Military neutralizes three local terrorists, discovers enemy lair in Maguindanao

Zamboanga City – Military neutralized three members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and discovered an enemy lair in two separate operations in Maguindanao on June 19 and 20, 2021.

In a statement released by Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., Commander of the Western Mindanao Command, based in Camp Navarro, Calarian this city, said troops of the Joint Task Force Central conducted focus military operations when they encountered more or less 10 BIFF members under Muslimin Amilil, a.k.a. Mus of the 2nd Division of Karialan Faction.

 “Firefight ensued at Sitio Proper, Barangay Linantangan, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao at about 5:52 a.m., Sunday, June 20, 2021, which resulted in the deaths of three BIFF militants,” said Lt. Gen. Vinluan, Jr.

While clearing the clash site, troops recovered the remains of the slain enemies and war materials including three cal. 45 pistols, two hand grenades, eight grams crystalline substance believed to be “Shabu”, and PhP1, 000.00 cash. Recovered cadavers and materials were brought to 1st Mechanized Battalion headquarters for identification, documentation, and proper disposition.

Meanwhile, in a focused military operation conducted at around 4:30 p.m. Saturday (June 19), an abandoned enemy lair was discovered by operating troops at Sitio Tubak, Barangay Saniag, Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

The lair site is situated in an area along the hillside and is believed to be owned by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, Commander of Joint Task Force Central said the lair can accommodate at least 80-100 persons.

It has more or less 12 foxholes, three overhead bunkers, eight bunkers, three guard posts, and running trenches. While scouring the area, soldiers recovered one bandoleer, four magazine pouches, one short magazine, one pressurized improvised explosive device, one pair of combat boots, one butane stove, backpack, pants, ICOM antenna, kettle, Quranic book, pail, iron stove stand, solar panel, whiteboard, and suspected IED components. Said items are placed under the custody of the 92nd Infantry Battalion for safekeeping.

Vinluan congratulated the troops of the Joint Task Force Central for these significant accomplishments. “Rest assure that the armed forces will continue to conduct focused military operations to hunt down and pound on the enemies, and recover their strongholds and armaments, troops continue to scour the area.” Lt. Gen. Vinluan, Jr. added. (Westmincom Press release; with reports by Jong Cadion; Edited by Jun Enriquez, Managing Editor)

MSU SYSTEM STRENGTHENS ITS MANDATE TO PURSUE TRANSFORM AS WORLD CLASS UNIVERSITY

- Dr. Habib Watamama Macaayong delivered his yearend report. 

 BY ASANGAN T. MADALE 

 Marawi City - In an interview with Dr. Habib Watamama Macaayong, President of the Mindanao State University System (MSUs), he stated “We had great plans for thriving as a world class University in Southern Philippines in accordance with the mandate of the university vision and mission but pandemic came and disrupted everything.” 

He was appointed on March 9, 2016 as seventh regular President of the Mindanao State University System (MSUs) with a fixed term to expire in 2022. 

As we would probably know, we did not just sit out the long lockdown imposed by the National Inter-Agency Task Force and the Department of Health (IATF-DOH) to strictly observe the standard health protocols. 

Instead, the Office of the President supported by the Chancellors, Vice Chancellors, Deans and Directors including our external campuses went online to plan intervention programs to continue their works as well as the education of our students.

In his year-end accomplishment reports for 2020 was focus on the following basic principles, such as Infrastructure development, Policy reforms, Crafting new relevant and initiating massive curricular revision, Forging linkages/partnerships for collaborative projects, preventing and protecting MSU main campus in Marawi City against extremism especially during the Marawi siege, and mindful of the principles of clientele satisfaction and continued improvements among others. First, on infrastructure development 

The President's term has been much of a construction boom expended on the completion of the construction of new buildings.

Among these are the College of Education, College of Public Affairs, College of Business Administration and Accountancy, College of Social Sciences and Humanities. On (Dream Buildings) includes the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, College of Engineering, College of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Center for Hotel and restaurant, Convention Center, College of Forestry, College of Fisheries, and Information and Communication Technology College, Institute of Science Education, University Hostel and (2) Faculty Housing.

The completion of these buildings solved the longstanding problem of classroom shortage.

Second, was on the crafting of new relevant programs and initiating curricula revision. The Marawi Siege that broke out in May 2017 crudely jolted society into an awareness of the insidious taking root and spread of violent extremism.

As a response to this new threat, President Macaayong using the mandate and mission the MSUs as a National Peace University, spearheaded the crafting of a Peace Education course (FPE 101- Fundamentals of Peace Education), and its inclusion in the various curricula offerings as a general requirement or part of the General Education Course.

