DSWD –ARMM Sec warn politicians: “Pantawid” not a campaign vehicle for political advancement Launches “BAWAL ANG EPAL DITO” campaign

 Cotabato City - Regional Vice-Governor and Concurrent DSWD-ARMM Secretary Hadja Bainon G. Karon, said politicians should not use the Philippines’ Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program or commonly known as “Pantawid Pamilya” for their political advancement.

This was the pronouncement of Sec. Karon during the recent regional pilot campaign on Anti-Epal or “BAWAL ANG EPAL DITO” with the objective to protect the dignity of the program and ensure rights of the beneficiaries due for them.

                                     

 Karon has reiterated once more that only the DSWD can delist beneficiaries from the program if they have not complied with the set conditions or in any case they had committed any violations.

In accordance to the preventive measure approach of the department, DSWD National Secretary Corazon Juliano Soliman issued a memorandum sometime in September 2012 to advise DSWD employees not to participate or be used in any political propaganda. It was stated in said memo by the Secretary that if anyone from DSWD caught using the program in favor of a politician will be immediately suspended, where a fact finding will soon to follow.

In this regard, Sec. Karon emphasized that in case her office would receive complaints from anyone where it describes the circumstance and identified names of DSWD personnel from municipal links up to the regional office personnel engaging in partisan politics using the program will get suspended right away before the start of investigation.

Further, Sec. Karon admitted the efforts of the agency to protect Pantawid Pamilya from political interests. In this regard, Sec. Karon stressed that if the agency is going to have an event, there should be no tarps with the politician’s faces and also from the part of DSWD.

More so, Sec. Karon emphasized that DSWD-ARMM is communicating the message clearly: “Pantawid Pamilya” is not a campaign vehicle for political advancement.

On “Bawal ang EPAL dito” Campaign…         

DSWD-ARMM is currently rolling out a media campaign to inform the public that no local politician has the authority to add or delist CCT beneficiaries called “Bawal ang EPAL dito” campaign.

Since the May 2013 national and local elections are fast approaching, the department is worried that some politicians may take advantage of the Pantawid Pamilya program to gain leverage. In anticipation of such incidents, DSWD-ARMM is ready to receive reports, feedbacks, and messages about politicians or candidates who may claim to have the authority to enlist and delist household beneficiaries from the program. Complainants can avail of the department’s Grievance Redness System by simply sending a text with their “name/area/complaint” to 0918-9122813.

"DSWD-ARMM will prepare and distribute advocacy materials that will indicate nobody can remove or add to the list of Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries since it’s a national program,” said Sec. Karon.

Further, Sec. Karon mentioned that Family Development Sessions (FDS) inculcate in beneficiaries the values of active citizenship, including their rights and responsibilities. She said they address very important challenges for poor people, and that they understand the power they have and using that power to change their situation.

  

The Pantawid Pamilya Program implementation in ARMM, currently provides cash grants to more than 300,000 households. Enrolled families get a monthly cash grant of P500 to cover healthcare costs while each child below 14 gets P300 for education. As conditionalities, the beneficiaries are required to send their children to school, and submit them to regular medical check-ups.

As reflected in the proposed 2013 national budget which recently passed in the Senate, more than P44 billion has been allotted to the conditional cash transfer program, up from P39 billion in 2012. (GILMHAR A, LAO, Regional Information Officer, Pantawid Pamilya, DSWD-ARMM with report by Becky D. de Asis/ Judys G. Cogo)

 

Eight Cotabato Student competes the National Press Conference in Ormoc

A ‘Child-Friendly’ ARMM Complex

Cotabato City – Attesting with the autonomous regions’ child friendly atmosphere, 368 elementary pupils with their teachers toured the ARMM complex in an educational exposure to regional government office’s routine operation.

Clad in colourful comfy uniform, Notre Dame-Religious of the Virgin Mary College of Cotabato, grade school kids trooped the vicinity parading from one office to another, in an implicit attempt to familiarize with the regional office premises.

“We’ve been doing this yearly field trip for our school children to different notable establishments yet, this was our first time to drop by at the ARMM,” said  Janice Roxas, grade school teacher and secretary to the dean.

The regional complex has been a regular hang out for recreation and sports work outs for all ages especially in the afternoon and weekends.

Regional Executive Secretary and lawyer Anwar A. Malang, elated with the startling turn out of children in the ARMM premises and had a souvenir photo taken with the ‘little visitors’ right in front of the ORG main building.

