ICC Dispatch - Thursday, December 11, 2008

PGMA to observe palay trading in Shariff Kabunsuan

SHARIFF KABUNSUAN— President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will witness the setting up of mobile palay buying stations here tomorrow in line with her administration’s program to ensure the stable supply of rice in the province.

Upon her arrival at the town of Sultan Mastura here, the President will observe the trading of palay between the farmers and the National Food Authority at the buying station of the municipality.

The President will be welcomed here by ARRM Regional Vice Governor Ansaruddin Adiong, Sultan Mastura Mayor Datu Armando Mastura, Shariff Kabunsuan Acting Gov. Ibrahim IIbay and Rep. Didagen Dilangalen .

The NFA is buying clean and dry palay with 14 percent moisture content and a minimum of 95 percent purity at P17 per kilogram.The agency is also granting an additional incentive of P1,800 to farmers for every 50 bags of 50 kilograms of palay sold to said office.

As a Christmas tradition, the President will also lead the distribution of farm production inputs and food packs for the indigent families. The farm production inputs will include 50 bags of assorted vegetable seeds and one flat bed dryer.

The Chief Executive will also distribute some 5,000 Christmas food packs to qualified beneficiaries under her “Pamaskong Handog Program” of the President.

“Malaking karangalan sa amin na madalaw ng Pangulo at mabigyan ng tulong ang mga mamamayan dito, lalo na ang mga mahihirap,” Mayor Mastura said.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) will also conduct a medical and dental mission in the province under the Peoples Government Mobile Action (PGMA) and “Serbisyo Muna” program.


Children in evacuation centers at Datu Piang receive anti-measles immunization

Cotabato City – Hundreds of children in the evacuation centers at Datu Piang town in Maguindanao province received immunization conducted recently by the Department of Health in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DOH-ARMM).

DOH-ARMM in coordination with the Maguindanao Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), rural health workers and Datu Piang municipal government conducted anti-measles mass immunization in said evacuation centers.

Maguindanao provincial health officer Dr. Elizabeth Samama said, the conduct of the latest mass immunization is over and above the department’s regular immunization programs in the region.

Rural health workers regularly visit and monitor the health situation and living condition of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) especially women and children at the evacuation centers, Samama said.

Since the conflict started, Samama said, five children at the evacuation centers have died of measles due to congestion and unhealthy environment and poor sanitation.

Those who need medical attention are immediately confined and isolated at nearby rural hospitals and clinics, she said.

She stressed that while rural health workers are directed to conduct regular camp visitation and to submit observation reports, they also conduct advocacy campaign on cleanliness and sanitation, proper waste disposal and personal hygiene among the IDPs.

DOH-ARMM, she added, targets to immunize some 20,000 children in the autonomous region this year.

Aside from the anti-measles immunization, they also give Vitamin A supplement to their target beneficiaries, Dr. Samama stressed. (pbc/PIA)


Fighting erupts anew in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town

Cotabato City – A heavy encounter between the troops of the 601st Brigade and the rogue elements of the MILF erupted anew yesterday in Barangay Tatapan in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town.

Col Julieto Ando, spokesman of the 6th Infantry Division told the media that before the incident, civilians in the reported to the authorities about the presence of armed men were at the vicinity of the said barangay.

The armed group he was told were out to take get stocks of rice which are intended for distribution to the IDPs in the area.

Ando said, the troops from the 69th IB who are securing the area immediately responded and heavy exchange of gunfire ensued. Due to the intensity of firefight, the military decided to use air assets and artillery support which lasted about noon time yesterday.

Although the encounter area is at the interior part of Barangay Tatapan, the highway leading to Datu Piang was closed to traffic for the safety of the commuters, Ando said.

With the incident, Ando expressed utmost regret that efforts to resettle the IDPs to their respective places of origin has been wasted again. The IDPs are still hesitant to return to their homes because of the alleged threat that attacks are expected from these groups.

The military, together with local and national government agencies has been joining efforts to convince the evacuees to return to their respective barangays, Ando said. (CLC/PIA Cotabato City)


Military foils bomb attempts by LMG

ICC General Santos City (12 December) - Military have foiled two improvised bombs from exploding thus saving the lives of officials of the United Nations (UN) who were passing through Tenorio area in Shariff Kabunsuan.

Military believed that the followers of fugitive Ameril Umbra Kato were behind the foiled bombing attempt.

Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division said the attempted bombing happened just near public market in Tenorio, few kilometers from Camp Siongco, 6th ID command center.

He opined that perpetrators made the attempt in a bid to create trouble as UN officials would be passing by at an adjacent national highway on their way to Datu Piang, Maguindanao.

According to military reports UN officials were passing the area to inspect relief sites at Datu Piang for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) recently bolted out from their houses as a result of armed conflicts between the military and lawless Moro Islamic Liberation Front group (LMG).

Military’s informants, Ando said reported that rogue members of the MILF were behind the bombing attempts.

Immediately, the Army’s 6th Ordnance Battalion deactivated the two explosives that were shaped from 81 MM mortar rounds with battery-operated blasting device and attached to mobile phones.

Witnesses said the improvised explosives came from a Green-colored vehicle that also boarded the suspected bombers who were allegedly responsible in dropping the bombs at the scene.

Ando attributed the prompt recovery of the bomb to the people in the area "who saw the passengers of the vehicle drop very suspicious boxes at both sides of a road near the public market.”

He said they were the ones who immediately reported it to the police.

Government authorities have been going relentlessly without let up after Kato and his followers who remain at large until now. (PIA SarGen)