This move was lauded by universities in Manila like Miriam College and De La Salle University as "trailblazing”. In fact, CHED proposed that the MSU be in the vanguard in training faculty Peace Education pedagogy in other State Universities and Colleges (SUCs). Lastly, the forging linkages/partnerships for collaborative projects.

President Macaayong has been very active in forming linkages with foreign universities in Southeast Asia-e.g. Indonesia, Brunei, and Malaysia- and in Turkey (specifically Kastamuno University). Through these MOUs, the university hopes its student-and-faculty exchange programs will lift off the ground. ( Edited by Charina Enriquez,Executive Editor; Technical Editor Jong Cadion; Managing Editor Jun Enriquez)

DPWH supports DepED’s “Brigada Eskwela”

 

DPWH Maintenance crews from Lanao del Norte 2nd District Engineering Office mow the lawn of Miguel Obach Memorial School at Brgy. Ubaldo Laya, Iligan City

ILIGAN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) through its Lanao del Norte 2nd District Engineering Office continued its commitment to extend assistance to the Department of Education’s (DepED) year-round “Brigada Eskwela” activity.

Mr. Bong Labial, Information officer of the DPWH 2nd Engineering office, Lanao del Norte said, there were Four local schools in this city recently benefitted from the grass-cutting activity conducted by the DPWH maintenance personnel from their office for a weeklong work ended June 4 last week.

Among the schools worked by the maintenance teams include Miguel Obach Memorial School of Barangay Ubaldo Laya, Pugaan Elementary School of Barangay Pugaan, Esperidion F. Encabo Memorial High School also of Barangay Pugaan, and Dona Juana A. Lluch Memorial Central School of Pala-o, all of Iligan City.

The Brigada Eskwela is a National Schools Maintenance Week, aims to bring together all education stakeholders to help prepare public school facilities be ready for the opening of classes, as the case may be.

The DepEd district office of Iligan City headed by DepEd Superintendent Roy Angelo E. Gazo expressed their utmost appreciation of the maintenance works initiated by the DPWH 2nd Engineering district office of Lanao del Norte headed by District Engineer Alykhan Ali. “Despite the challenges of he COVID-19 pandemic, we should continue to ensure that our children’s future is promising and safe”, District Engineer Alykhan Ali stressed.

In a phone interview with "Brigada Eskwela" program coordinator Ms. Erlinda Basmayor, DepEd Senior educator program specialist said that the DPWH 2nd Engineering district office of Lanao del Norte, as one of the stakeholders, showed their support to the spirit of Bayanihan system under the Brigada Eskwela with other stakeholders such as private institutions and individuals, government agencies, local government units, and other organizations contribution to DepED’s campaign of providing Filipino children access to quality basic education. Basmayor said traditionally the Brigada Eskwela will kicki-off one week before the start of classes but later on it became a whole year-round activity.

She said there is no definite resumption of face-to-face learning in school pending the order of DepEd Secretary Leonor M. Briones, due to the unstable situation of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the country. Basmayor added, distance learning education will still prevail despite the many challenges encountered but managed and overcame the situation. "The DepEd community always adhere and strictly observed the standard health protocols for the protection of everybody.” Basmayor pointed out.

Labial said, Last year, there were four local schools received hygiene packs from the DPWH 2nd Engineering office, Lanao del Norte in support to the annual Brigada Eskwela activity. Each hygiene pack includes face shields, face masks and 4 gallons of ethyl alcohol. (VNL/DPWH-PIO; with reports and edited by Jun Enriquez, Jong Cadion)

Solid foundation for the Panguil Bay mega-bridge project

 Installation of solid foundation for the Panguil Bay mega-bridge

Iligan City – The much-awaited Panguil Bay mega-bridge project, one of the flagship infrastructure projects of President Rodrigo Duterte administration is now progressing at full scale on its construction schedule.

This was revealed during the site visit on June 4, 2021, of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 2nd District Engineering office for Lanao del Norte, District Engineer Alykhan Ali, Project Manager Miguel Ramos of the DPWH - Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) and consultants from the Korean consortium who are jointly undertaking the bridge construction.

“We are very much pleased to learn that the construction of Panguil Bay bridge is on track despite the prevailing pandemic, and big thanks to Secretary Mark Villar for his innovative ways to push for this mega-project forward while keeping the workforce safe”, expressed District Engineer Ali.

