PIA Dispatch - Friday, December 5, 2008

PGMA unveils P250M assistance program for returning Filipino overseas workers

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo released today a P250-million livelihood support fund for Filipino overseas workers (OFWs) who will be laid off by their foreign employers as the global economy continues to wobble.

The President unveiled the “payback program of government for OFWs” in ceremonies this afternoon held at Malacanang’s Rizal Hall and attended by 105 workers laid off last week by a Taiwanese electronics firm. They were given packages of assistance.

“Government will not sit idly. …We assure you of our full, unequivocal support,” the President said as she wished the OFW returnees “good luck sa inyong career path.”

The loan fund shall be used as startup capital for OFWs, the country’s “modern heroes,” who decide to stay in the Philippines for good and set up their own businesses.

The President directed the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to immediately draw up simple guidelines to speed up the implementation of the assistance program for the laid-off OFWs. “Dapat gawin kaagad ang guidelines -- simple lang – dapat ‘di masalimuot,” she said.She called on the Department of Labor (DOLE) to ensure that the program is not hobbled by red tape. The President, who was in a power-blue dress coat, distributed to every OFW returnee one abaca bag containing the package of assistance consisting of a certificate of assistance from the Technical Education and Skills Development Administration (TESDA) for free skills training; referral letter for overseas employment from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA); referral letter for local employment from the Bureau of Local Employment; OFW Family Club Card from the Social Security Service (SSS); and certificate of eligibility for livelihood assistance from the OWWA.

She also distributed four Livelihood Funding Checks totaling P590,000 to the returning OFWs from Taiwan; P150,000 for the displaced OFWs from Cavite to be supervised by the Technology Resource Center & Dream Inc.; P110,000 for the OFWs from the Visayas and Mindanao; P70,000 for Laguna OFWs; and P160,000 for the OFWs from Pampanga.

In her speech after the turnover of the assistance packages, the President assured OFWs that her administration will do everything possible to improve their lot.

“Gagawin lahat ang makakaya (for OFWs)… Dapat ‘di magpabaya ang pamahalaan,” she said, pointing out that “napakahalaga ng nai-ambag niyo (the OFWs)” to the country’s economy, thus the “agarang pag-responde para matulungan ang mga bayani, tulungan ang mga napipilitang umuwi.” She noted that so far, “only a trickle of our OFWs lost their jobs because of the worldwide financial crunch.” While about 200 Filipino seafarers had earlier lost their jobs, they have since found new employers.

The President said the DOLE must keep looking for employment opportunities for Filipino labor in compliance with an administrative order she issued tasking the POEA to mount a marketing blitz to widen the job market for Filipino expatriate workers.

In Bulgaria alone, some 1,000 hotel and restaurant jobs are available to OFWs, she said. The President also ordered the setting up of provincial desks to match skills and job opportunities abroad, as she directed the DOLE to provide online information to job-seekers.

The ceremonies were attended by Labor Secretary Marianito Roque, TESDA head Augusto Syjuco, PhilHealth CEO Rey Aquino, and Presidential Management Staff (PMS) head Cerge Remonde, among other government officials.


President hails decision of transport groups to cut fares

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lauded today the various public transport groups for agreeing to reduce their fares in compliance with the decision of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) effective Dec. 15.

In her speech keynoting the formal launch of the Metro Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) Provincial Bus Loading and Unloading Station and Connecting Foot Bridges at the junction of EDSA and Quezon Avenue, the President expressed her appreciation to the transport groups for their “compassion” towards their fellow Filipinos who have been reeling from the increases in the prices of goods and services.

“Maraming-maraming salamat sa ating transport sector sa inyong malasakit,” the President said.Among those present during the ceremony was Homer Mercado, president of the Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines.

Last Wednesday, the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) approved the provisional reduction of transport fares in light of the steady decline in world fuel prices.Under the LTFRB ruling, the minimum jeepney fare will be reduced from the present P8 to P7.50 for the first four kilometers, and by 10 centavos for every kilometer thereafter or P1.40 per kilometer. The LTFRB ordered a similar 50-centavo fare rollback by “ordinary” or non-air-conditioned buses. This means that from P9.50, ordinary bus fares will be reduced P9 for the first five kilometers, and by 10 centavos for every succeeding kilometer or P1.85 per kilometer.

