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Maradeca Inc., a non-government office based in Media as tool for
Marawi, support Maranao farmers by providing one sack
electoral reform
hybrid rice seedlings to group and by encouraging them to
Recognizing the need to reach Lanao–wide
adopt palay check system of rice farming.
Maranao radio listeners, Maradeca staff spent an hour
This rice were planted at the communal demonstration
at DXSO, a local radio station at Marawi, to discuss
farm of barangay Dimapatoy at Bubong, Lanao del Sur and
issues on safe and just election in the Autonomous

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managed by Ompongan o mga Taribasok sa Ranao (OTR) led

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Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

by Moctar S. Cabo.
Ibrahim Salic, executive director of Maradeca, expressed
that “farmers will maximize organic method of farming and
have been using traditional agriculture strategies learnt
M
Maradeca believed that educating voters for
honest and credible election is relevant to help abate
election-related irregularities.
1999
H. Ibrahim Mama, Janifa Camama, Nadjeba

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from their ancestors many years ago. They aren’t using new Maruhom, and Sittie AzliahC Espinola, all of whom are
technologies to improve farming methods.” volunteers of Citizens CoalitionO for ARMM Electoral T E
“When Maradeca Inc. started giving intervention, many Reforms (CCARE)--an organization RPthatOpromotes
RA
of them are adopting traditional farming until they availed electoral reform in ARMM region, opined that “media
training about Palay Check System, “ Salic further said. is a tool to uphold their campaign.”
Palay Check is a defined as “dynamic rice crop These volunteers are working throughout the
management that presents the best key technology and

continue to page 9
MARADECA, In
entire province of Lanao del Sur by conducting Pulong
Tayo, Ugnayan Tayo, and election-related monitoring
activities within the 40 municipalities the province.
continue to page 7
Editorial
TITLES PAGES
‘Palay check system’ .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1
Media as tool for electoral reform .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .1
Electoral fraud and violence .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 2
Feeding program in two barangays.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .3
Photos.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 4-5
Maradeca pledge to watch ceasefire .. .. . .. . .. . .. .6
CCARE hold general assembly .. ... ... ... ... ... ... 6
CCARE readies for May 10 poll .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .7
Botika sa Barangay.. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .7
Organizational dev’t training .. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .7
Nurturing nurseries.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .8
Farmers learn plant-bagging .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 8
Seaweeds as Bio-Fertilizers.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .8
Entrepreneurial training.. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .9
Ube candy augments income .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .9
150 Maranaos attend disaster mgt seminar.. . .. . .9
British national volunteer.. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 10
Editorial Board 2009-2010 .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 10
Electoral fraud and violence
Election in the Philippines is mired with fraud and
violence.
Lanao del Sur province isn’t excluded on this quagmire
as it’s controversially tagged as hot spot for vote buying or
padding and rampant flying voters registration.
Development workers in Lanao also observed that
election increases rido or family feud that results to damage of
properties and undetermined number of casualties.
With the automation of poll, election’s threat also
includes power curtailment scheduling that may affect
transmission of poll result especially in far-flung municipalities
of the province.
Since Maradeca Inc. advocates for electoral reform
under its Transparent Governance Program, it wade through
continuous monitoring activities within the two districts of
Lanao del Sur since June 2005 in partnership with Citizens
Coalition for ARMM Electoral Reforms (CCARE).
The monitoring team is composed of Maradeca staff,
municipal and barangay electoral gurus. They observed voters’
registration processes to find out related major issues and
concern. They also interviewed officers of the Commission on
Election and registrants in every town.
The mounted cases of registration proved to be similar in
previous national election. Irregularities are getting worse.
A number of voters failed to register due to Comelec’s
limited forms released in every municipality while other
registration forms were allegedly sold to favoured politicians.
There were also underage youths who were allowed to
register.
In Marawi city, the Comelec confront technical problems
with absence of electric generator to counter blackouts and
few computers that can’t facilitate effective and efficient
recording of registrants.
Despite denials of police authorities, violence still loomed
when a grenade was lobbed near the Comelec’s office at
Marawi city that wounded civilians who were later found out
as flying voters from Lanao del Norte. Investigations revealed
that they were promised to receive substantial cash if they’d
cross register in Marawi. Indiscriminate firing also happened in
Tamparan town when armed when sprayed bullets to civilians
who were queuing for registration.
The calendar is rushing near to May 10. What awaits us
people of the lake who are easily maneuvered with politicians
ambition to hold power? Can our faith in Islam help us find
the right leader who can represent us with better agenda for
peace and development? Can our culture direct us to practices
that inspire societal change for people of the Lake?
May we be able to determine the right choices as stewards
of our descendants’ future.
 News

