Tourist arrivals in Lanao del Sur up by 14% in 2016

The province of Lanao del Sur recorded P1.2 billion tourism receipts in 2016 posting as the number one tourism destination among the provinces in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) during the year.

Official figures from the ARMM’s Tourism department showed that the province attracted 69,606 visitors in 2016, 14 percent higher than the 61,058 visitors registered in 2015.

Ahmad Nouraldinn Tamano Jr, provincial tourism focal person, said the province has been persuasive on their campaign to promote Lanao del Sur as a tourism destination.

They have been showcasing the distinct characteristics of the Meranao way of life, history, and culture by participating in various events such as the Phil Travel Mart.

Tamano said one of the must-see attractions is Lake Lanao, the largest inland body of water in Mindanao and the second largest lake in the Philippines. Lake Lanao serves as reservoir for the Agus hydroelectric power plants that generate up to 75 percent  of Mindanao’s power supply.

The arts and crafts of the Maranao tribe, Polo Barakat Mosque in Binidayan, Kilometer Zero, Mindanao State University and Daguduban in Marawi City; Lake Dapao in Pualas; and white water rafting in Wao could also easily lure tourists to the province.

Tamano further said that part of the agenda of Provincial Governor Soraya A. Adiong is cultural tourism and promotion of tourist destinations to generate income and livelihood to the locals.

Meanwhile, a total of 212,649 visited the region’s five provinces in 2016 with roughly P3.7 billion in tourism-related expenditures.

ARMM Tourism Secretary Ayesha Mangudadatu-Dilangalen said the influx of tourists in the region falls in the last quarter of the year. Outside of Lanao del Sur, provincial breakdown of the region’s tourism data in 2016 showed the following: Tawi-Tawi with 63,509 visitors and P1.1 billion in gross receipts;  Maguindanao with  40,981 visitors and P721 million in gross receipts;  Basilan with 24,243 visitors and P424 million in gross receipts; and  Sulu with 13,857 and P242 million in gross receipts.

“Tourist gross receipts cut across other industries like transport, trade, food, and telecommunications, among others,” Sec. Dilangalen explained. 

She also said that tourism can provide direct jobs to the community. “Visitors' expenditures generate income for the local community and can lead to the alleviation of poverty,” she added. (BPI/PIA-10)

Conservation, livelihood projects under “My Lake Lanao” showcased

Conservation and livelihood projects implemented in barangays on the shores of Lake Lanao, this province, were showcased during the concluding summit of the “My Lake Lanao: a clean Lanao for a peaceful Mindanao” project (MLLP).  

The summit, held on February 2 in Iligan City, was participated by more than 80 eighty college and high school students, environmental activists, academic researchers, NGO leaders, local government officials, and community leaders.

Funded by the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines., MLLP was implemented by the development organization ABAG sa Kalambuan (ABAG) in close collaboration with the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT).  

The project leveraged the expertise of academic researchers, government officials, and environmental experts as well as the energy of student associations and community organizations to create community-driven responses to the environmental degradation of Lake Lanao and to develop sustainable livelihood opportunities for the communities.  

Over the course of a year, partners worked in ten lake shore barangays to implement sustainable conservation projects and livelihood interventions.  

Projects ranged from establishing vermicomposting and fish farming facilities to planting abaca and reforesting the shores and upland areas of Lake Lanao.

In addition to the conservation and livelihood projects, the My Lake Lanao team also responded to the challenge raised by Tomaro Alisood, a seventy-year-old Maranao fisherman and program participant, who asked “Paano mamahalin ulit ng mga tao ang Lake Lanao?” [How will the people love Lake Lanao again?].

Participants conducted community awareness campaigns to increase recognition of the critical role Lake Lanao plays in the spiritual, cultural, social, political, and economic life of Lanao del Sur and Mindanao.  

MLLP participants led seminars on solid waste management and recycling in their partner barangays.  

MSU-Marawi faculty facilitated a short film contest for student films advocating for lake conservation.  The films will be screened in Lanao del Sur schools.  

