermedical records had beensent to them way ahead ofthe trip by our friend andattending physician inManila, Dr. RoseLiquete who helped set upthe VM treatment.

 After lunch was freetime until evening. Wewere assigned a car and adriver that brought us to anearby center of townwhere we strolled andbought a few necessities.Beth attempted to shop butshe forgot to getsome EUROS  at theairport bank, so she had tosettle for just a few itemsfor some Euros I savedfrom my previous trips.

Before retiring thatnight and during dinner, Iwas able to meetthe German couple,seated in the next table.The husband was 93years old while the wife,who spoke good English,was 10 years younger.They had been coming toVM for fresh cell treatmentfor several years. “Youcome here every year?” Imanaged to ask. The ladyanswered: “No, moreoften than 12 months now.When we have time, hedrives about 200kilometers from here andtakes the treatment. Ourfamily had been regularshere since my motherdiscovered the placestarting in 1984.”

When I asked her howhe could manage to drivealone for several hours tocome to VM at 93 years old,she explained with awink:  ”He used to fly jetsas a pilot. So driving carsis not a problem!” I wasamazed and stared at him.I noticed his face waspinkish, without thevestiges and ravages ofage. Although he had acane, it was to steady himwhen walking on unevensurface.

No wonder they keepcoming to VM. But that’ssomething Beth and I willhave to find out forourselves.

NEXT WEEK: DAY 2,THE STEM CELLINJECTIONS.

View PointView PointJuan L. Mercado

5OPINION

ScannerIskak L. Paguital, CSEE

Scanner

DECEMBER 4, 2012

The developmentof Halal Food Industryin the country isirreversibly moving onelsewhere in thePhilippines, if not inARMM. This is goingon given the push forthe production ofexportable foodcommodities targetingthe growing Halal foodmarket in the MiddleEast and in non-Muslim countrieswhere substantialMuslim populationexists.

The Philippinegovernment and thecountry’s big foodindustries have amplereasons to join theglobal band wagon incashing on theproduction and exportof Halal food. All overthe world, Muslimcountries are seen asnet importers of food,especially in themiddle- east where thearid condition is mostpronounced and foodsufficiency is beingresolved thruimportation.

Australia, NewZealand, Argentina,the United States ofAmerica, Canada andThailand are leadingthe lengthening line ofcountries sendingHalal certifiedlivestock, poultry andprocessed foods tothose food deficitMuslim countries. Andthe Philippines is nowtrying to catch up,seeing its ASEANneighbor, Thailand,way ahead on theGlobal Halal markettrail.

When we had ourHalal Industry StudyTour in Brunei andMalaysia, courtesy ofthe Japan InternationalCooperation Agency(JICA), we weresurprised to see variousHalal-certified Thaifood items at thegrocery shelves andfreezers of thesecountries. Thailand, formore than a decade,has developed athriving Halal industrywhich is much arelevant economicimpetus for its minoritysouthern Muslimpopulation.

Like thePhilippines, Thailandhas a Muslimpopulation roughly thesame as that of ourcountry.

The topic on theneed to develop ourHalal food industry is

Looking Back at the Halal FoodIndustry Value Chain

a timely one given thecurrent push of thegovernment to adopt thevalue chain andclustering approach toeconomic development.The ARMM has had arelatively strong pushfor Halal as manifestedby the creation of theHalal Technical WorkingGroup, the adoption ofthe ARMM Halal FoodIndustry DevelopmentFramework and in 2009,the drafting andadoption of the ARMMHalal Food IndustryDevelopment Plan withtechnical and fundingsupport from theCanadian InternationalCooperation Agency-Local GovernanceSupport Program forARMM (LGSPA-CIDA).A relevant Bill was alsopassed by the RegionalLegislative Assembly.

The Halal Plan haspro-actively laid out theconcept of value chainand the clusteringapproach that is nowserving us our pathwaytowards agri-industrialization. Itprescribes the necessarymeasures to turn ourprimary industries thatdeal on production ofraw materials towardsthe path leading to thedevelopment ofsecondary ( e.g. producttransformation orprocessing) and tertiaryindustries (e.g. services).

