Sulu 1st Engineering Dist.undertake major projects - Engr. Munir I. Hadjirul

Jolo, Sulu - The DPWH is the most busiest of the three departments of the government undertaking major projects in order to give services to the people even their life is in danger.

In line with this busiest department, the DPWH Sulu 1st Engineering District under Abdulmunir I. Hadjirul conducted a massive project inspection in order to update the project situations and check workers most particularly in far-flung municipalities of Sulu wherein the haven of the most wanted KFRG-Abussayaf located, they still continuously working until the project is finish or implemented told the District Engineer recently.

Hadjirul added that the massive inspections of  projects in their area of responsibilities aims to show that the government  serve better even in critical areas of the Autonomous Region  they never stop to help the people, he said.

They very confident on implementing the construction projects of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) under Governor Mujiv Hataman because they were equipped and ready to work for the sake of the people here Hadjirul said.

Besides Secretary Mustapha "Don" Loong is very supportive to the projects, he also personally visit the projects area every now and then  to make sure the quality of the projects implemented here. (By Becky D. de Asis/The Redline News)

House passes 96 measures that became law in 17th Congress

MANILA -- Since the opening of the 17th Congress in July 2016, the House of Representatives has passed a total of 96 measures that were enacted into law, according to an accomplishment report released on Wednesday.

In the House accomplishment report, submitted by Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas to Speaker Pantaleon 

Alvarez, it further stated that the lower chamber has processed a total of 2,929 measures with an average of 

16 measures processed per session.

Among the notable bills that became law include:

Republic Act No. 10931 entitled “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act", which provides free tuition and miscellaneous fees in state universities and colleges.

Republic Act No. 10969, also known as the “Free Irrigation Act”, which grants free irrigation to farmers owning not more than eight hectares of land.

Republic Act No. 10932, or “An Act Strengthening The Anti-Hospital Deposit Law” increasing the penalties for hospitals and clinics that refuse to give initial medical treatment in emergency or serious cases.

Republic Act No. 10928, or “An Act Extending The Validity Of Philippine Passports”, making Philippine passports valid up to 10 years from the previous five.

Republic Act No. 10930, “Extending the Validity Period of Drivers’ Licenses”, giving a five-year validity period.

Republic Act No. 11032 or the “Ease of Doing Business” law, which is intended to ease businessmen's burden over bureaucracy.

Eighteen other measures have been transmitted to the Palace for President Rodrigo R. Duterte's signature. (PNA/By Filane Mikee Cervantes )

Maranao youth wows UN peace building meeting

MANILA -- A Maranao, speaking at a recent high-level meeting on peacebuilding last month in New York City, earned a warm applause from the crowd after she introduced the indigenous handwoven piece "malong" as a symbol of inclusivity to peacebuilding.

Farah Ali Ghodsinia, who hails from Marawi City, said the handwoven fabric represents how crucial meaningful participation of women is in conflict-prevention and peacebuilding.

"This malong is actually handwoven by the women of my community in Lanao. Like the presence of you and women today, I believe that we actually recognize the importance of integrating more women in the decision-making processes of peacebuilding," Ghodsinia said in her speech.

"Aside from that, we also recognize that conflict tends to create a greater adverse result or adverse effects on girls and women. Thus, we should also actively shape policies that are gender sensitive," she added.

S

he said including more women in general in the decision-making process provides a vital representation of their communities.

She recounted how the devastated Marawi was wrought by armed conflict, which she described as "one of the worst devastations that happened in my country."

She, however, noted that the government has been vigorously pushing for the rebuilding of the war-torn city and regional development.

"Recently, a war actually happened in my region and our city today Marawi is completely in ruins... And now our government is actually working hard to rebuild our city and to also forward other causes such as the Bangsamoro Basic Law," she said.

Ghodsinia, the tenth president of the National Youth Parliament, also called for the greater empowerment of youth, citing the United Nations (UN) youth envoy's message that the youth is the "missing piece" in tackling global challenges.

"I believe it is important for us to support young change makers not only in providing organizational support but also financial support so the future of today depends on what we actually do now," Ghodsinia said.

"I believe that investing in our youth and seeing them partners of peace and security would be of benefit to all of us, to the old ones, young ones and to the future to come," she added.

Ghodsinia said the malong, with all its interwoven threads and colors, represents how people can stand united in peace and security amidst diversity.