Children in Butig town enjoy feeding program

Children in two conflict-affected barangays of Masiu
and Butig towns enjoy feeding program conducted by
development workers of Maradeca Inc, UN-Act for
Peace and StRide-Mindanao.
The feeding program is part of the developmental
activity of Social Services Program (SSP).
Said feeding activity has been conducted since
September 2009 until this February 12-13, 2010.
Staff’s brought foods for about hundred children
including ube salad.
“These are children of destitute families of these
towns. The children sometimes were starved because
parents are hindered by too much poverty that they
failed to provide adequate food for consumption. This
feeding program is an great opportunity to help people
in needs and burdened with too much hardships,” said
Sinab Datu of Maradeca Inc.
‘“We believe that as we give, we will be rewarded
with the most lavish gifts from those whose lives we
have touched and changed,” she said.
Datu further said that families here are poor
because they have no viable means to earn income.
“Feeding is a better way to help them. Though this
is temporary, the assistance will still have profound and
lasting effect in the lives of those people we help. We
must understand the neediness of others and help them
with any ways we know. The more ways you can help
others, specifically the poor ones, the more we felt that
we’d be rewarded by Allah,” she said. 

5 brgys. benefit WASH projects in Marawi, Lanao

Five communities in Lanao del Sur are beneficiaries International Organization for Migration (IOM) and
of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project that Maradeca.
comprises construction of bathing cubicles, latrines, and “The beneficiaries can now do household chores
putiing up of hand pumps. conveniently with access to safe water. This project can
These beneficiaries are barangays Bubong Cadapaan, now free themselves from the burden of letting their
Tungan-Tungan Borakis, and Borakis of the Municipality children fetch water miles away from their homes,”
of Wato Balindong; barangay Rogero of Bubong town; Salic added. 
and barangay Norhaya Village of Marawi City.
“These projects are inspired due to lack of water
sanitation and hygiene in Maranao communities in
Lanao del Sur. Latrines will also address the improper
waste management disposal among residents. For years,
there’s weak enforcement of government’s rules and
regulations on waste management and this is coupled
with peoples ignorance waterborne diseases amid lack
of access of potable water,” explained Salic Ibrahim,
executive director of Maradeca Inc.
“We help educate Maranaos on water sanitation
and hygiene,” he said.
Aside from this facilities, ferrous cement tanks were
also concreted. Maranao lady tests water pump at barangay Bubong.
The project were completed with the support of
 News
Participants during the assembly.
Maradeca pledge to watch ceasefire implementation in Lanao
Representatives of Maradeca, Inc. volunteer to
become Bantay Ceasefire advocates in a three-day
assembly attended by 200 Maranao peace advocates on
November 4-6, 2009 at Ayala Resort Hotel, MSU-main
campus, Marawi City.
Bantay Ceasefire is composed of volunteers from
the different provinces under the political structure of
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Said conference was graced by team of civil society
leaders from Mindanao People’s Caucus (MPC), a
partnership of non-government peace advocates with
office based at Davao city.
New volunteers were oriented about ceasefire
mechanism and the role of advocates at the ground
level in peacemaking.
Major General Rodolfo C. Garcia, former chair
of the Government Peace Panel and the Coordinating
Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities was the
keynote speaker.
Lawyer Mary Ann Arnado, secretary-general of
MPC, also related the journey of Bantay Ceasefire as
part of its initiative to ensure that peace process is
indeed working at the grassroots level and launched the
CCARE hold general assembly
Members of Citizen Care of Lanao del Sur hold a
three-day general assembly and team-building on January
10-12, 2010 at Masspec of Cagayan de Oro city.
Participants were electoral municipal gurus from
the 40 towns of Lanao del Sur.
The assembly aimed at empowering the gurus
as catalyst for electoral reform for responsible
governance.
It also aimed at building group solidarity and
harmonious relationship among members through the
workshops and lectures.
“The solidarity night at end of the training boosted
their self-confidence and enhances group teamwork
and cooperation. It also developed friendly relationship
by recreating a happy environment,” said Salic Ibrahim,
chair of CCARE –Lanao.
“For about 6 years, the citizen’s care members had
Bantay Ceasefire-SOS (Sagip Sibilyan) campaign.
Cultural presentations performed by Sining
Kambayoka of Mindanao State University (MSU) main
campus also highlighted the conference with theatre
and arts depicted of social unrest and peoples’ quest
for peace.
The assembly also featured a video presentation
about the feats enjoyed by Bantay Ceasefire in their
endeavor to stop violence in Mindanao.
Participants underwent thematic workshops and
forum to ventilate their issues and concerns.
Outputs of the workshop were presented including
the validation of cluster plans.
Participants also took an oath of peace while the
members of the Bantay Ceasefire also pledged to
perform their duties and responsibilities as volunteers
for peace.
“Being a volunteer for Bantay Ceasefire is not a
simple role. It means submitting your time and effort
to fight for peace. Sincerity to work and sense of
voluntarism is a requirement,” said Arnado.
The assembly was also an opportunity for old
friends and acquaintances to reunite with each other.