Air-conditioned bus fares will remain at P11 for the first five kilometers but operators agreed to a P0.15 fare cut for every succeeding kilometer to P2.20.

The P10 "compulsory tip" granted to taxi drivers will also be suspended.

The President said the lowering of transport fares solidified the government’s commitment to do everything in its power to protect the Filipino from “price shocks” brought about by the global economic crisis.

“Tungkulin ng pamahalaan na tulungan mabigyan ng panangga ang kabayanang Pilipino laban sa nakaka-gulat na pagtaas ng presyo at mga pabigat,” the President said.

”Ginagawa ng pamahalaan ang lahat na makakaya upang makapag-lagay ng pagkain sa bawa’t mesa at upang proteksyonan ang inyong kita laban sa matataas na presyo at inflation,” she added.


PGMA hails construction of prov’l bus loading, unloading stations along EDSA

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lauded today the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for constructing provincial bus loading and unloading stations along the 24-kilometer stretch of Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA), saying the project would ensure greater safety for commuters and ease traffic congestion.

The EDSA-Quezon Avenue loading/unloading station is one of the 16 stations to be constructed along EDSA this year in keeping with the President’s directive to the MMDA to conceptualize a new traffic improvement scheme for EDSA.

The President had noted that the use of common bus stops for both provincial and the city buses was contributing to traffic gridlock along EDSA.

There are at least 3,000 city buses that ply daily the EDSA route, which passes through the territories of five cities – Caloocan, Quezon, Pasig, Makati and Pasay.

Provincial bus operators had also urged MMDA to construct pre-selected loading and unloading stations along EDSA for the convenience of commuters.

Of the 15 provincial bus loading and unloading stations, nine are located on the north-bound lane of EDSA -- at Magallanes, Guadalupe Bridge, Boni Serrano, Julia Vargas Avenue (Megamall), Ortigas Avenue, Timog/East Avenue, Quezon Avenue, North Avenue (Trinoma) and Balintawak. On the south-bound line, the six stations are in West Avenue, Quezon Avenue, Timog/East Avenue, Ortigas Avenue, Ayala Avenue and Taft Avenue.

“Malaking pakinabang ang naidulot sa ka-Maynila-an ang araw-araw na pagko-commute (ng mga galing sa Central at Southern Luzon papasok sa kanilang mga opisina). Nababawasan ang kanilang (gastusin o) amenities na kailangan nilang ihandog kung dumadayo lamang,” the President said.

“Pinasisigla din nitong mga commuters ang negosyo ng transportasyon at serbisyo sa Metro Manila at kanilang mga probinsya,” she added.

The President said that the project, which includes the construction of foot bridges, has greatly improved the general safety of passengers and commuters who have to cross EDSA to get to their destinations.

“Without bus stops (and its connecting foot bridges), imagine that a senior citizen from Zambales who wants to go to Megamall will have to stop at the terminal of Victory (Lines, Inc.) in Pasay City then take a Metro Manila bus or MRT to reach Megamall,” she said.

She added that the “designation of the bus stops would end the guerilla practice of picking up and unloading passengers along EDSA and it will address the legitimate economic and safety imperatives that have been raised by provincial commuters and by the governors who have told us that their constituents were having a hard time.”

After the launching ceremony, the President walked to the adjacent unloading station where she personally greeted passengers arriving from places north of Quezon City.

She was then escorted to a nearby staircase where she took a guided tour of the foot bridge before heading back to Malacañang.

Joining the President were MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, QC 4th District Rep. Nanette Castelo-Daza, 3rd District Rep. Matias Defensor Jr., 2nd District Rep. Mary Anne Susano and Governors Victor Yap (Tarlac), Aurelio Umali (Nueva Ecija), Enrique Garcia (Bataan), Joselito Mendoza (Bulacan) and Teresita Lazaro (Laguna).


NEDA sees economic recovery by 2009 despite global recession

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has expressed optimism that even if the global recession persists, the economy will recover by 2010, helped by election-related spending and government funding on infrastructure projects.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said in a statement this afternoon that government projects constructed starting in 2007 will bear fruit by 2010, particularly the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and the new Metro Rail Transit (MRT) facilities.

Out of the Pl.415 proposed 2009 national budget, P147.7 billion will be earmarked for infrastructure projects.

This year, infrastructure spending comprises 1.58 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The benefit of the government’s farm productivity program or FIELDS will also be felt by 2009, Fajardo said.

