Nat'l gov’t backs ARMM’s reintegration program for former ASG members

COTABATO CITY (March 28, 2018) – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) government’s reintegration program for Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) returnees has received a positive message of support from National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

Sec. Lorenzana said the national government would support the ARMM’s reintegration program. The statement came after the program delivered positive results from its initial interventions.

The Defense secretary, along with Alexander Macario, assistant secretary for peace and order of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), attended the ARMM’s Regional Peace and Order Council meeting on Thursday, March 21, at the Western Mindanao Command Camp in Zamboanga City.

The reintegration program dubbed Program against Violence and Extremism (PAVE), was initiated by ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman’s office. PAVE is designed to provide opportunities to members of the ASG who surrendered and returned to the fold of law for reintegration in society. The program is expected to result in more ASG members surrendering in the coming months.

A total of 173 former Abu Sayyaf members from the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi have recently surrendered to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), or to their local government units (LGUs). John Louie Balagot, cabinet secretary of the ARMM Governor’s Office and current PAVE manager, said the ASG members must also give up their firearms upon surrendering.

Balagot added a series of interventions were piloted involving the 89 returnees from Basilan since July 2017. The interventions include psychosocial sessions, medical check-ups, introduction to farming systems, and expository tours outside the island provinces, which are designed to usher the complete reformation of the former combatants into decent and productive members of society.

The returnees will also be provided with farm implements as livelihood support and housing from the ARMM-Bangsamoro Regional Inclusive Development with Growth and Equity Program. “After hearing Sec. Lorenzana’s support, we will be able to expand and enhance our program to deliver more services to the returnees,” Balagot added.

Assistant Secretary Macario said the national government, through the DILG, is also making a reformation program dedicated to the ASG. “We commend the regional government for the initiatives it has taken to stabilize peace and order in ARMM,” Asec. Macario said.

In the coming months, the returnees from Sulu and Tawi-Tawi will undergo interventions similar to those in Basilan. In Sulu, there were 61 returnees, and 23 in Tawi-Tawi. PAVE has been running in cooperation with LGUs in Basilan, AFP Joint Task Force, Basilan provincial government, Basilan Young Leaders Program, Nagdilaab Foundation, Inc., and Eisenhower Fellows Association of the Philippines. (By J.D. Cadion with reports from Bureau of Public Information)

DOH confirms 8 measles cases in Western Visayas

By Cindy Ferrer  

ILOILO CITY -- The Department of Health 6 (Western Visayas) on Thursday confirmed eight cases of measles in the region.

Dr. Mary Jane Roches G. Juanico, DOH-6 Child Health Team Leader, said that the number is part of the 32 reported cases in the region from January to February this year.

Of the eight confirmed cases, the province of Antique has the highest with four cases, of which two are in San Jose town and one in each town of Culasi and Tibiao; three in Iloilo province, one case each in the towns of Guimbal, Miag-ao and Lambunao; and one case from Cauayan, Negros Occidental.

Juanico said that they are still waiting for the laboratory results of the 23 remaining suspected cases. One suspected case was already confirmed negative.

Juanico said that the provincial government of Antique already declared a measles outbreak last week.

Juanico said they are still waiting for the guidelines from the DOH central office when they could declare an outbreak in an area, although she clarified that they cannot declare a measles outbreak in the whole region.

“So far, the cases are isolated, one per municipality. We are trying to review now if we already need to declare an outbreak,” she added.

“It is either per municipality or per province. It will depend on the extent of number of cases in the area.” she added.

Among the signs of measles is high fever, runny nose, cough, red and watery eyes, and small white spots inside the cheeks, Juanico said.

“The rash will erupt after several days particularly on the face and upper neck and may spread to the hands and feet,” she said.

Meanwhile, she said that the municipal health workers are now intensifying their efforts to look for individuals experiencing fever and rashes so it could be reported immediately.

She added that they are starting to conduct a catch-up immunization for children to respond to the health concern. (PNA)

Davao City on maximum security for civic-military parade

By Rhoda Grace Saron  

DAVAO CITY – Davao City is placed on maximum security as it culminates its week-long 81st Araw ng Dabaw celebration with a civic military parade Friday, March 16 when thousands of Dabawenyos are expected to fill city streets and the Rizal Park, the main venue of the festivities.

The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) will deploy an estimated 5,000 police personnel plus security forces along the route of the Parada Dabawenyo starting from Roxas Avenue to Rizal Park.

