GLAN, Sarangani (October 27, 2011) — The new year will usher in another milestone for the municipal public market, which saw a major makeover in 2011 with the construction of an ice-maker and other additional facilities for both vendors and consumers. Starting in February next year, the road shoulders around the public market will be concreted at the cost of P1.2 million and will serve as a permanent space for Maranaw vendors, who will be provided with uniformly designed stalls to prevent the area from turning into an “eyesore.” The local government has also set aside P2 million for the concreting of the interior road system to enable vendors to bring in their goods faster and at much lesser costs. The fish vendors will also be provided with a storage room to keep the newly renovated wet market “wet but clean.” But the centerpiece project is the proposed P8 million two-storey foodcourt that will feature all the amenities of a modern cafeteria not unlike those found at shopping malls in the big towns and cities. “Our modernization program should really start in earnest sooner not later if we hope to keep up with the changing times.” And it should start with our show window, the public market, said Mayor Victor James “Tata” B. Yap, Sr. The construction of the foodcourt will be jointly bankrolled by the office of Congressman Emmanuel Pacquiao, Gov. Migs Dominguez and the local government. Mayor Yap made the announcement on Thursday, October 27, at a meeting with over 400 market vendors at the Municipal Conference Hall, where he endorsed the candidacy of Barangay Captain and former councilor Joselito “Jongjong” Escobar for the board of directors of Socoteco 11, representing Glan. “The board director should be an ally, not an enemy, of the administration, because, whether we like it or not, he or she can be a force for good or evil. That’s why I am appealing to you to vote for Barangay Captain Escobar,” said Mayor Yap. The Socoteco 11 election, slated on Sunday, October 30, is also being contested by ex-Mayor Enrique “Yoyong” Yap, Jr. and retired police officer Bonjing Lara. (GLAN INFO AND NEWS SERVICE)

ALABEL, Sarangani (October 27, 2011) – Kalinaw Sarangani, the province’s peace and development program under the Office of the Governor, has urged Sarangani constituents to “protect our peace gains” in the wake of recent skirmishes in Basilan and ambushes in Lanao Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay. Jocelyn Lambac-Kanda, Kalinaw Sarangani program manager, echoed the call of Governor Migs Dominguez for the people “to participate in protecting the gains of our peace efforts and insulate the province from incidents in other places in Mindanao.” Kanda said the governor was calling on “all sectors to help in strengthening the awareness of the communities and remind all of each one’s stake and importance in protecting peace gains.” Kalinaw Sarangani Program has initiated peace orientations on the updates of the GPH-MILF peace talks. It was conducted with the barangay captains, provincial board members, and some municipal officials of the municipality of Maasim on September 9. The same orientation was conducted for barangay officials of Kiamba on September 11; municipal and barangay officials, religious sector, police and military and the International Monitoring Team in the municipality of Maitum on September 28. More than 300 community members of barangay Katubao, Kiamba on October 18 and some 200 residents of barangay Tuyan, Malapatan on October 22 were briefed by Kalinaw Sarangani on the ongoing peace talks. Recently, Kanda joined a two-hour local radio program in the orientation on the GPH-MILF peace process. Kanda identified the municipalities of Maasim, Kiamba, and Maitum as “conflict affected and conflict vulnerable areas of the province.” “The Provincial Government sees the need that the community members in these areas need to be informed of the recent and accurate updates on the peace process to avoid negative speculations that may result to unnecessary panic and discomfort to the people,” Kanda pointed out. The peace orientation included briefings on the proposals presented by the GPH and MILF panels – the Final Working Draft on Comprehensive Compact or the Sub-state proposal and the Three-for-1 Solution. The community members, on the other hand, were encouraged to actively take part in seeking a common ground, and influence both parties and their local counterparts to pursue the peace process and work forward in achieving the common goal of genuine and lasting peace and development in Mindanao. “The program urges everyone not to be apathetic about this very important and sensitive issue, hence, be vigilant, refrain from generating negative speculations that might jeopardize the peace process, stand strong in protecting the peace gains and insulate the province from incidents in other places of Mindanao,” Kanda said. Moreover, the Sarangani provincial government urges both parties, GPH and MILF, “to go back to the negotiating table. Treat each other as partners rather than adversaries, and to develop a working draft from the two draft proposals currently on the table and to arrive at a mutually acceptable working draft in resolving the Mindanao conflict.” Kanda said “this draft should have a clear outcome based on the real needs of the Bangsamoro and the people of Mindanao.” Sarangani has seven municipalities with identified 50 Peace and Development Communities (PDCs). This week, massive peace orientations were slated to continue the initiatives started in informing the people of Sarangani. “Likewise, the Local Monitoring Team and the IMT are working hand in hand with the provincial government in monitoring our peace situation,” Kanda added. The orientation schedules are: Oct. 25, 9am. – with the Lupong Tagapamayapa members of Upper Suyan, Patag, Lun Padidu, Daan Suyan and Kinam in Malapatan; Oct. 26, 9am. – with PDC Kihan during their barangay assembly; Oct. 27 – with PDC Malabod, Lupong Tagapamayapa and barangay officials; Oct. 28, 2pm. – with barangay Baluntay Officials, women and religious sector in Alabel; Oct. 29, 8:30am, – at Datal Tampal; and 1pm. – with community members of PDC Lun Padidu during their barangay assembly. Orientations will also be held on Nov. 3, 9:30am. – at Mindupok barangay hall with community members and the International Monitoring Team; Nov. 4, 8:30am. – at Burias, 1:30pm. at Baliton (Glan); and Nov. 8, – PDC Nalus with the community and barangay officials. In December 2009, Kalinaw Sarangani Program received in Malacanang the Galing Pook national award for innovative governance on peace and development. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

KIAMBA, Sarangani (October 26, 2011) – Acting Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon (right) together with Board Members Elmer De Peralta (center) and Cornelio Martinez Jr. (left) hand over Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution # 2011–7-090 to Rosalie Sta. Rita, widow of Sgt. Ronald Sta. Rita who was killed in the Basilan encounter with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The “Resolution commending posthumously Sgt. Ronald G. Sta. Rita of the 4th Special Forces Battalion Philippine Army for the gallant service to the country and fearlessly demonstrating exceptional courage and extraordinary determination in a 10-hour gun battle in Al-Barka, Basilan on October 18, 2011” was given during the funeral service for Sgt. Sta. Rita at San Antonio De Padua Parish Church Wednesday, October 26. Sgt. Sta. Rita also served the province particularly the municipality of Kiamba in his bachelor days. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/Bon-Bon Quiño)

KIAMBA, Sarangani (October 26, 2011) – Rosalie Sta. Rita, widow of Sgt. Ronald Sta. Rita, blesses the coffin of his husband with Holy Water during the funeral mass at San Antonio De Padua Parish Church Wednesday, October 26. Sgt. Sta. Rita left Rosalie and their three children. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/Bon-Bon Quiño)

KIAMBA, Sarangani (October 26, 2011) – The remains of Sgt. Ronald Sta. Rita is carried by his comrades from 73rd Infantry Battalion for his funeral mass at San Antonio De Padua Parish Church Wednesday, October 26. Sgt. Sta. Rita was the team sergeant of a special team in Basilan and had served as peace keeper in East Timor. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/Bon-Bon Quiño)