A 'Weng' in action!

LGU accountant Noel Ramos (right) gestures a point as he gently converse with a huddle of Australian Aid and UNICEF representatives during a recently held group visit in one of Malungon town’s learning centers to preschools in Sarangani Province. (Isagani Palma – MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).

UNICEF help restore a ‘torched’ school in Panamin

Of restoring poor kids hope in Panamin - Feeling almost hopeless, Ms Rosalie Balabad (2nd - R), the MSWDO-assigned educator for kids of Panamin has been blessed with new hope and aspiration, after receiving from UNICEF the several thousand of peso-worth cache of manipulative learning materials, feeding wares, toy and musical instruments and school, classroom and teachers' supplies in Malungon, Sarangani Province. This was stress following a reported 'arson' incident that burned down the then Learning Center for children aging 3-5 on August this year. From left is MSWDO Mildred Dela Cuesta, Hideko Miyagawa, Robyn Biti and Australian Embassy's deputy head of mission, David Dutton. (Isagani Palma - MALUNGON SARANGANI province).

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MALUNGON, Sarangani Province – A team of top Unicef-ECCD officials has played a vital role in refurbishing a learning facility that has been reportedly destroyed earlier by a human-made fire in one of this town’s remote barangays. 

The Municipal Social Welfare and Development-assigned field educator Rosalie S. Balabad, said that was sometime in August this year when a suspected arsonist put into ablaze, the intended temporary learning center to poor kids of the Visayan and Taga-Kaulo tribes in this town’s farthest village of Panamin. 

She said the culprit, despite of having been collared by the rescuing villagers, left nothing for her to save and spare.

“I really shed tears as I gazed the learning hut of my 3-4 year old pupils, transmuted into a total wreck of ashes,” the teacher said. 

She said armed with nil but of mere ardent desire to serve, she tried to take a push on what she have started in sitio Maylaya, even by schooling the broods underneath a shaded heap of nature trees, but it seems difficult for her this time with an empty hand. 

That was a bright Monday morning when MSWDO Mildred Dela Cuesta called for her (the teacher) to report before Malungon town Mayor Bong Constantino - for a ‘fairly bond of surprise’. Timely, that was the same day to wit a huddle of Australian and Unicef-Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) officials came to visit Malungon town, in course of the group’s usual onsite child caring services and other humanitarian campaign. 

Just before adieu, Rosalie was certainly surprised after being pinpointed as the lone recipient of the several thousand of peso-worth package, fully loaded with almost all of what she dreamed of for those kids back home. 

“I could hardly speak. Or neither utter to say thank you to all the goodness I have shared. All that what I could only lucidly determine for an instance, are the smiling faces of those people that surround me … with sir David Dutton stretching a hand for the list of what UNICEF have just conferred me. 

During the ceremonial turnover, with the Australian Embassy’s Mr. Dutton who is deputy head of the mission, are Hideko Miyagawa, Ms. Robyn Biti and Margareth Sheenan, Mam Mildred and other friends in the local government service. 

The huge boxes are contained with manipulative learning materials, feeding wares, toys and musical instruments including school, classroom and teachers supplies. 

Now, despite of travelling that high and far, i could not stop myself to envisage the pleasure that I will soon see on the eye of my beloved small learners, the elated Balabad said. 

MSWDO Dela Cuesta said UNICEF, in collaboration with government and non-government partners, supports ECCD initiatives and participates in promoting parental awareness and appreciation of the value of Early Childhood Care Development. it also promotes a holistic approach to early learning, bringing in many crucial child development processes such as children’s active participation through interactive learning and play, health, hygiene, sanitation, and overall well-being as well as teachers’ motivation, and community support for children’s safe and secure environment.