"By integrating, and weaving together different stakeholders and different factors then we can better attain and sustain peace," she said. (PNA/By Filane Mikee Cervantes)

Maguindanao cops arrest ‘fake policeman’

COTABATO CITY – Local police in Parang, Maguindanao, filed on Monday usurpation of authority and illegal possession of firearm charges against a man who posed as a police officer.

Supt. Ibrahim Jambiran, Parang police chief, identified the suspect as Jaded Ibrahim Mangodacan, who went around town as “Police Officer 2 Mangondacan.”

Police seized from Mangondacan a 9mm Glock pistol, ammunition, police uniform, various police identification cards and patches.

Jambiran said the town police received a tip from a concerned citizen about a man in police uniform suspiciously roaming around the town's public market.

Jambiran said the tipster, who personally knew Mangondacan, a native of Lanao del Sur, told police the suspect was not a law enforcer.

The suspect did not resist arrest when police accosted him.

Jambiran said Mangondacan, who is currently locked up at the town police detention cell, was charged with violation of Republic Act 10591 for gun possession, usurpation of authority and falsification of public documents. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)

BI nabs bogus SoKor journo wanted for fraud

MANILA -- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is set to deport a 39-year-old South Korean national, who is facing a string of fraud cases in his country for swindling more than 42.2 million won by pretending to be a journalist.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said Yun Jong Sik was arrested by operatives of the bureau’s Fugitive Search Unit in Guadalupe, Makati City last May 23.

He is currently detained at the BI Detention Center in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig pending his deportation.

Yun was apprehended through a mission order issued by the BI chief upon the request of the South Korean Embassy, which informed the bureau about his outstanding cases.

“We will not allow criminals to use the Philippines to hide from justice. He will be deported, and will be banned from returning to the country," Morente added.

On the other hand, BI Spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval said Yun is the subject of four arrest warrants issued by South Korean courts for defrauding large sums of money.

One of his pending cases is his alleged swindling of two female Koreans, whom he enticed to give him money via the Internet by introducing himself as a journalist who graduated from a prestigious university in the United States.

“He was charged with receiving more than 42.2 million won (USD390,000) from the victims through deceit and lies, which he committed on 16 occasions between August and September 2013,” she said.

Sandoval added that Yun arrived in the country on Oct. 2, 2008 and has not left since.

The South Korean national’s passport has already expired, which means he had been illegally staying in the country as an undocumented alien for the past several years. (PNA/By Ferdinand Patinio)

DPWH Sulu 1st District completes 18 Senior High School Buildings - Thousand students benefited

Jolo, Sulu - The Department of Public Works and Highways has completed the 18 School buildings projects catered a thousand students as classes opened last Monday.

District Engineer Munir I. Hadjirul stated that the 18 school buildings they constructed in the  different municipalities has been completed already  and each 2- story building has 6 classrooms with complete facilities.

The students, teacher and parents was very happy because they have comfortable and spacious classrooms and good ambiance for studying.

The teachers  very proud to the implementing department like the DPWH 1st Engineering District  most especially to Engineer Munir I. Hadjirul because they constructed a good and 1st class building projects for their respective schools.(By: Becky D. de Asis)

DPWH 6 completes 851 classrooms in time for school opening

ILOILO CITY -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed the construction of 381 school buildings equivalent to 851 classrooms, as classes opened on Monday.

The classrooms were funded under the 2017 Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEEF) of the DPWH together with the Department of Education (DepEd) amounting to PHP 1.189 billion.

Engr. Al Fruto, DPWH Assistant Regional Director for Western Visayas, said the projects were fast tracked to be completed in time for the opening of classes.

“With these additional school buildings, our government will be able to address the need for more classrooms, considering the increasing number of enrollees both in elementary and secondary as well as the senior high schools students,” he stated.

The projects are intended for elementary and secondary schools, as well as workshop/laboratory buildings for senior high schools.

“This will help our students especially those in the far-flung areas. They will have comfortable and spacious classrooms with better ambiance for studying. DPWH will continue to support the program of our government to address the shortage of educational facilities,” said DPWH 6 information officer, Vivian Tan.

Meanwhile, DPWH data revealed that 503 of the 618 school building projects funded under the 2016 BEEF are already completed, 105 are still ongoing, while eight are yet to be started.

The 2016 BEEF has a total budget of PHP7.445 billion. (Caihra Santillan and Rosilfa Mallada WVSU-OJT/PNA/By Perla Lena)

Suspect in Ombudsman prosecutor's stabbing named

MANILA -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday identified the suspect in the killing of Assistant Special Prosecutor Madonna Joy Ednaco-Tanyag of the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City, Monday.