The ARMM HalalFood IndustryDevelopment Planshows the opportunityto integrate variousHalal initiatives andprograms and projectsincorporated in theRegional and ProvincialDevelopment Plans,agency plans and theARMM RegionalLegislative andLegislative Agenda(ARELA) 2009-2010.The process alsoinvolved the businesssector through theARMM BusinessCouncil, selectedproducers and industryplayers for theidentification ofpriorities and strategies.

The Plan has five (5)Chapters: Chapter 1provides an incisive lookat the profile of theregion; Chapter 2presents an analysis ofour region’s strengths,weaknesses, threats andopportunities; Chapter 3lays the development

framework which putsinto proper perspectivethe visions and goals ofthe regionalgovernment; Chapter 4takes into considerationwhat the region needsto realize such vision,goals and objectives.

The Plan sets outtargets, strategies, aswell as the programsand projects that are tobe laid out by theARMM government;and Chapter 5 presentsthe investmentrequirements, resourcegeneration andmobilization, thei n s t i t u t i o n a lmechanism, thecommunication plan,as well as themonitoring andevaluation mechanismthat will guide theleadership of theautonomous region.

The plan is a crucialinstrument for theestablishment ofEconomic Zones, HalalHubs as well asinvestment andp r o d u c t i o nmechanisms to perk upthe economy. Investorsfrom the Middle-Eastand elsewhere wouldfind the plan a lookingwindow by which theycould anchor theirinterests.

This plan, togetherwith the SustainabilityPlan for ImprovedLocal Governance inARMM (SPILGA), is acrucial developmentinstrument whichdemands sustainedefforts of building fromincremental successesof the variousdevelopmental inputsprovided to the ARMM.The SPILGA waspresented in a DonorsForum held at theInsular Hotel in DavaoCity on November 11,2009 as the LocalGovernance SupportProgram for ARMM(LGSPA), a projectunder the CanadianI n t e r n a t i o n a lDevelopment Agency(CIDA), marked its lastfew days in ARMM.

“CAAAAAAAAASSSHHH!”               

“They  didn’t onlyhoard shoes,” DailyTelegraph  culture editorMartin Chilton wrote.“Former  Philippined i c t a t o r   F e r d i n a n dMarcos and wife Imeldaa m a s s e dan art collection, paidfor with stolen funds” Today,  146 masterpieces— including works by Van Gogh, Renoir,Rembrandt  Cezanne ,Magritte and Brueghelthe Younger   —-  are missing.

 The ManhattanDistrict AttorneyTuesday indicted Imelda Marcos’ formerpersonal secretary andtwo nephews  for selling Claude Monet’s “LeBassin aux Nymphéas”, for $32 million.  

The London buyerhad reservations who thereal owners were, theindictment recalls.. Vilma Bautista,now  74,  and nephewsChaiyot Jansen 37, andPongsak 40, boths u r n a m e dNavalaksana?  The  Monetsale  went through onSept. 14, 2010.

F r o m     p r o c e e d s ,Bautista funneled   $28million into her  bankaccount. Two real estatebrokers got a $4millioncommission and  a  $5million slab went to thet w o   n e p h e w s .   ”Chaiyot… sent an e-mail, after  the sale,  to aco-conspirator, sayinghis aunt wanted him tomeet with his brother togive him a bundle ofcaaaaaaaaassshhhh,”the indictment added

Bautista, who nowwalks with a cane,  isalso   accused  of peddling  : Monet’s“L’Église et La Seine àVétheuil” (1881) , AlfredSisley’s “ Langland Bay“ (1887) and AlbertMarquet’s “Le Cyprès deDjenan Sidi Said”(1946), known as“Algerian View.”

All three faceconspiracy raps. Lodged against  Bautistaand Chaiyot   is a  chargefor failing to reportincome from the Monetsale..  

Released on a$175,000 bond, Bautistafaces up to 25 years inprison.  If  convicted, hernephews could get  4years in the slammer.Will  authorities succeedin getting them to NewYork from Bangkok ? ..