Sixteen-year-old Nur Dadayan of Marawi drew upon Maranao legends to write a story that imagined the trash thrown into the Lake as a monster that haunts the people of the Lake.  Through MLLP, her story, The Ranao Monster, has been published as a large format children’s book and distributed to elementary teachers in the province to help students recognize the importance of protecting Lake Lanao.

  

Through a video message, the U.S. Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Klecheski said, “There are a lot of things we at the U.S. Embassy find really admirable about the My Lake Lanao project.  [One of the things] we really like is that this project found the proper balance between protection of the environment and promoting livelihoods for the people around the Lake.” (US Embassy/PIA-10)

DILG-ARMM strengthens capacity of law enforcement agencies in filing drug cases

The Department of the Interior and Local Government in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DILG-ARMM) is improving the capacity of law enforcement agencies in the region with respect to the filing of cases on illegal drugs and illegal possession of firearms.

DILG-ARMM conducted, on February 7, a one-day orientation on ‘Strengthening the Legal Capacity of Persons and Agents in Authority on Filing Drug Cases’.

The participating agencies were Philippine National Police-ARMM, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-ARMM, prosecutor’s offices from Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-ARMM, National Bureau of Investigation-ARMM and the Department of Justice.

Atty. Noor Hafizullah Abdullah, DILG-ARMM Secretary, said the orientation was conducted to boost the capacity of persons and agents in authority specifically those involved in filing drug-related cases as well as in cases of illegal possession of firearms.

Sec. Abdullah said the orientation seminar is in response to the issue of low conviction rate of drug cases in the region and is part of the continuing legal education on filing drug cases in courts.

Since 2003, there were 1,854 cases of illegal drugs in the region, 177 of which were filed in 2016. Out of these cases, only three resulted in conviction, two in 2003 and one in 2011.

“There are certain cases also na at the prosecution level ay dini-dismiss na agad ang kaso,” the DILG-ARMM Secretary said. Cases dismissed immediately were recorded at 732, or about 40 percent of the total illegal drug cases in the past 14 years.

Valente Carino, Director II of PDEA-ARMM, said that 90 to 95 percent of illegal drug cases were dismissed because of lack of probable cause.

Atty. Rohairah Lao, Maguindanao provincial prosecutor, said there are common mistakes committed by persons and agents in authority that result in the dismissal of cases. 

Lao said these include lack of elements of the crime charged, inconsistent or contradictory statements of arresting officers in their affidavits during the inquest, and lack of vital documents and evidence, among others. (BPI/PIA-10)

Advocates draft provincial action plan on women

Women advocates from different sectors including from government line agencies and local government units gathered here for a two-day summit to consolidate their ideas into a unified agenda for the women of Lanao del Sur.

The gathering dubbed as the 1st Bangsamoro Summit on Women, Peace and Security was spearheaded by the Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women (RCBW).

RCBW Chairperson Sittie Jehanne Mutin said there will be a consolidation at the regional level of women agenda from ARMM provinces to form the Regional Bangsamoro Women Agenda that will be forwarded to the Office of the President.

She said RCBW will also see how other regional government agencies can address the needs that the women have identified in the summit.

Prior to the workshop proper of the summit, Mutin gave an orientation on what is the status and developmental framework of women in ARMM.

Helen Rojas, head of National Action Plan Secretariat of the Office of the Presidential Adviser of Peace Process discussed the government initiatives on women, peace and security focusing on the United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 1325 and 1820 which the Philippines are signatory of.

UNSCR 1325 acknowledges the disproportionate and unique impact of armed conflict on women and girls and calls for the adoption of a gender perspective when dealing with women in conflict affected areas. UNSCR 1820, on the other hand, condemns the use of sexual violence as a tool  of war  and that  rape is a war crime and a crime against humanity.

In the duration of the two-day summit, the participants determined issues in Lanao del Sur that speak to them. Among these are the role of traditional women leaders in the Mindanao peace process, federalism as a solution to Mindanao conflict, Lake Lanao, environment, power shortage, drugs, criminality, extremism, clan feuds, livelihood, entrepreneurship, and women leaders as model of good governance.