The Office of the Chief National Police released the photo of the suspect, Angelito C. Avenido Jr., who is facing charges of robbery with homicide.

Avenido was nabbed by operatives from the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) in a follow-up operation in Barangay Culiat on Monday night.

QCPD Director Chief Supt. Joselito T. Esquivel Jr. earlier informed National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) head Chief Supt. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar, of putting up a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) dubbed SITG Tanyag to investigate probe the killing of Ednaco-Tanyag.

The SITG Tanyag is headed by QCPD Deputy District Director for Operations, Senior Supt. Ronaldo Genaro Ylagan and will be assisted by an eight-member team to facilitate the investigation.

Ednaco-Tanyag, 32, a resident of Lot 8 Block 57 Starlight Residences, Starlight Street, Rancho 3, Concepcion 2, Marikina City was stabbed at around 11:20 a.m., at No. 51 Visayas Avenue, Barangay Vasra.

A witness, Arjay Cunanan, said he heard a female concerned citizen shouting that there was a woman stabbed and lying bloodied on the ground.

Cunanan sought the assistance of Barangay Vasra officials who responded and rushed the victim to the East Avenue Medical Center where she was declared dead on arrival after succumbing to three stab wounds. (PNA/By Benjamin Pulta)  

Saudi Arabia grants woman driving license after decades of ban

RIYADH -- Saudi Arabia on Monday granted a woman driving license after decades of driving ban, Al Arabiya local news reported.

The country announced last week its readiness to allow women to drive vehicles, starting from June 24, after Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ordered in September 2017 to allow women to drive cars after decades of restricting driving only to male citizens and residents.

Assistant Minister of Interior for Operation Affairs, General Saeed Al-Qahtani, has confirmed that all women who are capable of driving cars can do so.

He also warned the new female drivers that they would be on par with male drivers facing penalties and fines in case of traffic violations.

The minister highlighted that security checkpoints would be set up to deal with expected changes in traffic after the ban is lifted.

Driving schools for women have been set up across five cities in the kingdom. Women with foreign driving licenses will be able to apply for local ones through a separate process, which will also assess their driving skills. (Xinhua)

ARMM holds forum on Islamic heritage

COTABATO CITY – In an effort to highlight the heritage of Moro people in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the region’s Bureau of Cultural Heritage (BCH-ARMM) on Thursday conducted a forum on Islamic heritage as part of this year’s National Heritage Month celebration.

“Islamic heritage is very important because it influence Moro culture and maintain its identity distinct from others,” Eng’r. Marites Maguindra, BCH-ARMM executive director, said on Friday.

Maguindra said the forum was very timely because it came during the fasting month of Ramadan.

“We want to help ensure the preservation of this heritage for the sake of future generations,” she said.

According to Bangsamoro Grand Mufti Abuhuraira Abdurrahman Udasan, who was the forum’s guest speaker, the most important Islamic heritage is the glorious Qur’an, which is a blessing from God and a guide to all Muslims.

“In this sense, we have to rely on the Qur’an in recording the history of Islam. It plays the role of correcting all the corruptions and extortions,” Udasan said.

Maguindra said all line agencies in the ARMM bureaucracy have sent representatives in the forum held at Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Center here.

The Regional Darul Ifta’ and the Bureau of Madaris Education of the region's Department of Education also participated in the gathering.

Maguindra said the participants were very participative in the open forum, raising issues and concerns that will surely help preserve Islamic heritage.

The open forum centered on Islamic heritage that encompasses Islamic history, culture and traditions, beliefs and practices, and marriage and family values.

Maguindra said the discussion provided clarification on cultural issues that are being practiced in the region but are actually not correct.

“Not all cultural practices are still in accordance with the teachings of Islam and that is why it is important to take a look on the deeper sense of Islam for Muslims and to be guided on everything without compromising culture,” she said.

“We must examine our culture. If these cultural practices are inconsistent with the teachings of Islam, then we must avoid doing them,” Ustadz Alzad Sattar, Bureau of Madaris Education representative, said.

This year’s National Heritage Month celebration carries the theme, ‘Pambansang Pagkakaisa para sa Pamana,’ highlighting the role of a common heritage as a unifying force that foster national unity. (PNA/By Edwin Fernandez)