South ChinaMorning Post in HongKong,  Honolulu  StarAdvertiser to BrisbaneTimes reported theindictments  “Much ofthe bounty and privilegethe Marcoses acquired in years of

power…disappearedwith the fog ofrevolution”,  theAustralian daily said.  

From 1966 to 1986,Bautista held  a $3,000-a-month  first secretarypost  at the PhilippineMission to the UN. Infact, she served  asImelda’s eyes and earsto  factotumfor  Marcos’  functionsat  16-bedroomLindenmere  house onLong Island . She actedas  bag lady for ”shopping sprees.”.

This Oct. 13, 1977 entry  appears in ”Chronology of theMarcos Plunder”compiled by CharlieAvila 

“Today, afteraddressing the UNGeneral Assembly,Imelda celebrated bygoing shopping andspending $384,000including $50,000 for aplatinum bracelet withrubies; $50,000 for adiamond bracelet; and$58,000 for a pin setwith diamonds.   Theday before, VilmaBautista, one of herprivate secretaries, paid$18,500 for a goldpendant with diamondsand emeralds; $9,450 fora gold ring withdiamonds and emeralds;and $4,800 for a goldand diamond necklace.

“A US Federal Court( 9th Circuit ) earlier whacked  Imelda andFerdinand Jr with adaily fine of $100,000. They tried  to secretlyship out of the USpaintings and otherartworks, from court-contested holdings,  fora 25-percent, tax-freeshare. When thecontempt order expired,the tab totaled $353.6million.  

 Where do  VilmaBautista and nephewscome  from? Tou n d e r s t a n d ,b r o w s e     t h r u   ” A  Dynasty on  Steroids” , written by  Jackie Dent, available on the Net.   

”Dry, sleepy,tobacco-growing IlocosNorte  remains   Marcosterritory, as it has beensince 1949".  — althoughthe  Marcos regime killedmore than 3200 people,tortured 35,000 andincarcerated 70,000.That   surpassed  even the brutality of Chile ‘sAugusto Pinochet .TheLaurel clan runsBatangas; Osmeñas (used to monopolize ) Cebu;, etc.

Do the M a r c o s e s     m e r e l yperpetuate oligarchic

politics that plagues thecountry?, “I always find ’return to politics’ amisnomer,” FerdinandJr  snaps . “ We neverleft”. Or, as daughter  Imee remarks drolly :”Itis nepotism plus plus, adynasty on steroids.”

Does a Marcos haveto run all the time? “It’sthe whole Filipino system- they really count onyou, they have all theseexpectations,” Imee says.. “Your family is takingcare of their family,which is taking care ofyour family and it justgoes on and on and on.It’s pretty feudal in thePhilippines still, eventhough we like to foolourselves.”

 That  includes Bongbong ? “He  seemsto think that his familydid nothing wrong andhas nothing to apologizefor. He says they haveeither won cases or theyhave been dismissed…

We have a judgmentagainst us in the billions.What more wouldpeople want? That weopen our veins and diebefore them? Is that thesolution?...History willbe the best judge of thefamily.”

Benito Mussolini wasexecuted outside anItalian villa; Gaddafidied in the desert, killedby rebels; RobertMugabe and Castro willprobably die in power. 

“Why are Filipinos sowilling to embrace theMarcos family again?”,Dent wonders.Filipinoshave  a “soft, forgivingculture, notes  former Singapore PrimeMinister  Lee Kuan Yewin his  book: 

From Third World toFirst”: “Only in thePhilippines could aleader like FerdinandMarcos, who pillaged hiscountry for over 20years, still be consideredfor a national burial.Insignificant amounts ofthe loot have beenrecovered, yet his wifeand children wereallowed to return andengage in politics.”

 “Your brother[Bongbong] says thatpolitics is the nationalsport here,” Dent tellsImee. She replies:  It’s notvery sporting, though.No fair play, no rules,very movable goal posts.Not quite right as a sport. It is better as somethingelse. Vaudeville,maybe?”   