an array of experiences and contributed deeply on the
history,” he further said.
Ibrahim said that CCARE members look forward
to attend training on automated electoral procedures
and hope that this new techie way of counting pool
results could ensure fair and honest election, especially
in Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
He also said that most of the participants
are emerging leaders who are fully aware of their
responsibility to fight for their rights and in contributing
to the electoral changes, and the emphasis of unity
among them was stressed out. Majority of them were
participative and are emerging potential leaders of their
respective communities.
The assembly was also graced by program
coordinator Norodin Manalao, citizens care chairperson
Salic Ibrahim, provincial monitoring committee
head Sinab Ibrahim,Maradeca’s BOT and provincial
coordinators. 

CCare readies for May 10 poll
Citizens Coalition for ARMM Electoral Reforms (CCARE)
ready themselves for May 10 national poll.
They conducted Ugnayan Tayo meeting last January
3, 2010 to consult stakeholders on relevant issues
relating to the upcoming election.
Participants were 38 electoral gurus, 13 of which
are male. They gathered at River Side Panggao, Saduc
of Marawi city.
“One of the most important point discussed
was the need to recognize and mainstream municipal
electoral gurus with government agencies such as
Philippine National Police (PNP), military, local officials,
and army as well as to network them with Commission
on Election’s board of election inspectors (BEIs),” said
Salic Ibrahim, executive director of Maradeca Inc.
They also discussed the prohibited acts during
and before the election; about adopting reasonable
mechanism to ensure credible election result; and, how
to eradicate rampant anomalies and fraud in Lanao’s
poll.
“We are not superman but the Comelec is doing
its best for just election. However, we need your
cooperation, “ professed Nassib Yassin, provincial
Comelec supervisor who presided the meeting. 
Remote village conduct
organizational dev’t training
To develop community-based leadership skills and
strengthen peoples’ organization, an Organizational
Development and Management Training was conducted
for 20 participants at barangay Cadayonan of Madalum
town of Lanao del Sur.
Participants were grateful that this training was
conducted in their remote village which has less access
to social services as well as development.
The training was conducted to empower them on
how to handle problems within their organizations and
on how to deal with different types of members. They
also learnt leadership styles that can be practiced in
their respective organizations.
“This training kindles their interest to establish and
institutionalize their organization. It also helped them
realize that each one of them has leadership ability and
that they can maximize their organization to improve
their means of living,” said Sinab Datu, an official of
Maradeca Inc.
The training was conducted last October 2009 with
supports from Maradeca Inc. and their funding partner.
 wake up and do their part in promoting electoral
News
Poor families in Butig town
to manage botika
Finally, residents of remote hinterland barangay
Bayabao were trained about how to manage Botika sa
Barangay (BnB) program to provide them an access to
cheap medicines.
Bayabao is a conflict-affected area located at Butig,
Lanao del Sur.
Sinab Datu, official of Maradeca Inc., said that the
villager’s pharmacy was recently constructed and the
community hope that medicines will be availed soon.
BnB is a government project for remote
communities to poor families an opportunity to access
medication specially that urban pharmacies are far from
their residences.
To date, Butig residents access health services in
Marawi and Iligan cities.
The establishment of BnB at barangay Bayabao is a
joint venture of United Nations Development Program
(UNDP) and Maradeca Inc in partnership with officials
of Butig municipality. Medicines were accessed with
the support of Integrated Province of Health Office
(IPHO).
Community-based BnB manager are also members
of Obaera, a women organization. They were trained by
Caironesa Guiling and Amina Macud, both are officers
of IPHO officer.
They were also taught on record-keeping for
basic accounting and revolving the availability of the
medicines. 
from page 1 Media as tool...
They shared insights during the radio program
anchored by Bobby Ilupa.
The staffs also bared their experiences how they
monitor electoral campaign and voter’s registration.
“It is high time for voters to be aware of what
is happening in the country. Politics has become a
playground of the politicians. Thus, everybody must
reform,” the staffs said. 
 Seaweeds as bio-fertilizer
News in Lanao farms

