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Maradeca Inc., a non-government office based in Marawi, support Maranao farmers by providing one sack hybrid rice seedlings to group and by encouraging them to adopt palay check system of rice farming.

This rice were planted at the communal demonstration farm of barangay Dimapatoy at Bubong, Lanao del Sur and managed by Ompongan o mga Taribasok sa Ranao (OTR) led by Moctar S. Cabo.

Ibrahim Salic, executive director of Maradeca, expressed that “farmers will maximize organic method of farming and have been using traditional agriculture strategies learnt from their ancestors many years ago. They aren’t using new technologies to improve farming methods.”

“When Maradeca Inc. started giving intervention, many of them are adopting traditional farming until they availed training about Palay Check System, “ Salic further said.

Palay Check is a defined as “dynamic rice crop management that presents the best key technology and

Maranao farmers adopt ‘palay check system’

Recognizing the need to reach Lanao–wide Maranao radio listeners, Maradeca staff spent an hour at DXSO, a local radio station at Marawi, to discuss issues on safe and just election in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Maradeca believed that educating voters for honest and credible election is relevant to help abate election-related irregularities.

H. Ibrahim Mama, Janifa Camama, Nadjeba Maruhom, and Sittie Azliah Espinola, all of whom are volunteers of Citizens Coalition for ARMM Electoral Reforms (CCARE)--an organization that promotes electoral reform in ARMM region, opined that “media is a tool to uphold their campaign.”

These volunteers are working throughout the entire province of Lanao del Sur by conducting Pulong Tayo, Ugnayan Tayo, and election-related monitoring activities within the 40 municipalities the province.

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Media as tool forelectoral reform

Electoral fraud and violence

TITLES PAGES

‘Palay check system’ . ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .1

Media as tool for electoral reform ... ... ... ... ... .1

Electoral fraud and violence . ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .2

Feeding program in two barangays .. ... ... ... ... .3

Photos .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4-5

Maradeca pledge to watch ceasefire ... ... ... ... .6

CCARE hold general assembly . ... ... ... ... ... ... .6

CCARE readies for May 10 poll .. ... ... ... ... ... .7

Botika sa Barangay ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .7

Organizational dev’t training ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .7

Nurturing nurseries .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .8

Farmers learn plant-bagging . ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .8

Seaweeds as Bio-Fertilizers .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .8

Entrepreneurial training ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .9

Ube candy augments income ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .9

150 Maranaos attend disaster mgt seminar .. ... .9

British national volunteer.. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 10

Editorial Board 2009-2010 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 10

Election in the Philippines is mired with fraud and

violence.

Lanao del Sur province isn’t excluded on this quagmire

as it’s controversially tagged as hot spot for vote buying or

padding and rampant flying voters registration.

Development workers in Lanao also observed that

election increases rido or family feud that results to damage of

properties and undetermined number of casualties.

With the automation of poll, election’s threat also

includes power curtailment scheduling that may affect

transmission of poll result especially in far-flung municipalities

of the province.

Since Maradeca Inc. advocates for electoral reform

under its Transparent Governance Program, it wade through

continuous monitoring activities within the two districts of

Lanao del Sur since June 2005 in partnership with Citizens

Coalition for ARMM Electoral Reforms (CCARE).

The monitoring team is composed of Maradeca staff,

municipal and barangay electoral gurus. They observed voters’

registration processes to find out related major issues and

concern. They also interviewed officers of the Commission on

Election and registrants in every town.

The mounted cases of registration proved to be similar in

previous national election. Irregularities are getting worse.

A number of voters failed to register due to Comelec’s

limited forms released in every municipality while other

registration forms were allegedly sold to favoured politicians.

There were also underage youths who were allowed to

register.

In Marawi city, the Comelec confront technical problems

with absence of electric generator to counter blackouts and

few computers that can’t facilitate effective and efficient

recording of registrants.

Despite denials of police authorities, violence still loomed

when a grenade was lobbed near the Comelec’s office at

Marawi city that wounded civilians who were later found out

as flying voters from Lanao del Norte. Investigations revealed

that they were promised to receive substantial cash if they’d

cross register in Marawi. Indiscriminate firing also happened in

Tamparan town when armed when sprayed bullets to civilians

who were queuing for registration.

The calendar is rushing near to May 10. What awaits us

people of the lake who are easily maneuvered with politicians

ambition to hold power? Can our faith in Islam help us find

the right leader who can represent us with better agenda for

peace and development? Can our culture direct us to practices

that inspire societal change for people of the Lake?