The livelihood and emergency employment projects that were assigned by President Arroyo to Cabinet officials in their particular regions are expected to benefit 118,394 individuals plus 101 municipalities, 952 barangays and 40,063 families after their implementation by January, she addred. The total cost of the livelihood and emergency employment projects has been set at more than P1.7 billion.


PGMA releases P1-M assistance for Oscars bid of Filipino movie

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo backed today Ploning’s bid to the 81st Academy Awards (Oscars) under the “Best Foreign Language Film” category.

Secretary Cerge Remonde of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) released today President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s P1-million financial assistance to the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) to support Ploning’s Oscar bid.

Sourced from the President’s Social Fund (PSF), FDCP chairman Rolando S. Atienza received the fund at the NEB Briefing Room in Malacañang together with Ploning lead actress and executive producer Ms. Judy Ann Santos. The President’s cash assistance will be used mainly for the publicity expenses of the film, such as print ads in Hollywood Reporter and Variety.“Ploning,” an independent film by Panoramanila and directed by Mr. Dante Nico Garcia, is the Philippines’ entry to the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 81st Academy Awards on 22 February 2009.

Competing against 67 film entries worldwide, the film aims to make it to the “Semi-Final Nine,” and if lucky, to the final five film nominees in the Oscars. To attain this, it needs enough marketing support to ensure its presence internationally through efforts such as previews, distribution of DVDs to screeners (with subtitles), advertisements, press conference and TV show guestings in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Chairman Atienza expressed his gratitude to President Arroyo for extending help to Ploning in its aim to grab the Philippines’ first Oscar win, as well as her support to the entire film industry. In fact, President Arroyo has released from her PSF various financial assistance to the film industry, such as the holding of local and international film festivals, welfare assistance to movie workers, cash incentives to outstanding films, and advocacy against film piracy.


D.A. training 1,800 LGU-based agri technicians by yearend

The Department of Agriculture is training some 1,800 agricultural technicians at the local government level before yearend as the opening salvo of a new DA to teach organic fertilizer manufacturing and other environment-friendly farming practices and technologies to over a half-million farmers nationwide.

In a report to DA Secretary Arthur Yap, Agricultural Training Institute director Asterio Saliot said the ATI has so far trained four (4) batches of agricultural technicians who will serve as trainors in farmers’ field schools on these sustainable farming technologies.

“Another 56 batches will be trained between now and the end of December to complete this year’s quota of 1,800 trainors,” said Saliot during the recent Management Committee (ManCom) meeting at the DA central office in Quezon City .

“The remaining 144 batches comprising 4,320 trainors will be trained starting March next year up to July 2009,” he said.

Saliot reported during the ManCom meeting that the ATI conducts its hands-on training workshops in its centers as well as in the facilities of the DA and the local government units (LGUs) all over the country.

“These agricultural technicians will serve as trainors to about half a million farmers in the 2,600 clusters or sites where the DA will channel a bulk of its funds for intervention measures in 2009,” Saliot said. “The training in farmers’ field schools will begin in December and will go on till October 2009.”

Besides providing training on organic fertilizer manufacturing, he said the ATI is also teaching trainors on new technologies to boost the production of palay such as “Palay Check,” vegetables and root crops.

Saliot said that so far, the ATI has already trained 120 trainors in the provinces of Apayao, Abra (2 batches) and Camarines Norte.

The 1,800 trainors will, in turn, train 80,997 participants in farmers field schools during the December 2008 to March 2009 Dry Cropping Season, he said, and another 439,123 in 2009 under this program, which is in line with the new DA policy, as laid out by Yap, to funnel most of its funds into “hard” projects like irrigation maintenance and postharvest facilities rather than on “soft” initiatives like fertilizer or seed support.

As part of this policy overhaul, the DA is also training small farmers in 48 below-average, palay-producing provinces on how to produce their own organic fertilizer needs starting next year.

In lieu of the fertilizer discount coupons that the DA has been giving out this year to farmer-beneficiaries in partnership with LGUs, Yap said that the Department will provide organic fertilizer manufacturing support to farmers in 2,600 clusters or sites where the DA will channel a bulk of its funds for intervention measures in 2009.

Organic fertilizer manufacturing support and other intervention measures will be channeled to these 2,600 clusters as a way to rapidly boost palay harvests by raising up to the national average of 3.8 MT—or higher—the per-hectare outputs in these relatively low-yielding provinces.