A training on the use of seaweeds bio-fertilizer was

conducted for farmers in the communities of Guimba
and Nanapun (Cabasaran) of Marawi City and in
Nanagun of Lumbayanague town and Sandab of Butig,
Lanao del Sur.
The training aims to motivate the farmers to
use organic fertilizer for healthy environment and to
discourage the use of commercial/inorganic fertilizer
that can destroy soil fertility. Beneficiaries are members
Nurturing nurseries

Maranao farmers associated as Ompongan o mga

Taribasok sa Ranao (OTR) built their communal nursery
bed for raising seedlings.
The nurseries were temporary homes for young
plants until they are eventually planted in a permanent
garden. Seeds which need extra care should be grown
in a nursery.
The nurseries were built and planted in November
Farm land filled with seaweeds bio-fertilizer.
2009 with supports from Maranao People Development
Center Inc. (Maradeca Inc.). Communities who benefited of Ompongan o mga Taribasok sa Ranao (OTR) Inc.
this project are residents of barangays Sandab, Bayabao whose way of life depends on agriculture.
of Butig town; Gata of Buadipuso Buntong; Dimapatoy Last November 11, 2009, demonstration was
of Bubong, Raya of Guimba municipality; and Nanapun conducted at Nanapun, Marawi City.
of Marawi City. Last November 14, 2009, the demonstration in
Last December 4, 2009, OTR members led by Barangay Sandab and Barangay Nanagun was conducted
Hadji Ansary H. Ali of Raya Guimba started availing the also. Most of the OTR members who attended the
seedlings from their nursery bed and nurtured it with training learned, for the first time, the potability of
enthusiasm.  seaweeds as bio-fertilizer. 
Farmers learn plant-bagging

Farmers from barangays Guimba, Nanapun (also

known as Cabasaran) and Sandab of Butig Lanao del
Sur were taught recently on how to individuate plants
by segregating and preparing them for the next planting
season. This is also known as bagging.
Beneficiaries are members of Ompongan o mga
Taribasok (OTR).
The training aims to gain interest and encourage
the farmers in organic-based vegetables production
other than rice and corn.
There are two advantages of bagging. First,
seedlings are produced by growth. Second, it can resist
against pests. However, farm workers need to exert
efforts in carry out the materials since bagging requires
numerous banana leaves, vermin composting activity,
soil-nurturing and tray.
Staffs of the Secure Livelihood program of Maradeca
Inc. which focused on agriculture, assisted on how to Maranaos bagged seedlings in preparation for planting season.
conduct bagging last December 2009. 
 Entrepreneurial training
enlighten Maranaos
“We are enlightened about the valuable skills
needed to become effective entrepreneurs. We were
also given the opportunity to recognize that this has
helped us gain valuable resources.”
This is a statement of a participant after undergoing
training on Entrepreneurial Skills initiated by Maradeca
Inc.
The training was participated by residents of
barangay Nanapun and Guimba of Marawi city and
barangay Lumbac, Buadiposo, Buntong town. This is
part of the activities of Enterprise Development Program
designed for entrepreneurial skills enhancement of
beneficiaries.
Participants were associates of Maradeca
Community Banking (MCB), OBAERA Ompongan o
mga Bae sa Ranao (OBAERA) and some residents of
Lumbac who showed interest on basic skills for handling
business.
The training was conducted last November 14,
2009.
Ube candy augments income
To improve the income of Maranao women in depress
area, Maradeca Inc. conducted Food Processing training for
25 beneficiaries residing at barangay Ampaw, Bacolod Kalawi
town of Lanao del Sur.
The training was part of the Entrepreneurial
Development Program of the institution.
Salic Ibrahim, executive director of Maradeca
Inc., related that beneficiaries first joined the Maradeca
Community Banking and started putting up individual savings
as members.
“We desire to uplift the community’s livelihood by
utilizing their learning and minimize the community’s
economic deprivation,” Ibrahim further said.
The training moreover gave women an opportunity to
enhance their awareness and self-initiatives to find ways to
earn for living as part of the advocacies to empower them.
Beneficiaries at barangay Ampaw were trained on Ube
Candy Making. They will also be taught jam making in the
next training.
“It’s a prelude for them to engage business with low
capital in a handy time,” Maradeca staff said.
If maximized properly, this initiative will augment their
daily income.
“I am lucky because it enhanced my knowledge and
gave me option to improve my small business. Other than
banana cue, I have other product to sell. Besides, ube is more
nutritious than candies sold in the market,” Samo Cala, one
of the participants of the training, said.
The training was conducted in November 2009 and
was supported by Maradeca and CARITAS-Australia. 
News
150 Maranaos attend
disaster mgt seminar
Residents of once conflict-affected barangay Bayabao
of Butig, Lanao del Sur underwent a three-day disaster risk
management training in October 22-24, 2009 initiated by
Maradeca Inc., a non-government office based at Marawi
city.
The training, which is part of the rehabilitation project,
was supported by StriDe Mindanao and UN-Act for Peace.
It motivated the town to activate the barangay disaster
management council.
The training was attended by 150 participants from
Ompongan o mga Taribasok sa Ranao (OTR) Inc, Ompongan
o Mga Bae sa Ranao (OBAERA) Maranao Youth for Peace and
Development (MYPD) and Maranao Community Banking
(MCB) —all of whom are residents of barangay Bayabao.
It was also graced by representatives of municipal
officials of Butig town headed by mayor Dimnatang Pansar,
his barangay officials led by Adam Pansar, representatives
of Act for Peace, Maradeca staff, and representatives of
the Office of Civil Defense-Region X headed by Carmelito
Lupo.
Participants expressed that the seminar workshop
capacitated them to acquire skills in disaster management and
improved their resiliency to be prepared against calamities.