May we be able to determine the right choices as stewards

of our descendants’ future.

Editorial

Children in two conflict-affected barangays of Masiu and Butig towns enjoy feeding program conducted by development workers of Maradeca Inc, UN-Act for Peace and StRide-Mindanao.

The feeding program is part of the developmental activity of Social Services Program (SSP).

Said feeding activity has been conducted since September 2009 until this February 12-13, 2010.

Staff’s brought foods for about hundred children including ube salad.

“These are children of destitute families of these towns. The children sometimes were starved because parents are hindered by too much poverty that they failed to provide adequate food for consumption. This feeding program is an great opportunity to help people

in needs and burdened with too much hardships,” said Sinab Datu of Maradeca Inc.

‘“We believe that as we give, we will be rewarded with the most lavish gifts from those whose lives we have touched and changed,” she said.

Datu further said that families here are poor because they have no viable means to earn income. “Feeding is a better way to help them. Though this is temporary, the assistance will still have profound and lasting effect in the lives of those people we help. We must understand the neediness of others and help them with any ways we know. The more ways you can help others, specifically the poor ones, the more we felt that we’d be rewarded by Allah,” she said.

Children in Butig town enjoy feeding program

Five communities in Lanao del Sur are beneficiaries of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project that comprises construction of bathing cubicles, latrines, and putiing up of hand pumps.

These beneficiaries are barangays Bubong Cadapaan, Tungan-Tungan Borakis, and Borakis of the Municipality of Wato Balindong; barangay Rogero of Bubong town; and barangay Norhaya Village of Marawi City.

“These projects are inspired due to lack of water sanitation and hygiene in Maranao communities in Lanao del Sur. Latrines will also address the improper waste management disposal among residents. For years, there’s weak enforcement of government’s rules and regulations on waste management and this is coupled with peoples ignorance waterborne diseases amid lack of access of potable water,” explained Salic Ibrahim, executive director of Maradeca Inc.

“We help educate Maranaos on water sanitation and hygiene,” he said.

Aside from this facilities, ferrous cement tanks were also concreted.

The project were completed with the support of

5 brgys. benefit WASH projects in Marawi, Lanao

International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Maradeca.

“The beneficiaries can now do household chores conveniently with access to safe water. This project can now free themselves from the burden of letting their children fetch water miles away from their homes,” Salic added.

News

Maranao lady tests water pump at barangay Bubong.

Maradeca pledge to watch ceasefire implementation in Lanao

Representatives of Maradeca, Inc. volunteer to become Bantay Ceasefire advocates in a three-day assembly attended by 200 Maranao peace advocates on November 4-6, 2009 at Ayala Resort Hotel, MSU-main campus, Marawi City.

Bantay Ceasefire is composed of volunteers from the different provinces under the political structure of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Said conference was graced by team of civil society leaders from Mindanao People’s Caucus (MPC), a partnership of non-government peace advocates with office based at Davao city.

New volunteers were oriented about ceasefire mechanism and the role of advocates at the ground level in peacemaking.

Major General Rodolfo C. Garcia, former chair of the Government Peace Panel and the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities was the keynote speaker.

Lawyer Mary Ann Arnado, secretary-general of MPC, also related the journey of Bantay Ceasefire as part of its initiative to ensure that peace process is indeed working at the grassroots level and launched the

Bantay Ceasefire-SOS (Sagip Sibilyan) campaign. Cultural presentations performed by Sining

Kambayoka of Mindanao State University (MSU) main campus also highlighted the conference with theatre and arts depicted of social unrest and peoples’ quest for peace.

The assembly also featured a video presentation about the feats enjoyed by Bantay Ceasefire in their endeavor to stop violence in Mindanao.

Participants underwent thematic workshops and forum to ventilate their issues and concerns.

Outputs of the workshop were presented including the validation of cluster plans.

Participants also took an oath of peace while the members of the Bantay Ceasefire also pledged to perform their duties and responsibilities as volunteers for peace.

“Being a volunteer for Bantay Ceasefire is not a simple role. It means submitting your time and effort to fight for peace. Sincerity to work and sense of voluntarism is a requirement,” said Arnado.

The assembly was also an opportunity for old friends and acquaintances to reunite with each other.

Members of Citizen Care of Lanao del Sur hold a three-day general assembly and team-building on January 10-12, 2010 at Masspec of Cagayan de Oro city.