These clusters of adjacent or neighboring farms are spread out across 48 provinces, mostly in rainfed areas.

This will be the DA policy on farm production for the remaining 18 months of the Arroyo presidency, Yap said.

Yap said this major shift in farm production support is in step with one component of the DA reform program, which is the intensified promotion of ‘balanced fertilization’ as a long-term, calibrated approach to wean Filipino farmers away from expensive, imported petrochemical fertilizers.

“Balanced fertilization” means the use of a combination of chemical and organic fertilizers in crop production.

In line with this new thrust, the DA has formally agreed with the Alaminos City government and two nongovernment organizations—Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) and La Liga Policy Institute (LLPI)—to pursue this dry crop the P20-million Organic Fields Support Program (OFSP) in an initial three cities and three municipalities in Luzon .

Signing the Memorandum of Agreement on the OFSP were Yap, Assistant Director Wilfredo Cabezon of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management, Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza, PRRM President Isagani Serrano and LLPI Managing Director Roland Cabigas.

The pilot sites are the cities of Alaminos, Tabaco and Science City of Muñoz, and the municipalities of Naujan in Mindoro Oriental and Dinalupihan and Samal in Bataan .

One-hectare training farms will be put up in these pilot sites where at least a hundred farmers per site will be given hands-on training on recycling palay husks and other wastes into organic fertilizer plus other eco-friendly farming techniques like distance planting, System of Rice Intensification or SRI methodology, integrated pest management and zero-tillage farming. (DA-PRESS OFFICE)


TF211 reacts to IFJ

Task Force Against Political Violence and Extra-Legal Killings (TF211) Chairman Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor is dismayed with the statement by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) stating that the Philippines is the most dangerous country for radio broadcasters.

Blancaflor said, “it saddens me that we are being unjustly subjected to severe criticism by an international organization that is not even aware of the current situation in our country. Because if they are, such irresponsible statements would not be issued. IFJ obviously did not do some research before releasing a statement, if they did, they would be aware that the Office of the President created last November 26, 2007 a task force solely for the purpose of producing tangible results by securing the conviction of people tried of crimes related to political violence including media killings cases. In fact, in the recent four (4) killings involving media practitioners, the task force was able to resolve said cases in a span of less than two (2) weeks. This of course came about due to the close cooperation between the different agencies of the government. Furthermore, Task Force 211, as of this writing, sent a team of prosecutors and investigators in Northern Samar to ensure the speedy apprehension of the suspects and resolution of the Leo Mila killing”.

The statement of IFJ was issued in the wake of the slaying of Radyo Natin commentator Leo Mila of Northern Samar last Tuesday while still inside the compound of the radio station. Mila is survived by his wife Gina and two young children, ages 10 and 7.

Blancaflor added, “I can understand the anguish and the frustration that the family of Leo is feeling. I too know how it feels to lose a loved one. For this reason, media and government should work together to put a stop to these horrendous acts against our brothers and sisters in the media. Negative labeling and other forms of unjust criticism are not helping us in our pursuit of finally eradicating political violence and extra-legal killings”.


TF211 attacks NUJP for opportunistic political bashing

Task Force 211 is NOT claiming credit for the speedy solution of media killings cases; it merely seeks to make known to the public that contrary to the accusations that the government is not lifting a finger to address the issue of media killings and that the administration itself has perpetrated attempts to curtail press freedom, the President herself created Task Force 211 to especially address these killings, and accordingly, Task Force 211 has successfully worked on some of these cases, especially the new incidents that had transpired since its creation a year ago.

Task Force 211’s/Undersecretary Blancaflor’s intention behind the dissemination of its successes and efforts towards recent media killings is to send across the message that those planning to perpetrate similar acts ought to think twice because the government has intensified its efforts in solving these crimes and going after criminals, regardless of personalities involved.
It has been proven that successful investigation and prosecution of crimes is a successful deterrent to criminality. This is what Task Force 211 aims to achieve: to stop or at least reduce criminality in general, and killings of media professionals and protect press freedom in particular, via wide circulation of the government’s intensive drives towards successful solution of crimes.

It does not help either if media organizations such as NUJP continue to purposely close its eyes and shut its ears to the fact that the government has been doing its best to put an end to, or at least deter, the further commission of these horrendous crimes, and instead capitalize on isolated incidents in order to further its political agenda to indiscriminately bash the government.