from page 1 Maranao farmers...
management practices as key check. It also a system that compare
results of farmers practices using vowed standard to sustain
improvements in productivity, profitability and environment
safety.”
Palay Check has six guiding principles. It espoused that rice
growing is a total production system. Integrated management
system is essential in each single practice and output interacts with
other practices. This affects a range of outputs of management
that ultimately combine to give the yield, grain quality, and
environmental outcomes.
This is system is patterned after ‘rice check’--an integrated
crop management system successfully developed in Australia.
Salic expressed, “experienced taught them that intervention
yields better result because their harvest of about 15 sacks of rice
before has doubled to 30 sacks after they employed Palay Check
System. They gained significant additional income.” 
 British national volunteer
for Maranao communities
Victoria Fanthorpe, a British national of Volunteer funding opportunities and share skills in proposal writing
Service Organization (VSO) program, currently works and development.”
for Maranao communities within the operational area of “I have been particularly impressed by the
Maradeca Inc. for six months as Resource Mobilization professionalism, hard work and commitment shown
Adviser until March 2010. by the staff who are truly dedicated to their work and
“I was really excited to be placed in Maradeca for to the communities they serve. I am
a number of reasons. First, they are working across a really enjoying being part of their team
broad spectrum of programs to assist the advancement and look forward to being able
of the Bangasamoro people in health care, education, to visit the communities w i t h
sustainable livelihoods, enterprise development, peace- them, to learn more about the
building and good governance, which will give me an Maranao people and t h e i r
insight into these varied community-based initiatives.,” way of life,” she said. 
she said.
“Second, Maradeca is prominent and respected
for their expertise in electoral reform agenda which
is fundamental in addressing issues of poverty and
development. Their work in this area is particularly
important with the upcoming national elections in May
2010,” Fanthorpe explained.
“It is a privilege for me to work for such an ambitious
and dynamic organization, which is striving to deliver
right-based programs for disadvantaged communities
here in Lanao del Sur,” she added.
She explained that “my role is to share skills in
resource mobilisation to enable Maradeca to
access new sources of funding to continue
the delivery and expansion of their
programs. I am working directly with
my counterpart, Safia Dimatingcal,
and the rest of the staff to identify

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MARADECA, Inc.

SALIC B. IBRAHIM, editor-in-chief; SINAB DATU, associate editor; JOHAIRA M.MUSOR managing editor; SAFIA DIMATINGCAL, feature editor;
VIOLETA M. GLORIA, news editor; ANAPOLA “Girl” DOLOGMANDIN, layout editor.

Contributors
Jehan M. Ditucalan, Janifa Camama, Diamond D. Tomo, Mahid M. Sacar, Mohaida Sultan, Zoliaca R. Camama, Zenaida D. Usman, Rohania H.
Amer, Almaira Dibaratun, , Jabber A. Camama, H. Ibrahim Mama, Nadjeba Maruhom, Sittie Azliah Espinola, Jamalia Baulo, Sahria Adapun,
Abdul Khaliq H. Alim, Victoria Fanthorpe, Rohaifa Balindong, and Omaira Saripada.
Office Address: Maradeca Inc., 092 Cabili Street, Lilod Madaya, Marawi City, ARMM, Philippines Email add: maradeca99@yahoo.com;
Satellite Office: Maradeca Inc.Door 2, J and J Apartment, Oxford Street, Celdran Village, Iligan City Telephone # (+63) 302-6534
website: //www.maradeca.org