RFC meets Gov. Hataman, top ARMM officials

RFC meets Gov. Hataman, top ARMM officials – Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino shares a serious talk about the best practices in education with (L-R) ARRM DepEd regional secretary, Atty. Jamar Kulayan and Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao regional director Mujiv Hataman during the Monday (October 13) tour visit of ARRM officials in Malungon, Sarangani Province. (Isagani Palma/ Mio-Malungon).

ARMM officials conduct 'educational' tour in Sarangani town

Replicating Malungon town’s best practices in education – Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino and ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman gesture the symbol of friendship following a latter’s lead educational tour on Monday (October 13) in Malungon, Sarangani Province. (JoJo Gocotano – MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).

The greatness of being honored - Left, Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino shares a warm handshake with Atty. Jamar M. Kulayan, the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao regional secretary during the Monday (October 13) visit of ARMM officials for an onsite study of Malungon town's best practices in education in Sarangani Province. (Isagani Palma-MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).

ARRM officials’ visit to forge Sarangani’s teaching scheme – Top DepEd, provincial and local government officials of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao lead by ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman (center) pose for a bsouvenir shot with Mayor Reynaldo ‘Bong’ Constantino (5th right in white polo) during a group visit to study the educational system of Malungon town in Sarangani Province. (JoJo Gocotano – MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).

RFC with ABS-CBN news team - Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino stresses a bird's eye view to the Monday (October 13) visit of ARMM delegates lead by Gov. Mujiv Hataman, to a television reporter during a mid-afternoon interview at the Municipal Hall of Malungon town in Sarangani Province. (Isagani Palma - MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).

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MALUNGON, Sarangani – Mismong si Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv Sabbihi Hataman ang nanguna sa isinagawang tour visit ng mga matataas na opisyales ng ARMM noong araw ng Lunes (Octobre 13) dito sa bayan, sa pagnanais na umano’y makakalap ng mahalagang kaalaman at pamamaraan para mapagtibay ang sestima ng edukasyon sa kani-kanilang mga nasasakupan. 

Ayon kay Hataman ay pinili ng kanilang delegasyon ang Malungon hindi lamang dahil sa napabalita na magandang samahan ng lokal na pamahalaan at ng Departmento ng Edukasyon, kundi maging sa aktibong pagsuporta nito sa hangarin ng lalawigan na lalong mapagtibay ang pamamaraan ng pagtuturo, na malaki umano ang naitulong sa sunod-sunod na pamamayagpag nito (Sarangani Province) sa mga isinagawang National Achievement Test (NAT) noong mga nakaraang taon. 

Isa din sa mga binigyang pagtanaw sa ginawang pagtitipon ay ang pagkatangap ni dating Gob. Migs Alcantara-Dominguez ng prestihiyosong “Galing Pook Award” mula sa mismong presidente ng bansa na si Pres. Benigno Aquino III, dahil sa magandang pagtutulungan ng mga LGUs, DepEd officials, at nang mga bumubo ng programang QUEST o Quality Education for Sarangani Today na unang hinubog ni Dominguez noong taong 2007, sa hangaring mabigyan ng tamang sestima ng edukasyon ang lahat ng mga kabataan sa naturang lalawigan.

Si Dominguez ay isa sa mga itinalagang tagapagsalita para sa naturang okasyon ngunit hindi ito nakadalo dahil sa di pa rin nalalamang dahilan. 

“Now I think we have that enough gen on the importance of best practices in education, which will serve as a challenge to every ARMM official to work harder for the betterment and stabilization of our educational system in the Autonomous Region. For if Malungon that lays right at the core of a mountainous area could have able to establish it, how much more for Basilan that is strategically located in a much advantageous place and coastline,” ani Hataman sa gitna ng isang roundtable discussion na isinagawa sa loob ng Mayor’s Office conference room ng nasabing bayan. 

Ayon naman kay Malungon town Mayor Reynaldo ‘Bong’ Constantino, maliban sa tamang pamamaraan ng pagpasigla ng educational system ng bawat pook ay kinakailangan pa rin ang sapat na ‘political will’ para maipatupad ito na sangayon sa mga nakaplanong programa ng gobyerno.

