ANTI- BULLYING ORDINANCE APPROVED

BAGUIO CITY: Mayor Mauricio Domogan has approved the Anti-Bullying Ordinance of Baguio City passed by the city council on June 5. Authored by Vice Mayor Edison Bilog, the ordinance seeks to prevent bullying of students in the Summer Capital. Bilog said the measure is a must since incidents of bullying have been rampant of late. “Bullies have been harassing, vexing and even killing other students. These incidents have become alarming as they compromise the emotional, social and psychological growth of students. They also hinder the exercise of students’ rights to quality education and a healthy educational environment. Lastly, they affect the peace and order situation in the city,” he added. The measure mandates every school, college or university in the city to create a Child Protection Committee or AntiBullying Committee.

LANDMARK HONORS ISLAMIC PREACHER

COTABATO CITY: Simunul local government recently launched a seaside historical landmark honoring Sheik Karimul Makdum, a 14th century Arab missionary, judge and scholar who taught southerners Islamic peace activism that outlawed Islamic terrorists at present are trying to destroy. The landmark was constructed on the spot where Makdum landed on the shores of Simunul Island in Tawi-Tawi province. He supervised the construction of the oldest mosque in the Philippines, the Sheikh Karimul Makhdum Mosque in 1380 that marked the introduction of the Islamic faith in the country. Makdum brought with him a copy of the Qur’an that he used as main reference in propagating Islam in what are now island towns in Tawi-Tawi. ARMM and provincial officials led the inauguration that was capped by the launching of P80 million worth of infrastructure projects in Simunul. ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said the landmark with a figure of the Holy Qur’an on top of an arch shall be a “strong reminder” for people in Tawi-Tawi to remain moderate in their interpretations of the teachings in the Qur’an. Outlawed religious extremists in ARMM supposedly have been misinterpreting many verses in the Qur’an when they preach to justify their violent behavior and their persecution of Christians and neutral Muslims.

MAYOR LEADS BLESSING OF INFRA PROJECTS

SAN ANDRES, Quezon: Mayor Sergio Emprese on Friday led the blessing of infrastructure projects here worth P70 million, including the new P40- million municipal building, a daycare center, slaughterhouse, water filtration station, multi- purpose building and evacuation center. He was accompanied by Minority Floor Leader Danilo Suarez ( 3rd District), former Rep. Aleta Suarez and their son, Unisan Vice Mayor JunJun Suarez. He told the residents that the water in the filtration station undergoes a reverse osmosis process, making it comparable to pure distilled water. The water is free for all residents of this town and each family is given a coupon for five, four- gallon containers a week. The lawmaker advised all the mayors to be strict in coupon distribution over reports that the residents sometimes sell the water to other people.