The participants contributed their ideas on what actions can be done to mitigate or solve the problems they have identified.

After much deliberation, the group came up with a consolidated Lanao del Sur Women Action Plan.

Among the activities that they are eyeing are Oh My GaD Campaign, BBL and Federalism Orientation, a radio program for women issues, peace tables for women traditional leaders, academics, and women in the grassroots, community-based organization of Municipal Women Councils, mapping of all women leaders and organization in the province, and writeshop on Literature on Bangsamoro women.

The women participants also pledged commitment to continually work together and formed among themselves a council they called Mga Bae sa Ranao 1325. (SAMD/PIA-10)

Seven ecozones eyed in ARMM

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is eyeing at least seven fully operational economic zones by 2020.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman made the pronouncement in his speech during the opening ceremonies of the Mindanao Ecozone Summit on February 2.

The two-day event, held in Davao City, was organized by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) aimed at completing and finalizing the ecozone masterplan in Mindanao.

“Our goal is to establish at least one ecozone in each of the ARMM provinces – Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi – as well as in the cities of Marawi (Lanao del Sur) and Lamitan (Basilan) by the year 2020,” Gov. Hataman said.

The move is designed to attract investments, help generate local jobs and enhance the region’s overall economic performance. The governor said the regional government is institutionalizing the operation of the Regional Economic Zone Authority, which was created by Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act 154, as cited in Republic Act 9054 (Art XII, Sec.4).

The ARMM currently has only one operating ecozone, the Polloc Freeport and Economic Zone (PFEZ) in Maguindanao that generated an income of P27.9 million and revenues amounting to P134 million for the Bureau of Customs as of 2016.

Gov. Hataman said his declaration of the PFEZ as “halal hub” is in support to the PEZA’s “mission to expand into new frontiers” and takes advantage of the region’s “potential as a gateway of the Philippines to the multi-trillion dollar halal industry.”

He said the region will focus on economic sectors where it has a competitive advantage and these include agro-industry, tourism, trading, halal investment, and Islamic financing.

The ARMM government, he said, has already established a link with countries in the Middle East and in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to explore possible collaborations on economic development projects that will benefit not only the region but the rest of the country as well. (BPI/PIA-10)

Lanao del Sur govt, MSU ink agreement to improve lives of Meranaos

The Provincial Government of Lanao del Sur enters into a partnership with the Mindanao State University (MSU) System for research projects to uplift the lives of Meranaos.

The partnership was formalized through the signing of a memorandum of agreement by Governor Bedjoria Soraya Alonto Adiong and MSU President Habib W. Macaayong.

The signing, held at the Provincial Capitol in Marawi City on January 30, was also attended by officials from both MSU and the Provincial Capitol.

Under the agreement, MSU will design and supervise a Physical Scaled-Model of Lanao del Sur to rehabilitate endemic fish species in Lake Lanao in order to boost the agri-fishery industry and provide livelihood to the fisherfolks.

MSU will also conduct a  Poverty Incidence Survey and Mapping of households in the province.

Provincial Governor Adiong said the collaboration with MSU reaffirms the strong partnership between the provincial government and the said institution.

She said  thorough research of MSU would help her administration craft realistic policies, plans and programs to bring progress to the Meranaos.

She also thanked President Macaayong for agreeing to be a partner in her quest to achieve development and progress for Lanao del Sur.

President Macaayong said this partnership is historic as it is the first time that both agencies will work together.  

Glad that MSU is extending a helping hand to the provincial government, Macaayong gave his full commitment to the fulfillment of the agreement. (PIO-Lanao del Sur/PIA-10)

ARMM declares Polloc Freeport and Ecozone as halal hub

Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has officially declared the Polloc Freeport and Ecozone in Parang, Maguindanao as ‘halal hub’, the first truly halal ecozone in the country.

“The ARMM government is continually working to open the possibilities to the halal market in the region as well as in the country that serves as a gateway to the multi-trillion dollar halal industry,” Hataman said.

The declaration of a halal economic zone will attract local and foreign investors to export and import halal products and services.