“We are giving stern emphasis in our educational programs for I am certain that it is only through proper education that our poor constituents could able to combat the major causes of poverty,” ang dagdag pa ni Constantino. 

Sinasabing sa pamamagitan ng educational assistance program ng administrasyong Constantino ay inaasahan na naman ang pagtatapos ng iba’t ibang kurso ng may 115 na college students ngayong taon, maliban doon sa may 306 na una nang nakapagtapos mula ng maupo sa pwesto ang alkalde. Kabilang sa mga nagtapos ay ang 2 doctor na kasalukuyan ng naninilbihan sa MHO ng naturang munisepyo. Di pa kabilang dito ang may 30 college students na una na ring pinagtapos ng LGU at ng provincial government sa ilalim naman ng administrasyon ng kasalukuyang gobernador na si Gov. Steve Chiongbian-Solon, at sa tulong na rin Mindanao State University program for education baccalaureate degree, para sa taong 2013-14. 

Ayon naman kay ARMM education secretary Jamar Kulayan ay gagamitin ng mga bumubuo ng delegasyon ang mga nakuhang kaalaman para mapaganda ang sestima ng edukasyon sa Autonomous Region, at makakalap ng sapat na interes ng mga mag-aaral para tuluyang makapagtapos ng kolehiyo. 

Matapos ang pagpupulong sa Mayor’s Office ay tumuloy ang convoy sa Malandag Central Elementary School para personal na masilayan ng mga sumama ang sestima ng pagtuturo, maging ang kapaligiran at mga bumubuong pasilidad ng nasabing paaralan.

Maliban kina Hataman at Laluyan ay binubuo din ang nasabing delegasyon nina: ARMM DepEd directors Shuaib Maulana (Bureau of Elementary Education), Nur A. Pulong (Bureau of Alternative Learning System), at Dir. Marjuni Maddi ng bureau of planning services. Ang mga bumubuo ng iba’t-ibang LGUs ay sina: Vice Mayor Alex Handang, Mayor Rustam Ismael, Mayor Jomar Maturan, Mayor Ingatun Istarul, Lamitan City Vice Mayor Roderick Purigay, at ilang mga kumakatawan para sa ibat-ibang bayan ng ARMM. (MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).

Gesturing a legacy of concern

Gesturing a legacy of concern - Mayor Reynaldo ‘Bong’ Constantino (2nd - L) stresses a customary Monday briefing to LGU accountant Noel Ramos, MTO Ninfa Figueroa and a staff shortly after the convoy of ranking Basilan and ARMM officials led by Gov. Muhiv Hataman left the municipal hall of Malungon town in Sarangani Province on October 15. While rear is Vice Mayor Erwin Asgapo as he attends to some presented concerns of locals. Story about Gov. Hataman’s visit comes next. (Isagani Palma – MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE). 

RFC bats for zero open defecation in 2015

Dad, Vice Gov. Pacquiao tightens ZOD drive in Maln’gan – Sarangani Vice Gov. Jinkee Jamora-Pacquiao and Mayor Reynaldo ‘Bong’ Constantino cheer with over a thousand people during the Friday (October 10) presentation of the local government’s nearly completed zero open defecation drive in Brgy. Malandag Gymnasium, Malungon, Sarangani Province. (JoJo Gocotano – MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).

A promotion for ample healthcare, protection - About a thousand people composed of local and provincial gov't officials, barangay leaders, health officers and the common tao have convened Brgy. Malandag Gymnasium on Friday (October 10) for the promotion of ZOD (zero open defecation) project in Malungon, Sarangani Province. (Keen Pacheco - MDRRMO/ ipp).