Neither would it help resolve the problem if the society or media organizations will only keep on attacking the government or the efforts of government officials who are working on the problem, but not lend a hand, despite knowing that they are indispensable and integral members or pillars of justice who have their own roles to take on the issue.

While the government remains steadfast in protecting the rights of its citizens in general, and of media professionals in particular, it warns that the latter ought to be mindful, too, of the limitations of their freedoms; they should not abuse the power of their pens to advance their sinister interests.

Undersecretary Blancaflor therefore challenges NUJP to lend a hand to this problem, rather than being just an opportunistic component of the problem.


Cutting-edge diagnostic center to boost gov't specialty hospitals

Quezon City -- Government is putting up a diagnostic center with state of the art technology at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI).

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said it will offer a complete artillery of all aspects of diagnostic and therapeutic medicines to upgrade specialty hospitals namely the NKTI, the Lung Center of the Philippines, the Philippine Heart Center, the Philippine Children's Medical Center and the East Avenue Medical Center.

The center will be equipped with latest magnetic resonance imaging machines such as MRI 3.0 Tesla, PET CT Scan, 256 Slice CT Scan, Cathlab Biplane imaging system, Digital Radiology Fluoroscopy System, extensive range of ultrasound machines and vascular imaging, C-arm image intensifier and Gamma Cameras. All of these are integrated into a Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) which will link it with the global IT system for full digital imaging and computerization. The center will also have capability for Radiation Therapy and Nuclear Medicine."The center can be a venue for what we call medical service outsourcing where we provide expert opinion for diagnosing patients from other countries," Secretary Duque said, "where our doctors can also learn from leading specialists from other international medical centers which also have this digital capability."

Along with Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte and NKTI Executive Director Enrique T. Ona, Secretary Duque buried one of the cornerstones of the center in a special rite this morning.

For his part, Director Ona said the center, the first of its kind among government hospitals, will also be the source of training for physicians and specialists who are serving at the regions and research for developing policies that promote good health.

"This is the government's commitment to provide the best possible health care for all," said Director Ona, "accessible to the very poor but at the same time good enough even to those who can afford to pay more so that they may not have to go abroad or elsewhere." (PIA)


DepEd set on reaching all school-age Pinoys

Pasig City -- The Department of Education (DepEd) has embarked on Project REACH to bring to school some 5.6 million children and youth who are not in school and therefore run the risk of compromising their future.

"Despite Philippine education being free and compulsory, we still have a staggering number of school- age children and youth out in the streets who face exploitation in all forms," said Education Secretary Jesli Lapus.

Project REACH (Reaching All Children) banks on partnership with other sectors in the community to " find them, reach them and keep them" in school.

For school year 2007-2008, some 2.2 million children aged 6 to12 years old and 3.4 million 12-15 years old out-of-school youth or a total of 5.6 million are reported to be not in school.

Studies also showed that there is a drop out rate of 6% in elementary and 7.5% in the secondary level.Lapus noted that getting children to enroll is already a big challenge and keeping them in school is even more daunting. Poverty is identified as the biggest factor that keeps children and youth from enrolling or regularly attending school.

According to Lapus, Project REACH has two major components: Child Find and Innovative Interventions.Child Find will be initiated by the principal in collaboration with barangay councils who will conduct community assembly, family mapping, school-barangay posting and stakeholder assembly."Community involvement is critical here in identifying school-aged children in each family and in bringing educational intervention right at the barangay level," Lapus stressed.

The project demands all community stakeholders to extend assistance even beyond the workplace and even beyond their working hours when necessary to minimize, if not, eradicate potential school drop-outs.

The second component identified innovative intervention programs to find and keep children in school. This component is comprised of two sets of interventions – the demand-side and the supply side. The demand-side interventions involve assistance from DepEd partners.

These include adopt-a-child project, supplementary feeding, scholarship grants, community voucher and subsidy programs in partnership with parent teacher community associations.
The supply side intervention, on the other hand, are DepEd-initiated and funded. It is focused on the enrichment of existing intervention programs and the provision of alternative education delivery modes.

DepEd launched Project REACH during the National Educators Congress at the Baguio Teachers' Camp as the department comes halfway through its 2015 target year to achieve its Education For All goals.

"We intend to fully mobilize our education officials and personnel in intensifying working relations and social ties with our partners in education," Lapus stressed.