City Chief of Police Sr. Supt. Alexander Tagum said stricter security measures and implementation of the do's and don’ts would be in place.

People going to the venue are discouraged from wearing caps, shades, bringing of backpacks, bottled water, bladed weapons. People will be frisked thoroughly.

Tagum said authorities would be conducting extreme measures as part of preventing people from creating trouble.

“We are monitoring the threat groups especially the CPP-NPA terrorist, and we are constantly gathering information through our intelligence unit,” Tagum said.

Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, the Deputy Commander of Task Force Davao, said there would be body frisking and thorough inspections of baggage and bags at the checkpoints.

Spotters will be deployed to help in the monitoring threat groups. Cabangbang asked the indulgence of Dabawenyos and visitors for inconvenience but, he assured that traffic will be manageable during inspections.

The committee on Araw ng Dabaw expected thousands to witness the Parada Dabawenyo. 

Orly Escarilla, the spokesperson of the Araw ng Davao Committee, said there are 329 contingents joining the Parada Dabawenyo.

He hopes that the parade will end at 12 noon.

Erwin Alparaque of the Parada Dabawenyo committee, said the number could increase because there are groups who would join at the last minute.

The committee is also implementing guidelines in the parade. Alparaque said he expects contingents especially those with floats would follow the guidelines.

Floats should not exceed the size dimension; no distribution of items by participating companies, acrobat stunts to ensure continuous flow of the parade. Alparaque said 100 parade marshals would be deployed to monitor each of the contingents. (Rhoda Grace Saron/PNA)

PCSO earns P3.81-B, up 102% in Jan-Feb 2018

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan

MANILA -- The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) on Friday said the expanded Small Town Lottery (STL) has posted PHP3.81 billion sales for the months of January and February this year or a 102.66 percent increase from the same period in 2017.

Last January, STL posted PHP1.87 billion sales, a 103.96 percent increase as compared with its PHP916.5 million sales in January 2017.

In February, STL posted PHP1.94 billion sales or a 101.43 percent increase as compared with its PHP966,298,117 in February 2017.

"Our STL continues to raise more funds to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s free medicines and financial assistance to medical patients in the country amid the vilification campaign being waged in the media by vested-interest individuals to destroy the lottery game in particular and PCSO in general,” PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan said in a statement.

Keno similarly rose by 16.91 percent in two months from PHP807.2 million to PHP943.7 million; Instant Sweepstakes Ticket earned PHP611.4 million in two months, a 100 percent increase from the same months last year; while no sweepstakes draw for two months this year.

As previously reported, Lotto (6/42, 6/45, 6/49, 6/55, 6/58) and other digits (4-Digit, 6-Digit, 3-Digit, and EZ2) increased at 2.81 percent in January and February as compared with its sales in the same months last year.

All in all, sales of lotto, digit, Keno, STL, and instant sweepstakes ticket went up by 37.32 percent.

"We are happy because the people are continuously patronizing our gaming products despite the newly imposed tax on lottery prizes. For now, we can only propose for the amendment of PCSO charter to exempt lottery winnings from 20 percent tax," said Balutan.

If the amount of the winnings is about PHP10,000, the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law requires 20-percent tax on all lottery games of PCSO.

Winnings on the lottery games such as lotto, keno, STL, and sweepstakes are affected by the said law.

"Wala na tayong magawa, batas na 'yan. Iniisip ko nga before baka ma-dissuade ang betting public na hindi na tumaya, pero tignan n'yo naman ang sales natin. Ang katwiran ng ating mga mambabatas, windfall 'yan. 

Kung nanalo ka ng P100 million ibigay mo na sa gobyerno 'yung P20 million na tax na mapupunta din naman sa charity at serbisyong medical ng PCSO, masaya ka pa rin (We cannot do anything about it because it is now a law. 

The problem is simply it may dissuade the betting public but the sales has increase, the explanation of lawmakers is windfall. If you win PHP100 million and you give P20 million to the government, you can still be happy)," Balutan said.

Balutan earlier said that from PHP500 million, the monthly tax collections from lottery winnings are expected to reach PHP1 billion due to the TRAIN law.

The TRAIN, which was signed into law by President Rodrigo R. Duterte last Dec. 19, was the first package of the government’s proposed Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, seen to generate additional revenue to fund the country’s investment requirements. (PNA)