Full ZOD implementation seen - With only 9.4% in the overall total of households left with no access to sanitary toilette, Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino express optimism on Friday (October 10), that the local government’s thrust for a zero open defecation (ZOD) will soon be attained. Basing the CBMS-conducted surveys, Constantino said Malungon town have already completed over 90 percent in its ZOD implementation drive, today. He said the local government is aiming for the full implementation of the project by the end of this year, or early 2015. (JoJo Gocotano – MALUNGON INFORATION OFFICE).

Model 'ZOD' Barangays - Brgy. Capt. Joey Espinosa (center) is flank by other Brgy. Talus officials as they receive form Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino (4th-L), a trophy and inducement check amounting to P20, 000 during a Friday (October 10) called for gathering in Brgy. Malandag Gymnasium, Malungon, Sarangani Province. Constantino said the three checks amounting to P20, 000 each were given to officials of Brgys Talus, Upper Biangan and Datal Bila as incentive-price for being a model ZOD barangay in the municipality. (JoJo Gocotano - MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).

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RFC bats for zero OPEN defecation in 2015
by ISAGANI P. PALMA

MALUNGON, Sarangani – With only 9.4% in the overall total of households that have no comfort room or in continuous usage of open defecation system, Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino is certain that this undertaking will be fully materialized before the end of this year, or by early quarter of cy 2015. 

Constantino's announcement came before the presence of local and provincial health officials, workers, barangay leaders and local residents that gathered Brgy. Malandag Gymnasium, in support to the stern implementation of the “Zero Open Defecation” campaign in Malungon, Sarangani Province.

Spearheaded by no less Sarangani Vice Gov. Jinkee Jamora-Pacquiao and Gov. Steve Chiongbian-Solon, the Department of Health-lead ZOD project which is a recipient of the World Bank-funded Water and Sanitation Program (WSP), is now being strongly pushed by the provincial government in an aim to establish a clean, disease-free, safe and healthier kind of environment in the province. 

In line, Gov. Solon earlier formed a task group to closely monitor the efforts that are being stress by the different local gov’t units, to ensure the prompt and appropriate implementation of the project.

Constantino said as it started three years ago, the LGU’s accurate monitoring scheme through CBMS (Community-Based Monitoring System) has played a vital rule in the identification of impoverish barangays and other far flung villages that should be given with a 'must' to ZOD and or other related projects of the government. 

“Today, I am pleased to say that just like on how we initiated the means to energize our entire 31 comprising barangays, our ZOD project have stress a lucid increase as compared from the then 62% in 2010, into 90.6% today. The remaining 9.4 percent households that have no sanitary toilet will be our next target in the remaining quarter of 2014, if not early next year,” Constantino added.

“Ini kay tungod gin-paandaman ko na nga daan ang akon mga kasimanwa nga indi na ako maghatag pa sang hinabang sunod tuig (2015), kung wala sila sang maipakita sa akon nga sertipikasyon halin sa sanitary inspector nga may ara sila sang sanitary toilet sa ila nga mga panimalay (This is because I have already warned my people that I will not extend any assistance anymore in 2015, to those who could not furnish me a sanitary inspector’s certificate as proof that they are indeed using hygienic toilets in their respective homes,” the mayor said in a vernacular. 

Constantino also awarded with trophy and a P20, 000 cash, officials of Brgys Talus, Datal Bila and Upper Biangan for leading last month’s LGU-overseen evaluation of a ‘perfect’ ZOD implementation in their respective AORs .  (MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).

VP Binay, NHA nagbigay ng paunang P5M para sa itatayong IP Housing

Housing project for Kalonbarak Skyline IPs – The green flag is up to the construction of a 100-unit housing for Blaan minorities in sitio Kalonbarak, which is considered by many as one among the highest peaks in Malungon, Sarangani Province. Photo shows National Housing Authority chair, Vice President Jojomar Binay as he turns over Mayor Reynaldo ‘Bong’ Constantino (4th – R) and the rest of local government officials Wednesday (October 8), the amount of P5-million as partial funding for the construction of a P10M-worth NHA-funded housing project for homeless Blaan families in the municipality. With the vice president is (L-R) Paranaque Congressmen Gus S. Tambunting, Rep. Sherwin T. Gachalian of Valenzuela, Mun. Councilors Edna T. Tuanzon and Mariano S. Escalada, Vice Mayor Erwin A. Asgapo, Architect Ma. Alma T. Valenciano (MMO Group manager of the Quezon City-based NHA Office), and Tribal Chieftain and SB ex-officio, Edmund Pangilan. (JoJo Gocotano – MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE/ ipp).