Participants were electoral municipal gurus from the 40 towns of Lanao del Sur.

The assembly aimed at empowering the gurus as catalyst for electoral reform for responsible governance.

It also aimed at building group solidarity and harmonious relationship among members through the workshops and lectures.

“The solidarity night at end of the training boosted their self-confidence and enhances group teamwork and cooperation. It also developed friendly relationship by recreating a happy environment,” said Salic Ibrahim, chair of CCARE –Lanao.

“For about 6 years, the citizen’s care members had

CCARE hold general assembly an array of experiences and contributed deeply on the history,” he further said.

Ibrahim said that CCARE members look forward to attend training on automated electoral procedures and hope that this new techie way of counting pool results could ensure fair and honest election, especially in Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

He also said that most of the participants are emerging leaders who are fully aware of their responsibility to fight for their rights and in contributing to the electoral changes, and the emphasis of unity among them was stressed out. Majority of them were participative and are emerging potential leaders of their respective communities.

The assembly was also graced by program coordinator Norodin Manalao, citizens care chairperson Salic Ibrahim, provincial monitoring committee head Sinab Ibrahim,Maradeca’s BOT and provincial coordinators.

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Participants during the assembly.

CCare readies for May 10 poll

Citizens Coalition for ARMM Electoral Reforms (CCARE) ready themselves for May 10 national poll.

They conducted Ugnayan Tayo meeting last January 3, 2010 to consult stakeholders on relevant issues relating to the upcoming election.

Participants were 38 electoral gurus, 13 of which are male. They gathered at River Side Panggao, Saduc of Marawi city.

“One of the most important point discussed was the need to recognize and mainstream municipal electoral gurus with government agencies such as Philippine National Police (PNP), military, local officials, and army as well as to network them with Commission on Election’s board of election inspectors (BEIs),” said Salic Ibrahim, executive director of Maradeca Inc.

They also discussed the prohibited acts during and before the election; about adopting reasonable mechanism to ensure credible election result; and, how to eradicate rampant anomalies and fraud in Lanao’s poll.

“We are not superman but the Comelec is doing its best for just election. However, we need your cooperation, “ professed Nassib Yassin, provincial Comelec supervisor who presided the meeting.

Remote village conduct organizational dev’t training

To develop community-based leadership skills and strengthen peoples’ organization, an Organizational Development and Management Training was conducted for 20 participants at barangay Cadayonan of Madalum town of Lanao del Sur. Participants were grateful that this training was conducted in their remote village which has less access to social services as well as development. The training was conducted to empower them on how to handle problems within their organizations and on how to deal with different types of members. They also learnt leadership styles that can be practiced in their respective organizations. “This training kindles their interest to establish and institutionalize their organization. It also helped them realize that each one of them has leadership ability and that they can maximize their organization to improve their means of living,” said Sinab Datu, an official of Maradeca Inc. The training was conducted last October 2009 with supports from Maradeca Inc. and their funding partner.

Poor families in Butig town to manage botika

Finally, residents of remote hinterland barangay Bayabao were trained about how to manage Botika sa Barangay (BnB) program to provide them an access to cheap medicines.

Bayabao is a conflict-affected area located at Butig, Lanao del Sur.

Sinab Datu, official of Maradeca Inc., said that the villager’s pharmacy was recently constructed and the community hope that medicines will be availed soon.

BnB is a government project for remote communities to poor families an opportunity to access medication specially that urban pharmacies are far from their residences.

To date, Butig residents access health services in Marawi and Iligan cities.

The establishment of BnB at barangay Bayabao is a joint venture of United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Maradeca Inc in partnership with officials of Butig municipality. Medicines were accessed with the support of Integrated Province of Health Office (IPHO).

Community-based BnB manager are also members of Obaera, a women organization. They were trained by Caironesa Guiling and Amina Macud, both are officers of IPHO officer.

They were also taught on record-keeping for basic accounting and revolving the availability of the medicines.

They shared insights during the radio program anchored by Bobby Ilupa.

The staffs also bared their experiences how they monitor electoral campaign and voter’s registration.

“It is high time for voters to be aware of what is happening in the country. Politics has become a playground of the politicians. Thus, everybody must wake up and do their part in promoting electoral reform,” the staffs said.

from page 1 Media as tool...

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Nurturing nurseries

Maranao farmers associated as Ompongan o mga Taribasok sa Ranao (OTR) built their communal nursery bed for raising seedlings.

