DAVAO CITY — Regional legislators of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have expressed strong support for the prompt passage of a bill on gender and development for the region.

Members of the committee on women, youth and family relations chaired by Basilan lone district Assemblywoman Rajam Akbar have assured to enact the Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) Bill No. 55, an act providing for the gender and development code for ARMM.

Akbar attended a recent advocacy meeting here of the technical working group (TWG) of the ARMM Regional Sub-Committee on Gender and Development (RSCGAD) and some members of the ARMM Regional Assembly. RLA Bill No. 55 seeks to enact the regional gender and development code in the region that will address women’s rights, welfare and protection.

 “I am 100 percent supportive of this bill, not only because it tackles the pressing issues and biases on gender but it also empowers women in the region,” Akbar said.

RLA Speaker Datu Roonie Sinsuat has assured speedy deliberations for the prompt passage of the bill for the welfare of the concerned sectors in the region. (Ali Macabalang)

Former Tawi-Tawi Mayor Bags Award

BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi — The Civil Service Commission in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CSC-ARMM) has named former Bongao Mayor Albert Que as one of this year’s recipients of the “Ten Outstanding Public Servant Award” (TOPS).

The CSC formally named Que as one of the recipients of the award after a careful review on his performance and accomplishment as the mayor of this town. CSC will formally confer the award to Que and nine others on September 28 at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex in Cotabato City.

CSC will be celebrating its 110th anniversary and among the highlights of the event is the search for TOPS in the region, Regional Outstanding Lady Executive, Outstanding Human Resource Management Officer, and Outstanding Personnel Administrator.

The search is aimed to identify and acknowledge individuals who have rendered outstanding contributions to the community where the local government units are located.

It was learned that Que has contributed much for the development of the town’s socio-economic activities and has showed a remarkable performance while he was then the mayor of this municipality. (Nonoy Lacson)

DA Showcases Corn Production

PAGADIAN CITY (PIA) — The Department of Agriculture (DA) through its research arm, the Western Mindanao Integrated Agricultural Research Center (WESMIARC), will showcase corn production using bio-organic fertilizer versus inorganic fertilizer. This technology demonstration, among others, will also use zero or minimum tillage systems, the use of Stack corn (RRYG), chemical seed treatment and liming.

The techno-demo farms will be piloted in Cayamcam, Tungawan, Bella, Alicia, and Mabini in Malangas, all of Zamboanga Sibugay province, and in Lapedian, this city. Felizardo Salomes, Regional Corn Banner Program coordinator, said the techno-demo will generate an environment-friendly and cost-effective technology for the corn farmers in the region. An area of half a hectare will be prepared and laid-out for the activity.

 Corn technicians from the local government units (LGUs) and identified cooperators were already oriented on the project mechanics. The cut-off date of crop establishment is set on or before last week of September.