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MALUNGON, Sarangani – MAINIT na sinalubong ng mga tribal Chieftains, local gov’t officials at mga residente sa pamumuno ni Mayor Reynaldo “Bong” Constantino ang pagdating ni Bise Presidente Jojomar Binay sa bayan noong araw ng Miyerkules (Octobre 8), kung saan ay iniabot nito ang paunang pundo na P5-milyon para sa pagpapatayo ng may 100-unit na pabahay ng National Housing Authority (NHA) para sa mga minoridad na m’yembro ng tribong Blaan sa sitio Kalonbarak, Malungon, Sarangani Province.

Ayon kay Constantino, ang naturang pundo ay bahagi ng ipinangakong proyekto ng Bise Presidente na siyang ring chairperson ng National Housing Authority, na 100-unit na pabahay na nagkakahalaga ng P10 milyon para sa mga pamilyang IPs sa naturang pook.

Ang desinyo ng nasabing proyekto ay unang ipinaabot sa lokal na pamahalaan ni Binay noong buwan ng Pebrero ng nakaraang taon (2013), sa pamamagitan ni NHA Region-12 (OIC) director Engr. Rolando Teves, na siyang nagpunta sa Malungon para iparating ang magandang balita sa alkalde.

“Dako gid ang akon pagpasalamat sa sinseridad nga ginapakita sang aton mahal nga Bise Presidente Binay, hilabi na gid sa paghatag sang amo nga proyekto sa mga minoridad nga sa sulod sang madugay na nga panahon, amo pa lang makatagamtam nga makapuyo sa subong sini nga klase sang panimalay nga pagabuhaton didto sa ginakunsidera naton nga mga matag-as nga kabukiran sang sini nga banwa,” ani Constantino na isa ring half-blooded Blaan.

Sinabi din ni Binay na maliban sa kasalukuyang proyekto, planong magpatayo din ng NHA ng kahalintulad na pabahay project para sa tribo ng mga Taga-Kaulos sa taong 2015.

Maliban sa pagbigay ng pundo ay kinumperma din ni Binay ang plano nitong pagtakbo sa paka-Presidente sa darating na 2016 synchronized elections.

Sakali man umanong manalo ito sa pilian ay sinabi ni Binay na may ilan itong prioridad o revisions na nais ipatupad sa sestima ng pamamahagi ng Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) sa iba’t-ibang sangay ng mga local government units sa buong kapuluan.

Ayon dito, ang P500 thousand na National Funding ay deriktamente ng matatangap ng bawat LGUs, at hindi na ito daraan pa sa regional at provincial level na kadalasay "siyang dahilan ng ‘pagliit’ ng pundo bago pa man ito tuluyang matangap ng bawat lokal na pamahalaan."

Kaalinsabay din nito umano ay ang pagpasigla ng computerization system ng mga pamahalaang lokal.

“Plano ko rin na ‘wag ng bigyan ng IRA ang mga malalaking LGUs na tulad ng Makati na kumikita ng may P12 na bilyong local tax revenue collection at hindi na umaasa pa sa 25% na IRA na nagkakahalaga ng P800-million. Ito po ay ibabahagi ko na lamang doon sa mga maliliit na mga pamahalaang lokal na mas nangangailangan ng tulong at proyekto mula sa ating mataas na pamahalaan,” ani Binay. (Isagani P. Palma - MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).