The nurseries were temporary homes for young plants until they are eventually planted in a permanent garden. Seeds which need extra care should be grown in a nursery.

The nurseries were built and planted in November 2009 with supports from Maranao People Development Center Inc. (Maradeca Inc.). Communities who benefited this project are residents of barangays Sandab, Bayabao of Butig town; Gata of Buadipuso Buntong; Dimapatoy of Bubong, Raya of Guimba municipality; and Nanapun of Marawi City.

Last December 4, 2009, OTR members led by Hadji Ansary H. Ali of Raya Guimba started availing the seedlings from their nursery bed and nurtured it with enthusiasm.

Farmers learn plant-bagging

Farmers from barangays Guimba, Nanapun (also known as Cabasaran) and Sandab of Butig Lanao del Sur were taught recently on how to individuate plants by segregating and preparing them for the next planting season. This is also known as bagging.

Beneficiaries are members of Ompongan o mga Taribasok (OTR).

The training aims to gain interest and encourage the farmers in organic-based vegetables production other than rice and corn.

There are two advantages of bagging. First, seedlings are produced by growth. Second, it can resist against pests. However, farm workers need to exert efforts in carry out the materials since bagging requires numerous banana leaves, vermin composting activity, soil-nurturing and tray.

Staffs of the Secure Livelihood program of Maradeca Inc. which focused on agriculture, assisted on how to conduct bagging last December 2009.

Seaweeds as bio-fertilizer in Lanao farms

A training on the use of seaweeds bio-fertilizer was conducted for farmers in the communities of Guimba and Nanapun (Cabasaran) of Marawi City and in Nanagun of Lumbayanague town and Sandab of Butig, Lanao del Sur.

The training aims to motivate the farmers to use organic fertilizer for healthy environment and to discourage the use of commercial/inorganic fertilizer that can destroy soil fertility. Beneficiaries are members

of Ompongan o mga Taribasok sa Ranao (OTR) Inc. whose way of life depends on agriculture.

Last November 11, 2009, demonstration was conducted at Nanapun, Marawi City.

Last November 14, 2009, the demonstration in Barangay Sandab and Barangay Nanagun was conducted also. Most of the OTR members who attended the training learned, for the first time, the potability of seaweeds as bio-fertilizer.

News

Maranaos bagged seedlings in preparation for planting season.

Farm land filled with seaweeds bio-fertilizer.

management practices as key check. It also a system that compare results of farmers practices using vowed standard to sustain improvements in productivity, profitability and environment safety.”

Palay Check has six guiding principles. It espoused that rice growing is a total production system. Integrated management system is essential in each single practice and output interacts with other practices. This affects a range of outputs of management that ultimately combine to give the yield, grain quality, and environmental outcomes.

This is system is patterned after ‘rice check’--an integrated crop management system successfully developed in Australia.

Salic expressed, “experienced taught them that intervention yields better result because their harvest of about 15 sacks of rice before has doubled to 30 sacks after they employed Palay Check

System. They gained significant additional income.”

from page 1 Maranao farmers...

150 Maranaos attend disaster mgt seminar

Residents of once conflict-affected barangay Bayabao of Butig, Lanao del Sur underwent a three-day disaster risk management training in October 22-24, 2009 initiated by Maradeca Inc., a non-government office based at Marawi city.

The training, which is part of the rehabilitation project, was supported by StriDe Mindanao and UN-Act for Peace. It motivated the town to activate the barangay disaster management council.

The training was attended by 150 participants from Ompongan o mga Taribasok sa Ranao (OTR) Inc, Ompongan o Mga Bae sa Ranao (OBAERA) Maranao Youth for Peace and Development (MYPD) and Maranao Community Banking (MCB) —all of whom are residents of barangay Bayabao.

It was also graced by representatives of municipal officials of Butig town headed by mayor Dimnatang Pansar, his barangay officials led by Adam Pansar, representatives of Act for Peace, Maradeca staff, and representatives of the Office of Civil Defense-Region X headed by Carmelito Lupo.

Participants expressed that the seminar workshop capacitated them to acquire skills in disaster management and improved their resiliency to be prepared against calamities.

Entrepreneurial training enlighten Maranaos

Ube candy augments income

“We are enlightened about the valuable skills needed to become effective entrepreneurs. We were also given the opportunity to recognize that this has helped us gain valuable resources.”

