MANILA, Philippines — The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has granted career service professional eligibility for second level positions for those who passed the special Shari’ah bar examinations conducted by the Supreme Court.

The second level eligibility applies only to Shari’ah bar passers, called either Shari’ah lawyers or Shari’ah counselors, who have a four-year college degree. National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Secretary Bai Omera D. Dianalan Lucman relayed this good news to the Manila Bulletin Thursday.

She said the CSC made the decision in response to the NCMF’s request for the benefit of 371 Shari’ah lawyers. (Edd Usman)

Peace Process

BUTUAN CITY – “The peace process with the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) has moved forward,” government chief negotiator Marvic Leonen said at the conclusion of the peace negotiations between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the MILF in the Malaysian capital on Wednesday.

“Now, we have moved at least a few feet,” Leonen said, as he maintained optimism that the government will meet its timeline to finalize an agreement with the Moro group this year. “The day will come, I hope very, very soon that we will be able to sign a peace agreement,” he said. (Mike Crismundo)

Safe Water

DIPOLOG CITY (PIA) – As part of this city’s Public Safety Plan (PSP), the City Council has directed the Dipolog City Water District (DCWD) to come up with its own security plan to ensure the safety of water to be supplied to its consumers.

The City Council called on the DCWD to protect its water sources against groups that might try to sabotage the water supply here. The city government is now crafting its comprehensive public safety plan that aims to give its constituents utmost protection against terror groups as well as against natural and man-made calamities.

Trade Prospect

COTABATO CITY (PIA) – Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in agricultural and manufacturing sectors in the Soccsksargen Region have more opportunities to strengthen their business courtesy of the Region-12 office of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST-12).

DoST-12 Director Zenaida P. Hadji Raof Laidan said they launched recently the Consultancy for Agricultural and Manufacturing Improvement (CAMPI) program to boost the productivity of MSMEs to become competitive in the domestic and international markets. CAMPI has two components – Consultancy for Agricultural Enhancement Program and the Manufacturing Productivity Extension Program.

River Programs

ILIGAN CITY – Leaders in Mindanao cited the need to expedite efforts to integrate programs for watersheds and river basins as climate change remains to be the cause of disasters, affecting many communities here.

In a recent meeting of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Board, it unanimously pushed for the implementation of the Mindanao Nurturing Our Waters (MindaNOW) as one of its flagship programs.

MinDA Secretary Luwalhati Antonino said that the program adopts the “ridge-to-reef” approach in integrating interventions for the development, protection, and conservation of the watersheds and river basins in Mindanao. (Mick Basa)