The autonomous regional government has been keen on programs promoting education and child rights.  This to include, forged partnership with the Bangladesh’s BRAC alternative learning model (BRAC-ALM) and Australian’s Basic Education Assistance for Muslim Mindanao (BEAM-ARMM).

Meanwhile, earlier, MMA Act 293 or the Free Birth Registration Act had been enacted into law, a commitment of the ARMM government to uphold basic rights of children as to birth registration, free of charge.

PhilHealth-DOH Run attracts more than 4,500 runners

TUBOD, Lanao del Norte -- More than 4,500 participants registered for PhilHealth’s first simultaneous nationwide run at the sprawling Mindanao Civic Center (MCC) sports complex last February 17.

Dubbed as “PhilHealth-DOH Run 2013”, it was the biggest run ever hosted by Lanao del Norte LGU and broke all attendance record from previous fun run events hosted by the provincial government.

The province is also recognized as the only plus site and the lone provincial host for this nationwide running event.  

Lanao del Norte is recognized by PhilHealth as one of its race venues along with 18 other cities that included Manila, Batangas, Sta. Rosa, Clark, Baguio, Malolos, Dagupan, Tuguegarao, Legaspi, Iloilo, Cebu, Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro, Marawi, Koronal, Butuan, Davao and Zamboanga. 

“The rural health unit of Tangcal municipality, Lanao del Norte is the local beneficiary of this PhilHealth run and the rest of the proceeds from this event will be used to support the national and regional institutions promoting the protection of mothers and children in the country,” said PhilHealth-Iligan Head Ayesah Macumbal.

Cotabato City Government give more classroom after rewarded as Seal of Good Housekeeping from Malacanang.

Cotabato City - Additional classrooms will be constructed in several Public Elementary and High Schools in the City as part of the rewards the City Government acquired after being a recipient of the Seal of Good Housekeeping.

The Department of Education has allotted a certain amount for the construction of new classrooms by the Department of Public Works and Highways that will start on March 2013.

According to  DepEd, they have 2 lists of schools in Cotabato City. The first list was composed of L.R Sebastian Elementary School, Pilot Provincial Science and Technology High School, Datu Ayunan Elementary School, CCNHS-Annex (L.R Sebastian), CCNHS-Annex (PC Hill), CCNHS-Main, Datu Ayunan National High School, and Notre Dame Village National High School.

“This is only a partial list. Accoding to DepEd, there is a total of 16 Public Schools to benefit from the program. We are hoping that this can somehow help in addressing the problem of lack of classrooms in the schools in our city”, Secretary to the Mayor Aniceto Rasalan said. (by: Becky D. de Asis)

               

SULU sponsors Seminar on the management of BARANGAY anti Drug Clearing Operations for Chiefs of Police in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi (BASULTA)

Zamboanga City – Director General Arturo G. Cacdac, Jr. of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) lead lecturers and participants on a one day  Seminar on the management of BARANGAY anti Drug Clearing Operations for Chiefs of Police in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi (BASULTA) held recently at the Garden Orchid, Hotel in Zamboanga City (Feb. 5, 2013). Initiated and Sponsored by the Sulu Provincial Gov’t under Gov. Ab dusakur M. Tan in partnership with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) under Dir. Gen. Cacdac, the seminar aims to address the growing problem of drugs in BASULTA and to find ways to put a stop on the number of pushers and users of illegal drugs in the Region.

“Sincere appreciation to the LGU’s of BASULTA, and especially for Gov. Tan for sponsoring this Seminar” said Cacdac, in his message. Tan requested that PDEA address the proliferation of prohibited drugs in the region according to the PDEA chief. He said that Basulta is close to his heart that’s why he did not have no second thoughts in coming here to this part of the country.

Along  with the PDEA Chief are lecturers Gen. Pedrito C. Magsino, Chief,Preventive Education and Community Involvement Service (PECIS), Dir. Edgar S. Apalla, Chief, PDEA Academy, Dir. Adzhar A. Albani, Reg. Director PDEA RO-9, Prof. Moh. TAHA S. Arakama, City Director, DILG Zamboanga City, Mr. Sherwin R. Vitterbo of PDEA Intelligence and Investigation Service (IIS), Atty Sherwin C. Closa, PDEA –RO9,  and representing Sulu Gov. Abdusakur M. Tan is Board Member Alkramer “Butch” Izquierdo.