Aquino government welcomes initiative of Asian
Institute of Management - Team Energy in conducting a program for the
development of Mindanao
The Aquino government welcomed the initiative of
the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), through its Team Energy Center for
Bridging Leadership, in conducting a program aimed at developing peace-building
advocates as part of efforts in bringing progress to Mindanao, a Palace
official said on Thursday.
"We welcome the laudable initiative of the
Asian Institute of Management (AIM) and the Team Energy to conduct the Mindanao
Bridging Leaders Program. The graduates of this program will join the growing
network of leaders who will propagate the mindset and ways of peace-building
that are essential in bringing progress in Muslim Mindanao," Presidential
Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio "Sonny" Coloma
Jr. said in a statement.
The AIM-Team Energy Center for Bridging
Leadership was established as an endowed institution in 2004, with the vision
of "A Society Without Divides."
The endowed institution conducted the Mindanao
Bridging Leaders Program (MBLP) entitled "Co-Creating Peace in Conflict
Affected Areas in Muslim Mindanao," that aims to develop cadres of
bridging leaders who would help effectively respond to key societal divides in
Mindanao towards peace-building and development.
Last Thursday, the AIM-Team Energy Center for
Bridging Leadership distributed the certificates of Program Completion to 22
new bridging leaders in a simple ceremony held at the AIM Building in Makati
City on Thursday.
The 22 newly-graduates from the government,
academic community and the private sector had already developed platforms of
actions to help address complex social problems in Mindanao, the Philippines,
and the Asian region.
"They (graduates) will serve as
peace-building advocates in the various action platforms that correspond to the
priority reform programs of the Aquino administration," Coloma said.
The program was primarily funded by the World
Bank, through the State and Peace Building Fund managed by the Office of the
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).
Ma. Nieves R. Confesor, AIM's Team Energy Center
for Bridging Leadership Executive Director, said 22 Mindanao Bridging Leaders
from various government and private sectors attended the program that lasted
for almost a year.
These bridging leaders have shared their
respective stories from the ground in Mindanao and developed projects aimed at
dealing with violent threats and implement institutional and sustainable change
in the region.
Among the new graduates and bridging leaders are
Major Franco Raphael Alano, Myra Alih, Major General Ariel Bernardo, Major
Benjamin Hao, Jennifer Pia Sibug-Las, Rollie P. dela Cruz, Sherjan Kalim, Dr.
Jeffrey Yasin Noor, Edwin To, Station Manager BBS-DXSM Radyo ng Bayan Zenaida
Masong, Susano Balais, Michael Kelly Tiu Lim, Engineer Marites Maguindra,
Nassreena Sampaco-Baddiri, Sittie Jehanne Mutin-Mapupuno, Dante Eleuterio,
Brigadier General Daniel Lucerio, Dipunudun D. Marohom, Abdul Hamidullah Atar
and Atty. Agdul Gaffur Madki Howard Alonto III.
The leaders presented platforms for actions
namely, Assurance of Security and Protection of Human Rights, Improvement in
the Delivery of Basic Services, Provision of Livelihood or Economic
Opportunities, and Strengthening of Social Capital/Social Cohesion.
Confesor said the over-all objective of the
program is to build a cadre of Bridging Leaders in Mindanao, who can address
issues like peace, education, health, land conflicts, poverty, and poor local
governance, among others. It has two key components: Leadership Formation and
Institutional Development. PND (js)
Palace maintains 'no ransom' policy for victims
of kidnapping
Malacanang maintained on Sunday that the
government’s policy of not paying any ransom for victims of kidnapping remains
in effect and “has not changed.”
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
issued this statement in light of reports that the government paid P7-million
for the release of Australian Warren Richard Rodwell, after being held captive
by the Abu Sayaf bandits for the last 15 months.
She said that while the government is looking
into the circumstances in the release of Rodwell, these reports of ransom being
paid remain just allegations.
“The policy of the government remains that we do
not pay ransom. Having said that, we have no information or confirmation on
that alleged ransom that was paid,” Valte said.
“The policy of the government has not changed,”
she added.
Rodwell, 54, was released in Pagadian City,
Zamboanga del Sur province, on Saturday. PND (rck)
President Aquino appoints new officials in
government
Twenty six individuals were appointed to various
government positions by President Benigno S. Aquino III, a Palace official
said.
The announcement was made by Deputy Presidential
Spokesperson Abigail Valte during the regular weekend briefing over
government-run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday.
Jose Alfonso Poblete was named as president,
chief executive officer, and member of the Board of Directors of the United
Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) Coconut Industry Investment Fund Oil Mills Groups
A and B. Also appointed as member of the UPCB Board of Directors is Jesus
Arranza.
Joffrey Suyao was appointed Acting Director IV
at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) while Milagros Isabel
Cristobal was named member of the governing board representing the women sector
at the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) which is also under DOLE.
The Department of Justice, meanwhile, has Paul
Elmer Clemente as Acting Director IV and Casiano Arcillas as Register of Deeds
I for the Land Registration Authority. Faisar Mambuay, on the other hand, will
serve the Department of Agrarian Reform as Director IV.
Those appointed for the Department of
Environment of Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Energy (DOE)
respectively were Rolando Castro (Acting Director III) and Patrick Aquino
(Director III).
President Aquino also named Virginia Karganilla
and Gary Martel as Director IV for the Department of Budget and Management,
with Maria Angelita Cells and Akmad Usman as Director III, and Rudylia Parrel
as Acting Director III.
Under the Department of Education, John Arnold
Siena was appointed as Acting Schools Division Superintendent while Carla Pacis
and Maria Cristina Lim-Yuson were named as members representing the academe and
child-focused non-government organizations respectively for the National
Council for Children’s Television.
The Department of Trade and Industry will have
Elmoise B. Afurong, Jonathan Jay Aldeguer, and Mary Ann Montemayor as members
for the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development Council.
Other appointments, as announced by
Undersecretary Valte, include: Joseph Khonghun, member of the Board of
Directors representing the Municipality of Subic, Subic Bay Metropolitan
Authority; Rodolfo Santos, Director IV, Department of Social Welfare and
Development;
Artemio Bernardino, Acting Director III, Tariff
Commission under the National Economic Development Authority; Richard U.
Ritual, Rear Admiral, Philippine Merchant Academy under the Department of
Transportation and Communications;
Anthony Robles, member of the Board of
Directors, Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) Data Center, Inc. under
the Department of Finance; and Felixberto Bustos, Jr., member of the Board of
Directors, National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation under the Housing and
Urban Development Coordinating Council. PND (hdc)