According to DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, the P7.38 billion mega-bridge project is a 3.169-kilometer two-lane bridge which will connect Tangub City in Misamis Occidental and Tubod town in Lanao del Norte will drastically reduce travel time between these two points from the present two-and-a-half hours to only 10 minutes.

The Panguil Bay Bridge (PBB) project will be the longest bridge in the country, overtaking the San Juanico Bridge that links Samar and Leyte by more than 1-kilometer.

 The Panguil Bay bridge will also shorten trips from the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan to Tangub and Zamboanga region in western Mindanao.

District Engr Alykhan Ali (2nd from left), Maintenance Engr Norodin Batabor (left), Kim Keun Young (2nd from right) of the Korean consortium and Engr. Abdul Khalid Lomangcolob (right) of DPWH-UPMO.

Villar said bridges are key to developing the Philippine transport industry, as they are crucial in improving mobility and interconnectivity among nearby cities and provinces. An estimated 200 local workers are currently employed by the Joint venture contractor Namkwang-Kukdong-Gumgwang for the implementation phase of the PBB project.

Also joining District Engineer Ali during his site visit are Maintenance Engineers Norodin Batabor and Hadjinor Sukarno. (VNL/DPWH-PIO; Edited by Jun Enriquez)

USAID executive officer lauds MSU Aga Khan museum as Repository of Cultural Heritage

 

MSU employees posed in front of MSU Aga Khan Museum headed by Dr. Linang Cabugatan

BY ASANGAN T. MADALE

“He who denies his heritage, has no heritage”- Kahlil Gibran

MARAWI CITY - Executive Officer of the Marawi Response Program USAID Plan International Mr. Lauro Tito C. Ilagan in his message during the celebration of the National Heritage Month held May 27, 2021 at Aga Khan Museum building, MSU main campus this City, "The MSU Aga Khan Museum is a Repository of Cultural Heritage in Southern Philippines," Ilagan lauded.

Mr. Lauro Tito C. Ilagan

"As I know under the Charter of MSU System (Republic Act 1893 ,under Section 2 enjoins that institution is task to undertake studies of Filipinos Native Culture, along with sciences and humanities , to implement its charter, the university founded this Aga Khan from acquiring its collection to the continuous process of museum and development and especially its importance to students and researchers to study of their historical heritage." Ilagan added.

Just recently, the Aga Khan Museum and Arkat Lawanen celebrated the National Heritage Month or Pambansang Buwan ng Pamana with this year’s theme "VICTORY AND HUMANITY Upholding Filipino Heritage and Identity " Ilagan emphasized.

The month of May is National Heritage Month, by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 439 s. 2003. Every Filipino is enjoined to take part in this celebration and help create among us a consciousness, respect, and love for the nation’s historical heritage.

As we reflect on and celebrate National Heritage Month in the midst of the most challenging year in recent memory owing to the pandemic, it is more important to look at how we can contribute to preserving our culture and heritage, which help shape our society and our nation’s identity.

However, Ilagan said "Ang pagtulong namin sa mga sector kabilang na ang mga traditional handwoven goods at pati na yung mga gumagawa ng baur at brassware ay malaking bagay po upang magkaroon tayo ng mga pagkakataon pang magkaroon ng mas maraming economic opportunity sa pamamagitan ng trabaho, dagdag negosyo at kita dahil sa kanilang pagproduce at pagbenta ng mga produktong ito, Subalit kasama rin diyan ang pagsuporta rin na mapreserve yung traditional skills at art ng Meranaw people. [ Our support to help the sectoral groups including the traditional handowven goods who are engaged in making "baur" or wooden chest is to improve their economic opportunity by creating more jobs out of the products they produce, and above all our major concern is to help preserve the traditional skills , and arts among the Meranaw people"]

PCW Commissioner Asliyha Limbona

Meanwhile, Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Commissioner on Culture and the Arts Bae Asliyha Limbona was grateful enough for the support received through her initiative to protect, preserve and transmit Meranaw traditional weaving and other items, "I am always thankful to the Marawi Response Program USAID International Plan, my counterpart Dr. Linang Cabugatan, head of Aga Khan Museum and to everyone who have exerted their efforts for the success of the program.

Dr. Cabugatan in her welcome address recognizes the importance of preserving one’s heritage because heritage is who we are as a people and heritage is our history.

Cabugatan stressed the importance of the created initiatives designed to protect not only our cultural heritage but also our natural heritage like the Lake Lanao. "As the people of the Lake, it is incumbent upon us to take care of it," Cabugatan pointed out in her message. (Edited by Jun Enriquez; Photos contributed by Asangan T. Madale)