Project REACH embarks on a combination of strategies for networking and linkages employing creative "catch and hold" interventions, capitalizing on strong school-stakeholders partnership.Every barangay zone will post basic education-related school/community statistics for everyone accountable for the movement of children in school.

Project REACH bridges and strengthens the capacity of the school, the local government units, and other government agencies mandated to deliver basic services to its citizens.


Military operations targeted against lawless armed groups

Basilan - A military official yesterday disclosed that the recent military encounters in Basilan are part of the clearing operations to rid the province of violence and targeted against lawless groups operating in the area particularly the Abu Sayyaf.

Maj. Gamal Hayudini, commander of the 4th Civil Relations Group, said that the skirmishes occurred after patrolling military troops chanced upon armed bandits who were earlier reported by residents to be harrassing them and extorting them of money and other goods.

“It is the duty of our soldiers to secure these areas beseiged by threats from these lawless groups. The town people come to military camps and detachments seeking for help because there are armed men in their community threatening them,” Hayudini explained.

When this happen, Hayudini said, the military sends troops in the area to patrol and conduct clearing operations which at times lead to firefights with the lawless armed men.

“Our troops are there to ensure the security of the civilian populace so that they may live in peace and without violence. The military encounters are the result of the efforts of the military to remove threat of lawless elements in the community,” the military official stressed.

Meanwhile, the military assures the people under the area of responsibility of the Western Mindanao Command that there will be no spill-over of hostilities inspite of the prevailing situation in Basilan Province.

Hayudini said the military is always ready for any eventualities and assures the people that security measures are in placed especially in possible entry points of lawless elements.

Reports reaching Westmincom disclosed that the Marines under the 1st Marine Bde in Basilan have encountered members of the Abu Sayyaf Group responsible for the series of kidnapping for ransom in Zamboanga City and Basilan Province of which the latest victim is a 9-year old Nicole Raveche who was taken at gunpoint near her residence in Lamitan City on November 26, 2008.

The military in Basilan is also on hot pursuit against more or less 200 armed lawless elements of the MILF who harassed the residents of Sitio Pali, Barangay Abong-Abong, Maluso on Tuesday, 02 December at about 9:30 in the morning and carted away stores stocks, several firearms and undetermined amount of cash from the civilians in said area.

He said the military is doing everything to bring peace and order in the province and urged the public to cooperate with troops. (4CRG, CRSAFP/PIA-BASULTA)


WESTMINCOM heightens alert

Basilan - The military here has been placed on a red alert status following fresh military encounters with Abu Sayyaf bandits in the hinterlands of Basilan Province, a military official said yesterday.

Major Gamal S Hayudini, commander of 4th Civil Relations Group, said that security has been placed on a heightened alert to prevent the escalation of violence and deter it from spilling over to other peaceful areas.

The military official said troops have been directed to institute active and proactive measures to preempt plans of lawless elements in sabotaging vital installations and create panic to the civilian populace in the area.

Hayudini also underscored the need for the public to always be vigilant and cooperate with the law enforcers for the maintenance of peace in order in Mindanao.

Military troops recently encountered members of the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan province which triggered skirmishes which led to several casualties on the part of the bandits.

Government forces also recovered several items in the encounter sites abandoned by the Abu Sayyaf after the fire clash. (4CRG,CRSAFP/PIA-BASULTA)


UN official to probe on children and wars

Basilan - A top United Nations official is set to visit the country to conduct a special investigation on the situation of children involved in armed conflict in Mindanao.

According to 4th Civil Relations Group Commander Major Gamal Hayudini, the Under-secretary of the Special Representative to the Secretary General on Children and Armed conflict Ms. Radhika Coomaraswany is scheduled to visit the country for the special investigation on December 7-13 2008.

Hayudini said the UN official will look into appalling reports about children being used as combatant by the different armed groups, including the New People’s Army and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

He added that the AFP will fully cooperate with the investigation and shall work together with the different civil society organizations, including other human rights stakeholders to assist Ms. Coomaraswany.

Hayudini also said that that the AFP will organize a special body that will focus and address impending issues related to human rights and the children involved in armed conflicts.

“This is effort is an indication of the AFP’s adherence and advocacy for the protection of the human rights as well as to prevent the enemies from exploiting the children,” Hayudini said. (4CRG,CRSAFP/PIA-BASULTA)