This is a statement of a participant after undergoing training on Entrepreneurial Skills initiated by Maradeca Inc.

The training was participated by residents of barangay Nanapun and Guimba of Marawi city and barangay Lumbac, Buadiposo, Buntong town. This is part of the activities of Enterprise Development Program designed for entrepreneurial skills enhancement of beneficiaries.

Participants were associates of Maradeca Community Banking (MCB), OBAERA Ompongan o mga Bae sa Ranao (OBAERA) and some residents of Lumbac who showed interest on basic skills for handling business.

The training was conducted last November 14, 2009.

To improve the income of Maranao women in depress area, Maradeca Inc. conducted Food Processing training for 25 beneficiaries residing at barangay Ampaw, Bacolod Kalawi town of Lanao del Sur.

The training was part of the Entrepreneurial Development Program of the institution.

Salic Ibrahim, executive director of Maradeca Inc., related that beneficiaries first joined the Maradeca Community Banking and started putting up individual savings as members.

“We desire to uplift the community’s livelihood by utilizing their learning and minimize the community’s economic deprivation,” Ibrahim further said.

The training moreover gave women an opportunity to enhance their awareness and self-initiatives to find ways to earn for living as part of the advocacies to empower them.

Beneficiaries at barangay Ampaw were trained on Ube Candy Making. They will also be taught jam making in the next training.

“It’s a prelude for them to engage business with low capital in a handy time,” Maradeca staff said.

If maximized properly, this initiative will augment their daily income.

“I am lucky because it enhanced my knowledge and gave me option to improve my small business. Other than banana cue, I have other product to sell. Besides, ube is more nutritious than candies sold in the market,” Samo Cala, one of the participants of the training, said.

The training was conducted in November 2009 and was supported by Maradeca and CARITAS-Australia.

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Editorial Board

SALIC B. IBRAHIM, editor-in-chief; SINAB DATU, associate editor; JOHAIRA M.MUSOR managing editor; SAFIA DIMATINGCAL, feature editor; VIOLETA M. GLORIA, news editor; ANAPOLA “Girl” DOLOGMANDIN, layout editor.

ContributorsJehan M. Ditucalan, Janifa Camama, Diamond D. Tomo, Mahid M. Sacar, Mohaida Sultan, Zoliaca R. Camama, Zenaida D. Usman, Rohania H. Amer, Almaira Dibaratun, , Jabber A. Camama, H. Ibrahim Mama, Nadjeba Maruhom, Sittie Azliah Espinola, Jamalia Baulo, Sahria Adapun, Abdul Khaliq H. Alim, Victoria Fanthorpe, Rohaifa Balindong, and Omaira Saripada.Office Address: Maradeca Inc., 092 Cabili Street, Lilod Madaya, Marawi City, ARMM, Philippines Email add: maradeca99@yahoo.com;Satellite Office: Maradeca Inc.Door 2, J and J Apartment, Oxford Street, Celdran Village, Iligan City Telephone # (+63) 302-6534 website: //www.maradeca.org

2009-2010

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British national volunteer for Maranao communities

Victoria Fanthorpe, a British national of Volunteer Service Organization (VSO) program, currently works for Maranao communities within the operational area of Maradeca Inc. for six months as Resource Mobilization Adviser until March 2010.

“I was really excited to be placed in Maradeca for a number of reasons. First, they are working across a broad spectrum of programs to assist the advancement of the Bangasamoro people in health care, education, sustainable livelihoods, enterprise development, peace-building and good governance, which will give me an insight into these varied community-based initiatives.,” she said.

“Second, Maradeca is prominent and respected for their expertise in electoral reform agenda which is fundamental in addressing issues of poverty and development. Their work in this area is particularly important with the upcoming national elections in May 2010,” Fanthorpe explained.

“It is a privilege for me to work for such an ambitious and dynamic organization, which is striving to deliver right-based programs for disadvantaged communities here in Lanao del Sur,” she added.

She explained that “my role is to share skills in resource mobilisation to enable Maradeca to access new sources of funding to continue the delivery and expansion of their programs. I am working directly with my counterpart, Safia Dimatingcal, and the rest of the staff to identify

funding opportunities and share skills in proposal writing and development.”

“I have been particularly impressed by the professionalism, hard work and commitment shown by the staff who are truly dedicated to their work and to the communities they serve. I am really enjoying being part of their team and look forward to being able to visit the communities w i t h them, to learn more about the Maranao people and t h e i r way of life,” she said.