Aleem Guiapal, ARMM’s economic zone authority (REZA) executive director, said a declared halal ecozone becomes halal-industry ready and industry investments would be fully supported.

Guiapal noted that REZA continues to forge stronger partnerships with potential investors.

Halal is an Arabic word meaning permissible based on Islamic Sharia law and the term can cover both goods – such as foods, drinks, medicines, clothing and cosmetics – and services as well as places.

“We see tremendous opportunities here in the region. So now, we want to differentiate our market on the other economic zones in the Philippines,” Guiapal said.

He said the declaration is considered a medium to attaining the vision of a sustainable ARMM economy.

“We, in Muslim Mindanao, should seize the opportunity as the halal market worldwide is continuously growing,” he said .

Ecozones are selected areas with highly developed, or which have the potential to be developed into, agri-industrial, industrial, tourist/recreational, commercial, banking, investment and financial centers. Having halal ecozones in the ARMM means it would open opportunities to the region as well as to the country for the growing global halal industry.

A worldwide study conducted two years ago by Thomson Reuters in collaboration with Dinar Standard noted the global halal market in 2018 would reach $1.6 trillion with an annual growth rate of 6.9 percent.

Among the potential markets for Mindanao-produced halal foods are Middle East countries, Singapore as well as Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines under the East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

With these exciting opportunities, Guiapal said the region is still facing challenges. “We still need to continually capacitate our experts, the halal-certifying bodies and in terms of technical know-how and operations to run a halal hub,” he said.

In the region, outside of the Polloc Freeport, REZA’s list also included the facility of B.J. Coco Oil Mill, a firm operating in ZambongaPeninsula and in Sulu, as an ecozone. Coco Oil Mill’s port, however, is currently not operating.

Other planned ARMM ecozones are located in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi; Jolo, Sulu; Malabang; Lanao del Sur; Marawi City in Lanao del Sur; and in Basilan.

REZA is mandated to oversee the integration, coordination, planning and monitoring of special economic zones, industrial estate/parks, export processing zones and other economic zones in the ARMM. (BPI/PIA-10)

ARMM to be culturally sensitive on issue of condom distribution in schools - Hataman

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) government will be “culturally sensitive” should the program on the distribution of condoms in schools is implemented in the region, ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said.

The governor made the statement during the ‘Tapatan sa ARMM’, a regular media forum held on  January 26 at the ARMM's seat in Cotabato City.

Secretary Paulyn Ubial of the Department of Health (DOH) earlier said the program will be implemented nationwide this year as part of efforts to stop the increasing number of cases of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) among the youth.

The program would be implemented in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), which has expressed reservation on the plan.

In a statement, DepEd said it recognizes the need to stop the surging spread of HIV/AIDS among the youth and  discussions with DOH on this matter will soon be conducted.

In the ARMM, where most places are conservative and people consider sex-related topics taboo, Hataman said the ARMM government will undertake measures to deliberate on the plan.

“Definitely, the ARMM government will be culturally sensitive,”  Hataman said.

He also said Islamic religious leaders such as the Regional Darul 'Ifta, which is the authority on religious and cultural values of Muslims in the region, would be consulted on this issue.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has warned that condom distribution in schools will encourage pre-marital sex among Filipino youth noting it could even condone sexual activity among students.

The DOH has explained that the distribution of condoms will be accompanied by guidelines and measures, and will not be distributed indiscriminately to students.

Those receiving condoms will undergo counseling, and sex education discussions with their parents. Teachers, it noted, will be trained on how to impart lessons on sex education.

In the Philippines, 32,099 cases of HIV/AIDS were reported from 2011 to October 2016. Government data also showed 9,066 HIV/AIDS cases reported during the five-year period were traced to those aged 15 to 25.

The ARMM has remained at the bottom of the DOH’s list of regions with cases of HIV/AIDS. Despite this, the Infectious Diseases Cluster (IDC) of the ARMM’s Health department warned citizens not to be complacent.

“Whether we like it or not, we have HIV cases in the ARMM,” said Soraida Amilil, IDC cluster head. As of October this year, 13 cases of HIV have been reported while none emerged as a full-blown AIDS case.

