GOVERNANCE/POLITICS

COTABATO CITY --- Isabela City in Basilan now has a Freedom of Information Ordinance --- possibly Mindanao’s first --- to ensure good governance via transparency and accountability.

The newcomer Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman said Thursday she is grateful to the Sangguniang Panglunsod for its prompt approval of the measure.

The SP is chaired by first-termer Vice Mayor Kifli Salliman, who was the mayor’s running mate during the May 13, 2019 elections.

KORONADAL CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) spent more than P1 billion for infrastructure projects in the last five years in Central Mindanao, a senior government official reported Monday, as the government is working to extend the World Bank assisted program.

BASILAN --- The province now has a new multi-million training center built by the provincial government to boost its capacity-building efforts for social welfare service stakeholders.

Gov. Jim Salliman said Monday they inaugurated last week the newly-built facility, to be operated by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, or PSWDO.

KORONADAL CITY---Five community volunteer groups of Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 12 have been recognized as country’s development heroes in the recently concluded annual national Bayani Ka! Awards in Butuan City, an agency senior official said Friday.

KORONADAL CITY - Police Master Sergeant Jerry Frugalidad Feo of the Regional Mobile Force, Police Regional Office (PRO) - 12 was among the three police officers who were given recognition and honor as National Awardees for Police Gallantry during a ceremony marking the 53rd Founding Anniversary of National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) at the agency’s central office in EDSA, Quezon City on September 6, 2019.

LAMITAN CITY --- Residents here are optimistic of a fourth Seal of Good Local Governance citation for the city government from the office of Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año.

The city government here received the SGLG awards in 2016, 2017 and 2018 owing to its efficiency in governance, in handling of state funds and in addressing domestic peace and security issues.

COTABATO CITY - As part of its strategy in strengthening male involvement and participation in Reproductive health advocacy, the Commission on Population and Development XII (PopCom 12) conducted a Training on Kalalakihang Tapat sa Responsibilidad at Obligasyon Sa Pamilya (KATROPA), last August 28-29, 2019 at POPCOM XII Conference Room, Cotabato City.

The two-day training was enthusiastically participated by 29 Men in Uniform, particularly from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Military personnel assigned in Cotabato City.

KORONADAL CITY – One citing party decisions and the other saying he could not challenge a good leader, two congressional aspirants for South Cotabato’s first district on Friday withdrew from the race.

The Commission on Elections will administer special polls on October 23 for the congressional seats for South Cotabato’s first district and Gen. Santos City long district.

BASILAN  - More than a thousand residents have benefited from the joint passport processing program of the office of Gov. Jim Salliman and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The provincial government, permitted by DFA on special arrangement, has been facilitating since early 2019 applications for passports by residents in 11 towns in Basilan and in its component cities, Lamitan and Isabela.

COTABATO CITY  — Using diplomatic yet tough stance, the head of Ministry of Transportation and Communications of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOTC-BARMM) resolved leadership confusion of Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) in Tawi-Tawi.

“The confusion of leadership in this office has to stop,” MOTC Minister Dickson P. Hermoso told Marina officials in a meeting that resolved over three years of confusion as who is the real chief of Marina-Tawi-Tawi.