ARMM TO BUILD P100- M MAGUINDANAO GOVT CENTER

COTABATO CITY: The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will build a P100- million Maguindanao government center this year in Buluan town, the provincial capital. ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman and Maguindanao Gov. Esmail Mangudadatu led the groundbreaking for the center on Monday. Hataman said the building will facilitate delivery of services to constituents. “We will make sure that this project has social impact on our area of jurisdiction,” he added. Mangudadatu thanked the regional government and President Rodrigo Duterte for the support in the provincial center’s development. The two- storey center will house the offices of several provincial government agencies, and will sit on 1.8 hectares. It forms part of the provincial government complex. The project is funded under the ARMM’s Department of Public Works and Highways ( DPWH) budget for 2017. It is expected to be finished in 12 months. Among the flagship projects of the DPWH- ARMM in Maguindanao are the Datu Odin Sinsuat- Datu Blah Sinsuat- Lebak Coastal Road that connects Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat provinces and the Pigcawayan- Buldon- BariraButig Road that connects the provinces of Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Lanao del Sur. Maguindanao is set to receive P2.49 billion worth of infrastructure projects from the ARMM this year. These include ( village) roads, water systems, drainage systems and flood control projects.

BULACAN CITES OUTSTANDING WOMEN FOR 2018

THE provincial government of Bulacan recognized outstanding women in the province during the Gawad Medalyang Ginto 2018 held at The Pavilion, Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center, on Monday as part of the Women’s Month celebration. Luceria Diego from Calumpit was named Natatanging Babae because of her zeal to improve her way of living while also helping to improve the quality of life of others. She received a plaque of recognition and P20,000 cash incentive. Soroptimist International of Norzagaray headed by Aureluz Torres won the Natatanging Samahang Pangkababaihan forto their contribution to the community by way of scholarships, medical missions, feeding and livelihood programs and tree planting. They received a plaque of recognition and P30,000 cash incentive. For the sectoral category, the municipality of Norzagaray headed by Dr. Rhodora Pesebre was hailed as the Matagumpay na Konsehong Pambayan para sa Kababaihan ( KPK), Teresa Clemente of Calumpit as the Matagumpay na Ginang ng Overseas Filipino Worker, Cristina Briones of Marilao as the Matagumpay na Babaeng Mangangalakal and Joyce Ann Vitug of Plaridel as the Huwarang Kabataang Babae sa Pamumuno. They all received plaques of recognition and P20,000 for the KPK and all others took home P10,000 each.

DENR FORMS TASK FORCE TO PROTECT VISAYAN ISLANDS

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources- Region 7 has created the Regional Foreshore Area Task Force ( RFATF) for Mactan Island, Cebu and Panglao Island ( Bohol) to enforce environmental laws and protect the region’s tourism sites for present and future generations. Two teams will conduct an inventory of all establishments near or within the foreshore areas, according to DENR Regional Director Gilbert Gonzales. The group will compile an updated list of establishments violating environmental laws, operating without tenurial instruments and building structures outside their property limits. The list will include violators of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 ( Republic Act 9003) and the Philippine Clean Water Act ( RA 9275). The RAFTF teams will coordinate with the Environmental Management Bureau- Region 7 and local government units for the conduct of their operations. The regional director noted that Panglao Island in Bohol and Mactan Island in Cebu are the sites most frequently visited by tourists.

‘ BISIKLETA IGLESIA’ SET IN BATANGAS ON HOLY WEEK

LENT is a season for contemplation and acts of devotion. There are various expressions of faith and in Batangas, a spiritual journey can start with a two- wheel pilgrimage, the “Bisikleta Iglesia.” The 52- kilometer annual religious and heritage tour, which will be led by running priest Fr. Robert Reyes, OFM, kicks off at 5: 30 a. m. on March 24. This is the second time Reyes is joining “Bisikleta Iglesia,” which Lima Park Hotel stages. Participants will stop over at seven churches: Santo Niño Parish Church, Marian Orchard, Divino Amor Chapel- Redemptorist, Parish of Mary Mediatrix of All Grace, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Monastery, Metropolitan Cathedral of San Sebastian and Parish Church of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus. Over 150 cyclists from Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite and Manila attended the event last year. It was also a gathering of cyclists from different age brackets with 11- year- old EJ Yabut as the youngest participant. The event charges a registration fee of P398, inclusive of breakfast, packed snack, buffet lunch and a chance to win Lima Park Hotel gift certificates and other goodies. The first 100 registrants will also receive commemorative “Bisikleta Iglesia” jerseys.

QC BARANGAY JOIN QUAKE ORIENTATION COURSE

QUEZON City ( villages) along the West Valley Fault and neighboring communities took part in an Earthquake Landslide Search and Rescue Orientation Course organized by the Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. Seventy- three officials have completed the 32- hour training course. The training aimed to equip the officials on hazard and disaster management; search and rescue operations, particularly in collapsed structures, and extrication and care of victims. Participants were given simulations on rescue operation exercises, such as lifting and moving techniques and victim extrication and stabilization. “Our main objective is to teach the barangay officials how to properly respond during calamities, especially when earthquakes strike. There are a lot of structures that could collapse and having at least basic knowledge to lift the slabs will be of big help to manage the injury of the victim,” Administrative and Training Section chief Maria Cinderella Garcia said. The program is a “big help for us, especially that our barangay is one of the neighbors of those sitting on the West Valley Fault. For sure, we will be affected by ‘ The Big One’ or if not so, we can still help other affected villages,” Barangay Escopa I chairman Marvin Morales said. The villages sitting on the West Valley Fault are Bagong Silangan, Batasan Hills, Bagumbayan, Blue Ridge B, Libis, Old Balara, Pansol, Ugong Norte and White Plains.