The region reported two AIDS cases and seven HIV cases in 2014. Since 1984, the region’s Health department has reported a total of 76 cases of HIV while 11 were reported to have led to AIDS.

The DOH has allocated a P1-billion fund for the HIV/AIDS program, with P50 million to P100 million intended for the procurement of condom. The department has launched awareness drives on preventive measures for HIV leading to AIDS. (BPI/PIA-10)

ARMM embarks on BRIDGe Project to boost business, investments

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is embarking on a project to empower both the communities and businesses to engage in sustainable business enterprises.

Dubbed “Brokering Business Investments in the Bangsamoro to achieve Inclusive Development and Growth” (BRIDGe), the project aims to facilitate the development of Bangsamoro-specific business investment standards and protocols.

It will be implemented by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and the Hineleban Foundation in collaboration with the Regional Board of Investments (RBOI)-ARMM.

BRIDGe is funded by the Australian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The formal partnership among the players was sealed on January 23, 2017, at the ARMM Manila Liaison Office in Makati City through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the PBSP and ARMM Regional Government through RBOI.

The memorandum cites the roles and areas of cooperation of each participant agency for the successful implementation of the project.

PBSP recently conducted a Development Partners’ Meeting with the Program Advisory Committee to generate inputs on the formulation and finalization of the Business Sustainability Framework in Bangsamoro and how to improve the project’s implementation.

Such framework seeks to define the role and behavior of corporations and partner communities that would make agribusiness investments in the Bangsamoro sustainable and responsible.

Lawyer Ishak V. Mastura, chairman and managing head of RBOI, said part of the project outcome will strengthen the capacity of RBOI to facilitate investments in the ARMM, help capacitate local communities to engage in business development, and promote businesses in the region among local and international investors.

“The project is very relevant and timely because this will prepare us, especially on the business aspect, in the possible transition from the present form of government to federalism, which is what the Duterte administration is now pushing in congress,” Mastura said.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman expressed his optimism about the project. “In line with the initiative of President Duterte to promote and encourage business investments from big businesses and tycoons to the ARMM, this project will enhance the capacity of our communities to receive those investments,” Gov. Hataman said. (BPI/PIA-10)

ARMM advocates peace through infra projects in Mamasapano

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) continues to advocate for peace in the region through investing in infrastructure projects that would respond to the needs of the once conflict-inflicted Mamasapano town in Maguindanao.   

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman reiterated that infrastructure projects are also a key to wiping poverty in Mamasapano.   

The encounter between government forces and revolutionary groups in Mamasapano two years ago has been horrific for local residents but the tragedy has become an opportunity for the government to respond to the community’s needs.   

A series of site inspections were conducted to continually identify the needed services of the community for education, health services, and other community welfare services such as water supply and road networks.  

 To help Mamasapano residents improve their lives, the regional government has earmarked P667 million for infrastructure to be constructed within the municipality, including high-impact projects.   

These projects provide greater impacts in the community including: opportunity for economic growth and community connectivity through intra-barangay and inter-barangay roads;  job opportunities for construction workers;  better education and learning experiences through school building projects; greater access to government services through community health centers; and lesser threat of water-borne and sanitation caused diseases through water sanitation and water supply projects, among others. 

Different programs and instrumentalities of the ARMM government have poured investments in conflict-inflicted towns such as the ARMM’s Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Governance and Synergy (ARMM-HELPS), and ARMM’s Humanitarian and Development Action Plan (ARMM-HDAP).   

ARMM-HELPS is a convergence initiative of the regional government and is regarded as the centerpiece of the Hataman administration. In Mamasapano alone, ARMM-HELPS implemented various projects in Barangay Tukanalipao and Barangay Libutan.   

In Barangay Tukanalipao, projects worth roughly P8 million were completed including construction of health center, water sanitation, barangay hall, community learning center and solar drier.   While in Barangay Libutan, P9-million worth of projects are still on-going such as the renovation of a health center, construction of barangay hall, market, water system, and community learning center.   