  S p e l l t h a tas caaaaaaaaassshhhh.

 founding

DECEMBER 4, 2012 NEWS

Pacquiao fed up with Marquez insults,to prove Filipinos are no cheaters

Eight-division worldboxing champion MannyPacquiao is out to prove to theboxing world including archrival Juan Manuel Marquezthat Filipinos do not condonecheating and he was the onerobbed of a clear win in theirfirst encounter in 2004.

“Well, this is the reasonwhy there is gonna be afourth fight. Not only to eraseall the doubts that marked theprevious fights but also to stophis insults not only to me,personally, but also to theentire Filipino nation,” thesoft-spoken father of four withwife Jinkee told thePhilippines News Agency(PNA) on the eve of his team’sdeparture Sunday here to Las

Vegas for his fourth, andprobably the last, fightwith Marquez this comingSaturday (Sunday inManila).

“No, I’m not mad athim,” Pacquiao said withhis trademark wide smile,but quickly added he willnot be cowed by Marquez’insults andpronouncements, andultimately prove this timethat his two previouswins were no fluke> Andit should have been three.

The first fight withMarquez in 2004 ended ina draw when judge BurtClements scored theopening round 10-7instead of 10-6, as

Pacquiao knocked down theMexican three times.Clements admitted hismistake later andapologized for his miscue.

That error in scoring,somehow emboldened theMexican four-division belt-owner, also known as “ElDinamita,” to declare to allthose who care to listen andbelieve that he won that bout,as well as the second andthird, which was won byPacquiao via a split decisionin 2008 and a majorityverdict only a year ago.

“Not only that, I have todefend our people who healso insulted by saying Irobbed him of victories.

ARMM prepares for “Pablo,”ARMM prepares for “Pablo,”ARMM prepares for “Pablo,”ARMM prepares for “Pablo,”ARMM prepares for “Pablo,”creates 2creates 2creates 2creates 2creates 24/7 operation center4/7 operation center4/7 operation center4/7 operation center4/7 operation center

The establishment of theoperation center came afterthe Regional Disaster RiskReduction and ManagementCouncil (RDRRMC)placedthe region under “Blue AlertStatus.”

ARMM is composed of theprovinces ofMaguindanao,Lanao del Sur,Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

The PAGASA (PhilippineAtmospheric,Geophysical,Astronomical ServicesAdministration) has reportedthat Lanao del Sur has beenincluded in areas under storm

COTABATO CITY- A 24/7 operations center has been put up at the office of RegionalGovernor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao inpreparation for the onslaught of super typhoon “Pablo” in Northern Mindanao.

Signal No. 1.Lawyer Anwar

Malang, ARMM executivesecretary, said historywould tell ARMM officialsthat when there’s heavydownpour in the provinceof Bukidnon,Maguindanao and Lanaodel Sur will experienceflashfloods.

“Lanao del Sur andBasilan are catch basin ofwaters from Bukidnon,”Malang said to explain theestablishment ofoperation center to

coordinate governmentagencies response whennecessary.

Retired Gen. LoretoRirao, office of civil defensechief and concurrent headof RDRRMC-ARMM, saidhis office has been closelymonitoring the situation inlow-lying areas in theregion, especiallyMaguindanao and Lanaodel Sur.

Malang has ordered theDepartment of Health toprepare medicines needed

Elders avail expandedElders avail expandedElders avail expandedElders avail expandedElders avail expandedhealthcare in Malungonhealthcare in Malungonhealthcare in Malungonhealthcare in Malungonhealthcare in MalungonM A L U N G O N ,

Sarangani – The localgovernment here, incollaboration withmunicipal health officialsand the Philippine HealthInsurance Corporation havestarted the distribution ofPhilhealth cards to seniorcitizen-beneficiaries sincelate last week, a reliablesource said.

MHO head Dr. Rafaida

Garay-Hernandez saidaside from the earlierdistributed 8, 942Philhealth cards toindigent families who areon top of PresidentBenigno ‘Noynoy’Aquino’s PantawidPamilyang PilipinoProgram (4Ps), the localgovernment headed byMayor Reynaldo ‘Bong’Constantino have already

commenced the distributionof Philhealth cards to seniorcitizens who are found to befittingly qualified to the saidhealth insurance program ofthe government.

“Actually the distributionof Philhealth cards to seniorcitizens have already startedduring our November 13health profiling, master listingand consultation activity that

A day with the elders – (L-R) Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino and wife Roselyn, shares some good momentswith Rep. Manny Pacquiao’s better half Jinky, as they listens to the heartwarming words from the group of seniorcitizens during a recently held health profiling, master listing and medical consultation for elders by MHO andPhilhealth representatives in Malungon, Sarangani. (Isagani Palma-KotEx gensan bureau).

ARMM/P3

PAQUIAO/P2

ELDERS/P3

‘Big Three,’ Eastern cut prices of petroleum productsMajor oil companies on

Monday said they will slashprices of their petroleumproducts on Tuesdaymorning.

Petron Corp., PilipinasShell and Chevron (formerly

Caltex Philippines) willreduce the price of unleadedand premium gasoline by 60centavos per liter; 35 centavosper liter on regular gasoline;and 40 centavos per liter on

kerosene.The “Big Three” oil

firms did not announceany cut in the price ofdiesel.

The price adjustments

will take effect at 12:01 a.m.Tuesday, they said.

The oil companies saidthat the price tweak reflectedthe movement in theinternational market.

BIG/P3

DSWD-12 to construct P10M infraprojects in 6 poor villages in SK province

KIDAPAWAN CITY-Schools and otherinfrastructure projects willbe constructed early nextyear in at least six poorvillages in a town in SultanKudarat province, an officialfrom the regional socialwelfare department inCentral Mindanao said.

Gemma Rivera, assistantregional director of theDepartment of SocialWelfare and Development(DSWD) in Region 12, saidthree school buildings, eachamounting to P2 million,would be erected inbarangays South Sepaka,Monteverde and Daluga inBagumbayan, SultanKudarat.

She said theseclassrooms will answer theclamor of schools that for along period of time are stillutilizing dilapidated schoolbuildings.

The additionalclassrooms will alsorespond to problems ofovercrowding that oftencompromise the quality ofeducation, Rivera stressed.

Aside from classrooms,

the DSWD-12 is set toinstall solar batterycharging stations inbarangays Sumilil andKanulay, also inBagumbayan.

A hundredhouseholds of the B’laannatives will be lightedonce the charging stationsare installed in thevillages, reports from theDSWD-12 said.

The social welfareagency is also set toconstruct potable watersystem in Barangay SantoNino.

Rivera said that water-borne diseases areprevalent in the villagebecause of unprotectedsources of drinking water.

Rivera said thecommunity projects in sixvillages in Bagumbayantown were chosen amongthe 19 proposed projects ofall barangays ofBagumbayan during theMunicipal Inter-BarangayForum-Par t i c ipa toryResource Allocation(MIBF-PRA).

The MIBF-PRA is a

community empowermentstrategy where volunteerspresent their sub-projectproposals and choosewhich among theseproposals will beprioritized based on thecriteria that theythemselves set.

Rivera said that 30percent of the total projectcost is a counterpart of thelocal community asbeneficiaries.

The six projects will beimplemented under theKapit-Bisig Laban saK a h i r a p a n -Comprehensive Deliveryof Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) through thefinancial support of WorldBank, which aims toimprove local governance,reduce poverty andempower communities.

The projects inBagumbayan are alsoexpected to complementthe Pantawid PamilyangPilipino Program and theSustainable LivelihoodProgram, two of theDSWD’s anti-povertyprojects, Rivera said. (PNA)

Northern Kabuntalan, Health team treated more than 1,300 patients, mostly women, children and elderly, duringthe conduct of free medical consultation. 250 dental patients have also undergone tooth extraction. The medical-dental outreach mission was held as the town celebrated its 6thFounding Anniversary on November 27 withMaguindanao provincial governor Esmael ‘Toto’ Mangudadatu as their guest of honor. In his short message,Mangudadatu again emphasized his desire to make health services more accessible for its constituents while heis also doubling his efforts to upgrade the lifestyles of every Maguindanaon( Contributed Photo)