To date, the construction of one storey two-classroom units in Hadji Kalaing Elementary School and Hadji Salik Kalaing National High School as well as the construction of Tukanalipao footbridge and concreting of Tukanalipao access road has been completed.  

 “Other infrastructure projects in Mamasapano are still on-going,” Engr. James Mlok, head of ARMM’s 2nd district engineering office said.   

Anwar Upahm, ARMM-HELPS executive director, said Governor Hataman wants an increase not only in infrastructure investments in Mamasapano but also livelihood programs.   

“Due to the incident, the governor together with the concerned line agencies formulated a comprehensive plan that will immediately aid the needs of the people in the area. It encompasses not just Mamasapano but also its neighboring areas,” said Engr. Baintan Ampatuan, Regional Planning and Development Office executive director and ARMM- HDAP project manager.   

The ARMM-HDAP primarily focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and various government initiatives relative to development such as livelihood, infrastructure, health facilities, education, and others. (BPI/PIA-10) 

Ayala Foundation, LGU-Marawi ink MOA for a community-based rehab center

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

Photo credit to Philippine Information Agency - NCR

A two-storey unused building in Brgy. Poblacion, here, will soon house recovering drug dependents in the province.

The  Ayala Foundation, Inc.  has entered into a memorandum of agreement with the Marawi City Government on Tuesday, January 24, for the establishment of the drug rehabilitation facility.

To be called Siyapen, which is the Maranao word for care, the center will occupy an existing two-storey building owned by the Marawi City government with a total floor area of 851 sq.m. and lot area of 2,000 sq.m.

The Ayala Foundation will oversee the refurbishment of the structure through its construction arm, Makati Development Corporation (MDC).

MDC will work on the facility from January to April 2017 and will turnover the center to the city government once completed. Ayala will also provide seed funding for the first year of operations.

Siyapen Center will have 70 beds for in-patient treatment but will also be able to accommodate drug dependents undergoing outpatient care.

This community-based treatment and care center seeks to provide a space that encourages physical wellness and social integration. It allows drug dependents to have better access to family and other forms of social support which are crucial to their recovery.

The center will also provide other therapeutic activities such as exercise and group sessions. Its proximity to a mosque will further open up opportunities for spiritual counseling.

Photo credit to Philippine Information Agency - NCR

"We believe that the Siyapen Center will contribute significantly to the treatment and rehabilitation of drug dependents in ARMM, primarily in Marawi City," said Ruel Maranan, president of Ayala Foundation.

"In building Siyapen, we hope to provide a space where person-centered recovery is made first priority, thereby paving the way for meaningful reintegration into society," he added.

The construction of the Siyapen Center is part of Ayala Foundation's continuing development efforts in Mindanao.

"The Siyapen Drug Rehabilitation Center is our way of addressing another challenge Mindanao faces, and of responding to the national government's call for private sector support in addressing the drug problem, said Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, chairman and CEO of Ayala Corporation and co-chairman of Ayala Foundation.

The Philippine National Police reported at least 123 persons arrested for suspicion of drug-related involvement in Marawi City as of November 22, 2016. At least 471 persons have voluntarily surrendered to the local police.

Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra is elated that after requesting President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for a drug rehabilitation center a month ago, he is finally seeing the answer to his request, through the help of the Ayala Foundation.

Photo credit to Philippine Information Agency - NCR

"I believe we are making great progress. Let us give our all-out support to the fight against illegal drugs," Gandamra said in his speech.

Provincial Governor Soraya A. Adiong thanked the Ayala Foundation for  partnering with the local government in the drive against drug proliferation in the province.

She said the MOA signing made her feel more inspired and determined to continuously eradicate the drug menace affecting not only the province but the entire Philippines.

When the governor assumed office, she crafted her 9-Point Agenda of Governance which included the eradication of the use of illegal drugs. She also ordered the conduct of a Provincial Anti-Drug Awareness Orientation for the youth where young people were educated on the ill-effects of substance use and abuse.

The provincial government also plans to bring down the program to the municipal and barangay levels this year to reach a larger constituents. (APB/PIA-10)